Brad Benedict
Born: September 13, 1985 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Born as Bradley Philip Benedict. He is an actor and producer, known for Too Close to Home (2016).
Author: festreviews
Happy Birthday: Robbie Kay
Robbie Kay
Born: September 13, 1995 in Lymington, Hampshire, England, UK
Robbie’s first film was The Illusionist with Edward Norton. He played a 6-year-old boy but the scenes did not make the final cut. Robbie also played the younger version of Ralph Fiennes “Harry” in In Bruges. His scenes did not make it into the movie but can be seen in the deleted scenes section of the DVD.
To portray an iconic character has been brilliant in itself, and to be able to do that on a show like ‘Once Upon a Time’ enhances that because the show puts a spin on characters and makes them very different and puts core values that are very different that aren’t in the original fairy tales a lot of people relate to.
TIFF 2016 Movie Review: UNLESS (Canada/Ireland 2016) ***
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
UNLESS (Canada/Ireland 2016) ***
Directed by Alan Gilsenan
Starring: Catherine Keener, Matt Craven, Hannah Gross
Review by Matthew Toffolo
Academy Award nominee Catherine Keener and Hannah Gross star in this adaptation of the final novel by the late, great Canadian novelist Carol Shields, about a writer who discovers her runaway daughter panhandling on the street and seemingly deprived of speech.
An accomplished writer and translator, Reta Winters (Keener) is blindsided and flummoxed by the recent actions of her eldest daughter, Norah (Hannah Gross). For no discernible reason, Norah has dropped out of university and now spends her days panhandling on the sidewalk outside of Toronto landmark Honest Ed’s.
The cardboard sign she affixes to her chest features only one word: GOODNESS. Reta fears losing her connection to her daughter, but is it possible Norah is seeking some way of reconnecting to the world?
The question remains throughout the film of “WHY?”. Why is this happening to this girl? Is this a spiritual journey that Norah is experiencing, or is it more of an emotional breakdown? The payoff does come in the end and it’s perhaps a bit perplexing on what took so long for this family to figure this all out! The only real flaw of this film.
This is a very original film in terms of its story and how it treats a person like Norah. I’m sure many in the medical profession would roll their eyes at this film as science demands an answer. It’s simple cause and effect equaling a conclusion to why. UNLESS attempts to answer the “WHY” from a more metaphysical point of view. Things are not that simple and many humans need to explore what this world and existence is all about – especially after experiencing a tragedy like Norah has.
UNLESS is simply the perfect film for a festival like TIFF. It’s never going to garner a large amount of attention and many critics will dismiss this film because its plot points and directorial design aren’t something they are used to. If you’re a fan of festivals and are looking to see films that you won’t see at the cinema or on NetFlix, UNLESS is that perfect film.
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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: TRESPASS AGAINST US (UK 2016) ***1/2
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
TRESPASS AGAINST US (UK 2016) ***1/2
Directed by Adam Smith
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Brendan Gleeson, Rory Kinnear
Review by Gilbert Seah
Like the 2010 Australian film ANIMAL KINGDOM, also the name of the film’s production company, TRESPASS AGAINST US is a film about a dysfunctional crime family – British style. The family live in a trailer park in England a kind of white British trailer trash.
The patriarch is a foul-mouthed small time crook, Colby (Brendan Gleeson) who tries his best to make a quick buck while holding his fighting family together. Nothing is mentioned of his wife or past life. But the protagonist is his son, Chad (Michael Fassbender) who wishes the best for his son so that he will not grow up like him and illiterate.
The cops are shown as rude characters following trying to catch the family at their crimes. It is a well acted and well directed film, but we have seen all this before.
Free logline submissions. The Writing Festival network averages over 95,000 unique visitors a day.
Great way to get your story out: http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html
Deadlines to Submit your Screenplay, Novel, Story, or Poem to the festival:http://www.wildsound.ca
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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: TRAMPS (USA 2016)
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
TRAMPS (USA 2016) **
Directed by Adam Leon
Starring: Callum Turner, Grace Van Patten, Michal Vondel
Review by Gilbert Seah
Adam Leon’s low budget lonely hearts club romance has two newcomers Callum Turner and Grace Van Pattern play two unlikely pawns in a shady delivery deal.
They are supposed to do a briefcase exchange with a lady with a green bag, the only problem being that there are two ladies a green bag who show up. Besides hunting down the briefcase, the two have nothing better to do but to fall in love.
The easy going narrative almost works, but it is too simple for too long and gets too predictable towards the end. But decent performance are delivered in a film with a soundtrack that appears to be turned on and off by the volume knob.
Free logline submissions. The Writing Festival network averages over 95,000 unique visitors a day.
Great way to get your story out: http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html
Deadlines to Submit your Screenplay, Novel, Story, or Poem to the festival:http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch recent Writing Festival Videos. At least 15 winning videos a month: http://www.wildsoundfestival.com
TIFF 2016 Movie Review: THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM (UK 2016)
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM (UK 2016) **
Directed by Juan Carlos Medina
Starring: Eddie Marsan, Olivia Cooke, Bill Nighy
Review by Gilbert Seah
This crime whodunit period piece which combines theatre and grisly murders plays like a super violent Sherlock Holmes mystery. The Limehouse is the working class theatre where Little Lizzie (Olivia Cooke) performs.
The story is told in flashback when Lizzie is accused of poisoning her husband (Sam Reid). Enter into the picture Inspector Kildaire (Bill Nighy) and his trusty helper, Constable Flood (Daniel Mays).
At the same time, a serial murderer, whose horrendous acts soon have the city in a panic, is on the loose. Inscriptions in Latin are streaked across walls in the blood of victims. The crimes are so disturbing that many attribute them to the shadowy golem of Jewish legend.
For a modest production budget, the 19th century London period rich atmosphere is well captivated with great attention to detail. Performances are all around excellent ranging from the restraint Eddie Marsan to the indulgent Douglas Booth as the cross-dressing performer Dan Reno.
The trouble is the plot that gets a bit too complicated before too simply explained at the end. The accidental hanging death during a performance at the Limehouse does not make much sense either.
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/10176123limehouse_golem_poster” align=”left” width=”182″ height=”268″ />
Free logline submissions. The Writing Festival network averages over 95,000 unique visitors a day.
Great way to get your story out: http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html
Deadlines to Submit your Screenplay, Novel, Story, or Poem to the festival:http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch recent Writing Festival Videos. At least 15 winning videos a month: http://www.wildsoundfestival.com
TIFF 2016 Movie Review: I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (USA/Fr/Belg/Switz 2016) ***
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO (USA/Fr/Belg/Switz 2016) ***
Directed by Raoul Peck
Review by Gilbert Seah
Appropriately titled I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO, this solemn documentary by Raoul Peck attempts to reveal that the ‘negro’ thought understood by most Americans is in fact a stereotyped misunderstood one The doc is based on the unfinished book by James Baldwin and looks at the impressions made by 3 murdered negroes – Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
The film offers many arguments illustrated with many archive stills. The most interesting revelation of the film is the argument between King and Malcolm X – showing the two different approaches of dealing with black racism. The doc also includes rare clips of ‘negro’ old movies which were acceptable then but considered unacceptable now.
Also shown are unforgettable scenes like one on on a bus with the segregation of black and white seating at the back and front of the bus respectively.
Free logline submissions. The Writing Festival network averages over 95,000 unique visitors a day.
Great way to get your story out: http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html
Deadlines to Submit your Screenplay, Novel, Story, or Poem to the festival:http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch recent Writing Festival Videos. At least 15 winning videos a month: http://www.wildsoundfestival.com
TIFF 2016 Movie Review: HANDSOME DEVIL (Ireland 2016) ****
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
HANDSOME DEVIL (Ireland 2016) ****
Directed by John Butler
Starring: Andrew Scott, Nicholas Galitzine, Michael McElhatton
Review by Gilbert Seah
On would never tie a gay film with the sport of rugby with the climax of the film being the crucial rugby match.
HANDSOME DEVIL is the new sweet little Irish film that addresses both the topics of coming out and coming-of-age. Though coming out is a well-worn theme in gay films, Butler introduces a few neat approaches. “It does get better,” is the advice a gay adult gives to the gay lad who is facing trouble after trouble about his coming-out.
The film’s setting is a rugby-mad boarding school. An unlikely friendship develops between a dashing new roommate, the HANDSOME DEVIL, Conor (Nicholas Galitzine) of the title and the bullied kid, Ned (Fionn O’Shea). Ned’s voiceover claims that the most embarrassing thing he ever did in life is the best thing that ever happened to him.
With this notion, Butler’s feel-good film is a real surprise. It would be difficult to dislike this one. Openly gay actor Andrew Scott (he played “C” in SPECTRE) delivers a spirited and commendable performance as the English teacher.
Free logline submissions. The Writing Festival network averages over 95,000 unique visitors a day.
Great way to get your story out: http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html
Deadlines to Submit your Screenplay, Novel, Story, or Poem to the festival:http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch recent Writing Festival Videos. At least 15 winning videos a month: http://www.wildsoundfestival.com
TIFF 2016 Movie Review: DEATH IN SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina /France 2016) ****
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
DEATH IN SARAJEVO (Bosnia and Herzegovina /France 2016) ****
Directed by Danis Tanovic
Starring: Snezana Vidovic, Izudin Bajrovic, Vedrana Seksan
Review by Gilbert Seah
Another winner from director Danis Tanovic of NO MAN’S LAND. The setting is the financially troubled Hotel Europa where the camera skillfully moves in and out of the rooms and corridors.
The hotel staff are about to strike but if they do, the hotel will foreclose to the bank. The hotel needs be open two more days to get paid by a staying E.U. delegation.
Tanovic ties in lots of politics into the hotel drama. Above all this, on the rooftop, a TV show broadcasts discussions occasioned by the anniversary, covering topics ranging from Gavrilo Princip to Bosnian independence.
It is very intricate film, thankfully extremely well executed, with the hotel proceedings serving as a metaphor for the country’s past and present troubles.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in4feDE3GII
Free logline submissions. The Writing Festival network averages over 95,000 unique visitors a day.
Great way to get your story out: http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html
Deadlines to Submit your Screenplay, Novel, Story, or Poem to the festival:http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch recent Writing Festival Videos. At least 15 winning videos a month: http://www.wildsoundfestival.com
TIFF 2016 Movie Review: DAGUERROTYPE (LE SECRET DE LA CHAMBE NOIRE) (France/Belgium/Japan 2016)
Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.
DAGUERROTYPE (LE SECRET DE LA CHAMBE NOIRE) (France/Belgium/Japan 2016) **
Directed by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Starring: Tahar Rahim, Constance Rousseau, Olivier Gourmet
Review by Gilbert Seah
Non French directors often do not translate well when making a French film. The latest casualty is Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosaw (TOKYO SONATA, CURE). His latest film is a ghost story, a genre that Kurosawa is already familiar with. He is blessed with some great French speaking talent including Tahir Rahim (UN PROPHET, UNE SEPARATION), Matthieu Amalric and Olivier Gourmet.
Gourmet plays a photographer who after the suicide of his wife becomes obsessed with her portrait being able to live forever. His obsession turns towards his daughter and soon, his new assistant (Rahim) also falls for the apparition.
The story is not well told with bouts of reality and fantasy flowing into each other uncomfortably. Kurosawa loves filming trains, and again the TGV trains are shown in the opening segment. If only his film would run as fast.
The film is a slow burning process with an unsatisfying and open ending.
Free logline submissions. The Writing Festival network averages over 95,000 unique visitors a day.
Great way to get your story out: http://www.wildsound.ca/logline.html
Deadlines to Submit your Screenplay, Novel, Story, or Poem to the festival:http://www.wildsound.ca
Watch recent Writing Festival Videos. At least 15 winning videos a month: http://www.wildsoundfestival.com
