Tag Archives: film review

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 →

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“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 →

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“The Zero Theorem” (Directed by Terry Gilliam)

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Cliff Burns

Director: Terry Gilliam Screenplay: Pat Rushin Cast: Christoph Waltz, David Thewlis, Melanie Thierry, Lucas Hedges, Matt Damon Terry Gilliam wants to know what makes us special. What separates us, as individuals, from the hive mind of humanity, the constant background … Continue reading →

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“The Double” (Directed by Richard Ayoade)

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Cliff Burns

“The Double” (2014) Director: Richard Ayoade Screenplay:  Richard Ayoade & Avi Korine Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mia Wasikowska, Noah Taylor, Cathy Moriarty, Wallace Shawn It’s a question of identity, the most basic, fundamental notion of who we are and the way we … Continue reading →

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“A Field in England” (movie review)

Posted on May 8, 2014 by Cliff Burns

A Field in England (2013) Director: Ben Wheatley Writer: Amy Jump & Ben Wheatley Cast: Reece Sheersmith, Michael Smiley, Ryan Pope, Richard Glover, Peter Ferdinando A film so defiantly weird and consciously anti-narrative that one can’t help wondering, how was … Continue reading →

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Reviews of “The Great Beauty” and “The Wind Rises”

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Cliff Burns

The Great Beauty (2013) Written & Directed by Paolo Sorrentino Cinematography:  Luca Bigazzi Cast:  Toni Servillo, Carlo Verdone, Sabrina Ferilli, Carlo Buccirosso Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Film. “The Great Beauty” is a fitting, but never servile, homage to the … Continue reading →

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Recently viewed…and read

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Cliff Burns

Making Movies With Orson Welles by Gary Graver (with Andrew J. Rausch) (Scarecrow Press; 2008) Secured a copy of Gary Graver’s memoir Making Movies With Orson Welles through an interlibrary loan (all the way from the University of Alberta library … Continue reading →

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Double feature at the Roxy Theater (Saskatoon)

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Cliff Burns

Nebraska Director:  Alexander Payne Screenplay:  Bob Nelson Cast:  Bruce Dern, Will Forte, Bob Odenkirk, June Squibb, Stacy Keach Forgive the first ten minutes. “Nebraska” doesn’t start well. The dialogue is stilted, there’s too much exposition and the actors, particularly Bob … Continue reading →

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“Blancanieves” (2012): Movie Review

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Cliff Burns

Blancanieves (2012) Written and Directed by: Pablo Berger Cast:  Maribel Verdu, Emilio Gavira, Daniel Gimenez Cacho, Angela Molina, Sofia Oria, Macarena Garcia The story is familiar, you’ve known it since childhood. The film teases us for possessing that foreknowledge, giving us … Continue reading →

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“The Tree Of Life” (2011) Written & Directed by Terence Mallick

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Cliff Burns

What constitutes a masterpiece?  What quality or aspect grants certain works special status, a place in the pantheon, among the immortals? Originality, certainly; also the scope of the creator’s ambition, their aesthetic fearlessness and uncompromising vision.  A masterpiece can be … Continue reading →

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