Fantasia International Film Festival, held in the heart of Montreal, is back for its 29th edition next week, running from 16 July to 3 August, and I’m delighted to be back providing remote coverage for my fourth year. Described as a juxtaposition between pop culture and alternative cinema, the festival showcases a broad range of…
Film
The Princess Diaries Books and Film Differences
In June 2024, I finished reading the first 11 books in The Princess Diaries series and it got me thinking about the differences between the books and the films. This listicle was written back then and I have no idea why I didn’t end up publishing it, so here it is! And I know this…
Review: Chosen Family
Heather Graham’s sophomore feature film, Chosen Family, which she both wrote and directed, tells a universal story. Ann (Graham) is a yoga instructor who keeps failing into the same bad patterns in both her familial and romantic relationships. Being around her family is exhausting. Her father (Michael Gross) is a religious zealot who is constantly…
9 Woman Directed Films I Want to Watch After Reading Cinema Her Way
In 2015, freelance film writer Marya E. Gates embarked on a year-long project titled “A Year with Women” in which she watched nothing but films directed by women. Gates learned that there wasn’t a lack of female directors at all, but rather a lack of discussion and awareness around them. They were—and are—out there making…
6 Upcoming Book-to-Screen Adaptations to Get Excited For
When I say upcoming, I don’t mean they’re coming this year. What I really mean is that they’re coming eventually. But it does give you enough time to read each of these books, which I’ve either read and recommend (the top three) or am about to read real soon (the bottom three)! Don’t worry, though,…
2025 Oscars: My Votes and Predictions
I cannot believe the Oscars are tonight. They’ve completely snuck up on me. I haven’t finished watching everything I wanted to yet, but I’ve marked below what I want to win in pink. An asterisk (*) denotes that I haven’t seen the film yet so they were obviously not taken into consideration for my personal…
Review: Renner
Computer genius Renner (Frankie Muniz) has developed an artificial intelligence named Salenus (voiced by Marcia Gay Harden). Functioning as a life coach, her number one directive is to increase Renner’s assertiveness so he can talk to his attractive new neighbour, Jamie (Violett Beane). After some initial awkwardness on Renner’s part, the pair agree to have…
Review: Blackwater Lane
Blackwater Lane opens with gorgeous shots of the landscape belongings to Elsing Hall, a medieval mansion in Norfolk. In the film, it’s called Crawford House and is home to teacher Cass (Minka Kelly, The Roommate) and her husband Matthew (Dermot Mulroney, My Best Friend’s Wedding), who is a successful businessman. He’s asleep in one room…
Review: Hot Frosty
When we meet widow Kathy (Lacey Chabert), she is struggling to stay warm in her apartment, switching quickly from blanket to coat on her way to the diner she owns. A note reminding her to call the repairman to fix the heating goes ignored yet again. While taking a stroll outside that evening, Kathy sees…
Review: Our Little Secret
Our Little Secret begins with the backstory of Logan (Ian Harding) and Avery (Lindsay Lohan), childhood best-friends-turned-lovers, told—for some reason—through animation. Then, it’s 2014 and Avery is moving to London for her dream job, which Logan struggles to accept. He thinks she’s running away from her father and childhood home following her mother’s death. After…