“Pain Hustlers” is a diet “Wolf of Wall Street” with a splash of sugar free “Big Short”. It wears its inspiration on its sleeve to little effect, and never works hard enough to have a voice or commentary of its own.
Author: Derrick Murray
Derrick Murray
Derrick Murray is a Los Angeles based stand up comedian, writer, and co-host for The Jack of All Nerds Show.
There is so much to love about “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and no matter where you land on the film, it possesses an inescapable quality of longevity.
Magic happens when a razor sharp script meets great performers under the helm of a confident director, and “Fair Play” has all three in spades.
“The Burial” is crowd pleasing comfort food, the kind of film that warms your soul even if you can telegraph every emotional beat and outcome beforehand.
Love him or hate him, Wes Anderson has managed to maintain his own auteurist vision his entire career. Never once has left his quirky, absurdist yet deeply personal and introspective post to attempt to direct a Marvel movie or big studio action film. No. Wes knows what Wes does best, and while that can lead to a sense of overindulgence at times, the integrity of his work and uniqueness of being able to tell the stories he wants to tell in the ways he wants to tell them is unmatched in filmmaking, particularly for this long and this often into…
“The Creator” is a craft film, one that excels in its visuals, landscapes, cinematography and even sound design to create a unique and boundary pushing sci-fi entry. But sadly there’s little else to hold onto once the visuals fade, and what’s left is a collection of unrealized ideas and scrambled ambitions that collide in a mush of theme-less storytelling.
“Flora and Son” has all the makings of the genuine crowd pleaser. Likable and charming characters, memorable tunes, and a heartwarming center that is sure to make you feel good in the end.
“Reptile” is a meandering, convoluted misfire. Bland and trope ridden, it can’t stay focused across its overly long runtime.
It’s been a long, long journey of film these last 10 days. Averaging 4 to 5 films a day can take its toll on you, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to not having to sit in a theater for a little while and sleep in my own my bed for once. But the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) experience has been one of a kind, a sort of dream come true for myself as a film lover and film critic. Sure, living in a hotel room for almost two weeks and living off of…
We’ve reached that part of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) where we start to question our own humanity. Sleep deprived, overworked and starving for something that isn’t popcorn or ill advised hot dogs. The temperature of the Festival has changed as well. By day 8, most of the premieres are over and done with and most of the press and public have gone home. The theaters are noticeably quieter, the streets aren’t buzzing with anticipation, and the alluring nature of being surrounded by movie goers has transformed into a collection of holdovers still trucking along to get in a…