Three Blind Mice Opens in Toronto to Strong Reviews

Three Blind Mice opens today in Toronto (Canada Square), and I thought I'd share some of the reviews.

Norm Wilner (NOW) gives the film a rating of NNNN and praises the performances of the three lead actors. Singling out actor/writer/director Matthew Newton's handling of the story, he says, "Newton burrows into their psyches to find real concerns and believable conflicts that emerge organically as the story develops." On his personal blog, he calls it a "deft little drama" and urges his readers to check it out.

NOW review

Kieran Grant (Eye Weekly) praises the film's "surprisingly subtle core" in his 3-star review, emphasizing the "realistic climax" and "nuanced final note."

Eye Weekly review

Liz Braun (Toronto Sun) loved it: "Three Blind Mice is quick and smart and edgy. Though it's often very funny, it's constructed in a way that builds tremendous tension. [The film] defies expectation. This is an unpredictable landscape populated by fully three-dimensional characters, and it's entirely entertaining. This is the world as men live in it."

Toronto Sun review

Jason Anderson (Toronto Star) calls the film "one of the liveliest Australian films in recent years, thanks to its sharply drawn characters and rapid-fire dialogue. Just as impressive is the deftness with which the filmmaker and his cast navigate the many shifts in tone." He also praises the "remarkably naturalistic performances" in his 3-star review.

Toronto Star review

Rick Groen (The Globe and Mail) enjoyed the "crackling good" dialogue, calling it "witty, caustic and clever." Though he's not a fan of the film's "episodic" plot, he concedes that actor/writer/director Matthew Newton is "like those novelists who write scene and dialogue beautifully, but have a lot of trouble with plot."

Globe and Mail review

Chris Knight (National Post) seemed to love the dialogue even when he didn't understand it: "there's great dialogue and then there's dialogue so great that it rings in your ears and rattles in your brain even when you don't understand it." (He's referring to a scene in which a character uses some Australian idiomatic expressions.) He goes on to praise the film's characters who might initially seem like types, saying "By the end of the night, each man will have revealed hidden depths, strengths and foibles. Newton's genius is that while we can't see these changes coming until they're upon us, they make perfect sense afterward." And he ends his 3.5-star review with a plea for more from director Matthew Newton: "part of the enjoyment of Three Blind Mice is in watching its characters change from a trio of identically dressed military men into fully realized human beings. It's a balancing act to create individuals whose behaviour is unpredictable without being completely chaotic, but it's one Newton pulls off expertly. Let's hope his work continues to land on these shores - with subtitles or at least a glossary where necessary."

National Post review

Phil Brown (Metro) calls Three Blind Mice "a small and surprising little movie" that succeeds despite its small budget. Director Matthew Newton has "crafted an intimate character study with a collection of stellar performances."

He also praises the film as a "rather poignant critique of blind military obedience" and a "funny and thought-provoking film with surprising emotional weight."

Metro review