I wish I liked "Bottoms"

by Cláudio Alves

It could be a matter of bad taste or intransigence on my part, or the rare contrarian streak rearing its ugly head. Whatever the case or cause, it seems like there's always one major queer film per year I end up despising while the rest of the world falls over itself in praise. Last year, Bros was the foremost example, and I found myself at odds with people whose perspective I respect. In 2023, the honor falls on Bottoms, Emma Seligman's studio-backed follow-up to Shiva Baby's indie success, a sophomore feature that hits the proverbial slump right on. And yet, I feel like I should have loved it. At the very least, I wish I did…

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TIFF ‘23: A Humorous Look at Activism in ‘A Difficult Year’

By Abe Friedtanzer

Courtesy of TIFF

There are many things to be angry about in today’s world, including the inaction by governments around crucial issues. Activism takes many forms and often has specific aims, but the goals of a protest movement can also be wildly unattainable. The very funny A Difficult Year pokes fun at that notion with its story of two opportunists who become involved with an anti-commercialization group for all the wrong reasons...

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TIFF '23: Getting into the Christmas Spirit with ‘El Sabor de la Navidad’

By Abe Friedtanzer

It always feels a little strange to watch a Christmas movie long before the holiday season, but that just means getting into that wintry mindset ahead of time! El Sabor de la Navidad, a Spanish-language comedy from Mexico, is notable because it’s produced by Salma Hayek Pinault and stars Mariana Treviño, who is the best reason to watch last year’s A Man Called Otto. It’s a lighthearted portrait of an extended family and others connected to them trying to get through a holiday that brings far too many conflicting personalities together…

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TIFF: Julian Dennison in ‘Uproar’

By Abe Friedtanzer

Courtesy of TIFF

By Abe Friedtanzer

The intersection of inherently comedic characters and unexpectedly dramatic situations can be a difficult thing to get right, but when it is, it’s quite satisfying. Uproar introduces a misfit protagonist who uses humor as a defense mechanism to mask his own discomfort with and uncertainty about his identity, and it warmly and effectively traces his journey towards self-discovery and an untapped passion for activism... 

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Emmy Analysis: Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

By Abe Friedtanzer

Lukita Maxwell and Jason Segel in "Shrinking," now streaming on Apple TV+.

Isn’t this supposed to be a comedy category? Yes, two of the shows with a questionable genre distinction -- Barry and The Bear – are represented here, but all five men chose relatively serious fare as their episode submissions. Before we dig in, let’s start with a mention of the three eligible nominees from last year who didn’t make the cut this time around. Donald Glover, a past winner of this category, had his last shot for Atlanta, and Steve Martin missed out on a repeat bid for season two of Only Murders in the Building. Most lamentably, Nicholas Hoult was somehow not selected for The Great. How that’s possible is beyond me, but fortunately the five men who did make the cut are all worthwhile…

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