Although I mostly dedicated my time to reviewing films in 2014, I still dabbled in theatre, television, and music reviews — my other passions. Here’s a look at my best writing of 2014 for The Seventh Row that’s not about film. 1. Theatre Review: Sam Mendes delivers a lucid, dark, and funny “King Lear” for NTLive One of […]
LGBTQ
The Imitation Game: cracking the Nazi code and the human one
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing in The Imitation Game, an engaging but often silly look at the team who cracked the Enigma code.
Best of TIFF14: ‘The New Girlfriend’ is François Ozon in top form – whimsical, funny, thoughtful about gender and sexuality
The list of generally accepted labels may have expanded in the last thirty years, to comfortably include gay and trans, but the need to label hasn’t become obsolete yet. With “The New Girlfriend,” Ozon reminds us that defying labels isn’t something we outgrow, but often a natural part of a person’s identity, of any age.
Review: In Matthew Warchus’ Pride, a beating heart can change the world
Sentimental without being drippy, rollicking and rousing without being over-the-top, Pride (directed by Matthew Warchus) is the epitome of a feel good movie. With its bopping soundtrack of 1980s pop hits, sweeping camera, and bright colours – there’s even a fabulous dance number – the film remains buoyant throughout even as it tackles tough issues and […]
Review: Please Like Me Season 2 is even better and smarter
Please Like Me returns for season 2, and it’s even funnier, smarter, stronger, and more mature.
Reviews: pulp thriller Cold in July and disappointing LGBT drama Test
Every city has a cinema where movies go to die. In San Francisco, Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinemas takes that honour: with five tiny screens and sound so tinny your iPod earbuds would probably be an improvement, the cinema plays hosts to movies that have worn out their welcome at Landmark’s bigger screens or that were […]