By Ryan Pike
Collective Soul is one of those bands that seem like they’ve been around forever. In this case, “forever” is actually since 1992. Nevertheless, since then the Georgia-based quintet have been cranking out albums. Afterwords, the band’s first studio album since 2004, is par for the course. From the onset of the opener, “New Vibration,” it… Continue reading Spun: Collective Soul
The reputation of many a second record is well-documented in the frequent use of the cliche “sophomore slump.” However, though the title of Drastic Fantastic is a bit off, KT Tunstall’s new album, though not as immediately catching as her debut, is far from a slump of sorts. The album is incredibly professional in the… Continue reading Spun: KT Tunstall
By Nyla Olynyk
This dark comedy takes you along for the bumpy ride as two ill-fated druggies Dexter and Royce attempt to bury the body of their overdosed friend Matilda in an abandoned drive-in movie theatre. Unfortunately, the theatre is also being used by a group of amateur Satanists preparing for their first human sacrifice. The comedy continues… Continue reading Calgary International Film Fest: Weirdsville
By Nyla Olynyk
After Sex examines the relationships of eight different couples, all in the aftermath of sex. The couples include two friends trying to make their way through the tricky and sometimes heartbreaking ordeals of “friends with benefits,” the confusing realizations of sexual orientation, the ever-present question of “butch versus bitch” and, of course, the swingers married… Continue reading Calgary International Film Fest: After Sex
By Indrani Kar
By Amanda Hu
Les Franken (Michael Rapaport) is an everyman living a monotonous life. Though plagued by crippling normalcy more than anything else, he signs up to participate in a clinical trial for a new anti-depressant. Special is the story of Franken’s adventure through the world as the drug’s adverse psychological effects save him from his stifling lifestyle… Continue reading Calgary International Film Fest: Special
By Nyla Olynyk
Ethan Hawke’s film adaptation of his novel of same name, the Hottest State introduces us to William, a confused actor looking for love in New York. William, a product of divorced parents and dysfunctional home life, is searching for the love and acceptance that he lacked as a child. William finds this love in foreign… Continue reading Calgary International Film Fest: The Hottest State
By Indrani Kar
An initial impression many people have of this film is that it is truly bizarre. Drained (O Cheiro de Ralo in Portuguese) is surreal and stunning—both in its camera work and story line. It is hard to empathize with the protagonist. He has very few redeeming features: his is a world driven by egotism and… Continue reading Calgary International Film Fest: Drained
By Amanda Hu
A remake of the 1972 original, Sleuth is the story of a well-to-do crime writer (played by Michael Caine) who is approached by his wife’s lover, an out-of-work actor and part-time hairdresser (played by Jude Law). Over the course of 86 minutes, the two wage psychological war against each other in an attempt to prove… Continue reading Calgary International Film Fest: Sleuth
Known as a fiercely political hip-hop artist, K’Naan has also gained notoriety throughout the world as a Somalian emigre who managed to escape the brutality of Mogadishu at the last second. But K’Naan is trying to move on from his past, letting his music do the talking. His music has won awards in both Canada… Continue reading The wild world of KíNaan