Articles — Original Cin

Since 2017: Career film critics continuing the conversation

A Wrinkle In Time: Love and Oprah's angels empower all in this magical mystery tour

By Karen Gordon

ReviewJim SlotekMarch 9, 2018Young adult novels, Fantasy, Oprah Winfey, Mindy Khaling, Diversity, Ava Duvernay, Madeleine L'Engle, Disney

Thoroughbreds: Tense Teen Murder-Plot Drama Soars on Strong Performances

By Liam Lacey

ReviewMarch 9, 2018Anya Taylor-Joy, Olivia Cooke, Anton Yelchin, murder, drama

Gringo: Star-Studded Caper Dramedy Is A Mess… But a Fun One

By Jim Slotek

ReviewMarch 8, 2018Dramedy, Joel Edgerton, Charlize Theron, David Oyelowo, Amanda Seyfried, Mexico, drugs

The Strangers Prey at Night: Lamely Pedalling Old-School Scares in the 21st Century

By Jim Slotek

ReviewMarch 8, 2018horror, Christina Hendricks, home invasion, sequel, The Strangers, Bailee Madison

My Enemy, My Brother: Two entwined ex-Iran/Iraq soldiers retrace extraordinary lives

By Liam Lacey

ReviewJim SlotekMarch 7, 2018Documentary, Iran-Iraq War, Child soldiers, Basra Aboud, Ahed Haftlang, Zahed Haftlang, Saddam Hussein, Battle of Khorramshahr

Juggernaut: Cain/Abel crime thriller more of a slow burn than a wrecking ball

By Jim Slotek

ReviewJim SlotekMarch 7, 2018Canadian films, Crime thriller, Small town crime, Cain and Able, Stephen McHattie, Jack Kesy, David Cubitt

Meditation Park: Heartfelt Gem Spotlights Hidden Woes of Immigrant Women

By Kim Hughes

ReviewMarch 6, 2018Mina Shum, Sandra Oh, Don McKellar, Cheng Pei Pei, TIFF 2017, Canadian

Original-Cin Q&A: Vet Director Rob Cohen on Battling Racism and Hurricanes

By Jim Slotek

InterviewMarch 5, 2018Rob Cohen, Director, Fast and the Furious, Producer, Action, Maggie Grace

Toronto Irish Film Festival bauldly takes on the Oscars

By Liam Lacey

ViewsJim SlotekMarch 2, 2018Irish films, Film Festivals, George Best, Seana Kerslake, The Breadwinner, Zoo, Belfast, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Toronto film festivals

Death Wish: A man's (still) gotta kill who a man's gotta kill

By Liam Lacey

ReviewJim SlotekMarch 1, 2018Vigilante violence, Bruce Willis, Death Wish, Eli Roth, Annapurna Productions, Elisabeth Shue, Movie remakes

Red Sparrow: We know why this caged bird stinks

By Karen Gordon

ReviewJim SlotekMarch 1, 2018Spy thrillers, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlotte Rampling, Violence, Seduction, CIA

Nostalgia: a daisy-chain narrative about the power of objects

By Karen Gordon

ReviewJim SlotekMarch 1, 2018Drama, Jon Hamm, Bruce Dern, Catherine Keener, Mortality and loss, The power of objects, Mark Pellington, Alex Ross Perry

Boost: A Canadian youth crime story with fast cars and an achingly believable friendship

By Jim Slotek

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 28, 2018Canadian movies, Canadian screen awards, Montreal, African-Canadians, crime, car theft, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Darren Curtis

Romeo and Juliet: Stratford Production Finds Sweet Spot in Oft-Told Tale

By Liam Lacey

ReviewFebruary 28, 2018Stratford, Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, theatre, drama

The Party: The Night They Drove Each Other Down…

By Kim Hughes

ReviewFebruary 28, 2018Black comedy, British, Sally Potter, Timothy Spall, Patricia Clarkson, Kristen Scott Thomas, Cillian Murphy

The Chi and Boost's bad guy Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine: 'Not African enough?'

By Jim Slotek

InterviewJim SlotekFebruary 26, 2018Street crime drama, Youth crime, African-Canadians, African actors, The Chi, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine, Treme, Heroes, Queen of Katwe

Mom and Dad: Nic Cage in high-concept/low-taste mock-horror about killing your kids

By Liam Lacey

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 22, 2018Dark horror, School shootings, Nicolas Cage, Selma Blair, Child murders

Game Night: Sloppy farce, good laughs and Jason Bateman's emoji-worthy face

By Liam Lacey

ReviewJim SlotekFebruary 22, 2018Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Game playing, Comedy, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein, Kyle Chandler, Antic comedy

Annihilation: High-Concept Sci-Fi Rewrites Weird Playbook (with Women!)

By Kim Hughes

ReviewFebruary 22, 2018Sci-fi, Alex Garland, Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Adaptation

Every Day: Teen Drama Turns on Timely Themes of Tolerance

By Kim Hughes

ReviewFebruary 22, 2018young adult, romance, teen, Toronto films, Maria Bello