Podcast: VIFF 2022: Viking & Triangle of Sadness

Viff 2022: Viking & Triangle of Sadness

Greetings programs! This week on the podcast, we’re looking at two films that played as part of the 2022 Vancouver International Film Festival. First up is Canadian director Stéphane Lafleur’s new high-concept comedy Viking. Then we take a closer look at Ruben Östlund’s Palme d’Or winning satire of wealth and privilege Triangle of Sadness.

You’ll find a complete list of where you can listen to the show below and an embedded player if you prefer to listen right here on the site.

Join us!

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Review: ‘Kate’ has a killer premise that you have definitely seen before

Kate

I am, if I am totally honest, not even sure where to begin. Kate, the upcoming action film from Netflix, has a killer lead actress, a killer premise, looks gorgeous and falls entirely flat at every turn. If it were not for some stylistic flourishes –which are problematic in their own right– I don’t know if I’d have anything nice to say about it.

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Review: ‘Zombieland: Double Tap’ has exactly no new ideas

Zombieland: Double Tap

I really liked Zombieland. It’s not a perfect film by any stretch of the imagination but it has a great cast and a solid premise, and a few big laughs.

It was a surprise hit and made a ton of money so it’s no surprise that it got a sequel. What is surprising is that the sequel feels exactly the same as the original. That’s not always a deal-breaker, but ten years and a radically changed socio-political landscape in this world mean little to no updates in the new film definitely are a dealbreaker.

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Review: Out of the Furnace

Out of the Furnace

Out of the Furnace is a movie that, on paper, looks like it should be amazing. Christian Bale, Forest Whitaker, Sam Shepard, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, and Zoe Saldana are all talented actors and Scott Cooper’s previous film, _Crazy Heart_ was a solid effort which earned it’s lead actor an Academy Award.

That’s on paper though. Unfortunately if you’ve seen [a trailer for _Out of the Furnace_](https://awesomefriday.ca/2013/10/out-of-the-furnace-second-trailer-poster-its-definitely-awards-season/) then you will not be surprised by anything that happens in the movie. In fact, even if you haven’t seen the trailer you won’t be surprised by anything that happens in the movie.

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Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

It’s hard to believe that it has only been a year and a half since _The Hunger Games_ came out. There has been a string of young adult books adapted into movies following the success of Harry Potter, most of them featuring an up and coming young actor in the lead surrounded by Hollywood veterans, usually fighting against some oppressive regime. The Hunger Games was no different. Jennifer Lawrence was aiming for her big break and Lionsgate was looking for a new cash cow.

The film itself wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t really _good_ either. Suffering from a small budget and a weak screenplay it fell comfortably into the “good enough” category and made enough money to warrant adapting the rest of the series into movies.

It’s a good thing too because where _The Hunger Games_ was just good enough, _The Hunger Games: Catching Fire_ is actually really good.

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Out Of The Furnace Second Trailer + Poster: It’s Definitely Awards Season

Out of the Furnace

The [first _Out of the Furnace_ trailer](https://awesomefriday.ca/2013/07/out-of-the-furnace-trailer/) made sure you knew everyone that’s in it and that they are all great actors. The second trailer make sure you know that as well as the set up of the “hardworking everyman sets out to find his messed up younger brother” storyline. Let’s watch!

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A Beacon of Hope in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Teaser

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Hunger Games, like it or not, was a huge hit last year. I didn’t think it was bad, I just wished it were better. So here’s the first teaser for the second movie, Catching Fire:

To be fair, there’s a lot we don’t see here and it is just a teaser, but it any of this is as well executed as it looks and the cast brings their A game (which they are all more than capable of doing) then this might end up being great. Hopefully.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire comes out this November.

Now You See Me Trailer 2 Certainly Full of Talented People

nowyouseeme

I like movies about magic and movies about bank heists and this is a movie about magicians who pull off bank heists Toss in a pretty stellar cast and yeah, I will indeed see this one.

Did I mention stellar cast? Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine as the older men, Mark Ruffalo as the cop? Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco as the magicians? Damn that’s some stellar casting.

One other thing, Dave Franco is barely mentioned I know he’s the up and comer in the group however this could be the one that pushes him to star status, especially after great supporting turns in Warm Bodies and 21 Jump Street.