by Jacqueline Valencia I’ve been accused of loving Toronto too much. In these dire times, with the way the city is run, it’s hard to keep loving a city that will either drive you out or eat you up whole. Born and raised here (my parents decided to take my
by Jacqueline Valencia Note: This is part of our coverage of TIFF Bell Lightbox’s On the Road: The Films of Wim Wenders This essential retrospective devoted to one of the giants of the New German Cinema features new digital restorations of Wenders’ essential early works. Jan. 28 – March 6,
by Jennifer Valencia I have been away from writing for a long time but I am ready to come back and I thought a good place to start is to reflect on the films that pleased and amused me in 2015. Here’s my list organized by genre. Comedy Before
by Jacqueline Valencia In Two Days, One Night, Sandra (Marion Cotillard) is a wife, mother of two, and is freshly trying to come out of a nervous breakdown. When she arrives back home from the hospital, she discovers that she has been laid off. Her boss had her work department vote
by Jennifer Valencia Tim Burton‘s Big Eyes is based on the true story of Margaret (Amy Adams) and Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz). Walter Keane was one of the most successful painters in the 50’s and 60’s due to the popularity of his paintings of big eyed waifs. With natural charm and
by Jennifer Valencia Shawn Levy brings together a vibrant and brilliant ensemble cast in This Is Where I Leave You, which screened at TIFF this year. I don’t know what it is about family dramas or comedies, but I have a soft spot for them. Family dynamics of all kinds
by Jacqueline Valencia Michael Fassbender plays Frank. Frank creates quirky noise music and he so happens to wear a cartoon mask, not just to make music, but all of the time. Some might consider him weird and enigmatic, others might consider him a genius. Domhnall Gleeson plays Jon. Jon lives at home with his
by Jacqueline Valencia Maybe one day, far into the future, I might have picked up this film. I’ve always loved Bobcat Goldthwait, but I haven’t seen any Robin Williams films in a long time. Reviews of his latest weren’t altogether great so I didn’t go out of my way. Yet after I’d heard of
by Jacqueline Valencia NOTE: This is more of a rambling analysis of the film, therefore it contains some spoilers. If you require a review if whether I enjoyed it or not, I did, hence the ramble. On my last trip to New York City, I spent a longer than usual
Editor’s Note: There are spoilers. Thus, it is a review analysis. by Jennifer Valencia I have always been a big fan of Spike Jonze. His music videos always delight and entertain me while his films are so refreshing in their style and feel. Her is no exception. Jonez takes us
Critical Focus 