Mike Goes To Movies

The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) Another day at the movies in 2019, another day seeing a contender for best film of the year. The Last Black Man in San Francisco is that rare film that successfully combines the seasoned refinement of a Hollywood feature (though, remarkably, this is director/writer, Joe's Talbot, and writer/star, Jimmie Fail's, feature debuts) with the trappings of unique, genre-bending arthouse cinema. The film follows Jimmie Fails (loosely based on the actor's life) as he contends with the immeasurable change that has overcome his hometown of San Francisco throughout the past twenty-plus years. Though it is not explicitly referenced, gentrification (and industrial modernization to an extent) seems to be the crucible of Jimmie's angst and frustration. In particular, is the house that Jimmie, and his family before him, grew up in. The house, which Jimmie's grandfather built with his two hands, is now the home of an affluent elderly wh...

Tigers Are Not Afraid (2019) + Q&A with Issa Lopez and Guillermo Del Toro Those that know me know that I essentially have a man crush on Guillermo Del Toro, and there is no doubt that he is one of my all-time favourite directors. And so, when I saw an ad for a special screening of the horror-fantasy film, Tigers Are Not Afraid, with a Q&A between director, Issa Lopez, and Del Toro, there was no hesitation that I had to go. In all ways, the night did not let me down - it was exhilarating to see Lopez, a Mexican director like Del Toro, being able to screen a film that is so indebted to and inspired by all that Del Toro has done through his career, and then to be able to listen to an intimate conversation between the two directors, both of whom are so passionate about the genres of horror and fantasy, discussing the current landscape of cinema, as well as the precarious landscape of their home country Mexico. I had the pleasure of seeing Del Toro in person once in the past -...

Showgirls (1995) Alright, so one of the criticisms I constantly receive is that I generally only review good (or very good) films. Well, for those of you who have been conveyors of this comment - here's a film for you. Showgirls is, without a doubt, one of the most infamous films of all-time. For its time it had, on paper, everything going for it - one of the hottest directors and hottest writers working then, a potential new star coming out of a huge sitcom (and paired with a few other rising actors/actresses), and a story set within an industry ripe for Hollywood potential - sexy, sultry and seedy Vegas dancing. Unfortunately, things did not exactly work out for the film. Showgirls tanked financially and, even more-so, critically. Showgirls received seven Razzies that included Worst Picture, Worst Actress, Worst Screenplay, Worst Screen Couple and Worst New Star. Quite the commendable set of accolades. Star of the film, Elizabeth Berkley, personal recipient of a number of th...

The Farewell (2019) The Farewell is as near perfect a drama as they come. Though the film centres primarily upon Chinese culture and familial traditions that many may be relatively unfamiliar with, the story itself is uniquely universal and one that should strike a chord with most viewers out there. The plot follows Billi, a young Chinese-American woman, who learns that her grandmother, Nai Nai, who still lives in China with most of the rest of their family, has recently been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Billi is told by her parents who live with her in the US that, similar to many Chinese families, their family has made the decision not to tell the grandmother of her illness. The family's rationale is that Nai Nai not knowing of her sickness means that her emotional well-being can be preserved for most of the remainder of her time. Billi, however, being removed from the traditional Chinese ways for so long and now a part of American culture means that she has troubling ...

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019) DISCLAIMER - FULL SPOILERS AHEAD - do not read on if you have yet to see the film and plan on doing so Damn, did that ending pack a punch! I am just going to go out and say that had that ending not unfolded in the way that it does, the film likely would not have worked for me. Like all of Tarantino's films the hype train leading up to Once Upon a Time's release was over the moon, no less this time because it the director's 'so-called' penultimate film. Unlike many of his previous outings however One Upon a Time is less about the plot and more about an overarching feeling, sentiment, or nostalgia of the bygone era it pays tribute to. Tarantino, as many of us know, is a walking, breathing encyclopedia of pop culture history and in this film he willfully unleashes his love for all things Hollywood onto us, the audience. The kicker here is that, as the public learned early on, he bases this film around the true and infamously...