Articles — Original Cin

Since 2017: Career film critics continuing the conversation

Loveless: Bleak Russian Drama Mirrors Vanity, Hate, Neglect of Setting

By Liam Lacey

ReviewFebruary 22, 2018Foreign language Oscar, Russian, TIFF 2017, Andrey Zvyagintsev, Leviathan

Porcupine Lake a sweetly told gem about a summer tween BFF crush

By Jim Slotek

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 20, 2018Canadian movies, Coming-of-age stories, Tweens, Cottage country, female relationships, Ingrid Veninger, Port Severn

Original-Cin Q&A: Ex Machina/Annihilation director Alex Garland writes his own career arc

By Bonnie Laufer

InterviewJim SlotekFebruary 19, 2018Ex Machina, Alex Garland, Natalie Portman, Science fiction, Jeff VanderMeer, Jennifer Jason Leigh

Kyoshi Kurosawa's Before We Vanish: When aliens attack very slowly

By Liam Lacey

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 15, 2018Japanese films, Sci-fi, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Alien invasion, Existentialism

Poop Talk: 78 minutes of comics talking sh-- is funny and revealing for the non-squeamish

By Jim Slotek

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 15, 2018Documentaries, Standup comedy, Kumail Nanjiani, Excrement, Scatology

Toronto Black Film Festival: Essential Viewing With Serious Highlights

By Liam Lacey

ReviewFebruary 14, 2018Toronto Black Film Festival, film festival, Rape of Recy Taylor

Nick Park's Early Man spoofs soccer with proto-puns and a nod to The Flintstones

By Jim Slotek

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 14, 2018Animation, Nick Park, Tom Hiddleston, Eddie Redmayne, Soccer movies

Whatta Wakanda!: A self-contained, all-African Black Panther powers up

By Jim Slotek

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 14, 2018Marvel, Superheroes, Africa, Black Panther, African-American actors, Vibranium, Wakanda

Original-Cin Q&A: Director Jeff Malmberg on the Convergence of Trauma, Ritual and Art

By Liam Lacey

InterviewFebruary 9, 2018documentaries, Italy, Marwencol, Chris Sellen, Jeff Malmberg

Spettacolo: Inventive Doc Follows Italian Town That Casts Itself In a Play

By Liam Lacey

ReviewFebruary 9, 2018documentaries, italy, Hot Docs

A Fantastic Woman: Aptly Named Chilean Drama Propelled by Art Imitating Life

By Liam Lacey

ReviewFebruary 8, 2018Foreign language films, Foreign language Oscar, Sebastián Lelio, Daniela Vega, transgender issues, Chile

Guest column: Mark Breslin, Thom Ernst, The Critics Are Wrong!

By Mark Breslin and Thom Ernst

ViewsJim SlotekFebruary 8, 2018Mark Breslin, Thom Ernst, Movie criticism, Contrarianism, Awards season movies

Entanglement a small, smart comedy about almost-suicide and almost-siblings

By Jim Slotek

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 6, 2018Canadian film, Thomas Middleditch, Silicon Valley, Suicide, Romantic comedy, Existentialism, Mental health issues

Somewhat dark fun, hop springs eternal in Peter Rabbit

By Liam Lacey

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 5, 2018Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter, Sam Neill, James Corden, Will Gluck, Domhnail Gleeson, Children's films, CGI

Original-Cin Q&A: Chilean Oscar nom, LGBT-themed A Fantastic Woman

By Bonnie Laufer

InterviewJim SlotekFebruary 5, 2018Foreign-language Oscar, Chilean films, LGBT rights, transgender issues

Winchester movie (You’re Letting Me Down…)

By Liam Lacey

ReviewFebruary 2, 2018Horror, Helen Mirren, Jason Clarke, Bad movies, Suspence

Back to The Future: Still Reminding Us of The Power of Love

By Karen Gordon

Views, ReviewFebruary 1, 2018Flashback Film Fest, '80s movies, Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Retrospective

'Holy hand grenades!' How the Flashback Film Festival's Holy Grail found its groove

By Jim Slotek

Views, InterviewJim SlotekJanuary 31, 2018Flashback Film Fest, '70s movies, '80s movies, '90s movies, Monty Python, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, Monty Python's Flying Circus

Original-Cin Q&A: Was Helter Skelter a hoax? Manson doc director says yes

By Jim Slotek

InterviewJim SlotekJanuary 28, 2018documentary, Charles Manson, Helter Skelter, Vincent Bugliosi

TIFF retrospective: From hippie filmmaker to revered 'underrated genius,' Philippe Garrel's dramas reflect life

By Liam Lacey

Views, ReviewJim SlotekJanuary 26, 2018French auteurs, Philippe Garrel, Nico, Velvet Underground, TIFF, Retrospectives