Liam Lacey - Page 2 - The Globe and Mail

Liam Lacey

FreelanceFilm critic

llacey@globeandmail.com

Liam Lacey is a film critic for The Globe and Mail.

Latest articles

July 24, 2015

Dispatch from the culture trenches: Liam Lacey calls it a career

July 24, 2015

Blown away (and blushing) after the big space-o-rama

July 24, 2015

Santa Claus, the Little Mermaid and a Great White Shark

July 24, 2015

If this is Tuesday, it must be Kenora

July 24, 2015

A scene from The Look of Silence.

A scene from The Look of Silence.

Docs give ‘a peek behind the curtain’ at Indonesia’s mass killings of the 1960s

July 24, 2015

Anders Holm (John) and Cobie Smulders (Samantha Abbot) in a scene from Unexpected.

Anders Holm (John) and Cobie Smulders (Samantha Abbot) in a scene from Unexpected.

Unexpected touches on sensitive topics but backs away from conclusions

July 24, 2015

Joshua Oppenheimer’s follow-up to his extraordinary documentary The Act of Killing focuses on a village optometrist who confronts the former right-wing paramilitaries who murdered his brother during Indonesia's anti-communist purges of the 1960s.

Joshua Oppenheimer’s follow-up to his extraordinary documentary The Act of Killing focuses on a village optometrist who confronts the former right-wing paramilitaries who murdered his brother during Indonesia's anti-communist purges of the 1960s.

The Look of Silence: Striking follow-up to Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing

July 23, 2015

Left to right: Parker Posey as Rita and Emma Stone as Jill in Irrational Man.

Left to right: Parker Posey as Rita and Emma Stone as Jill in Irrational Man.

Parker Posey finds luck with new film Irrational Man

July 17, 2015

Barry Ward as James Gralton is a rakishly likeable hero in a political film with music, dancing, romance and slapstick cop chases.

Barry Ward as James Gralton is a rakishly likeable hero in a political film with music, dancing, romance and slapstick cop chases.

Jimmy’s Hall: Political tone overlaps inspirational film with an Irish lilt

July 17, 2015

A smash success at Cannes, the stunning feature debut by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy focuses on a gang of deaf-mute students whose extracurricular activities include robbery, prostitution and aggravated assault.

A smash success at Cannes, the stunning feature debut by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy focuses on a gang of deaf-mute students whose extracurricular activities include robbery, prostitution and aggravated assault.

The Tribe: No sound, just fury brings unsettling life to Ukraine’s ‘deaf mafia’

July 17, 2015

Amy, played by Amy Schumer, on a date with Aaron, played by Bill Hader. Amy is a Manhattan journalist for a men’s magazine called S’Nuff, who parties a lot, sleeps with a string of hot guys and tells us about it in a wry, dry voice-over.

Amy, played by Amy Schumer, on a date with Aaron, played by Bill Hader. Amy is a Manhattan journalist for a men’s magazine called S’Nuff, who parties a lot, sleeps with a string of hot guys and tells us about it in a wry, dry voice-over.

Trainwreck: Amy Schumer’s rom-com feels like a laugh-out-loud compromise

July 10, 2015

Notorious activists the Yes Men (Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichlbaum) have staged outrageous hoaxes to hijack public dialogue worldwide about the issues of the day. In their third cinematic outing, they are now well into their 40s, and their mid-life crises are threatening to drive them out of activism forever – even as they prepare to take on the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced, climate change.

Notorious activists the Yes Men (Mike Bonanno and Andy Bichlbaum) have staged outrageous hoaxes to hijack public dialogue worldwide about the issues of the day. In their third cinematic outing, they are now well into their 40s, and their mid-life crises are threatening to drive them out of activism forever – even as they prepare to take on the biggest challenge they’ve ever faced, climate change.

Congestion of culture jamming takes bite out of The Yes Men Are Revolting

July 10, 2015

In Minions, Bob, Kevin and Stuart learn about the Villain-Con taking place in Orlando, and they head off in search of a new evil master.

In Minions, Bob, Kevin and Stuart learn about the Villain-Con taking place in Orlando, and they head off in search of a new evil master.

Minions: Prequel sheds light on evil origins of the villainous sidekicks

July 10, 2015

The Mexican government invites an army of vigilantes to sign up as a ‘rural police’ force. En route to legitimacy, the militia are infiltrated by former cartel members, who use the power of their guns to extort and steal and deal drugs again.

The Mexican government invites an army of vigilantes to sign up as a ‘rural police’ force. En route to legitimacy, the militia are infiltrated by former cartel members, who use the power of their guns to extort and steal and deal drugs again.

Cartel Land: Mexican drug trafficking doc compels with heroic vigilante tales

July 3, 2015

Mark Ruffalo, left, as Cam Stuart, Imogene Wolodarsky, middle, as Amelia Stuart and Ashley Aufderheide as Faith Stuart in a feel-good movie about a family dealing with a diagnosis that has some poignant moments.

Mark Ruffalo, left, as Cam Stuart, Imogene Wolodarsky, middle, as Amelia Stuart and Ashley Aufderheide as Faith Stuart in a feel-good movie about a family dealing with a diagnosis that has some poignant moments.

Infinitely Polar Bear: Feel-good family film displays the fun side of mania

July 3, 2015

Amir Taaki and Alex Winter on the set of Deep Web, a documentary focusing on Ross William Ulbricht’s arrest and trial.

Amir Taaki and Alex Winter on the set of Deep Web, a documentary focusing on Ross William Ulbricht’s arrest and trial.

Deep Web: Silk Road doc tracks FBI investigation of the trafficking site

July 3, 2015

The Connection is based on a true story of a crusading magistrate, Pierre Michel, played by Jean Dujardin.

The Connection is based on a true story of a crusading magistrate, Pierre Michel, played by Jean Dujardin.

The Connection: Cédric Jimenez directs a stylish, multiyear crime drama

July 2, 2015

Still of Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer and Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer (2013). The film received a significant boost from its VOD distribution.

Still of Chris Evans, Octavia Spencer and Tilda Swinton in Snowpiercer (2013). The film received a significant boost from its VOD distribution.

The video-on-demand boom leaves movie viewers spoiled for choice

Liam Lacey

June 26, 2015

Tracing the rise of the French electronic-music boom in the 1990s, ‘Eden’ is designed like an extended dance mix, with motifs that come and go and gain meaning through repetition.

Tracing the rise of the French electronic-music boom in the 1990s, ‘Eden’ is designed like an extended dance mix, with motifs that come and go and gain meaning through repetition.

Eden: Director Mia Hansen-Love finds eloquence in Parisian dance music tale

June 25, 2015

Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver in a scene from 'Inside Llewyn Davis.'

Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver in a scene from 'Inside Llewyn Davis.'

Seven movies that have captured the birth of a new musical scene