Richard speaks to “CTV News at Six” anchor Andria Case about the Oscar nominations and the best movies and television to watch this weekend including the Peter Dinklage romantic musical “Cyrano,” the Foo Fighters runnin’ with the devil in “Studio 666” and the drama “Scarborough.”
Watch the whole thing HERE! (Starts at 36:20)
Richard joins CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres including the Peter Dinklage romantic musical “Cyrano,” the Foo Fighters runnin’ with the devil in “Studio 666,” the Andy Garcia absurdist comedy “Big Gold Brick” and the drama “Scarborough.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
Richard sits in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the Peter Dinklage romantic musical “Cyrano,” the Foo Fighters runnin’ with the devil in “Studio 666” and the drama “Scarborough.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
Adapted from a 2017 novel by Catherine Hernandez, which captured the author’s experiences of running a home daycare, “Scarborough,” now playing in theatres, is a raw yet inspirational look at life in the diverse, low-income community in east Toronto that gives the movie its name.
The film, directed by Shasha Nakhai and Rich Williamson, focusses on the marginalized kids at a neighborhood literacy center like Bing (Liam Diaz), a bright, chipper Filipino boy whose single mom works at a nail salon. His bestie, Sylvie (Mekiya Fox), looks out for him, but must also cope with unstable housing and a troubled brother. A third student, Laura (Anna Claire Beitel), struggles as she learns to read while addiction and racism hobbles her home life.
The centre is a safe space, a place for these kids to grow and learn. Outside the walls of the literacy centre the film explores themes of addiction, autism, child abuse and systemic negligence.
Shot in a documentary style, this coming-of-age story has a natural feel. Part of it comes from the use of first-time actors in the lead roles.
The stories and characters that fuel “Scarborough” are complex and while the handling of some of the big moments feels unwieldly by times, the film makes up for those lapses with an ambitious focus that includes many powerful moments.
A scene in which a mother is told her son is autistic and may never be able to live on his own amplifies the helplessness that can be felt by marginalized people as they try an navigate the health care system. It’s a potent sequence, nicely directed to share the character’s overwhelming sense of vulnerability. In moments like this, the movie shines.
It all sounds depressing, like an exercise in misery, but the movie is infused with hope. Hope for the kids, hope for the future. And, (NO SPOILERS HERE) Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” may never be used as effectively in any other movie as it is here.
Much of that uplift comes from social worker Ms. Hina (Aliya Kanani), a warm figure of encouragement who genuinely feels for the children she looks after, often at the expense of her own well-being. Her empathetic character gives the film its beating heart.
This week on the Richard Crouse Show: Catherine Hernandez is the author of Scarborough and the upcoming Crosshairs, her second novel which will be published in 2020 by Harper Collins Canada. Soon, Scarborough will be adapted into a film by Compy Films, Telefilm Canada and Reel Asian Film Festival. Her plays “The Femme Playlist / I Cannot Lie to the Stars That Made Me,” “Singkil,” and “Kilt Pins” were published by Playwrights Canada Press, and she is the Artistic Director of b current. Today we talk about “I Promise,” a children’s picture book about how all queer families start with the promise to love a child, with illustrations by activist and scholar Syrus Marcus Ware.
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
Here’s some info on The Richard Crouse Show!:
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Ethan Hawke, director Brad Bird, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, Eric Roberts, Brian Henson, Jonathan Goldsmith a.k.a. “The most interesting man in the world,” and best selling author Linwood Barclay.
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