Category Archives: movie review

“Loving”–Now Playing at the Roxy Theatre (Saskatoon)

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Cliff Burns

“Loving” (2016) Writer & Director: Jeff Nichols Cast: Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton, Will Dalton, Alano Miller, Terry Abney, Nick Kroll, Bill Camp Contemporary American cinema rarely produces a feature film of such undeniable excellence as Jeff Nichols’ “Loving”. These days, … Continue reading →

Posted in Academy Award, Best movies of the year, Cinema, film, film review, movie, movie review | Tagged "Loving", Academy Award nominee, best movies of 2016, civil rights, film, Jeff Nichols, movies, Nancy Buirski, Oscar contender, racism, segregation | Leave a comment

“High-Rise” (Directed by Ben Wheatley)

Posted on May 28, 2016 by Cliff Burns

High-Rise (2016) Director: Ben Wheatley Writers: Amy Jump & Ben Wheatley Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, Luke Evans, Elizabeth Moss A magnificent adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s cooly savage, satirical novel, Ben Wheatley’s “High-Rise” is gruesomely faithful to Ballard’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, classic cinema, cult film, film, film review, movie, movie review | Tagged "Eraserhead", "Fight Club", "High-Rise", Amy Jump, Ben Wheatley, British cinema, Cinema, film, J.G. Ballard, movie review, Tom Hiddleston | Leave a comment

“The Lobster” (2016)

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Cliff Burns

The Lobster Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Writer(s): Efthymis Filippou and Yorgos Lanthimos Cast: Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, Lea Seydoux, John C. Reilly, Ashley Jensen Don’t get me wrong, I genuinely liked “The Lobster”. Love the notion of an alt-reality where being single … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, cult film, film, film review, movie, movie review, science fiction film | Tagged "The Lobster", Colin Farrell, film, movie review, near future, science fiction, Yorgos Lanthimos | Leave a comment

Alain Marchant, a feature look at the controversial Canadian director

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Cliff Burns

The on-line site Hollywood North, a virtual magazine devoted to all things relating to Canadian movie-making, has just posted (in two parts) my feature essay on controversial Quebecois director, Alain Marchant. You’ll find the article here, with a link to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, cult film, Documentary, experimental film, film, foreign language film, movie, movie review | Tagged Alain Marchant, Canadian cinema, Canadian movies, controversial director, film essay, film review, films from Quebec, Hollywood North, Lars Von Trier, movie, Quebecois films | Leave a comment

Andrew Sarris quote

Posted on March 22, 2016 by Cliff Burns

“In cinema, as in all art, only those who risk the ridiculous have a real shot at the sublime.” (Andrew Sarris, The American Cinema)

Posted in Cinema, classic cinema, film, film review, movie, movie review | Tagged Andrew Sarris, Cinema, film quote, film reviewer, movie | Leave a comment

A pearl of wisdom from Pauline Kael

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Cliff Burns

“It’s the emotionlessness of so many violent movies that I’m becoming anxious about, not the rare violent movies (“Bonnie & Clyde”, “The Godfather”, “Mean Streets”) that make us care about the characters and what happens to them. A violent movie … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, classic cinema, crime movie, film, film review, movie, movie review | Tagged "Mean Streets", "The Godfather", Bonnie and Clyde, Cinema, film, movie, movie violence, Pauline Kael | Leave a comment

“Down Terrace” (movie review)

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Cliff Burns

Down Terrace (2009) Director: Ben Wheatley Screenplay: Robin Hill & Ben Wheatley Cast: Robert Hill, Robin Hill, Julia Deakin, David Schaal, Tony Way, Kerry Peacock, Michael Smiley Count me among Ben Wheatley’s great admirers—it is directors like him (along with … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, classic cinema, crime movie, cult film, film, film review, movie, movie review | Tagged "Down Terrace", Ben Wheatley, British cinema, crime, film review, Michael Smiley, movie review, Robin Hill | Leave a comment

“Bunny and the Bull” (movie review)

Posted on January 15, 2016 by Cliff Burns

Bunny and the Bull (2010) Writer and Director: Paul King Cast: Edward Hogg, Simon Farnaby, Veronica Echegui, Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, Richard Ayoade Due to circumstances that eventually become clear, Stephen (Edward Hogg) hasn’t left his apartment in almost a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, classic cinema, cult film, fantasy film, film, film review, movie, movie review | Tagged "A Private Function", "Bunny and the Bull", "The Mighty Boosh", "The Missionary", Edward Hogg, Handmade Films, movie review, Paul King, Simon Farnaby | Leave a comment

“Biutiful” (film review)

Posted on January 13, 2016 by Cliff Burns

Biutiful (2011) Director: Alejandro Inarritu Screenplay: Alejandro Inarritu, Armando Bo, Nicolas Giacabone Cast: Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez, Hanaa Bouchaib, Guillermo Estrella, Eduard Fernandez Director Alejandro Inarritu is a hot prospect in Hollywood these days. His latest film, “The Revenant”, just … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, classic cinema, film, film review, foreign language film, movie, movie review | Tagged "Amores Perros", "Birdman", "Biutiful", "The Revenant", Academy Award, Alejandro Inarritu, Golden Globe, Javier Bardem | Leave a comment

“Valley of the Bees” (1967)–Review

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Cliff Burns

Valley of the Bees (1967) Director: Frantisek Vlacil Screenplay: Vladimir Korner & Frantisek Vlacil Cast: Petr Cepek, Jan Kacer, Vera Galatikova, Josef Somr I have fallen in love with the Czech “New Wave”. To date, I’ve seen a number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Best movies of the year, Cinema, classic cinema, cult film, film, film review, foreign language film, movie, movie review | Tagged "Valley of the Bees", Czech cinema, Czech New Wave, film, foreign film, Frantisek Vlacil, movie, movie review | Leave a comment