Cinema Tonic | Film Reviews and Analysis

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July 2023

May 2023

April 2023

How To Blow Up A Pipeline is a taught indie eco-thriller with a pulse-pounding score that drives toward structural damage
Daniel Goldhaber's sophomore feature grips with an edgy story, superb cast, tight edit, banging score, and exceptional direction; an indie thriller not…
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Malcolm Taylor
Beau is Afraid: Ari Astor's bold, visionary epic on the interiority of anxiety writ large on an IMAX screen is the cinema event of the year…
Joaquin Phoenix's psychologically intense performance portraying a minimized hero's journey to reunite with his mother, creates a towering Citizen Kane…
4
Renfield: worse than Ant-Man 3?
Even a Cage-ified Nic Cage can't save this film from the misguided dreck that it is.
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Malcolm Taylor
Air: Affleck's sports drama soars on sublime direction, a stellar cast, and a superb script
With a cast firing on all cylinders, Affleck delivers an exceptionally well paced vintage Hollywood crowd-pleaser with deft comedic touches stitched by…
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Malcolm Taylor
A Thousand and One: A.V. Rockwell takes character-driven drama to exhilarating heights
Teyana Taylor's towering performance inspires awards chatter with her break-out feature lead debut as a single mother making hard sacrifices to ensure a…
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Malcolm Taylor
2

March 2023

Ep. 007 - Brother: Clement Virgo's cinematic stunner with a high-wattage cast presents a moving portrait of the first-generation Canadian…
A read of my review of Clement Virgo's new film Brother, a stellar Canadian drama elevating David Chariandy's lauded book.
10:30
Brother: Clement Virgo's stunning film adaptation elevates Chariandy's lauded book
A cinematic jaw-dropper with high-wattage stars delivers a compelling, evocative look at growing up in Scarborough, Toronto, between the 90s and early…
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Malcolm Taylor
John Wick 4: scorches to the top of the action class with face-melting sequences to wreck all comers
Chad Stahelski's JW4 is an exquisitely shot, non-stop, visceral action ride infusing the franchise with its highest stakes yet, delivering a crowning…
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Malcolm Taylor
Ep. 006 - Champions: an audience-pleasing dramedy with a late-90s vibe
Bobby Farrelly's solo directing outing delivers heart, laughs, and delightful character in a feel-good early aughts light comedy with a romantic subplot…
12:03
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