2021, Film Festival, Reviews N - Z, TIFF 2021

TIFF 2021 Review: “The Rescue”

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TIFF 2021 Review: “The Rescue”

The Rescue is the first documentary I’ve seen at TIFF, as part of their TIFF Docs programme. It’s a documentary about the rescue efforts in Thailand in 2018, when a soccer team of 12 kids and their coach found themselves trapped in the complex Tham Luang cave system. I have a terrible memory, but I’m sure I tracked this story when it made global headlines in 2018. I must have missed some important factors about it, as I was picturing them being lost deep in a cave, or being caved in somehow, where I was picturing a 127 Hours or Kirk Douglas film Ace in the Hole kind-of scenario. I didn’t realize it was flooding that trapped them. These are some of the perfect details tracked.

2021, Film Festival, Reviews # - M, TIFF 2021

TIFF 2021 Review: “All My Puny Sorrows”

by Daniel PrinnLeave a Comment on TIFF 2021 Review: “All My Puny Sorrows”
TIFF 2021 Review: “All My Puny Sorrows”

In Michael McGowan’s adaptation of Miriam Toews’ novel of the same name, All My Puny Sorrows concerns two sisters: Yoli (Alison Pill), a writer struggling with success, and the other, Elf (Sarah Gadon), a brilliant concert pianist who’s hellbent on ending her own life. The themes in this film are very heavy, as it opens with their father Jake (Donal Logue) waiting for a train and stepping in front of it to end his life. It’s a heartbreaking film that you’ll need a pick-me-up from after watching it, and one that I admittedly was apprehensive that would have the dull, negative melodrama of August: Osage County. However, this is a truly beautiful film. I really enjoyed these characters and getting to learn about the sisters’ relationship, and I was surprised by the story because I figured the sisters would be brought together by their father’s suicide, and not Elf’s own suicide attempt.

2021, Film Festival, Reviews # - M, TIFF 2021

TIFF 2021 Review: “Montana Story”

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TIFF 2021 Review: “Montana Story”

Besides the characters themselves, this film might as well be a tourism advertisement for the beauty of Montana. Giles Nuttgens’ cinematography is gorgeous, highlighting the landscapes, and it looks beautiful even in simple scenes of Erin riding a horse, Mr. T, with landscapes in the background. The cinematography here definitely has put Montana on my bucket list. The film’s great score complements these visuals so beautifully, too, and some scenes had me in awe.

1990s, Editorial

Editorial: How “Rounders” Led to a Poker Boom

by Daniel PrinnLeave a Comment on Editorial: How “Rounders” Led to a Poker Boom
Editorial: How “Rounders” Led to a Poker Boom

With over 100 million poker players globally, you could argue that there should be a lot more films about one of the most entertaining games in the world. Although there isn’t a raft of poker-based movies, there is one which stands head and shoulders above the rest and is still spoken about to this day [...]

2021, Interviews, Podcast

“Bad Candy” Interview | Writers, Directors Scott B. Hansen, Desiree Connell | The Filmcraziest Show

by Daniel PrinnLeave a Comment on “Bad Candy” Interview | Writers, Directors Scott B. Hansen, Desiree Connell | The Filmcraziest Show
“Bad Candy” Interview | Writers, Directors Scott B. Hansen, Desiree Connell | The Filmcraziest Show

For my podcast The Filmcraziest Show, I was able to speak with the minds behind Bad Candy. They are Desiree Connell and Scott B. Hansen, who share directing duties, as well as writing duties.  In our conversation, we touch on the vignette shooting and how they don’t personally consider it an anthology film and adding to the Halloween resurgence and playing by Halloween rules.

2021, Fantasia 2021, Interviews, Podcast

“Glasshouse” Fantasia Interview | Director, Co-Writer Kelsey Egan | The Filmcraziest Show

by Daniel PrinnLeave a Comment on “Glasshouse” Fantasia Interview | Director, Co-Writer Kelsey Egan | The Filmcraziest Show
“Glasshouse” Fantasia Interview | Director, Co-Writer Kelsey Egan | The Filmcraziest Show

At this past Fantasia Film Festival at the end of August, I was able to watch Kelsey Egan's Glasshouse, a unique sci-fi drama thriller about a family isolated in a glasshouse in the middle of the woods, sheltered away from a toxin outside that erases memory. When a stranger comes across their property, the eldest daughter Bee (Jessica Alexander) let's him in, which goes against their rules and rituals, and threatens their family unit. 

You can find my review of the film here. I was also able to speak with Kelsey about her film, which she co-wrote with Emma Lungiswa De Wet. You can find my conversation with Kelsey directly below as we spoke for my podcast The Filmcraziest Show.

2021, Reviews N - Z

Review: Powder Keg (Krudttønden) (2020)

by Daniel PrinnLeave a Comment on Review: Powder Keg (Krudttønden) (2020)
Review: Powder Keg (Krudttønden) (2020)

Featured image: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in Powder Keg. (Courtesy of Route 504 PR.) Directed by Ole Christian Madsen. Written by Lars Kristian Andersen, Ole Christian Madsen. Starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jakob Oftebro, Lars Brygmann. Runtime 1h 46 min. Released Sept. 7, 2021 (in Canada); March 5, 2020 (in Denmark). In Powder Keg (Krudttønden in Danish), we learn about the terrorist [...]

2021, Fantasia 2021, Interviews, Podcast

“Victim No. 6” Fantasia Interview | Writer, Director Nancy Menagh, and Star Heather Brittain O’Scanlon | The Filmcraziest Show

by Daniel PrinnLeave a Comment on “Victim No. 6” Fantasia Interview | Writer, Director Nancy Menagh, and Star Heather Brittain O’Scanlon | The Filmcraziest Show
“Victim No. 6” Fantasia Interview | Writer, Director Nancy Menagh, and Star Heather Brittain O’Scanlon | The Filmcraziest Show

At this year’s past Fantasia Film Festival, I had the chance to speak with the minds behind the short film Victim No. 6, which premiered as part of the Born of Woman programme. I spoke with the film’s writer, director and producer Nancy Menagh, as well as producer and star Heather Brittain O’Scanlon, who plays Donna in the film.

2021, Interviews, Podcast

“Creation Stories” Interview | Director Nick Moran | The Filmcraziest Show

by Daniel PrinnLeave a Comment on “Creation Stories” Interview | Director Nick Moran | The Filmcraziest Show
“Creation Stories” Interview | Director Nick Moran | The Filmcraziest Show

At the height of Britpop, the founder and head of Creation Records, Alan McGee (played by Ewen Bremner in the biography Creation Stories) was at the height of his career, discovering bands like Oasis that would heavily influence the 1990s, and music from there on. Nick Moran's film tells the story of the rebellion of the age, [...]