Reviews - Page 60

Giving you our points of view on the latest docs in release and on the circuit.

Chinatown Rising Review: Housing Problems and Community Advocates

The recent shooting in Atlanta, Georgia that claimed the lives of eight people at a spa has brought renewed attention to anti-Asian racism. These acts, which range from micro-aggressions to violent hate crimes, are not new—they were sadly normalised by the previous White House administration amid the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the long overdue racial reckoning inspired in response to the murder of George Floyd and ensuring resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement last summer, attention to the systemic discrimination that Asian-Americans and Asian-Canadians face has been relatively muted until now—even since the tragic events of March. The history of

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Nomadland Review: The Drama of the Open Road

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Much of Chloé Zhao’s Nomadland simply observes actress Frances McDormand as Fern, a woman travelling the USA in search of seasonal work, in conversation with fellow nomads. These mobile-home-dwelling workers, or “workampers” as they call themselves, are not professional actors like McDormand. They’re genuine workampers enacting the drama of their lives. Their stories inform the book Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century by Jessica Bruder, on which Zhao bases her film. Workampers like Linda May and Charlotte Swankie tell their stories in Nomadland once again, but this time to McDormand. The two-time Oscar winning actress delivers a masterfully understated

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The Last Villains Review: Doc Pulls No Punches

Paul Vachon is the surviving member of a Canadian dynasty. He’s the reigning king of the ring. The octogenarian recalls his family history in The Last Villains. The story mostly centres on the fame that Vachon enjoyed with his brother, Maurice, who went by the moniker Mad Dog while Paul cut up the crowd as The Butcher. Directed by Thomas Rinfret, The Last Villains is an engaging character study that should appeal beyond die-hard wrestling fans. Vachon is a good storyteller and retains the showmanship of his wrestling years. He captivates a viewer while telling a story complete with twists

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Francesco Review: A New Pope

Pope Francis must have a good publicist. His roller coaster numbers seem to be improving despite the dwindling interest in the Catholic Church. Perhaps because the Church’s outdated manner seems more irrelevant when its leader professes himself progressive, the Vatican needs to repair its image with more than a wing and a prayer. The papal comms team is in full swing. For example, there’s a new pope movie every year since Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis. However, there are few installments in the Papal Cinematic Universe prior to his leadership. In franchise terms, this is a pope reboot.

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