Little Women: A Movie Review
What we’ve come to expect from Gerwig is attention to detail. From dialogue to costumes, from movement to lighting. There is no shortage of details to pick up on, no overlooking of a single, minute thing. Imperfections are rejoiced, spirits are lifted, and generations can find common ground in the humanity of the film.
Cradle of a Certain Harbour City Culture
The infamous China Steps of Downtown Nanaimo, located between Victoria Crescent and Terminal Avenue, has this post-historical aroma of a cultural genesis and if you look ever so closely, you might be able to see a spry blue building that cradles a certain Harbour City culture; enter: The Hub City Cinema Society (HCCS). This nonprofit … Continued
VISFF: They Were Short, and They Were Films
Above: The audience at VISFF via the VISFF Facebook page February 13 marked the 11th annual Vancouver Island Short Film Festival (VISFF). Thirteen films screened, 12 of which were filmed in BC, and four of those from Nanaimo. A wide variety of films were shown, many of which were drama, with dabs of comedy, and … Continued
Fractured Land Comes to VIU
By contributor Chantelle Spicer On December 15, VIU will host the film Fractured Land in the Malaspina Theatre, co-sponsored by Solutions: A Sustainability Network and the Aboriginal Students’ Union. A film rich in the beauty of the BC landscape and cinematography, it won two awards at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2015. The documentary, now on tour across the country, … Continued
Crimson Peak Movie Review: A love letter to gothic horror
By contributor Brendan Barlow “In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds…and remembers.” – via imdb.com I will declare my … Continued
Movie Review: Wish I Was Here
Wish I Was Here is one of those movies that somehow finds its way onto your Netflix “Recommended for You” list, and you sit there for a moment trying to piece together your watching habits in a desperate attempt to understand why it’s there. And since it’s Tuesday, and you’re in limbo between reminiscing/recovering from … Continued
And…ACTION!
Many children outgrow writing stories and making films, but Zachary Tannar didn’t. When his friends moved on, Tannar found himself searching for a new group of people to talk with about his passions. What started as a small group meeting for coffee every once in a while to chat became an official non-profit organization in … Continued
Movie review: Song of the Sea
By contributor Spencer Wilson The Academy Awards had a grotesque amount of disappointments this year, one being being the Best Animated Feature category. The absence of The Lego Movie was irritating given it was the only 3D animated film that utilized the animation style creatively and had something to say. Big Hero 6 is not … Continued
The Cinematheque’s 24 Hour Movie Marathon
By contributor Spencer Wilson. From 10 am on February 28 to 10 am on February 29, I had the pleasure of attending the Cinematheque’s second 24 Hour Movie Marathon in Vancouver. The $40 tickets were well worth the price considering the amount of films shown and the free goodies given out. 15 films that the … Continued
Movie review: Inherent Vice
By contributor Spencer Wilson Leave it to legendary director Paul Thomas Anderson to immaculately adapt the first ever film of a Thomas Pynchon novel. Diving into the world of Inherent Vice feels like you are revisiting Boogie Nights (1977), but with a touch of oneiric reality thanks to the cast’s heavy drug use. Inherent Vice … Continued
Movie review: The Theory of Everything
By contributor Spencer Wilson There is something to be said about a Stephen Hawking docudrama that moves the man himself to tears. Based on the autobiography Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen by Hawking’s ex-wife, Jane Wilde, The Theory of Everything attempts to charter the degradation of his physicality due to ALS and how … Continued
Essential viewing: Man on Wire (2008)
By contributor Spencer Wilson When first hearing about Man on Wire, it’s hard to imagine this will be an entertaining or engaging film. And yet, the documentary about Philippe Petit’s 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers manages to not only be a great film, but one of the best documentaries of all time. Petit … Continued
Something to do this weekend: Nanaimo Global Film Festival
On the cusp of reading week for VIU students, the Nanaimo Global Film Festival will be showing over 30 films from around the world February 21 and 22, on Nanaimo’s campus. Robin Davies, a Media Studies professor at VIU, works with the department to provide technical support to students and the Nanaimo Global … Continued
Preview of the 10th Vancouver Island Short Film Festival
By contributor Spencer Wilson This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Vancouver Island Short Film Festival (VISFF). The festival was created in 2005 by Johnny Blakeborough and John Gardiner with the goal of creating an event where local filmmakers would have a venue to showcase their films. This goal quickly spread to including films … Continued