Andrew Parker
@andrewjparker.bsky.social
📤 72
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📝 240
Film watcher, critic, all around writer. Excited for soup season.
Kinda hard to notice, but Joseph Kahn's ICK quietly slipped onto digital in Canada yesterday, and while it's my least favourite of his chaotic flicks, it has some good moments throughout.
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Ick Review | Down in the Muck and Mire
A review of Ick, starring Brandon Routh and Mena Suvari, now available to rent or buy on digital, and on DVD December 23, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071430/ick-review-down-in-the-muck-and-mire/
5 days ago
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Opening in Toronto this weekend at the Carlton is the well intentioned drama CALORIE, which comes from the heart, but is too stilted and stagey to fully work.
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Calorie Review | A Noble Attempt
A review of Calorie, starring Ellora Patnaik and Anupam Kher, opening at Carlton Cinemas in Toronto on Friday, November 28, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071425/calorie-review-a-noble-attempt/
5 days ago
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ZOOTOPIA 2: a sequel that's on par with the original. A good time. Opens everywhere tomorrow.
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Zootopia 2 Review | The Fuzz is Back
A review of Zootopia 2, featuring the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman, in theatres everywhere on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071412/zootopia-2-review-the-fuzz-is-back/
5 days ago
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Here's a conversation I had with filmmaker Tasha Hubbard and actor Michael Greyeyes about the drama MEADOWLARKS, which hits Canadian cinemas this weekend.
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Filmmaker Tasha Hubbard and Actor Michael Greyeyes Discuss a Journey of Healing and Self Discovery in Meadowlarks
An interview with director Tasha Hubbard and actor Michael Greyeyes about the film Meadowlarks, in theatres Friday, November 28, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071406/filmmaker-tasha-hubbard-and-actor-michael-greyeyes-discuss-a-journey-of-healing-and-self-discovery-in-meadowlarks/
5 days ago
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Had a great talk with journalist and author
@hertzbarry.bsky.social
about his deep dive into the Fast and Furious franchise, WELCOME TO THE FAMILY, which hits all fine booksellers this week.
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Author and Journalist Barry Hertz on His New Book and The Fast & Furious Family
Like many great stories involving people in and around the film industry, this one begins with a trip to the movies. Although this time it doesn’t begin with a wide
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071395/author-and-journalist-barry-hertz-on-his-new-book-and-the-fast-furious-family/
6 days ago
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Had a lovely chat with Edgar Wright about THE RUNNING MAN. Talked about soundtrack choices, action cinema techniques, revisiting Stephen King's source material, and assembling an ensemble cast.
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Director Edgar Wright Talks About The Running Man
YouTube video by Andrew Parker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwhDqtHvhys
17 days ago
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Not sorry in the slightest for enjoying the hell out of NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON'T, a franchise that holds the kind of joy for me that I think others get from the Fast and the Furious movies. In theatres tomorrow.
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Now You See Me, Now You Don't Review | You Won't Believe Your Eyes
A review of Now You See Me, Now You Don't, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson, in theatres Friday, November 14, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071329/now-you-see-me-now-you-dont-review-you-wont-believe-your-eyes/
17 days ago
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Here's a look at the disappointing, but laid back documentary BEING EDDIE, which hits Netflix today and won't tell you anything you don't already know about Eddie Murphy.
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Being Eddie Review | The Comic Stays Close to Home
A review of Being Eddie, a documentary about Eddie Murphy, streaming on Netflix starting Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071324/being-eddie-review-the-comic-stays-close-to-home/
18 days ago
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I watched PLAYDATE, a movie so awful that it can fuck right off into the goddamned sun.
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Playdate Review | Cancel Your Plans to Hang Out with This One
A review of Playdate, starring Kevin James and Alan Ritchson, streaming on Prime Video starting Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071319/playdate-review-cancel-your-plans-to-hang-out-with-this-one/
19 days ago
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Had a great chat with the very charming and warm hearted Lee Pace about his role as a masked network assassin in Edgar Wright's upcoming adaptation of THE RUNNING MAN.
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Who's That Masked Villain in The Running Man? It's None Other Than Lee Pace!
You would be forgiven for not immediately knowing that actor Lee Pace has a prominent role in director and co-writer Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s early novel, The Running
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071314/whos-that-masked-villain-in-the-running-man-its-none-other-than-lee-pace/
19 days ago
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Surprised at how much I ended up liking NUREMBERG (in theatres today), which takes a look at several individual perspectives on the titular trials and not a sprawling, overstuffed history lesson.
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Nuremberg Review | The People Behind the Trial
A review of Nuremberg, starring Rami Malek and Russell Crowe, opening in theatres everywhere on Friday, November 7, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071291/nuremberg-review-the-people-behind-the-trial/
24 days ago
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I really wanted to like PREDATOR: BADLANDS as much as a lot of y'all do, but this feels less like a Predator film and more like an uninspired attempt to cast the character as a Manadlorian clone in a rehash of Prey. Opens everywhere today.
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Predator: Badlands Review | The Hunt is a Little Off
A review of Predator: Badlands, starring Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi and Elle Fanning, in theatres on Friday, November 7, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071287/predator-badlands-review-the-hunt-is-a-little-off/
24 days ago
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CHRISTY has great leading performances from Sydney Sweeney and Ben Foster, but the biopic beats are so strong and predictable that it makes the movie as a whole a bit of a repetitive slog. In theatres today.
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Christy Review | Comes Down to the Scorecards
A review of Christy, starring Sydney Sweeney and Ben Foster, opening in theatres everywhere on Friday, November 7, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071282/christy-review-comes-down-to-the-scorecards/
24 days ago
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Also opening in Toronto and other Canadian cities this weekend is the hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt Australian animated comedy LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS, which is one of the most delightful surprises I've seen all year.
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Lesbian Space Princess Review | A Hero for All Times
A review of Lesbian Space Princess, an animated comedy, in select Canadian theatres starting Friday, October 31, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071237/lesbian-space-princess-review-a-hero-for-all-times/
about 1 month ago
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The musically minded historical drama KĂ–LN 75 can't figure out what story it wants to tell and falls apart just as it should be getting around to its point. In select Canadian theatres starting today.
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Koln 75 Review | Out of Tune
A review of Köln 75, a drama starring Mala Emde and John Magaro, opening in select Canadian theatres on Friday, October 31, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071233/koln-75-review-out-of-tune/
about 1 month ago
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Much to my own surprise, I quite liked SPRINGSTEEN: DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, which keeps the biopic cliches to a tasteful minimum and goes to some believably dark places.
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Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere Review | Debts No Honest Man Could Pay
A review of Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White, in theatres everywhere on Friday, October 24, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071193/springsteen-deliver-me-from-nowhere-review-debts-no-honest-man-could-pay/
about 1 month ago
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On Yorgos Lanthimos' suitably bleak, sometimes funny, and successful (?) dark comedy/thriller BUGONIA, which opens in limited release tomorrow and everywhere else next Friday.
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Bugonia Review | Another Tale for the End of the World
A review of Bugonia, a dark comedy starring Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone, in select theatres starting Friday, October 24, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071188/bugonia-review-another-tale-for-the-end-of-the-world/
about 1 month ago
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I've seen the first five episodes of IT: WELCOME TO DERRY (premiering on Crave and HBO Sunday night at 9pm), and while the first two are good, the third is AWFUL, and then the last two are okay but overburdened by exposition. It's trying VERY hard to be Stranger Things.
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It: Welcome to Derry Review | Sometimes It Comes Back
A review of It: Welcome to Derry, a new series based on the novel by Stephen King, premiering on Crave and HBO on Sunday, October 22 at 9pm.
https://www.thegate.ca/television/071183/it-welcome-to-derry-review-sometimes-it-comes-back/
about 1 month ago
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The second season of NOBODY WANTS THIS drops on Netflix today, and it's just as delightfully funny (albeit not as romantic) as the first instalment.
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Nobody Wants This Season 2 Review | The Love and Laughs Continue
A review of the second season of Nobody Wants This, starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell, now streaming on Netflix.
https://www.thegate.ca/television/071178/nobody-wants-this-season-2-review-the-love-and-laughs-continue/
about 1 month ago
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I also have a talk with Alex Ross Perry about working in a video store and his essay film VIDEOHEAVEN, which screens at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto this Thursday.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZVy...
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Director Alex Ross Perry talks about his essay film VIDEOHEAVEN | Interview
YouTube video by Andrew Parker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZVyHGF5hig
about 1 month ago
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Here's a chat I had with film critic, content creator, and director CHRIS STUCKMANN about his big screen horror thriller SHELBY OAKS, in theatres in this weekend.
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Writer/Director/Film Critic Chris Stuckmann on his feature Shelby Oaks | Interview
YouTube video by Andrew Parker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDASanOjHMw
about 1 month ago
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WHO KILLED THE MONTREAL EXPOS?, asks a new Netflix documentary that dropped earlier this week. The answer: a lot of people, but certainly not the fans, players, and coaches. Definitely worth a watch this World Series season.
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Who Killed the Montreal Expos? Review | A Failure with Many Fathers
A review of Who Killed the Montreal Expos?, a documentary by Jean-François Poisson, now streaming on Netflix.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071173/who-killed-the-montreal-expos-review-a-failure-with-many-fathers/
about 1 month ago
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Want to have some fun this weekend watching some big meaty men slapping, slicing, and stabbing meat? The charming and silly remake of DEATHSTALKER has you covered. Now playing in select cities.
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Deathstalker Review | Big Meaty Men Slapping Meat
A review of Deathstalker, a remake of the 1983 adventure film by Steven Kostanski, now playing in select theatres.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071120/deathstalker-review-big-meaty-men-slapping-meat/
about 2 months ago
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JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME is a nice look at someone who by all accounts included here was a nice man. A nice movie for not so nice times. Nice. On Prime Video today.
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John Candy: I Like Me Review | A Man in Full
A review of John Candy: I Like Me, a documentary by Colin Hanks, streaming on Prime Video starting Friday, October 10, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071114/john-candy-i-like-me-review-a-man-in-full/
about 2 months ago
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Here's a look at the decent erotic horror thriller BONE LAKE, which opened this weekend. If your choice this weekend is between this and the new Strangers movie, dear god see this instead.
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Bone Lake Review | Do You Guys Want to Play a Game?
A review of Bone Lake, starring Maddie Hasson, Alex Roe, and Marco Pigossi, now playing in theatres everywhere.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071103/bone-lake-review-do-you-guys-want-to-play-a-game/
about 2 months ago
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One of the most devastating and fascinatingly complex documentaries of the year - David Osit's PREDATORS - opens at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto today. An incisive, gutting look at the good and bad true crime television can bring.
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Predators Review | True Crime Complexity
A review of Predators, a documentary by David Osit, opening at TIFF Lightbox in Toronto on Friday, October 3, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071091/predators-review-true-crime-complexity/
about 2 months ago
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The horror movie GOOD BOY is okay overall, but the lead performance from Indy the dog and the technique that went into it make it something special. In theatres today.
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Good Boy Review | Barking Up the Right Tree
A review of Good Boy, a horror movie starring Indy the Dog, opening in theatres everywhere in Friday, October 3, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071084/good-boy-review-barking-up-the-right-tree/
about 2 months ago
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ANEMONE is as well acted as one might expect from co-writer Daniel Day-Lewis' return to acting. Problem is, the movie itself is pretty hokey, obvious, and threadbare.
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Anemone Review | Acting Estranged
A review of Anemone, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean, in theatres everywhere on Friday, October 3, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071072/anemone-review-acting-estranged/
about 2 months ago
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Dwayne Johnson is as good as advertised in THE SMASHING MACHINE, and Benny Safdie directs the hell out of what's an otherwise pretty normal sports movie. In theatres tomorrow.
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The Smashing Machine Review | A New Sports Movie Legend
A review of The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, in theatres starting Friday, October 3, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/071064/the-smashing-machine-review-a-new-sports-movie-legend/
about 2 months ago
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CHAD POWERS (now streaming its first 2 episodes on Disney+ in Canada/Hulu in the US with new instalments every Tuesday) is an incomplete pass of a sports farce.
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Chad Powers Review | Out of Formation
A review of Chad Powers, a sports comedy series starring Glen Powell, now streaming on Disney+ in Canada and Hulu in the U.S.
https://www.thegate.ca/television/071023/chad-powers-review-out-of-formation/
2 months ago
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Also, here's a semi-belated look at THE LOST BUS, in theatres now and on Apple TV+ this Friday, featuring Paul Greengrass at his Greengrassiest and Matthew McConaughey at his McConaugheyiest.
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The Lost Bust Review | Dante's Peaks and Valleys
A review of The Lost Bus, starring Matthew McConaughey and America Ferrara, streaming on Apply TV+ starting Friday, October 3, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/spotlight/071013/the-lost-bust-review-dantes-peaks-and-valleys/
2 months ago
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Been thinking a lot about Mae Martin's entrancing, creepy, and often funny thriller WAYWARD since I saw it before TIFF. Now that it's out in the open and available on Netflix, here are some thoughts.
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Wayward Review | Resistance is Futile
A review of Wayward, a limited series starring Mae Martin and Toni Collette, no available to stream on Netflix.
https://www.thegate.ca/television/071018/wayward-review-resistance-is-futile/
2 months ago
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Very impressed with Carmen Emmi's first feature PLAINCLOTHES, which opens in select cities tomorrow; a great blend of queer romance, suspense, and psychological drama.
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Plainclothes Review | Undercover Blues
A review of Plainclothes, starring Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey, opening in select Canadian cities on Friday, September 26, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070993/plainclothes-review-undercover-blues/
2 months ago
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June Squibb is outstanding in Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut ELEANOR THE GREAT (in theatres tomorrow). The movie itself, though, is just okay.
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Eleanor the Great Review | True Lies
A review of Eleanor the Great, directed by Scarlet Johansson and starring June Squibb, in theatres everywhere on Friday, September 26, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070988/eleanor-the-great-review-true-lies/
2 months ago
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ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER: a banger in terms of action, comedy, suspense, and just being the perfect movie at the perfect time. One of Anderson's best, and weirdly one I think has already been undervalued(?)
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One Battle After Another Review | Snap, Crackle, Pop
A review of One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn, in theatres everywhere on Friday, September 26, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070980/one-battle-after-another-review-snap-crackle-pop/
2 months ago
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In case you missed it at TIFF, the raw, poignant, and tragic documentary PUT YOUR SOUL ON YOUR HAND AND WALK screens again at the Toronto Palestine Film Festival this Saturday (before its theatrical rollout later in the year).
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Fall Festival 2025 Review: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk
A review of Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, a documentary by Sepideh Farsi about photographer Fatma Hassouna.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070976/fall-festival-2025-review-put-your-soul-on-your-hand-and-walk/
2 months ago
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Fine. Here. Not a bad one in the bunch.
2 months ago
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If an Elmore Leonard styled throwback with Ethan Hawke getting beaten up multiple times an episode sounds like your jam, might I suggest THE LOWDOWN, airing on FX Tuesday nights and on Disney+ (Canada) and Hulu (U.S.) the following day. It's a lot of fun.
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The Lowdown Review | Knockaround Guy
A review of The Lowdown, a mystery-comedy series starring Ethan Hawke and Keith David, airing on FX Tuesday nights at 9pm EST.
https://www.thegate.ca/spotlight/070966/the-lowdown-review-knockaround-guy/
2 months ago
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I actually really enjoyed the earnest, "big theatre kid energy" of Kogonada's go-for-broke romance A BIG BOLD BEAUTIFUL JOURNEY, the most endearingly dorky movie of the year.
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A Big Bold Beautiful Journey Review | One From the Heart
A review of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, starring Colin Farrell and Margo Robbie, in theatres everywhere on Friday, September 19, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070908/a-big-bold-beautiful-journey-review-one-from-the-heart/
2 months ago
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While SWIPED (on Disney+ in Canada and Hulu in the US tomorrow) tries at times to expose sexist, toxic workplace culture in the tech industry, it's also a shapeless, slapped together mess.
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Swiped Review | Miss Match
A review of Swiped, a biopic starring Lily James, streaming on Disney+ in Canada and Hulu in the US starting Friday, September 19, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070903/swiped-review-miss-match/
2 months ago
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If you enjoyed the recent likes of NYC thrillers Highest 2 Lowest or Caught Stealing, consider paying the long unavailable 1980 thriller NIGHT OF THE JUGGLER a visit. It's now available on 4K and Blu-ray from Kino Lorber and screens at The Revue in Toronto on Friday night.
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Renewed Revue #33: Night of the Juggler
A look back at the 1980 thriller Night of the Juggler, starring James Brolin, now available on 4K and Blu-Ray from Kino Lorber.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070898/renewed-revue-33-night-of-the-juggler/
2 months ago
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I guess it's TIFFy time! Here are links to a whole bunch of reviews...
3 months ago
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Had a surprising amount of fun with Darren Aronofsky's still kinda bleak, but thrilling and funny lark CAUGHT STEALING, in theatres tomorrow.
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Caught Stealing Review | Sad World, Broken World
A review of Caught Stealing, starring Austin Butler and Zoë Kravitz, in theatres on Friday, August 29, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070707/caught-stealing-review-sad-world-broken-world/
3 months ago
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The new version of THE TOXIC AVENGER (in theatres tomorrow) is just kinda okay and underwhelming, but definitely not awful.
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The Toxic Avenger Review | Only Mildly Hazardous to Your Health
A review of the remake of The Toxic Avenger, starring Peter Dinklage and Kevin Bacon, in theatres on Friday, August 29, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070702/the-toxic-avenger-review-only-mildly-hazardous-to-your-health/
3 months ago
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reposted by
Andrew Parker
Bill Chambers
3 months ago
If you want to see a prime Siskel & Ebert argument, the FULL METAL JACKET episode gets so heated that it ends with Roger yelling, "You should be ashamed of yourself!" at Gene.
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Now for a look at one of the most head-scratching debacles of the year, THE ROSES, a film that has the talents of Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman as a warring couple and still really sucks. In theatres this weekend.
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The Roses Review | There's No Winning This War
A review of The Roses, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman, in theatres everywhere on Friday, August 29, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070696/the-roses-review-theres-no-winning-this-war/
3 months ago
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Here's the requisite list of ten movies I'm most looking forward to at TIFF this year. (Mostly sticking with things I won't be seeing in advance of the festival. And yes, this list could've easily been more than ten.)
#TIFF50
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Our Film Writer's Ten Most Anticipated Films at TIFF 50
Our film writer looks at his ten most anticipated films from TIFF 50, taking place from September 4 to 14 in Toronto.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070642/our-film-writers-ten-most-anticipated-films-at-tiff-50/
3 months ago
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Here's a look back at Zeinabu Irene Davis' groundbreaking drama COMPENSATION, which hits Blu-Ray from The Criterion Collection this week.
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Renewed Revue #32: Compensation
A look back at the 1999 drama Compensation, by director Zeinabu Irene Davis, now available on Blu-Ray from The Criterion Collection.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070633/renewed-revue-32-compensation/
3 months ago
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If you have to watch a new release this weekend, stay home and watch the well executed action comedy EENIE MEANIE, on Disney+ in Canada and Hulu in the US today. A solid addition to the canon of films about getaway drivers.
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Eenie Meanie Review | Catch Her If You Can
A review of Eenie Meanie, an action comedy starring Samara Weaving, streaming on Disney+ in Canada starting Friday, August 22, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070618/eenie-meanie-review-catch-her-if-you-can/
3 months ago
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HONEY DON'T! has a title that serves as an unironic warning for anyone considering watching it. In theatres tomorrow.
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Honey Don't! Review | A Bad Trip
A review of Honey Don't!, a dark comedy starring Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza, in theatres starting Friday, August 22, 2025.
https://www.thegate.ca/film/070602/honey-dont-review-a-bad-trip/
3 months ago
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