Cardinals

Sad, dark, expressive.... acting with expression was well done, characters spot on, this film held my attention easily, made me think, I really enjoyed its quality....

Saw this at TIFF. Wasn't expecting a lot so was very pleasantly surprised. This is a deliberate (some might say slow) and well drawn psychological thriller. We start with a scene that makes little sense and then fast-forward a number of years. There is clearly a mystery here surrounding a crime that was committed some years earlier by the starring character. However, as the movie begins to unfold and the pieces fall into place, the mystery slowly takes shape. As the viewer, we are anxious to see the next piece of the puzzle reveal itself but the movie takes its time and this only adds to the suspense. All the lead characters contribute effectively to the tension which builds throughout. Peter Spence, in a secondary role as the parole officer adds some much-needed humour to the scenes in which he appears. The combination of his facial expressions and dialogue elicited much laughter in the theater on the day that I watched the film (I didn't think that beef and black bean sauce could be such an amusing expression). And if you like swans, you will be very happy with a scene about two-thirds of the way into the film. The ending is written so as not to hit the viewer over the head and leaves perhaps a number of questions which my wife and I discussed as we walked out of the theater into the bright daylight of the fading summer. A real little gem!

.the movie wasnt too bad but it was a struggle to stay engaged. You do feel like if you look away you will miss the thing that explains it all, but like so many indie films, it just ends. The writer ( or whoever was in charge of the film ) couldnt come up with anymore story and said " thats a wrap".the movie wasnt too bad but it was a struggle to stay engaged. You do feel like if you look away you will the movie wasnt too bad but it was a struggle to stay engaged. You do feel like if you look away you will miss the thing that explains it all, but like so many indie films, it just ends. The writer ( or whoever was in charge of the film ) couldnt come up with anymore story and said " thats a wrap".miss the thing that explains it all, but like so many indie films, it just ends. The writer ( or whoever was in charge of the film ) couldnt come up with anymore story and said " thats a wrap". Oh well.

I saw the first Crack when Mark kept on about the dog or whatever she said ran in front of her.

Even with that stupid angle out of the picture, Mark did not know what his father did, nor did Valerie's ex coworker tell him.

Add what happened at the AA meeting, followed by the stupid nonsense with a parole officer inviting Mark into the house. Hugemongus plot hole right there, unless in Canada they allow such stupidity from those in the criminal justice system.

Soooooo, why would the PO even question her about the accusations, and even more of a face palming. Why after all what she went through before, during and after release from prison would she admit to the crime????? A plot hole the size of the sun.

Hence my 4 out of 10 rating.

Take me to your darkest room. Close every window and lock the door. This is kitchen zink realism. Wow! A film that actually tell you a story with the help of dialogue and images. Who does not want to dazzle you with artistry. Or trying to hide that the story is made up along the way. In "Cardinals" we are offered a story with substance. Plus a cast and a crew who knows how to communicate this and more to us, the audience. I am so grateful. This is the play Sam Shepard never got around to write. "It's also the best film that Atom Egoyan never made." (Andrew Parker TIFF)