Favorite films

Recent reviews

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  Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat 2024

  ★★★ Watched 16 Mar 2025

  Oh, how to rate this film?
  The subject matter (the murder of Patrice Lumumba) is very important, the jazzy soundtrack is fantastic.
  Hats off to the visual research team and the editors.
  However... The film is so long, and you have to stay incredibly focused to grasp the story. I had to take a break at least three times, over the course of three days (streaming it on kanopy).
  In the end, I still didn't quite understand what Louis Armstrong…

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  Conclave 2024

  ★★★★½ Watched 15 Mar 2025

  What a great film! I had already read Robert Harris' excellent novel, so I did know the plot, no surprises there.
  But the film was still exciting and beautiful. Great screenplay (Oscar 2025), strong cast, fantastic production design.
  This could have easily won a best picture Oscar, I'm a little baffled it did not. It's so professionally done.

Popular reviews

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  Physician, Heal Thyself 2023

  ★★★★ Watched 06 Oct 2023

  I did not know much about the subject, Dr. Gabor Maté, before the film. While I’m not incentivized into reading his books, I was impressed by his self-reflection and insight. The filmmakers did a great job interviewing him and editing a huge amount of public and private materials into the story. I’m sure his many fans around the world will live the film. To me, it was delightful to experience Maté’s wife Rae attend the VIFF 2023 Q&A. She’s an amazing person who learned to grow after having lived with her remarkable husband for over five decades.

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  The Stand 2024

  ★★★★★ Watched 03 Oct 2024

  It was a wonderful experience to attend the world premiere of The Stand at the 2024 Vancouver Int'l Film Festival.

  The 350-seat theatre was full, with many Haidas attending. Tears were shed, and and long speeches were held.

  This film, which only contains archival footage, is masterfully edited with a fantastic score and occasional animated elements.

  The Stand did not receive a juried award at VIFF but it did receive a "special mention" by the Arbutus jury.

  The note is…