The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “The Promotion”

“The Promotion” could only have been made by a film director about a film director who is himself! It rolls along like a traditional film. In 1973 Nikos (Alexandros Logothetis) and his father Mr. Andrikos (Vasilis Kolovos) take the train from Athens to Thessaloniki. Mr. Andrikos wants to see where his son Nikos is livingContinue reading “The 4th Greek International Film Festival Tour (Canada): “The Promotion””

RKS 2024 Film: “Kryptic”: No Horror but You’ll Be Caught in The Gordian Knot!

Kay (Chloe Pirrie) joins a newly formed walking ladies club and with their guide they hike up Kryptic Peak. Kay separates from the group and encounters a hairy brute creature called a Sook as it is referred to in local lore. As the guide explains thousands of hikers disappear in the mountains each year withoutContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Kryptic”: No Horror but You’ll Be Caught in The Gordian Knot!”

RKS 2024 Film: “The Contestant”: Can Anything Positive Emerge from Reality Television?

Inanity and reality television are bedfellows. The specialty of reality television is humiliating people for audience snickers. A prime example would be “90 Day Fiancée”. What is next “Romans Feeding Christians to the Lions: Live at the Coliseum!” It may well be that reality television was born with the Japanese television show “Denpa Shonen” specializingContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “The Contestant”: Can Anything Positive Emerge from Reality Television?”

RKS 2024 Film: “I Used to be Funny”: A Filthy Snake in the Grass Bites a Comedian: Absolute Naturalness

The Canadian film titled “I Used to Be Funny” seems incompatible with the progression of the film but hints and innuendos are dropped along the way Hansel and Gretel fashion that taunt the viewer to determine why comedian Samantha Cowell (Rachel Sennott) is no longer funny as at the outset Sam is funny dropping oneContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “I Used to be Funny”: A Filthy Snake in the Grass Bites a Comedian: Absolute Naturalness”

RKS 2024 Film: “Limbo”: Outer Planetary Experience

The Australian film “Limbo” is an outer planetary experience. Filmed in black and white in opal mining territory of the Australian outback. The terrain, mining “holes”, abandoned equipment and vehicles and caves with howls of dingos and cries of birds in the distance create an otherworldly setting for “Limbo”. Heavily tattooed murder detective Travis HurleyContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Limbo”: Outer Planetary Experience”

RKS 2024 Film: “Accidental Texan”: Zorba the Greek Meets Good Old American Values

“Accidental Texan” is one of those feel-good movies and we all require one of those every once in awhile. Erwin Vandemeer (Rudy Pankow) is an aspiring actor on his first substantial role filming in New Orleans but he destroys the opening scene and is promptly fired. His agent drops him. His acting career may beContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Accidental Texan”: Zorba the Greek Meets Good Old American Values”

RKS 2024 Film: “The Beast” (La Bête): Nagasaki Love

Clocking in around two and a half hours this French film is long but fascinating and not readily understood with one viewing. I am tempted to state it could be a great love story of a couple spanning three lifetimes but that is shattered Nagasaki style in the dying seconds of the movie. Alternatively, andContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “The Beast” (La Bête): Nagasaki Love”

RKS 2024 Film: “EARLYBIRD”: Theatre and Life Lessons

Mike (Joshua Koopman) owns a struggling small theatre playing it safe presenting “known plays” like “Romeo and Juliet” attracting small audiences but small is better than playing riskier productions that may fail to attract any patrons. Jerry, the landlord of the theatre premises, advises Mike when his lease expires in two months he will haveContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “EARLYBIRD”: Theatre and Life Lessons”

RKS 2024 Film: “East Bay”: A Parade of the Mostly Lost

“East Bay” opens with 39-year-old Jack Lee (Daniel Yoon) lamenting his lack of life and filmmaking success from his childhood to the present day. As a child he desperately prayed to God to make him successful. We watch God, an elder bearded Caucasian, throughout the film snickering at the misguided humans and at one pointContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “East Bay”: A Parade of the Mostly Lost”

RKS 2024 Film: “Place of Bones”: The Good, Bad, Ugly and a Taste for the Finer Things in Life: Canadian Film Fest

I can’t think of any Canadian westerns I have encountered so I snapped up the opportunity to watch “Place of Bones” set in 1876 Canada. In many respects it is a traditional 1950’s and 1960’s western. Good god-fearing sodbusters Pandora Meadow (Heather Graham) and her daughter Hester (Brielle Robillard) living a marginal existence in aContinue reading “RKS 2024 Film: “Place of Bones”: The Good, Bad, Ugly and a Taste for the Finer Things in Life: Canadian Film Fest”