Skip to content

The Matinee

Cinematic Passion & Perspective

  • reviews
    • reactions
    • dvd doubleback
    • watchin’ & writin’
    • the decade so far
    • Review Index
  • podcasts
    • matineecast
    • film locker
    • guest spots
  • festivals
    • TIFF
    • hot docs
    • nxne
    • Toronto After Dark
    • toronto silent film festival
  • Ongoing Features
    • blind spot series
    • thoughts & opinions
    • the watchlist
    • links
    • falling for the first time
    • my back pages
    • essays
    • conversations
    • discussion
    • award talk
  • Contact Me
  • About Me

Category: reactions

Brief thoughts and recaps on films seen in theatres – usually in a festival environment. While no ratings are assigned, these reactions are sometimes expanded into full reviews later.

festivals, hot docs, reactions

HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD plays Hot Docs 2015

If any long journey begins with a single step, watching this film should be what you do to inform the direction that step could go.

Posted on April 25, 2015April 27, 2015
festivals, hot docs, reactions

THE CIRCUS DYNASTY plays Hot Docs 2015

A Shakespearian drama plays out behind the scenes of one of the circus dynasties in Europe.

Posted on April 25, 2015April 26, 2015
festivals, hot docs, reactions

RAIDERS! plays Hot Docs 2015

Can you ever go back to Cairo after you’ve climbed out of a nuked fridge?

Posted on April 25, 2015April 26, 2015
festivals, hot docs, reactions

THE QUEEN OF SILENCE plays Hot Docs 2015

A genre-bending story of beauty, isolation, and poverty that dances to its own rhythm.

Posted on April 24, 2015April 26, 2015
festivals, hot docs, reactions

BLOOD SISTERS plays Hot Docs 2015

A beautifully restrained portrait of a truly unbreakable bond,

Posted on April 24, 2015April 26, 2015
festivals, hot docs, reactions

JESUS TOWN, USA plays Hot Docs 2015

Blessed are the Buddhists, for they will make for splendid nonfiction viewing.

Posted on April 24, 2015April 26, 2015
festivals, hot docs, reactions

MISSING PEOPLE plays Hot Docs 2015

A portrait of one woman; Who she once was, who she thinks she is, and what she might never be again.

Posted on April 23, 2015April 25, 2015
festivals, reactions, TIFF

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS plays TIFF 2014

Being undead is about more than just capes and coffins.

Posted on September 15, 2014September 20, 2014
festivals, reactions, TIFF

HAEMOO plays TIFF 2014

We don’t all have it in us to be morally compromised.

Posted on September 15, 2014September 19, 2014
festivals, reactions, TIFF

THE EDITOR plays TIFF 2014

In the words of Spinal Tap: “There’s a fine line between clever and stupid”

Posted on September 14, 2014September 18, 2014
festivals, reactions, TIFF

A PIGEON SAT ON A BRANCH REFLECTING ON EXISTENCE plays TIFF 2014

So.
Very.
Swedish.

Now let me explain…

Posted on September 14, 2014September 20, 2014
festivals, reactions, TIFF

TOP FIVE plays TIFF 2014

Chris Rock has been responsible for some of the most cutting and edgy comedy of this century. At TIFF, he takes his game to a whole other level.

Posted on September 14, 2014September 15, 2014

Posts navigation

Older posts
Newer posts

Whatcha Lookin’ For?

Find Me & Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Goodreads

Subscribe to the Matineecast

  • Spotify
  • Apple
  • Google

Straight Up

Enter your email address to receive new posts by email.

Whatcha Lookin’ For?

Find Me & Follow Me

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Goodreads

Subscribe to the Matineecast

  • Spotify
  • Apple
  • Google

Straight Up

Enter your email address to receive new posts by email.

© 2026 The Matinee
Powered by WordPress / Theme by Design Lab