Shaun Lang, Author at - Page 3 of 62

Visions of VIFFs Past – VOL 1

October 8, 2024October 7, 2024FestivalsAkira, Brewster's Millions, Reservoir Dogs, The Decline of Western Civilization, The Sweet Hereafter, VIFF

As the 43rd edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival drew to a close, I couldn’t help but reflect on the previous twelve editions of the festival I’ve attended (two virtually) and whether the films

VIFF: LUCKY STAR Breaks Some Mirrors for Our Benefit

October 1, 2024September 30, 2024ReviewAndrew Phung, Conni Miu, Gillian McKercher, Lucky Star, Terry Chen

There’s nothing particularly Asian or Chinese about the events in Calgary-based director Gillian McKercher’s Lucky Star. The self-inflicted money woes of the eponymous Lucky (Terry Chen) could very easily be transposed on a cast of

VIFF: SEEDS Exhibits Thrilling, but Un-even Growth

September 24, 2024September 19, 2024ReviewDallas Goldtooth, Kaniehtiio Horn, Patrick Garrow, Seeds, VIFF

From almost the very moment pictures started to move, there has been a never-ending debate on the status of cinema as a respectable artform vs pure entertainment. Compare the Oscar nominations to the top box

Hollywood’s Canada: THE LOST MISSILE

September 17, 2024September 16, 2024ReviewRobert Loggia, The Lost Missile, William Berke

With thousands of downtown theatres, drive-ins, and television airwaves to fill, it behooved the independent film producer of the 1950s to keep costs down in order to pump out endless reels of popular entertainment for

TIFF: SWEET ANGEL BABY

September 10, 2024September 9, 2024ReviewElle-Máijå Tailfeathers, Melanie Oates, Michaela Kurimsky, Sweet Angel Baby, TIFF

One of my favourite films of the past year has been Christian Sparkes’ The King Tide, a striking thriller depicting how even the most tightly-knit communities can unravel when the tiniest thread is pulled. I

Tax Shelter Movies: IT SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME

September 3, 2024September 3, 2024ReviewIt Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, John Candy, John Trent

“Was that Hortense?” “She looked pretty relaxed to me…” Fifty-five minutes and forty-eight seconds. That’s how far you’ll have to skip to in the runtime of John Trent’s limp 1975 comedy It Seemed Like a