I appear on “CTV News at 6” with anchor Andria Case to talk about the biopic “Michael,” the action thriller “Fuze” and the grounded fairy tale “The Bearded Girl.”
Watch the whole thing HERE! (Starts at 35:48)
I join “CTV News Toronto at Five” with anchor Zuraidah Alman to talk about new movies in theatres including the biopic “Michael,” the grounded fairy tale “The Bearded Girl” and the action thriller “Fuze.”
Watch the whole thing HERE! (Starts at 12:39)
I join CTV Atlantic’s Todd Battis to talk about the east coast crime drama “Little Lorraine,” the biopic “Michael” and the grounded fairy tale “The Bearded Girl.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join CTV NewsChannel anchor Renee Rogers to talk about the new releases in theatres, including the biopic “Michael,” the grounded fairy tale “The Bearded Girl” and the action thriller “Fuze.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk about the new movies coming to theatres including the biopic “Michael,” the grounded fairy tale “The Bearded Girl” and the action thriller “Fuze.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
Fast reviews for busy people! Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to make your bed. Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about the biopic “Michael,” the grounded fairy tale “The Bearded Girl” and the action thriller “Fuze.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
SYNOPSIS: The story of a young woman looking to make a break from family traditions, “The Bearded Girl” is a coming-of-age tale about rejecting conformity while finding a place in the world.
CAST: Anwen O’Driscoll, Jessica Paré, Skylar Radzion. Directed by Jody Wilson.
REVIEW: Charmingly off kilter, “The Bearded Girl” sees Anwen O’Driscoll as 88th-generation bearded woman Cleo Nightingale. Like her mother, the strong-willed Lady Andre (Jessica Paré), and all the women in her family, she’s destined to become a sword-swallowing circus performer and take over the reins of the family carnival.
“People need leaders,” Lady Andre tells her. “And like it or not, you’re the next one in line.”
Trouble is, Cleo feels lost. “I don’t feel right,” she says. Her mother isn’t interested in her ideas to modernize their show, and she’s tired of feeling like a “freak.” Rebelling against her family’s traditions, she shaves her beard, leaves the circus and her mother behind in search of a “normal” life.
“Do you think it’s going to be easier out there,” Lady Andre asks. “That you’ll be able to find yourself a new life?”
As Cleo navigates life outside the family and her first romance with a young guy named Blaze (Keenan Tracey), her absence puts the circus and everything her mother has worked for in jeopardy.
Set in a heightened world that feels separated from real life by 180 degrees, “The Bearded Girl” is a fairy tale that deals with real life issues of self-acceptance, legacy and rebellion in delightful, heartfelt ways. But, despite the unusual backdrop, it feels grounded because instead of playing up the absurdity of a community of bearded women living and working in their own carnival compound, it digs into relatable issues.
As Cleo attempts to make her mark in the world, she comes to realize that embracing who she really is will be the ticket to happiness. It’s a lovely message in a movie that accentuates living life on your own terms.
“The Bearded Girl” isn’t a movie for the whole family, there’s some language and Lady Andre smokes up a storm, but as young-adult-and-up entertainment, it has its own unique voice and low-key appeal.
“Lovesick” turns the usual romantic comedy journey of self-discovery on its head by flipping the main character’s sex from female to male. Other than that this is a by-the-book rom com that amiably balances the rom with the com.
Jacob Tierney is Dash, a thirtysomething mural artist recently separated from his long time girlfriend Lauren (“Mad Men’s” Jessica Paré). Childhood sweethearts, they were together for twelve years and their break-up has hit Dash hard. Compounding his hurt is her new love Mark (Jay Baruchel). He’s a wiseguy, quick with a barb, who has asked Lauren to marry him.
Dash’s lovesickness has affected every aspect of his life and when he meets Nora (Ali Tataryn) sparks fly, but he is still obsessed with Lauren. Hashing out his feelings of unrequited love with a therapist he searches for a way to let go of the past. Will it be a rehash of “The Graduate” or will Dash move on and move forward?
“Lovesick” doesn’t reinvent the wheel. The most remarkable thing about it is that it sets the action in Winnipeg rather than in the rom com cradle of New York. The same clever, slightly damaged people are on display, wearing their hearts on their sleeves in a movie that follows the rom com formula.
Luckily the cast has great chemistry. Montrealers Tierney, Baruchel and Paré click, making the most of the script’s charms. Rom coms are all about squeezing out laughs and a few heartfelt moments from a formula. “Lovesick” does that effectively, building a cast of quirky characters to surround Dash as his life crumbles.
“Lovesick” is a journey of self discovery, mixed with a few laughs, a tiny bit of romance (it’s more fixation than desire) and just enough darkness to separate it from the run of the mill rom com.
