Author: Keegan Barker
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The Northman
Robert Eggers continues to build on his brilliant, esoteric, and difficult to some, film canon with his take on Hamlet and Vikings in The Northman. After the success of The VVitch and The Lighthouse, high expectations were placed on the next Robert Eggers film. The Northman is a thunderous third entry into Eggers’ feature filmography,…
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Don’t Talk About (The Ending of) Fight Club
If you’re watching Fight Club in China, you’re watching an altered ending, even more insane than the original. Keegan explores the corruption of artistic expression. Editor’s Note: The following article contains spoilers for Fight Club. The Narrator and Tyler Durden are the same person. “You met me at a very strange time in my life.” …
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The Walrus and the Whistleblower
Recent Hot Docs Audience Award winner, The Walrus and the Whistleblower, is an emotionally charged, personal examination of Marineland’s unethical animal captivity. Like so many Canadians, I grew up watching commercials with that infectious jingle, “Everyone loves Marineland.” I remember going to Marineland in 2001 when I was 8 years old and doing the whole nine yards…
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20 Years of Gladiator
Keegan takes a deep dive into Gladiator, Ridley Scott’s historical epic that busted the box office open and made Russell Crowe a star. Thumbs up? I was 12 years old when I first watched Ridley Scott’s historical epic, and it left a lasting impression on a young mind freshly exposed to drama, violence, and spectacle.…
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Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness
Tiger King, the top shows on Netflix (as we all Covid hunker down at home) is a rich example of truth being stranger than fiction. When I first described the premise of Netflix’s newest crime documentary series to my girlfriend, she said, “It’s not a documentary…right? Like it’s not real?” It is. And it’s one…
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In Fabric
In a cinematic climate dominated by Disney and other bloated studios, A24 Studios stands out as a studio that still makes films for film connoisseurs. Recently, I saw one of A24’s newest films: In Fabric. I could call it a horror movie, but that is far too simplistic. It has its horrific moments, but it…