Sundance 2022 Review: “When You Finish Saving the World”

Year: 2022 Runtime: 88 minutes Director and Writer: Jesse Eisenberg Stars: Julianne Moore, Finn Wolfhard, Billy Bryk, Alisha Boe, Jack Justice, Jay O. Sanders, Eleonore Hendricks By Morgan Roberts There is no way to sugarcoat the drawn out self-indulgence of “When You Finish Saving the World” (2022).  In many ways, it centers on two caricatures of the worst people possible: an extremely privileged white kid … Continue reading Sundance 2022 Review: “When You Finish Saving the World”

ITOL 2019 Round-up: The Art of Self-Defense

There’s no film from this year that is the perfect storm of incredible dark comedy and strong storytelling than the sophomore feature effort of writer/director Riley Stearns – “The Art of Self Defense”. The film, about a timid man attempting to find some self-confidence through learning karate only to discover the dark secrets of the local dojo he goes to, is just purely immaculate. 

Right from the first scene, the film easily found a direct line to my funny bone and continued to rattle it with every wild and odd moment that comes from Casey’s (Jesse Eisenberg) experience with learning martial arts and the overtly serious nature of Sensei (Alessandro Nivola). Continue reading ITOL 2019 Round-up: The Art of Self-Defense

JC’s Top 20 Movies Of 2019

As we approach the end of 2019, the ITOL team are compiling their end of year lists of their favourite films. Here’s James Cain’s list and his personal top 20 films of 2019!

Another year, another fresh bout of shame. I didn’t see “Hustlers”! I didn’t fit “Always Be My Maybe” onto my list of favourite movies! Anyway, here are my Top 20 Films of 2019. Continue reading JC’s Top 20 Movies Of 2019