Film critic | Peter Howell Night Vision

Jerry Garcia’s death, 25 years ago, helped popularize the Internet

A story from the sad day in 1995 when cyberspace rippled as Deadheads grieved.

“Hamilton” on film: The Revolution is being televised

Lin-Manuel Miranda's dynamic account of U.S. revolutionary politics boldly presents history in fresh hues and in a hurry.

Spike Lee’s masterpiece “Do the Right Thing” still burns hot with truth and wisdom

Spike Lee’s films never get old because his theme of racial injustice never loses urgency.

TIFF downsizes September fest as it gamely grapples with coronavirus concerns

But Toronto's premier fall fest promises to deliver terrific new films for its 45th edition.

Can TIFF 2020 dodge a viral bullet?

This is the time of year when the Toronto International Film Festival normally begins its summer-long reveal of plans for its big cinema ...

A documentary like "There's No Place Like This Place, Anyplace" happens once in a life

Documentary on the closure, redevelopment and lasting impact of the Honest Ed’s properties in Toronto. Directed by Lulu Wei. Streaming Ma...

The villain as virus in "No Country for Old Men": You can't stop what's coming

Starring Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Tess Harper and Garret Dillahunt. Written and dir...

A salute to Cannes and romantic rapture with “In the Mood for Love”

Starring Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung and Rebecca Pan. Written and directed by Wong Kar-wai. Streaming on The Criterion Channel. 99 minutes....

Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” is a masterpiece of obsession and betrayal that casts a spell

Starring James Stewart, Kim Novak, Barbara Bel Geddes, Tom Helmore, Henry Jones, Raymond Bailey and Ellen Corby. Written by Samuel A. Tay...

A coronavirus cough gives Oscar the chills

We’re all familiar with the cautionary adage about not giving an inch to a slippery person or group, lest they respond by taking a mile. ...

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Movies I can't live without

Toronto Star movie critic Peter Howell has written a book about his 25 favourite movies, with highly personal reviews from Apocalypse Now to The Wizard of Oz.

Here's a sample of his review of 2001: A Space Odyssey, his all-time favourite film:

"It was billed as The Ultimate Trip and the hyperbole was justified, then as now.

Stanley Kubrick's space opus still seems like the future, 52 years after its release and 19 years after its significant title year. It never gets old and I never tire of seeing it, even after 50-plus viewings..."