March 8, 2019

Welcome to TFCA Friday, a weekly round-up of film reviews and articles by TFCA critics.

Opening this Week

3 Faces (dir. Jafar Panahi)

“A modest reminder that Panahi is a master when scripting conversations that are both intimate and anecdotal, all while walking a fine line between the comic and tragic” — Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW Magazine

“A kind of meandering black comedy narrative that probes into Iran’s traditional culture with a mixture of humour and anguish” — Liam Lacey, Original-Cin

Captain Marvel (dirs. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck)

“The saddest thing about Captain Marvel’s failures is that the man-babies will place the blame on Larson, a wonderful actor who does fine with the crumbs she’s given” — Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW Magazine

“There’s something dark and empty in all the fanfare and fuss, and it seems aimed solely at an audience that grew up in video arcades” — Anne Brodie, What She Said!

“The only thing that feels new about Captain Marvel is its protagonist’s gender. And as with Superman, I wonder about the dramatic limitations of such a godlike superhero” — Jim Slotek, Original-Cin

“Magnanimity may be a trait of superheroes, but it’s one audiences will need to embody themselves if they’re to truly enjoy this latest chapter” — Chris Knight, The National Post

“The film achieves its aim of establishing Captain Marvel in the MCU while making lots of money, but the answer to whether it is really any good is debatable” — Gilbert Seah, Festival Reviews

Finding Hygge (dir. Rocky Walls)

“Beautifully shot with the warmth of sunlight providing an infectious glow, [but] struggles to articulate its core concept, though, since hygge seems to be this shifting and malleable thing that might be an abstract noun or verb” — Pat Mullen, POV Magazine

Invisible Essence: The Little Prince (dir. Charles Officer)

“There’s a lot to convey in this tale of a simple novella that affected the world, and Officer squeezes it all in to great effect. If you ever read The Little Prince, this doc will make you appreciate it more. If you never have, it should send you straight to the source” — Jim Slotek, Original-Cin

“A gentle, loving consideration of the legacy of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved book” — Norm Wilner, NOW Magazine

“An intense meditation on Saint-Exupéry, his background and the forces that lead to this landmark book… gripping, illuminating, and heartbreaking” — Anne Brodie, What She Said!

“Succeeds better as a meditation of the book’s different philosophies on existentialism” — Gilbert Seah, Afro Toronto

Pat Mullen, POV Magazine: An interview with director Charles Officer

Triple Frontier (dir. J.C. Chandor)

“A pretty basic heist-gone-wrong picture… Star power aside, I’m not really sure why this is one of the few titles Netflix is putting into theatres this year. Maybe it’s a contractual thing” — Norm Wilner, NOW Magazine

“A bare-knuckle, heart pounding psychological action drama that re-examines our views on getting what we deserve” — Anne Brodie, What She Said!

“It plays out as an almost textbook example of drama, rising action followed by a fall. In a word, swell” — Chris Knight, The National Post

“Scores strong points on the authenticity of the setting” — Gilbert Seah, Festival Reviews

“Finds its thrills not in the shootouts in the jungle or the car chases along the beach, but through the moral scales each character weighs within himself as the gang confronts the sad realization that no matter the payday, their heist wasn’t worth the score” — Pat Mullen, That Shelf