A banner year for summer movies is bringing people back to the theatres
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The Latest Articles and Appearances from Rachel Ho
Amy Berg Tells Jeff Buckley’s Story through Women Who Knew Him Best - POV Magazine
“When somebody that you love becomes a mythological figure, it colours everyone’s version of [them],” filmmaker Amy Berg observes.
In life and in death, singer Jeff Buckley, the subject of Berg’s latest film It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, represented many things to many people. With the release of his lone studio album Grace in 1994, he captured youthful hearts with his deeply romantic lyrics, offering a tender alternative to the grunge of the day. (“My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder,” he...
In life and in death, singer Jeff Buckley, the subject of Berg’s latest film It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, represented many things to many people. With the release of his lone studio album Grace in 1994, he captured youthful hearts with his deeply romantic lyrics, offering a tender alternative to the grunge of the day. (“My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder,” he...
Denzel Washington Tries to Do the Right Thing in 'Highest 2 Lowest' │ Exclaim!
Adapting films across space and time presents a healthy challenge for filmmakers: how to translate a story from one era to the next? One culture to another? When a film enjoys the label of "classic," an even greater obstacle presents itself: what can a new director add to justify creating a version of something already considered the finished article?A couple years ago, South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus masterfully transposed Akira Kurosawa's Ikiru, making connections between post-war Japa...
'It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley' Gracefully Favours Man to Myth │ Exclaim!
Jeff Buckley's an artist I knew by name, but little more. A name immortalized in music's history, I filed Buckley's name alongside the number of young musicians whose rise to stardom were tragically cut short. With great thanks to documentarian Amy Berg and her latest film, It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley, my knowledge of the singer has expanded, and not just in terms of him as a musician. While the film of course touches upon his artistry and influences, Berg carefully considers the person Buckle...
Bernard White Shakes Up the Industry with 'Shook': "This younger generation doesn't take shit" - The Asian Cut
“Hey, thanks for paving the way, man,” actor Saamer Usmani says to his co-star Bernard White, partly in jest but undoubtedly with an undercurrent of genuine gratitude.
White, Usmani, and I are discussing the doors that White and his generation opened—sometimes not always in the way they wanted—in order for a movie like Shook to be created. The directorial feature debut of Amar Wala, Shook expanded upon Wala’s 2018 short film-of-the-same-name and had its world premiere at last year’s Toronto I...
White, Usmani, and I are discussing the doors that White and his generation opened—sometimes not always in the way they wanted—in order for a movie like Shook to be created. The directorial feature debut of Amar Wala, Shook expanded upon Wala’s 2018 short film-of-the-same-name and had its world premiere at last year’s Toronto I...
Is 'Weapons' horror flick of the year & the buzz around 'Shook'
Commotion guest host Rad Simonpillai is joined by film and culture critics Jackson Weaver, Rachel Ho and Joyita Sengupta to discuss the horror films ‘Weapons’ and ‘Together’ along with buzzing homegrown movie, ‘Shook.’
Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.
Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD5LU56cNRrhzNSAb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/commotion-with-elamin-abdelmahmoud/id1531347005
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commotioncbc
#podcast #popculture
Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.
Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD5LU56cNRrhzNSAb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/commotion-with-elamin-abdelmahmoud/id1531347005
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commotioncbc
#podcast #popculture
The new film Shook captures suburban life in the GTA 'in a very, very beautiful way' | CBC Arts
With another buzzy, homegrown movie, this is shaping up to be an exciting year for Canadian film.Shook is filmmaker Amar Wala's first dramatic feature. It follows a struggling writer named Ashish as he falls for a barista, and learns his estranged father has Parkinson's disease. The film is set in Scarborough, Ont., and has been praised for its authentic and loving representation of the community.Today on Commotion, culture critics Jackson Weaver, Rachel Ho and Joyita Sengupta join guest host Ra...
Manny Jacinto Charms and Swoons in 'Freakier Friday' - The Asian Cut
Rarely does a sequel actually benefit from time, but the 20-plus years since Freaky Friday released in theatres has given space for a whole new generation to be born and get freaky on Fridays, too. Nisha Ganatra takes over from Mark Waters in the director chair and gives the budding franchise a refresh without straying far from what made the 2003 film a success.
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return as Tess and Anna Coleman, still residing in Southern California, now with a daughter/grand...
Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan return as Tess and Anna Coleman, still residing in Southern California, now with a daughter/grand...
Zach Cregger Claims to Be a Horror "Dilettante" — but 'Weapons' Is the Work of a Master │ Exclaim!
"I am embarrassed to say this, but I'll say it to you: I'm a dilettante, especially when it comes to horror. I have massive blind spots. I like to write horror, but I don't necessarily watch all of the horror," writer-director Zach Cregger admits, speaking to Exclaim! from L.A. during the press junket for his latest film, Weapons.Agree to disagree, Cregger knows horror through and through, whether he admits — or realizes — it or not. Barbarian, his 2022 sleeper hit of a directorial debut, housed...
'The Pickup' Is a Suitable Pick-Me-Up │ Exclaim!
Eddie Murphy isn't quite the draw he used to be, and he hasn't been for some time. The days of his edgy stand-up sets demanding our attention fell to the wayside decades ago, his imaginative comedic films grew stale, and while his dramatic turn that began with Dreamgirls has proven fruitful, his films have been tepid at best since 2019's Dolemite Is My Name. While his latest film, The Pickup, is a far cry from his past highs, it's the most watchable film he's made in recent memory.Murphy leads t...
'The Naked Gun' Does Leslie Nielsen Proud │ Exclaim!
Canadian treasure Leslie Nielsen was at the heart of the parody-spoof trend in Hollywood during the '80s and '90s with not only his portrayal of Frank Drebin in the Naked Gun franchise, but as Dr. Rumack in Airplane! as well. Surely, any attempts to follow his legacy are only made in vain. But lucky for us, Akiva Schaffer (of the Lonely Island fame) stood up to the task, delivering one of the best reboots we've seen to date.The Naked Gun continues on from the original Naked Gun films instead of...
'Weapons' Mixes WTF Weirdness with Cutting Social Commentary │ Exclaim!
There's a real "what the fuck" element to Weapons; even Josh Brolin's character, Archer Graff, says so. Children quietly hitting the streets in the middle of the night, arms out as if flying; Benedict Wong, bloody face, eye bulging, running at full force; a couple calmly seated at a dinner table, stabbing themselves in the face with a fork — and those are just the moments I can share without spoilers. But beneath the visceral moments of violence and the gory imagery, writer-director Zach Cregger...
'The Home' Should Be Purged │ Exclaim!
James DeMonaco doesn't make crowd-pleasing movies, and he certainly doesn't make them for critical glory either. It's almost as if the creator of The Purge has an eye for cult classic status. His films contain B-movie camp with a dusting of political commentary and a healthy helping of blood, guts and gore. Even with this understanding of DeMonaco's work and barometer for what to expect, The Home is an aggressive waste of time.The film stars DeMonaco's fellow Staten Islander Pete Davidson as Max...
'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Signals the Great Marvel Reset │ Exclaim!
Undoubtedly, Matt Shakman's The Fantastic Four: First Steps stands as the best cinematic version of Marvel's First Family. Perhaps that's not saying much, though. The unreleased 1994 film was only as good as its low budget allowed, Josh Trank's attempted reboot in 2015 served up a dark and moody bore, and although Tim Story's 2005 Fantastic Four holds up as a colourful and zany superhero film of the era, its sequel, Rise of the Silver Surfer, failed to keep that franchise going for Sony. All thi...
The Downfall of One of TV's Great Dramas — and More Streaming Must-Sees (and Must-Skips) in July 2025 │ Exclaim!
During our long dark winters, Canadians across the country steady ourselves by thoughts of warm summer days ahead. In perhaps a cruel joke from Mother Nature, now that we're smack in the middle of July, an oppressive heat wave has sent us escaping the outdoors for air conditioned shelter. Have no fear, though — at least our streamers are working over time to entertain those stifling days.Music features heavily this month, with films spanning the music of the '70s, 2000s and present day coming to...
Step Right Up: 'The Bearded Girl' Shares Teaser Trailer │ Exclaim!
Step right up, folks! The carnival is in town, and the family-run sideshow featuring the 88th generation of sword-swallowing bearded women should be the main event. But what happens when the current torch bearer wishes to free herself from the tents of Paradise County?In Vortex Media's The Bearded Girl we follow Cleo (Anwen O'Driscoll) — the teaser trailer for which is out now — a young follically gifted woman torn between familial obligation and forging her own path beyond the safety of traditi...
'Lost Memories' Is a Reminder of Life's Fleeting Beauty │ Exclaim!
For many in this world, life will consist of a poetic cruelty. In one instance, the universe will handily provide laughter, loving relationships and cherished moments of joy; in another, those are all stripped away. The cruelty, though, isn't in the loss of special events, places or people — it's that those we love the most will bear the weight of that loss.Mike Wong's short film Lost Memories simply and poignantly translates Alzheimer's hardship with an unexpected optimism. In the blink of an e...
'Topper' Goes Deep │ Exclaim!
Through the professional and personal struggles of a flailing comedian, Kevin McNamara explores the complexities of forgiveness in his directorial debut, Topper. Starring Newfoundland's Mark O'Brien as the messy titular stand-up, Topper particularly impresses in its attention to the nuances amidst the movie's vast scope.When we meet Topper, he's a far cry from the promising comic those around him describe him as. He's zombie-walking through his sets and drinking away whatever wages he earns — al...
How Sorry, Baby is redefining the post-MeToo film, and Jurassic World Rebirth
Film critics Rachel Ho, Alison Wilmore, and Jackson Weaver join guest host Rad Simonpillai to discuss 'Sorry, Baby,' the latest instalment in the 'Jurassic World' franchise, and the politically themed Idris Alba and John Cena action comedy 'Heads of State.'
Thumbnail photos: A24 via AP; Universal Studios
00:00 Intro
00:47 'Sorry, Baby'
13:31 'Jurassic World Rebirth'
20:48 'Heads of State'
Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.
Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD5LU56cNRrhzNSAb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/commotion-with-elamin-abdelmahmoud/id1531347005
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commotioncbc
#podcast #popculture #jurassicworldrebirth
Thumbnail photos: A24 via AP; Universal Studios
00:00 Intro
00:47 'Sorry, Baby'
13:31 'Jurassic World Rebirth'
20:48 'Heads of State'
Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.
Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD5LU56cNRrhzNSAb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/commotion-with-elamin-abdelmahmoud/id1531347005
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commotioncbc
#podcast #popculture #jurassicworldrebirth
Do we really need another Jurassic Park movie? | CBC Arts
Another summer comes and another Jurassic Park movie comes out. This instalment, Jurassic World: Rebirth, follows Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson) as she leads a covert team (Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali) to collect dinosaur blood for a new miracle drug.But do we need another dinosaur summer blockbuster film? Today on Commotion, guest host Rad Simonpillai sits down with film critics Alison Willmore, Jackson Weaver and Rachel Ho to review Jurassic World: Rebirth. We've included some highlight...
'Jurassic World Rebirth' Should Go Extinct │ Exclaim!
In 1993, Dr. Ian Malcolm said to the dino-obsessed brain trust, "Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." It's a profound statement that lies at the heart of Steven Spielberg's seminal Jurassic Park (and Michael Crichton's novel). It's what made the film not just a visually captivating and tonally thrilling piece of work, but a thematically thought-provoking and philosophical story not typically seen in what would otherwise be...
It's Time for 'The Bear' to Close Up Shop with Season 4 │ Exclaim!
We all held out hope that Season 3 of The Bear would be like that quiet period in a restaurant when they close up between lunch and dinner service. Nothing happens, but it's a time to regroup and recharge, preparing us for the Season 4 dinner rush. Well, the open sign has been flipped back around, and here we are with a menu that takes us back to basics (as per Carmy's orders) — but rather than feeling nostalgic and comforting, it's overly familiar and, honestly, a little boring.Season 4 picks u...
The Bear is back, and what would reality TV be without queer and trans people?
Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by real-life line cook and TV junkie Grace Onasanya and TV/film critic Rachel Ho to talk about the latest season of 'The Bear' and what the acclaimed series continues to tell us about the tensions between the culinary arts and the restaurant business.
Plus, Mel Woods joins Elamin to talk about their new Xtra podcast, 'Get Queer,' which explores how queer folks turned reality TV into a global phenomenon.
00:00 Intro
00:04 'The Bear'
15:51 'Get Queer'
Thumbnail photos: FX; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.
Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD5LU56cNRrhzNSAb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/commotion-with-elamin-abdelmahmoud/id1531347005
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commotioncbc
#podcast #popculture #thebear
Plus, Mel Woods joins Elamin to talk about their new Xtra podcast, 'Get Queer,' which explores how queer folks turned reality TV into a global phenomenon.
00:00 Intro
00:04 'The Bear'
15:51 'Get Queer'
Thumbnail photos: FX; Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Commotion is where you go for thoughtful and vibrant chat conversations about all things pop culture. Host Elamin Abdelmahmoud calls on journalists, critics, creators and friends to talk through the biggest arts and entertainment stories of the day.
Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/74eCEvD5LU56cNRrhzNSAb
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/commotion-with-elamin-abdelmahmoud/id1531347005
Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commotioncbc
#podcast #popculture #thebear
Will The Bear's new season get the show back on track? | CBC Arts
Season four of The Bear came out last night. After the acclaimed television show lost its lustre in season three, can the chef-focused show redeem itself in the new season?Today on Commotion, host Elamin Abdelmahmoud sits down with line cook and TV junkie Grace Onasanya and film critic Rachel Ho to talk about the latest season of The Bear and what the series continues to tell us about the tensions between the culinary arts and the restaurant business.You can listen to the full discussion from to...
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