A Month in Film: July 2025The Life of Chuck (2024)
Genuinely heartwarming! I love this idea of containing multitudes, and it's presented here in a really powerful way. Not sure if that is owed to the novel, but nonetheless it had me tearing up at moments. While this isn't a full on sci-fi, I'd love to see more of this kind of thing, similar to The Beast or After Yang from recent years.
Watched at the International Village Cineplex. This is where you end up when Scotiabank Theatre ends their run of a film early.
Watched at the International Village Cineplex. This is where you end up when Scotiabank Theatre ends their run of a film early.
Torn Curtain (1966)
There's not a whole lot I would call exciting going on in this one. Like a 007 film filtered through a more realistic lens... which is fair, but doesn't make for great entertainment. It can be done well — Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy for instance, even if it came out half a century later — it just doesn't seem like anyone is buying in fully here. It's a shame, given all the talent involved.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, from the Alfred Hitchcock 4K boxset, Volume 3. Not on the level of a Vertigo or Rear Window in the 4K department, but still quite nice.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, from the Alfred Hitchcock 4K boxset, Volume 3. Not on the level of a Vertigo or Rear Window in the 4K department, but still quite nice.
Blood Simple (1984)
This ones lays down the Coen brothers framework — an offbeat, low budget neo-noir that squeezes just about everything it can, entertainment wise, out of seemingly everyday American townspeople and whatever four corners they call home. The tension is palpable! Frances McDormand and the Coen brothers swinging right out of the gate, fantastic stuff.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, from the Criterion Collection. Really impressive transfer! I would put it up there with After Hours as another super tight 4K restoration coming out of the same era.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, from the Criterion Collection. Really impressive transfer! I would put it up there with After Hours as another super tight 4K restoration coming out of the same era.
Stripes (1981)
Unhinged to the max — some of it hits, some doesn't, that's pretty much just the way it goes with some older comedies. Loved the heavily armoured recreational vehicle. John Candy needed more screen time!
Watched on 4K blu-ray. Columbia Classics Volume 2 boxset. A bit of a curious inclusion in the set — pairing this with Taxi Driver or The Social Network is definitely a choice.
Watched on 4K blu-ray. Columbia Classics Volume 2 boxset. A bit of a curious inclusion in the set — pairing this with Taxi Driver or The Social Network is definitely a choice.
The Town (2010)
This definitely reads to me as a Ben Affleck vanity project, or a vanity project to any Bostonian really — Affleck adorns Bruins and Red Sox jackets in what felt like the first ten minutes of the film. While the heist sequences are pretty good, and there are some good one-liners (especially from Jeremy Renner), I just can't wrap my head around what was going on with Affleck's character. Some very questionable writing there.
Rented on Apple TV. It's been sitting in my watchlist for forever... I knew this one heavily featured Fenway Park, and the Jays just finished a series there, so it only felt natural. Definitely high on my list of ballparks to visit.
Rented on Apple TV. It's been sitting in my watchlist for forever... I knew this one heavily featured Fenway Park, and the Jays just finished a series there, so it only felt natural. Definitely high on my list of ballparks to visit.
Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)
My favourite part was the Vampire Weekend needle drop... predictably, everything else can go in the trash!
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver. AVX. No IMAX for this one — seems like F1 has a chokehold on that for the time being. The Odyssey trailer was pretty hype.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver. AVX. No IMAX for this one — seems like F1 has a chokehold on that for the time being. The Odyssey trailer was pretty hype.
The Face of Another (1966)
The bandaged up face with fedora look would go pretty hard at the weirdest Halloween party you've ever been to. Jokes aside, the idea of dawning a mask, or disguise, and becoming someone or something totally unrecognizable is a timeless idea, and I love the methodical, borderline surreal approach here.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. I would love to see this get a 4K release.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. I would love to see this get a 4K release.
Bright Lights, Big City (1988)
The book is pretty classic material for guys in a restless state of transition (yours truly), seeking an escape from a poor match in life circumstances (ouch). While I don't think this is an awful adaptation, my biggest gripe is with the ending — literally trading a pair of sunglasses for a baguette is supposed to be a moment of clarity, a moment where the coke fuelled debauchery subsides and hints at a path beyond the titular bright lights of the big city, but it creeps up in the film without earning that kind of intense symbolism. Regardless, the second person narration was going to be hard to truly adapt for film, and it mostly just systemically works its way through the events of the novel. Michael J. Fox is a little bit outmatched for this material, but I think he holds his own (the drunken monologue bit is fantastic). Griffin Dunne's Paul Hackett in After Hours would eat this up though. And finally, cool “True Faith” needle-drop, very reminiscent of the one tucked into American Psycho just over a decade later!
Watched on Tubi. I read the book earlier this year, but the film wasn't available on any streaming services, until now. Long live Tubi!
Watched on Tubi. I read the book earlier this year, but the film wasn't available on any streaming services, until now. Long live Tubi!
Black Narcissus (1947)
This was absolutely not what I expected, but it was truly amazing. I knew from everything I've seen about it that it's a technical marvel, with scenes so gorgeous they will be etched in your mind as a literal painting, but it's the repressed sexual tension here, especially coming out of a conservative era of filmmaking like this, that really shocked me. So much about this is ahead of its time — it's absolutely toeing the line of what was commonplace at the time, but its willingness to go there, in borderline horror fashion, makes it all the more effective. What appears to be a film about religion really is a breakdown of temptation in the face of desire, where the convent makes for an extremely clever, emotionally constrained vessel to carry these ideas.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. Sometimes you just have to randomly dive headfirst into an unseen (on my part) classic.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. Sometimes you just have to randomly dive headfirst into an unseen (on my part) classic.
M3GAN 2.0 (2025)
The Judgment Day-ification of M3GAN. There's SO much going on here, but it does capture the unhinged insanity of the original. I think there's a little bit too much absurdity going on for me to place it right next to the original — I lost track of how many times the goalposts were moved for whatever it was they were after — but still, just some nice and silly fun! Tom Cruise and Kate Bush approved.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver.
Watched at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver.
The Shrouds (2024)
Knowing what Mr. Cronenberg has gone through in these later stages of his life, this film is honestly devastating. It touches on a lot of the staples of his discography — I want to call it techno sci-fi, but this just may be where the world is at right now, but of course it's heavy on the physical side of things when it comes to the mind and body. Ultimately, the way this film navigates grief, what it means to reconcile with all the regret and paranoia that sets in following the loss of a loved one, could have only come from one of the greatest minds in the world of sci-fi and horror.
Side note: I don't want to speculate on whether or not this is Mr. Cronenberg's last film, but it warmed my heart to see him return to Toronto as Toronto here. The subtle Canadiana was very much appreciated, from Guy Pearce with the Timmies cup, to a TTC streetcar shuffling along outside a restaurant, to Diane Kruger skilfully wielding a bag of milk. And a couple of Toronto restaurant recommendations to boot.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. Regrettably, I missed out on catching it in theatres, but I'm glad the channel is handling the digital release.
Side note: I don't want to speculate on whether or not this is Mr. Cronenberg's last film, but it warmed my heart to see him return to Toronto as Toronto here. The subtle Canadiana was very much appreciated, from Guy Pearce with the Timmies cup, to a TTC streetcar shuffling along outside a restaurant, to Diane Kruger skilfully wielding a bag of milk. And a couple of Toronto restaurant recommendations to boot.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. Regrettably, I missed out on catching it in theatres, but I'm glad the channel is handling the digital release.
From Beyond (1986)
Teaming up to make something awesome is one thing — running it back just a year later is next-level, and very much appreciated. Maybe not as iconic as Re-Animator, but this one still serves up all the ooey-gooey grossness we love to see. 80s body horror prosthetics and makeup are always a sight to behold.
Watched on Tubi. Vinegar Syndrome has a 4K release of this... I'm very tempted!
Watched on Tubi. Vinegar Syndrome has a 4K release of this... I'm very tempted!
Personal Shopper (2016)
I'm not sure what this all adds up to, but it's at least captivating while it's on. Just wish it tied itself up a bit more emphatically. It tries its hand at a lot of different styles, being a meditation on grief bundled up as a mystery and a ghost story. The grief aspect is a lot like a recent watch in The Shrouds. And this is a landmark performance from Kristen Stewart — I don't think the mainstream has quite caught on post Twilight, at least from what I've heard, but at least those who ought to know are well aware!
Watched on the Criterion Channel.
Watched on the Criterion Channel.
Vanilla Sky (2001)
It's like a sober Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas in how frantic it is, with a sci-fi premise reminiscent of Total Recall. I don't think it's quite as sharp as either of those, and it feels a bit preachy, especially towards the end, but it's still pretty neat. Casting and performances are all great, with appearances from some names who have evidently gone on to greater heights with bigger roles. Cameron Crowe's style feels a bit overbearing here. Like, we get it, you have cool taste in music — you don't need to needle drop Radiohead AND have your main character reference the band themselves. That probably would have went over better in Almost Famous.
Purchased and watched on Apple TV.
Purchased and watched on Apple TV.
Midsommar (2019)
I've definitely seen some shit in the five years since I saw first saw this, putting me in a much better position to digest this now. The influences are there — Rosemary's Baby stylistically, The Wicker Man thematically — but honestly? This is its own unparalleled thing. The commitment to the concept is insane. Totally unafraid to go wherever it wants to go. I miss when A24 was putting out bangers like this, splitting friend groups, revoking movie selection privileges from unlucky, or perhaps ballsy individuals (hello The Green Knight!). 2019 was such a generational run for them, with this, The Lighthouse, and Uncut Gems all dropping that year. Really such a great year for movies in general. Shoutout to my homie Will Poulter, he's hilarious in this.
Watched on 4K blu-ray. I'm conditionally declaring it Ari Aster season, but we will see come later this week with Eddington.
Watched on 4K blu-ray. I'm conditionally declaring it Ari Aster season, but we will see come later this week with Eddington.
Akira (1988)
I knew this was well regarded for its visual flair, but I had no idea it would have such a palpable social-political angle to it. It packs a sensory overload that demands all of your attention, a degree to which I probably wasn't prepared for on a Monday night! I will likely get more out of it whenever I re-watch it.
Watched on blu-ray. Japanese audio with English subs.
Watched on blu-ray. Japanese audio with English subs.
Eight Men Out (1988)
History lessons are a lot more fun when you don't have to write a paper on it. Especially when it involves sports! I had read up on the Black Sox scandal a few weeks ago, and was very curious to see how it would be tackled as a film, especially with all the heavyweight names involved. It's like half and half sports film and courtroom drama. The children tagging around Buck Weaver felt like the emotional foundation of the film — adults corrupting a childhood pastime is the real tragedy here. The ending was a bit hammed up, but all in all it's pretty fun.
Watched on Tubi. Blue Jays off-day called for a baseball flick.
Watched on Tubi. Blue Jays off-day called for a baseball flick.
Eddington (2025)
This is going to be one of the most divisive movies of the year. I know Ari Aster was already steering away from horror with Beau Is Afraid, but it was still pretty fucked up. Here with Eddington, this is the closest he's gotten to "normal". It's super meta, even if it's 5 years removed from the quarantine days of the pandemic, but feels meta mainly because it's probably the most high profile swipe at a portrayal of the social-political climate that accompanied those times. But honestly? I don't think it has much teeth. I couldn't quite place what angle it's coming from. You can't have your cake and eat it too. I get that it can be read as a breakdown of the induced insanity on all parts, but I don't think that's the common takeaway from those times. And many years from now, once this time has become a distant memory, I don't think a re-watch of this is going to get the cathartic reaction it totally had in reach.
Watched at the Marine Drive Cineplex. Seems that Scotiabank Theatre is passing on this one.
Watched at the Marine Drive Cineplex. Seems that Scotiabank Theatre is passing on this one.
Death Race 2000 (1975)
The fact that this even exists boggles my mind — we are in deep! I was cackling early on, and while some of its schticks do start wear thin (even on an 80 minute runtime), the characters, cars, and kills, are all instantly memorable, just for the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
Watched on Tubi.
Watched on Tubi.
Jurassic World Rebirth (2025)
Not much to add to my previous review, but I continue to be baffled at how samey these movies have become. You would think dinosaurs in general are a slam dunk, but they all find a way to fumble it. I particularly don't like how claustrophobic and quiet the island is here — there's no sense of wonder!
Re-watch at Scotiabank Theatre, in 3D this time. Zak wanted to watch while in town.
Re-watch at Scotiabank Theatre, in 3D this time. Zak wanted to watch while in town.
Detour (1945)
Taut little noir. "Little" in a literal sense, clocking in at 68 minutes. Interesting how it flips the femme fatale trope on its head. The relationship is antagonistic almost from the get go — are all well aware of the manipulation and betrayal at play, making it all the more bleak.
Watched on the Criterion Channel.
Watched on the Criterion Channel.
Body of Lies (2008)
As a pure entertainment piece, it delivers. Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott doing their thing, with Leo tagging along for the ride. Casting Mark Strong as a Jordanian is certainly a choice. But I would say, the political messaging here is muddled... but unlike Black Hawk Down, which is pretty much devoid of context, I at least think there's an attempt at it here.
Rented on Apple TV. Saturdays are for watching mostly forgotten blu-ray era thrillers that somehow involve Russell Crowe or one of his contemporaries. Plug in the USB and run that shit.
Rented on Apple TV. Saturdays are for watching mostly forgotten blu-ray era thrillers that somehow involve Russell Crowe or one of his contemporaries. Plug in the USB and run that shit.
Marnie (1964)
The idea that we’re watching something not meant to be seen underlies a lot of Hitchcock’s work (Rear Window,Psycho, Dial M for Murder), but this one here is shocking for how profound the revelation is — it’s not just murder or voyeurism for the sake of suspense. Add in everything that's problematic with Sean Connery's character and it really does feel like all of this is forbidden. We're witnessing and unpacking trauma, experiencing all of the discomfort that comes with it. The lead performances here aren't really anything to write home about, and the problematic subject matter is always going to hold it back in a modern context, but this is certainly a fascinating, albeit uncomfortable, entry in Hitchcock's filmography.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, from the second volume Alfred Hitchcock 4K boxset. Fantastic transfer. Seems like they had a very good source for this one, with hardly any unrestored elements.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, from the second volume Alfred Hitchcock 4K boxset. Fantastic transfer. Seems like they had a very good source for this one, with hardly any unrestored elements.
Miami Blues (1990)
It's an intentionally exaggerated take on typical 80s crime fare, probably benefiting from the fact that by 1990 they had a whole decade of it to look back on. It's a bit hit and miss, definitely feeling like they took the best bits of a novel and patched it together for the screen, but it does have its moments. The cast is great, and the pastel Miami colour palette is awesome.
Watched on the Criterion Channel, part of their Miami Neonoir collection new this month.
Watched on the Criterion Channel, part of their Miami Neonoir collection new this month.
Scarecrow (1973)
Another entry into the guys being dudes canon. Simultaneously endearing and heartbreaking — I'm fully buying into the redemption arc of both of these fellas, even if we aren't privy to their pasts. Movies that look to soften a hardened individual are more common than I realized, as I've watched a handful lately that work (Man on Fire) and others that don't (Rain Man, As Good as It Gets). You can just feel it inside when it works, and I surely felt it here. The casting here is perfect.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. I imagine it's included in a few of their ongoing collections, most importantly Celebrating Gene Hackman.
Watched on the Criterion Channel. I imagine it's included in a few of their ongoing collections, most importantly Celebrating Gene Hackman.
A Man for All Seasons (1966)
Overall, definitely works well if you're looking for a by the numbers historical retelling of the state/monarchy/religion at the time. Fantastic costumes and performances. I just don't happen to be super into what it's going for as a drama — I'm more of a historical epic kind of guy.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, part of Columbia Classics Volume 5. Great technicolor presentation here — too bad it's buried in this boxset without a standalone release.
Watched on 4K blu-ray, part of Columbia Classics Volume 5. Great technicolor presentation here — too bad it's buried in this boxset without a standalone release.
