#SUNDANCE: “WINNER” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Reality Winner (Emilia Jones) is a brilliant young misfit from a Texas border town who finds her morals challenged while serving as an NSA contractor. A sarcastic, gun-loving, vegan, and CrossFit fanatic, Reality is an unconventional Whistleblower who ends up being prosecuted for exposing Russia’s hacking of the 2016 election.

Don’t confuse Winner with last year’s Reality. As Reality strictly depicted the interrogation that occurred inside Reality Winner’s basement. Director Susanna Fogel’s seriocomic Winner is a full Biopic on this Whistleblower. 

We are first introduced to her and her family. It’s clear she is closer to her ‘power-to-the-people’ father (a touching Zach Galifianakis). Eventually, her life takes her on the career path as a translator for the U.S. Air Force and then to the CIA. It’s while working at the CIA that Reality finds documents that Russia did interfere in the 2016 Election. She prints it off and sends it to an online publication. Before long, the government has her sent to prison where she served a four-year sentence.

Winner is an important film that documents a brave woman in our current history. Fogel crafts a Film that is easily accessible for a wide audience to watch. Just like many biopics, Winner feels like it could’ve included more. Yet, its pacing (from Screenwriter Kerry Howley) is part of what makes it work and the tone fits perfectly with the subject herself. Jones portrays Reality with a ferocity and passion that captivates.

Winner screens at Sundance ’24:

Jan 20 at 3:30 PM at The Ray Theatre

Jan 21 at 12:00 PM at Redstone Cinemas – 7

Jan 22 at 6:00 PM at Rose Wagner Theatre

Jan 23 at 4:30 PM at Eccles Theatre

Jan 28 at 6:30 PM at Magaplex Theatres at The Gateway – Theatre 8/9

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR S2 “LOCKE & KEY”

LOCKE & KEY, filmed right here in Toronto, is set to launch its second season next month. Here is your first glimpse at the new season ahead.

Synopsis:

Official teaser for Locke and Key season 2, coming to Netflix on October 22, 2021. Locke & Key follows 3 siblings who, after the murder of their father, move to their ancestral home only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#SUNDANCE: “CODA”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

17-year-old Ruby Rossi (Emilia Jones) is a CODA, which stands for Child of Deaf Adults. She has spent her entire life interpreting for her parents (Marlee Matlin and Troy Kotsur) and brother (Daniel Durant). When she joins her high-school choir club, her passion for singing grows deeper. When choirmaster Bernardo (Eugenio Derbez) takes a special interest in her talents, he offers to help get her into the Berkley College of Music. Now Ruby must choose between pursuing her dreams or stay in the fishing town to help her family and their business.

Director-Writer Siân Heder has created a heartwarming film that pulls at heartstrings while making us laugh. Heder’s decision to cast deaf actors creates authenticity and vibrancy into this touching narrative. The Film is more than just a coming-of-age story. It’s also about fishing villages and the struggles those families face. This storyline is examined even deeper through the Rossi family who faces more obstacles than others.

Heder’s Script is funny, honest and full of touching moments that bring the audience into the emotions of a deaf family. Scenes, where the Rossis are conversing over dinner or arguing in their living room, are delightful. Heder also has something to say about how the world looks at the deaf community. Many scenes express the frustration of not being able to communicate with those in the town. However, there are steps society can take to make the world an inclusive place for the deaf community. Heder shows this in a powerful scene near the end when Ruby signs a song she’s singing, to her family.

Heder uses the camera and sound to bring audiences right into the life of this family. In the beginning, we are viewing the world through Ruby’s eyes. Everyday sounds that are common to us sound louder because her family doesn’t realize the noise they’re making. Then during scenes where we switch into the viewpoint of the family members, we are brought into silence. This powerful use of sound expertly brings us into the experiences of all members of the family.

At the centre of this Film is the breakout performance from Jones. She embodies the passion Ruby has for singing while showing her obligation to her family. And when she sings, we get goosebumps and chills throughout the body. Matlin and Kotsur give comedic and grounded performances as her parents, Jackie and Frank. They show the fear for losing their daughter while also wanting her to achieve her dream. And Derbez is brilliant as the free-spirit yet stern choirmaster Bernardo.

Overall, CODA is a moving film with outstanding performances from the entire cast. A must-see.

CODA screens at Sundance:

Live Premiere: January 28 at 8 PM (EST)

On-Demand (available for 24 hours): January 30 at 10 AM (EST)