10 Reasons Why “Ex Machina” Could Have Been a Masterpiece But It Is Not

The phrase ex machina comes from the Latin phrase deus ex machina, which literally means “god from the machine.” In ancient times, it was used to explain the appearance of a god that was lowered onto the stage on a cable (thus the machine). Nowadays, the phrase is used in a negative connotation referring to […]

Elle – VIFF 2016 Review

viff-movies

You’d think by age 78 that firebrand Dutch director Paul Verhoeven would venture less into areas most filmmakers would never dare, but you’d be wrong. With Elle, Verhoeven’s first film in a decade, a rape-revenge fantasy thriller unfolds with generous drops of comedy and subtlety. While many filmmakers have explored and exploited similar transgressive territory, […]