Luke Sneyd

Luke Sneyd is a writer and musician. When he isn't doing film reviews for BiffBamPop, you can bet he's gaming, or following one of his many tech obsessions. The guitarist for Toronto electro-rockers Mountain Mama in the early 2000s, Luke went solo releasing All of Us Cities (2007) and Salvo (2009). His song "The Prisoner" earned him a finalist in the Great Canadian Band Challenge in 2007. He founded Charge of the Light Brigade in 2010, releasing The Defiant Ones the following year. As a writer, he's penned and produced several short films, and with Paul Thompson wrote a zombie TV-series called Grave New World. The unproduced pilot for GNW won first place from the Page International Screenwriting awards, as well as prizes from Slamdance and the Cloud Creek People's Pilot Competition. Then this other zombie show came along. You can find links to all Luke's projects at http://about.me/lukesneyd.

By Luke Sneyd April 8, 2015April 8, 2015

TIFF’s got a retrospective of Taiwanese master Hou Hsiao-Hsien on right now. Which could make you swoon, if you love lush cinematography, oblique story-telling and very long takes with a free-wandering camera. Or it … Continue reading The Strange Case of Hou Hsiao-Hsien and the Very Very Long Take

By Luke Sneyd February 9, 2015February 9, 2015

Fierce: The Films of Barbara Stanwyck

Heard of her? Probably. Name a film she’s done? Not so easy. Barbara Stanwyck earned a deserved spot in the A-List of classic Hollywood celebrity in her day. She … Continue reading Fierce: The Films of Barbara Stanwyck

By Luke Sneyd February 1, 2015

Who’s got short shorts? TIFF’s Oscar short-film showcase: Part II – Animation

The Oscars are coming up, airing Sunday, February 22nd for over 40 million people. Yesterday I looked at one of the hardest to follow Academy categories, the award for best live … Continue reading Who’s got short shorts? TIFF’s Oscar short-film showcase: Part II – Animation

By Luke Sneyd January 31, 2015January 31, 2015

Who’s got short shorts? TIFF’s Oscar short-film showcase: Part I – Live Action

Every year at the Academy Awards, there’s a lull, one even more numbing than the Oscar for special effects or the latest garish train-wreck of a dance number. It’s when … Continue reading Who’s got short shorts? TIFF’s Oscar short-film showcase: Part I – Live Action

By Luke Sneyd January 28, 2015January 28, 2015

In the Belly of the Beast: The Films of Alex de la Iglesia

The great filmmakers are often celebrated for their extraordinary control: the exacting science of Hitchcock’s suspense, the omnipresent symmetry of Kubrick’s vision, the dour Wagnerian pomp of Christopher Nolan. But … Continue reading In the Belly of the Beast: The Films of Alex de la Iglesia

By Luke Sneyd December 10, 2014December 9, 2014

Any film from Studio Ghibli is a treat. The Japanese anime house has put out some great movies over the years, including Hayao Miyazake’s films Princess Mononoke (1997), Spirited Away (2001), and Howl’s Moving Castle … Continue reading Free Spirit: The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

By Luke Sneyd October 10, 2014October 10, 2014

31 Days of Horror 2014 – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

“Whatever you do… don’t fall asleep.” Yeah. That’s gonna work. Talk about an absolute classic catchphrase. Parents of newborns, late night essay crammers and insomniacs all know how weird your … Continue reading 31 Days of Horror 2014 – A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

By Luke Sneyd September 10, 2014

TIFF 2014: Interview with Day 40’s Sol Friedman

So Darren Aronofsky’s Noah with Russell Crowe was a huge hit, grossing over $350 million so far this year. Seems like people respond to the story of God pressing the reset … Continue reading TIFF 2014: Interview with Day 40’s Sol Friedman