By Allan Tong

Mexico City at 9:17 p.m. sees computer geek Lolo (Y Tu Mamá También’s Diego Luna) spying on the lovely girl next door. Unfortunately, she discovers his cameras hidden inside her apartment and proceeds to rampage over his computer system. Her attack triggers a chain reaction that jeopardises a deal involving 20 diamonds with the Russian mob and entangles quarrelling pharmacists, bloodthirsty hairstylists and nosy cops. Nicotina is a black farce set in real time (93 minutes), loosely strung together by the motif of cigarette smoke — the point is that everyone’s fate ends up in smoke. There are some good laughs in Nicotina and director Hugo Rodriguez keeps us following all the madcap turns without losing our attention. However, the best black comedies make a point — witness Joe Orton’s plays exposing the sexual hypocrisy of a repressed England of the ’60s with wicked glee. There is little beneath the surface of Nicotina, though it is entertaining and fun. Like a cigarette, Nicotina gives the viewer a rush but leaves him wanting more. (Altavista)


Emily Hampshire’s performance in A Problem with Fear is a stunner — as funny, cartoon-ish and wholly original as Mira Sorvino’s star-making turn in Mighty Aphrodite. Hampshire’s Dot looks like Annette Funicello with fire engine red lipstick and braces — she’s a nerdy girl with a fierce sense of determination and a goofy speech impediment. ...Read More
Dogville - Dir. by Lars von Trier
Lars Von Trier is best known in film circles for having devised a half-joking manifesto called Dogme 95; in it, he outlined "rules" that would help save films from Hollywood formula. They included only using natural light, hand-held cameras, existing locations, natural environmental music (no score) and a vague "no clichés" rule. ...Read More
The Barbarian Invasions - Dir. by Denys Arcand
Canada’s greatest living filmmaker returns to form with The Barbarian Invasions. Denys Arcand reunites the cast of The Decline of the American Empire, his 1987 hit that put Quebec on the international film map, and revives Empire’s style of intellectual banter laced with sharp wit. ...Read More
Alexandra’s Project - Dir. by Rolf de Heer
Alien: The Director’s Cut - Dir. by Ridley Scott
Bon Voyage - Dir. by Jean-Paul Rappeneau
The Agronomist - Dir. by Jonathan Demme
The Human Stain - Dir. by Robert Benton
The Republic of Love - Dir. by Deepa Mehta
The Saddest Music in the World - Dir. by Guy Maddin
The School of Rock - Dir. by Richard Linklater
The Yes Men - Dir. by Chris Smith, Dan Ollman and Sarah Price
Veronica Guerin - Dir. by Joel Schumacher
Zatoichi - Dir. by Takeshi Kitano
New and Forthcoming Release Dates In Canada - All information is tentative and subject to sudden change
Check out the hottest new releases in Canada this week, including: 50 Cent Before I Self-Destruct, Boris Japanese Heavy Rock Hits #2 7", Kid Sister Ultraviolet, Norah Jones The Fall, Stereophonics Keep Calm and Carry On... Read More
Do Make Say Think - Other Truths
Though they've never been predictable, twisting and turning down a veering path of whatever post-rock is supposed to be, Do Make Say Think strike a reflective tone on the wondrous Other Truths. By their own reckoning, Do Make's previous acclaimed record, You, You're a History in Rust, ... Full Review
King Khan
Montreal ex-pat King Khan has led a classically "rock'n'roll" lifestyle since leaving his home at 17, legally changing his name from Erich Khan to Blacksnake, and eventually relocating to Berlin. Since then, he's become renowned worldwide for his various garage, punk and soul projects, including the big-band soul project King Khan and the Shrines and his collaborative duo with Mark Sultan, the King Khan and BBQ Show.... Read More
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