TIFF ’21: ‘Dune’ Review

By: Amanda Guarragi Denis Villeneuve’s Dune can be seen as a culmination of his work that came before it. With Enemy and Arrival under his belt, Villeneuve explored the extraterrestrial and created creatures among the real world. The combination of the existential dread, with his visuals for his science-fiction films, have been elevated with the story from Frank Herbert. Villeneuve created a grand scale epic … Continue reading TIFF ’21: ‘Dune’ Review

TIFF ’21 ‘Last Night In Soho’ Review

By: Amanda Guarragi Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho is a psychological thriller, that explores the journey of two women and their traumatic past. He pays homage to classic giallo horror films, while adding his own signature twists. Wright takes us to the streets of London, with Ellie (Thomasin McKenzie), a 1960s-obsessed young woman who ventures from the English countryside to study fashion at a … Continue reading TIFF ’21 ‘Last Night In Soho’ Review

TIFF ’21: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Review

By: Amanda Guarragi Dear Evan Hansen, This is a movie musical that should have stayed a stage production. Like many that came before it, Dear Evan Hansen, suffers from the overly long runtime and loses its original message. Some musicals do not fit the screen and that’s okay. I have never watched the Broadway production and I now regret not listening to the original soundtrack … Continue reading TIFF ’21: ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Review

TIFF ’21: ‘Petite Maman’ Review

By: Amanda Guarragi From French auteur Celine Sciamma, comes a beautiful intergenerational story about grief, love, and the journey of life. After her grandmother dies, Nelly (Joséphine Sanz) is taken to her mother’s childhood home. While her parents go about cleaning out the house, Nelly explores the surrounding woods. She encounters Marion (Gabrielle Sanz), a girl exactly Nelly’s age and to whom she bears a … Continue reading TIFF ’21: ‘Petite Maman’ Review

‘The Card Counter’ Review

By: Amanda Guarragi Poker is a fairly interesting game, not only to play, but to watch. Sometimes Texas Hold’em can get intense, and Blackjack can get risky. Whether you are watching from home or sitting at a table yourself, the stakes are always high. If you have been at a casino, no matter where you’re standing, there’s a different air that surrounds you. There’s a … Continue reading ‘The Card Counter’ Review