Review

Nightbitch is a meditation on motherhood, isolation and female rage, driven at the helm by a fearless Amy Adams: TIFF 2024 Review

Despite the fact that the recently released trailer made Nightbitch look more like a quirky comedy – think a female-drive, R-rated take on Tim Allen’s The Shaggy Dog – I can attest that Marielle Heller‘s take on Rachel Yoder‘s seemingly unadaptable 2021 novel of the same name is far from the laughable ridiculousness some may…

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is one of the franchise’s best games to date

We previewed Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 just over a month ago, so I apologise if we retread a few things here. But it needs to be said; I’ve rapidly been descending into various rabbit holes of Warhammer 40,000 lore over the past few months, and I just can’t stop. So Space Marine 2 really…

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The Oppo Reno12 Pro 5G and Reno12 5G feel like strong contenders in the mid-range market

Oppo has steadily positioned itself as quite the competitor in the crowded Android smartphone market of late. Consistently delivering devices that offer premium features at a fraction of the cost, 2024’s Reno series exemplifies this philosophy with the Reno 12 and 12 Pro aiming to strike a balance between features, performance, and price. Both phones…

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We Live in Time; Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh charm in simple, emotional affair: TIFF 2024 Review

Given that the trailer for We Live in Time very much informs audiences that it will be a tale of potential emotional manipulation, with the Nick Payne-penned script basing itself around a family dealing with late-stage cancer, it proves worth the screentime as Brooklyn director John Crowley breathes a certain life into proceedings, aware that…

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Daniela Forever adds layer upon layer to where it comes undone: TIFF 2024 Review

Given the imaginative manner he has expressed in his previous work, it makes sense that Nacho Vigalondo (Colossal) would create something like Daniela Forever, a romantic science-fiction tale that adds layer upon layer of artistry to itself that it practically (and unfortunately) comes undone. A little Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, a little Inception,…

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Dustborn is as charming as it is visually engaging

For a few important reasons, Dustborn immediately grabbed my attention upon its reveal. This Telltale-inspired adventure looks like it was ripped off the page of a comic book and translated into video game form, while the story of a rock band on the run seemed like a cool promise to bring a group of misfits…

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The Last Showgirl; Pamela Anderson is an actress reborn in Gia Coppola’s quiet snapshot of a movie: TIFF 2024 Review

At the centre of Gia Coppola‘s The Last Showgirl is Shelley (Pamela Anderson), a 57-year old (though she’ll initially tell you otherwise) Vegas all-girl revue performer whose 30+ years in the Razzle Dazzle show are coming to an abrupt end.  But just as Shelley’s tenure is closing, and the uncertainty of life sets in, Anderson’s…

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Unstoppable is a rousing true story that speaks to the power of resilience: TIFF 2024 Review

Not to be confused with Denzel Washington’s 2010 runaway train thriller – or the lesser known 2004 outing from Wesley Snipes – Unstoppable, which marks the directorial debut of editor William Goldenberg, whose credits include such titles as Coyote Ugly, Miami Vice and Air, is a by-the-numbers sports drama that lives by its inspirational hook. …

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Presence; Steven Soderbergh’s haunting POV drama favours style over substance: TIFF 2024 Review

Much like how his 2018 psychological thriller Unsane was elevated by it being shot entirely on an iPhone 7 Plus, Steven Soderbergh is implementing another technological gimmick of sorts in Presence, a ghost story that’s filmed entirely from the point of view of the haunting figure lurking within the walls of a sprawling suburban residence….

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The Substance; Coralie Fargeat’s meditation on the standards of today’s beauty indulges in bloody, black humour and body horror: TIFF 2024 Review

The idea of wanting to be younger and create a more perfect aesthetic version of one’s self is a thought many (if not all) of us have conjured at one point or another.  And so often do the two go hand-in-hand, despite the fact that being younger and looking better aren’t always reliant on the…

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Film Review: Bonnard, Pierre And Marthe is as much a love story as it is a character study

Behind every great man is a great woman. Especially if that man is as shrouded in mystery and as reclusive as post-impressionist French painter and printmaker Pierre Bonnard. Bonnard, Pierre & Marthe is as much a character study as it is a love story about the decade-spanning romance between famed painter Pierre Bonnard (Vincent Macaigne)…

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Star Wars Outlaws is a flawed, yet fun action-adventure

I’ve been a Star Wars fan ever since I was a kid, introduced to the franchise via the original trilogy of films. While the quality of Star Wars media has fluctuated over the years, there have indeed been a few decent Star Wars video games to grace our consoles. But for every Knights of the…

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Film Review: Stream is disgustingly endearing in spite of missed narrative potential

At over 2 hours long, with performances that are predominantly uninspired, and a script that doesn’t delve beyond setting up a narrative solely to off its variety of stock-standard characters, Michael Leavy‘s slasher Stream leaves a lot to be desired.  In the same breath, it’s so gloriously gory and committed to not taking itself seriously…

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Film Review: Thelma is a hilarious, and unlikely, love letter to the action genre

Though it leans into the action/thriller genre with a supreme wink, Thelma, Josh Margolin‘s frequently hilarious, always poignant ode to his own grandmother (and, clearly, a love of the action genre), is never spoofing the films it so evidently is earning its laughs from; and it’s that sweetness and keen sense of reinvention that helps…

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The D-Link DSL-X3052E AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Modem Router packs a real punch

While we don’t frequently review routers as far as technology reviews go, we had the pleasure of reviewing this router’s older sibling a couple of years back, in the form of the D-Link DSL-X1852E AX1800 router. I mention that previous review, because in many ways, this newer D-Link DSL-X3052E AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Modem Router provides…

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Film Review: Hinckley: I Shot the President is a topical documentary that’s at once informative and entertaining

On July 13th, 2024, Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old loner from Pennsylvania, attempted to assassinate former U.S. President – and current Presidential nominee – Donald Trump.  Failing in his intended mission by only wounding Trump, though he did fatally strike one rally attendee before being killed by the Secret Service Counter Sniper Team, the still-unexplained…

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Film Review: Kneecap is riotous and confronting as it bridges the gap between politics and crowd-pleasing

A far deeper, more important film than many may be expecting from what is being sold on the surface, Rich Peppiatt‘s Kneecap speaks to the importance of language preservation within the fictionalised biopic framing of its titular rap group. There’s an undeniable energy to Peppiatt’s direction as he throws an array of substances at the…

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Film Review: The Blind Sea is an inspiring documentary that celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit

The ocean is already a wild, unbridled space for those of us that can see its dangerous beauty.  Such intensity would only be exacerbated when removing the sense of sight, but for Australian surfing athlete Matt Formston it’s his reality, and one that he’s more than willing to exist within. Formston’s impressive athleticism and against-the-odds…

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CYGNI: All Guns Blazing serves up some short-lived, yet solid action

Cygni: All Guns Blazing admittedly caught me by surprise when I saw its first trailers. But upon playing it, I couldn’t have felt more at home. They might have been released before my time, but I still grew up playing arcade classics like Gradius, Galaga, R-Type and even Space Invaders, soaking up the addictive moment-to-moment…

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Interview: Director Karl R. Hearne and star Dale Dickey on revenge drama The G; “We did something that’s original and different.”

Written and directed by Karl R. Hearne, The G, which focuses on a mysterious older woman seeking revenge on the corrupt legal guardian who destroyed her life, is a unique take on the classic revenge thriller. Inspired by this real-life grandmother and lead by renowned character actress Dale Dickey (Winter’s Bone, Iron Man 3, Leave…

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Film Review: The G is a taut revenge thriller dominated by Dale Dickey

Between The Beekeeper, Thelma and now The G, older women haven’t had the greatest luck in cinema when it comes to scams of some sort as of late  Whilst financial abuse via a scam phone call collective was at the centre of the formers – which resulted in Jason Statham and June Squibb, respectively, trolling…

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Film Review: Blink Twice is an incisive thriller that truly announces Zoë Kravitz as a filmmaker to watch

A narrative throughline present in Zoë Kravitz‘s daring debut directorial feature is that “Forgetting is a gift.”  Given the trauma and suffering many of the characters are holding onto in Blink Twice, it would appear a wise coping mechanism, but Kravitz’s script – written alongside one of her High Fidelity television scribes, E.T. Feigenbaum –…

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Film Review: Touch is a tender, reflective drama exploring a romance unknown

It’s never the easiest realisation to have when it comes to facing one’s own mortality, but if any situation over the last few years pushed such a mentality to the forefront, it was the pandemic.  Whether it was wrapped up in regrettable decisions, the roads not travelled, or the relationships we formed or lost, life…

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The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405M) is a fantastic blend of portability and power at the right price

If you’re in the market for a laptop that is ultra-portable, feature-packed, and visually appealing, the current options might seem overwhelming, and likely introduce some trade-offs. Should you sacrifice size for portability and performance? Price for display quality and battery life? Like the warrior in a Zen(book) garden, ASUS might have just provided the answer…

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Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece on PC provides the definitive collection for fans and newcomers alike

Since its debut in 2002, the Kingdom Hearts series has enchanted gamers around the globe with its unique combination of both Final Fantasy and Disney characters. The series has earned a dedicated fanbase by blending action-packed RPG adventures with a rich tapestry of beloved intellectual properties. As someone who missed the boat as a kid—when…

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Film Review: Alien: Romulus is an atmospheric blend of old-school respect and new-school brazen

Whilst Alien: Romulus is the seventh in the line of Alien features – ninth if you count the Alien Vs Predator movies (and it’s okay if you don’t, because…choices) – Fede Alvarez‘s nasty, carnivorous entry is a stand-alone sequel placed between Ridley Scott’s defining original, 1979’s Alien, and James Cameron’s continuation, 1986’s Aliens; Alvarez and…

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Film Review: Jackpot!; John Cena and Awkwafina make the most of mild action-comedy

For the global press conference for Jackpot!, director Paul Feig mentioned that he ultimately took on the film because it was the “Jackie Chan movie (he) always wanted to make.”  And it’s in that spirit that this comedic actioner is best viewed, where the two genres co-exist as one and the same and the silliness…

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Nobody Wants to Die serves up a compelling and well-paced noir thriller

I’m a sucker for anything Cyberpunk-infused or tech noir. Blending futuristic themes like technology with old-school plots and character arcs has always appealed to me, ever since watching Blade Runner for the very first time as a young teen. Nobody Wants to Die admittedly came out of nowhere, but it intrigued me immediately with its…

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Film Review: It Ends with Us paints its serious relationship narrative with melodramatic strokes

Whilst by no means is Justin Baldoni‘s It Ends with Us making light of its central domestic violence thematic, Christy Hall‘s script adaptation of Colleen Hoover‘s novel is unable to entirely find the momentum needed to keep such a story emotionally engaging across its testing 130 minutes. With its Pinterest-like lens on romanticising its Boston…

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Film Review: The Instigators dares great heights to escape familiar genre territory

We’ve seen buddy heist comedies before, especially when the perpetrators are a fair bit on the amateur side, but that doesn’t make them necessarily less enjoyable. There is a beauty to the comfort of familiarity, and not every film needs to have something profound to say or gut-wrench you to emotional oblivion, especially in this…

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