Mike Goes To Movies

Sound of Metal (2020) TLDR: Easily one of the best films I have seen in a long while. Grounded by an absolutely stellar performance by Riz Ahmed (and co-star, Olivia Cooke), Darius Marder's Sound of Metal is a moving and deeply-empathetic look into the journey and struggle to find peace with one's self through the lens of a musician who loses his hearing.  Have no doubt, if you are not yet familiar with the names Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke you are about to be. Both actors - Ahmed in particular who leads the film - are transcendent in Darius Marder's Sound of Metal. Ahmed plays Ruben, a heavy metal drummer, in a duo group led by guitar/singer, Lou, played by Cooke. The two are as much a pair off-stage as they are on it. It is clear from early on that they are all that the other really has in life and they are content to travel across the country in their RV together playing shows and making ends meet as best they can. However, all goes awry when Ruben - who batters his eardr...

Bullet in the Head (1990) As someone who (clearly) loves film, I feel pretty lucky to live in a city where special screenings of films happen often. This past Saturday was such an opportunity. At the TIFF Lightbox I attended a viewing of John Woo's classic film, Bullet in the Head. As host, Colin Geddes, said in his introduction, this 35mm cut of the film was of the utmost rare; on top of it essentially being an unauthorized screening (consent was attempted, however, the owner of this cut is no longer an operating company...) it was also one of a number of cuts of the film with alternate endings - Colin himself did not know what version we were about to see. This is the exact type of film-going experience that cinephiles go wild for - and I have to thank a friend of mine (you know who you are) for informing me of this screening and pushing me to check it out. Out of Woo's vast filmography, Bullet in the Head is his most personal. Unlike many of his other films that are ...

TIFF: Honey Boy (2019) Yes, yes, I know TIFF has long come and gone but I still have one more review to espouse upon the masses. Honey Boy, written by and starring Shia LaBeouf, is his very personal story of his life growing up in the limelight with his father, James Lort. The film is powerfully moving, at times disturbing and also enlightening into the early life of this troubled actor and his later life attempting to coming to terms with and moving forward into a less-destructive way of life. It is a true testament to the talent of LaBeouf, both in his acting and writing, as well as that of Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges (who play versions of LaBeouf at different points in his life) as well as Alma Ha'rel who makes her feature directorial debut here. As most of us know, throughout the past number of years Shia LaBeouf has been at the forefront of many tabloid-esque stories, often showcasing eccentric and/or anti-social displays and run-ins with various individuals. Though none ...

TIFF: Joker (2019) Part of the magic of the Batman and the Joker is the fluidity we have seen throughout the years in their character and genre of story. From the 1960's tv show, to the Burton era, to the various animated shows, to the Nolan trilogy, each variation has had its highly-unique and also successful take on these legendary characters. With regards to Joker himself, I don't think I'd be wrong to say that many of us did not think a new spin on the character could ever reach the heights of Heath Ledger's portrayal in The Dark Knight (this is even coming from me who has read plentiful intriguing Joker stories with  potential for adaptation). And yet, here we are today, with Todd Phillip's "Joker" and I do say with confidence - it is a game-changer. Joker is an absolutely incredible film that plays tribute not only to classic Batman stories but also, astoundingly, to some of director, Martin Scorsese's, classics. It is like the love child of...

TIFF: Knives Out (2019) It is no surprise that Rian Johnson enjoys his genre films, particularly those involving mysteries, twists and intricate plots. We have already seen him tackle classic noir with Brick and the big con with The Brothers Bloom, and with this year's Knives Out he moves on to an even older mystery genre - the detective caper. Like Brick did for Raymond Chandler, Knives Out is a contemporary retelling of a Christie or Conan Doyle story involving a high profile death, a cast of exaggerated characters - each with an intriguing backstory rife with possible motive - and, of course, a renowned detective. For the most part Johnson hits all of the right notes with this film, although the back half tends to meander more and loses some of its momentum as the plot focuses down on only a few of the characters as well as some long-winded exposition and explanation that guides the final moments. There is a lot to enjoy with Knives Out. As many have seen in trailer or pos...

TIFF: Waves (2019) Waves was the one film this year that, going in, I really knew nothing about other than it was about two young couples growing up in the southern US. Generally speaking, I would say that I often have a decent amount of info going into a movie and I found that it was an overly nice surprise having no preconceived notions or expectations as I watched Waves. Writer/director, Trey Edwards Shults, had really only had one notable prior film, It Comes at Night, but I have not actually seen it myself. And so, when I saw Waves this past Tuesday evening it was very much an open canvass for me. Due to surprising events that happen in the film that very much dictate its second half I cannot add much more to the brief summary I've given above. I can say that the film is about a young African American family living in Florida who deal with many contemporary issues that other similar families have to contend with across the US and abroad. The dad and step-mom are played b...

TIFF: Uncut Gems (2019) Okay, so apologies for the lack of reviews coming out lately. I've been a bit busy running around to TIFF films this past week but I finally now have some time to sit down for a bit and begin writing about these awesome and exciting films I've seen at the festival. First up is Uncut Gems - who's ready for more Safdie Brothers praise from mikegoestomovies??  The Brothers Safdie - Josh and Benny's - newest thriller stars Adam Sandler as Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner / dealer who can't help but inject himself into shady deal after deal in order to chase the biggest score possible while simultaneously pulling everyone in his life into his dangerous and chaotic lifestyle. Uncut Gems bears many similarities to the brothers' previous outings. It has a quasi-documentary feel featuring floating cameras and lots of improvisational dialogue. Like Good Time, the plot is like a rolling snowball where the inciting event at the film...

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 -...

Crash (1996) + Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg Chat (2019) Last night I had the absolute pleasure of attending a TIFF special viewing of Cronenberg's highly controversial Crash, hosted by Viggo Mortensen, and followed by a discussion by him with Cronenberg himself, who surprised the audience with an unannounced appearance at the theatre. The night was started with some interesting words by Viggo that helped to set the audience for the viewing (especially for those that, like myself, had not seen Crash before). In talking about Crash and Cronenberg, Viggo said one of his favourite things about the director is that, in his films, Cronenberg never tells the viewer what to think. Unlike many films today, Cronenberg's films usually do not have the moralistic objective or cathartic ending, delivering to the audience a specific and intended message by the filmmakers. I found this a particularly interesting statement coming from Viggo as his recent, highly-acclaimed Green Boo...