Posts Tagged ‘Sara Canning’

RICHARD’S WEEKEND MOVIE REVIEWS FROM CP24! FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2019.

Richard joins CP24 anchor Jamie Gutfreund to have a look at the weekend’s new movies including “Wonder Park,” starring the voices of Jennifer Garner and John Oliver, “Gloria Bell” starring Julianne Moore, the morbid comedy “To Dust” starring Matthew Broderick and Géza Röhrig and the dystopian drama “Level 16.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

LEVEL 16: 3 ½ STARS. “delivers both intellectually and emotionally.”

A mix-and-match of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and any number of dystopian young adults tales “Level 16” is a powerful statement on the expectations levelled at young women.

The Vestalis Academy is a drab training centre where any deviation from the lesson plans of female virtue—cleanliness, obedience, humility and patience—gets students labelled “unclean” and results in a trip “downstairs” for severe punishment.

The kind of prep school that provides well-trained “daughters” to the highest bidder, its teachers educate on grooming, hygiene and life lessons like, “curiosity is the first vice,” and how to dress like the daughter of a top society family.

It’s also the only home its students have ever known. “When a girl is obedient and sweet the world cannot help but love her,” says Dr. Miro (Peter Outerbridge). “Follow the rules. Be patient. Let us take care of you. “

Each year is a level. “Level 16 is not like the other levels,” lectures the stern head mistress Miss Brixil (Sarah Canning). “All your training has lead up to this moment. Soon our sponsors will arrive to choose their new adopted daughters.” Interestingly, what the schooling doesn’t include are life skills like reading and writing.

The story focuses on Vivien (Katie Douglas) and Sophia (Celina Martin), two students who stop taking the “vitamins” that put them into a coma-like sleep every night. Working together they hatch a plan to save themselves and the others from a hideous fate.

Director Danishka Esterhazy’s “Level 16” details how so-called traditional feminine values can actually be tools of oppression. It’s a powerful message coupled with thoughts on objectification that pays off with a tense and horrifying climax that feels earned by the preceding story. (NO SPOILERS HERE!)

Esterhazy’s colour palate of grey, grey and more grey enhances the institutional nature of the story, helping to create the bleak atmosphere surrounding the students, most of whom find out the hard way that following the rules isn’t always the best path.

Mixing elements of social justice, horror and sci fi, “Level 16” is a genre movie that delivers both intellectually and emotionally.

RICHARD’S WEEKEND MOVIE REVIEWS FROM CP24! FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2019.

Richard joins CP24 anchor Jee-Yun Lee to have a look at the weekend’s new movies including ‘Alita: Battle Angel,’ ‘Level 16‘ and ‘Isn’t It Romantic.’

Watch the whole thing HERE!

RICHARD’S CTV NEWSCHANNEL WEEKEND MOVIE REVIEWS FOR FEBRUARY 15.

Richard sits in with CTV NewsChannel anchor Marcia McMillan to have a look at the weekend’s big releases including ‘Alita: Battle Angel,’ ‘Happy Death Day 2U,’ and ‘Level 16‘ and ‘Isn’t It Romantic.’

Watch the whole thing HERE!

CFRA IN OTTAWA: THE BILL CARROLL MORNING SHOW MOVIE REVIEWS!

Richard has a look at the romantic satire “Isn’t It Romantic,” the CGI cyborg of “Alita: Battle Angel” and the time spun “Happy Death Day 2U” with CFRA Morning Rush guest host Kristy Cameron.

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

CTVNEWS.CA: ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ is a CGI spectacle with a synthetic heart.

From ctvnews.ca: Film critic and ‘Pop Life’ host Richard Crouse reviews three new movies this week: ‘Alita: Battle Angel,’ ‘Happy Death Day 2U,’ and ‘Level 16‘ and ‘Isn’t It Romantic.’ Read the whole things HERE!

 

LEVEL 16: 3 ½ STARS. “delivers both intellectually and emotionally.”

A mix-and-match of “The Handmaid’s Tale” and any number of dystopian young adults tales “Level 16” is a powerful statement on the expectations levelled at young women.

The Vestalis Academy is a drab training centre where any deviation from the lesson plans of female virtue—cleanliness, obedience, humility and patience—gets students labelled “unclean” and results in a trip “downstairs” for severe punishment.

The kind of prep school that provides well-trained “daughters” to the highest bidder, its teachers educate on grooming, hygiene and life lessons like, “curiosity is the first vice,” and how to dress like the daughter of a top society family.

It’s also the only home its students have ever known. “When a girl is obedient and sweet the world cannot help but love her,” says Dr. Miro (Peter Outerbridge). “Follow the rules. Be patient. Let us take care of you. “

Each year is a level. “Level 16 is not like the other levels,” lectures the stern head mistress Miss Brixil (Sarah Canning). “All your training has lead up to this moment. Soon our sponsors will arrive to choose their new adopted daughters.” Interestingly, what the schooling doesn’t include are life skills like reading and writing.

The story focuses on Vivien (Katie Douglas) and Sophia (Celina Martin), two students who stop taking the “vitamins” that put them into a coma-like sleep every night. Working together they hatch a plan to save themselves and the others from a hideous fate.

Director Danishka Esterhazy’s “Level 16” details how so-called traditional feminine values can actually be tools of oppression. It’s a powerful message coupled with thoughts on objectification that pays off with a tense and horrifying climax that feels earned by the preceding story. (NO SPOILERS HERE!)

Esterhazy’s colour palate of grey, grey and more grey enhances the institutional nature of the story, helping to create the bleak atmosphere surrounding the students, most of whom find out the hard way that following the rules isn’t always the best path.

Mixing elements of social justice, horror and sci fi, “Level 16” is a genre movie that delivers both intellectually and emotionally.

Celebrate The Shortest Day Short Film Celebration! December 19, 2013!

Screen Shot 2013-12-19 at 2.13.40 PMHelp celebrate the The Shortest Day Short Film Celebration on the shortest day of the year with some very cool bravoFACT short films! the cinematic celebration was created by the Centre national du cinéma et de l’image in France and now has more than 20 other countries participating. Top get in the mood enjoy these bravoFACT shorts curated by Richard!

Manifold: While a small-town sheriff investigates a mysterious multiple murder scene, a brilliant young software engineer is bizarrely linked to the crime–and to a much bigger conspiracy.

Director/Writer: Anthony Scott Burns
Composer: Makeup and Vanity Set
Actors: Stephen McHattie, Greg Calderone, Riel Paley, Owen Roth, Rafael Kalamat, Jesse Kavander
Producers: Johnny Hockin, Juniper Island Productions
Funder: bravoFACT

Issues: An aspiring young female photojournalist faces a crisis when she must choose between journalistic integrity or celebrity entertainment.

Director: Kent Nolan
Created By: Katherine Barrell, Kent Nolan
Writers: Kent Nolan, Clarke Logan
Composer: Colleen Dauncy
DOP: Mike McLaughlin
Editor: Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux
Actors: Katherine Barrell, Kristopher Turner, Ben Lewis, Leah Doz, Rick Roberts, Patrick McKenna, Shannon Kook
Producers: Tommy Lioutas, Katherine Barrell, Insomniac Productions
Funder: bravoFACT

Requiem for Romance: A young couple’s secret love affair comes to a bittersweet end during an evening phone call as cell phone static creates distance between them.

Writer/Director/Animator: Jonathan Ng
Composer: Vid Cousins, Kid Koala
Voice Actors: Meilie Ng, Shannon Kook-Chun
Musicians: Shen Qi, Madeleine Messier, Tim Halliday, David Payant
Producers: Jonathan Ng, Andrew Przybytkowski, Kungfu Romance Productions Inc.
Funders: bravoFACT, NFB, SODEC, Canada Council, Charles Street Video

I put a hit on you: A brokenhearted woman teams up with her ex-boyfriend to stop the hitman she hired to kill him.

Writers/Directors: Dane Clark, Linsey Stewart
Composer: Austra
DOP: James Klopko
Editor: Jonathan Eagan
Actors: Sara Canning, Aaron Ashmore
Producers: Jordan Gross, Mike MacMillan, Lithium Studios Production, Dark Hope Entertainment
Funder: bravoFACT

Slow Win: A commuter races to enter the closing doors of a departing subway train.

Writer/Director: William Allinson
DOP: James Klopko
Editor: Michael Pierro
Actors: Gabriel Dumas, Richard Hassan
Producer: James Vandewater, Castlewood Productions, Made By Other People
Funder: bravoFACT