Galaxy Quest: affectionate homage and spoof maintains the values of altruism, quest for knowledge and defending the underdog
Dean Parisot, “Galaxy Quest” (1999) Conceived as a homage to and spoof of the famous
Category: North American Films
Reviews of films made in Canada and United States including all films made by Hollywood.
Queen of the Desert: a boring and flat movie that mocks a remarkable woman and the people and region she came to love
Werner Herzog, “Queen of the Desert” (2013) Renowned German film director Werner Herzog, maker of
Spring: character study on renewal through love and connections, and beating back monsters
Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead, “Spring” (2014) A rather long and thin character study romance
Night of the Living Dead: cult horror classic is a character study and commentary on American society
George A Romero, “Night of the Living Dead” (1968) Made on a minuscule budget, George
The Truman Show: comedy drama satire encapsulating the search for authenticity for self and community under conditions of control and manipulation
Peter Weir, “The Truman Show” (1998) Once in a while Hollywood releases a film that
Hedwig and the Angry Inch: an individual’s search for wholeness and authenticity delivered in a flat musical adaptation
John Cameron Mitchell, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2001) A feisty little number showcasing John
Torn Curtain: an unremarkable spy thriller film let down by poor casting and a laboured script
Alfred Hitchcock, “Torn Curtain” (1966) To properly appreciate how good a director Alfred Hitchcock was
The Founder: a fictional character study calling into question the American Dream and how it enables control and exploitation
John Lee Hancock, “The Founder” (2016) How do you make an engrossing film about a
The Shining: a histrionic epic horror film saved by its themes of control and alien manipulation
Stanley Kubrick, “The Shining” (1980) In most directors’ hands, a Stephen King horror novel of
Portrait of a major 20th-century literary icon and his impact on Western culture in “William Burroughs: Man Within”
Yony Leyser, “William Burroughs: Man Within” (2010) An obvious labour of love for Yony Leyser,