In an interview I saw about a month ago, where he was promoting Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino said that Mrs. Miniver was the greatest World War II film. I have to say it was really good. All major elements (story, character, performance, direction, etc) were very strong. Mrs. Miniver is the story of a middle-class mother who's life is turned upside down when England is declared to be at war. She is the average wife and mother, she enjoys taking care of her children, shopping, and spending time with her husband. But as the effects of the war become closer to home, she has first-hand encounters of a world that is not so friendly. The movie is never overly somber, and for the most part trys to portray the war in an approachable way (probably because it was currently going on when it was released).
I personally enjoyed watching the mannerisms of the characters, and their interactions with one another. Everyone is just so polite; it's actually pretty funny to watch how they constantly apologize for random things, that we today wouldn't even think about apologizing for (it was all so British). It's been a while since I've watched a movie since the 40s, and it definitely put me in the spirit to want to watch more.
Overall, Mrs. Miniver is worth watching because it definitely represents what was going on in the world in 1942. It portrays the situation with dignity, and gives you a good perspective on how people were feeling at the time.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Even more TIFF'09
Same Same But Different
Young German lad hooks up with a Malaysian prostitute, and falls tendering in love with her while backpacking through her town. She has no prospectives, or ambitions, but he stays by her side, despite family and friends telling him she has no future. I thought this was a very sweet movie, but at times didn't understand why he would still put up with her, even in times where she was infidelitous. Gorgeous cinematography of the Cambodian country-side.
Bran Nue Day
This was also a sweet movie, and had some cute song and dance numbers, along with a ridiculous performance by Geoffrey Rush. An Aboriginal adolescent has a girlfriend in his hometown, who he has trouble admitting his feelings to. He is shipped off to boarding school by his mother who wants him to be a priest so he can live a life of good means. The boy is not happy at the school and runs back home because he wants to be with his friends, family and girlfriend. Hilarious hijicks occur on his trek back home. My favourite parts all involve a tight-wad German hippy-tourist who is in Australia to find his father, and become spiritual.
High Life
It's 1983, a group of junkies are down on their luck, and want to score big cash, fast, decide to rob a bank's ATM machines. This movie is based on a theatrical play, and when it was adapted for the screen, they decided to flesh out narrative that doesn't take place in theatrical-like settings. I would have been interested to see a version that was more real to the play. Parts of the film strongly resonated scene and ideas in Reservoir Dogs, and I can't help but think they are conscious montages to the popular heist film. The film overall was enjoyable, but felt rushed. It ended with the feeling that the main character has not changed, and will likely live a cyclical existence of petty crime, jail, repeat.
Precious: Based on the the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
This film won TIFF's People Choice award, which it deserves because it embodies the elements of a film that people go to a festival to see. Dangerous Minds meets Dreamgirls is a tame analogy because Precious does try to push the envelope, when it comes to depicting an accurate account of a hard life people lead when they are in similar circumstances.
Precious is about young woman who was impregnated twice by her father, frequently abused by her mother, and lacks basic education. She escapes her harsh reality by fanasizing about a glamourous life she would like to lead. One of my favourite scenes is when Precious' mother is watching an Italian film (which I am pretty positive is La Ciociara staring Sophia Loren) and Precious escapes into the film with her mother, and they start speaking Italian and portraying the mannerisms of the characters in the film. For anyone who has seen La Ciociara, it's likely it was picked to be in Precious intentionally because it also involves a rape scene, and it is about the relationship between a mother and daugther.
I think it a way Precious is trying to be the big little film of the year. With backers including Oprah and Tyler Perry, it's definitely going to get attention, regardless of whether people actually go see it.
It's a nice film to see, but it's hard to say at this point whether it'll having staying power or not.
Young German lad hooks up with a Malaysian prostitute, and falls tendering in love with her while backpacking through her town. She has no prospectives, or ambitions, but he stays by her side, despite family and friends telling him she has no future. I thought this was a very sweet movie, but at times didn't understand why he would still put up with her, even in times where she was infidelitous. Gorgeous cinematography of the Cambodian country-side.
Bran Nue Day
This was also a sweet movie, and had some cute song and dance numbers, along with a ridiculous performance by Geoffrey Rush. An Aboriginal adolescent has a girlfriend in his hometown, who he has trouble admitting his feelings to. He is shipped off to boarding school by his mother who wants him to be a priest so he can live a life of good means. The boy is not happy at the school and runs back home because he wants to be with his friends, family and girlfriend. Hilarious hijicks occur on his trek back home. My favourite parts all involve a tight-wad German hippy-tourist who is in Australia to find his father, and become spiritual.
High Life
It's 1983, a group of junkies are down on their luck, and want to score big cash, fast, decide to rob a bank's ATM machines. This movie is based on a theatrical play, and when it was adapted for the screen, they decided to flesh out narrative that doesn't take place in theatrical-like settings. I would have been interested to see a version that was more real to the play. Parts of the film strongly resonated scene and ideas in Reservoir Dogs, and I can't help but think they are conscious montages to the popular heist film. The film overall was enjoyable, but felt rushed. It ended with the feeling that the main character has not changed, and will likely live a cyclical existence of petty crime, jail, repeat.
Precious: Based on the the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
This film won TIFF's People Choice award, which it deserves because it embodies the elements of a film that people go to a festival to see. Dangerous Minds meets Dreamgirls is a tame analogy because Precious does try to push the envelope, when it comes to depicting an accurate account of a hard life people lead when they are in similar circumstances.
Precious is about young woman who was impregnated twice by her father, frequently abused by her mother, and lacks basic education. She escapes her harsh reality by fanasizing about a glamourous life she would like to lead. One of my favourite scenes is when Precious' mother is watching an Italian film (which I am pretty positive is La Ciociara staring Sophia Loren) and Precious escapes into the film with her mother, and they start speaking Italian and portraying the mannerisms of the characters in the film. For anyone who has seen La Ciociara, it's likely it was picked to be in Precious intentionally because it also involves a rape scene, and it is about the relationship between a mother and daugther.
I think it a way Precious is trying to be the big little film of the year. With backers including Oprah and Tyler Perry, it's definitely going to get attention, regardless of whether people actually go see it.
It's a nice film to see, but it's hard to say at this point whether it'll having staying power or not.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
More from TIFF'09
The Day Will Come
A German, former activist, is hunted down by her long lost daughter, and is threaten to be exposed of a crime she committed, that she is trying to keep secret from her new family. Very well paced, and good approach on the relationship between a mother and daughter. I enjoyed the flow between German and French languages, due to the geographic setting of the film in France, close to the German border.
The Misfortunates
Trailer Park Boys in Dutch. I was sadly drained from many longs days at the festival at this point, and was sitting in the second row, so did not leave the film understanding the plot. Film ended with a simple, yet sweet scene of a young boy learning the ride a bicycle with his father/uncle, which was enjoyable. Heard from a co-worker later that his date was offended by the misogynistic themes, that's too bad.
Mr. Nobody
Synecdoche, New York meets 2001: A Space Odyssey, a crazy ride of what the hell is going on. A very old man recounts many potential lives he may have lived. Like Sliding Doors in reverse, the audience finds themselves intertwined in three different stories of his life, and trying to decipher which path is the real one. I left this movie with a profound feeling that life can't be bad regardless of the decisions I make. One of the few films that had an impact on me at this festival. The structure of the film felt like reading a "Choose Your Own Adventure", but in chronological order (because we've probably all done that at one point or another).
Phantom Pain
A touching film about a cyclist who survives a horrible accident, and needs to get one of his legs amputated. The protagonist is a slacker, who does not take responsibility in his life, and the accident is a wake up call. The film is German, but has a very American soundtrack, which gives me the impression that they are pushing for wide release. Story is good, acting is strong, but also, the whole film has a Hollywood formula, which lets you predict how it will end. Amazing cinematography of the countryside when he is cycling. Overall, very enjoyable, and accessible.
A German, former activist, is hunted down by her long lost daughter, and is threaten to be exposed of a crime she committed, that she is trying to keep secret from her new family. Very well paced, and good approach on the relationship between a mother and daughter. I enjoyed the flow between German and French languages, due to the geographic setting of the film in France, close to the German border.
The Misfortunates
Trailer Park Boys in Dutch. I was sadly drained from many longs days at the festival at this point, and was sitting in the second row, so did not leave the film understanding the plot. Film ended with a simple, yet sweet scene of a young boy learning the ride a bicycle with his father/uncle, which was enjoyable. Heard from a co-worker later that his date was offended by the misogynistic themes, that's too bad.
Mr. Nobody
Synecdoche, New York meets 2001: A Space Odyssey, a crazy ride of what the hell is going on. A very old man recounts many potential lives he may have lived. Like Sliding Doors in reverse, the audience finds themselves intertwined in three different stories of his life, and trying to decipher which path is the real one. I left this movie with a profound feeling that life can't be bad regardless of the decisions I make. One of the few films that had an impact on me at this festival. The structure of the film felt like reading a "Choose Your Own Adventure", but in chronological order (because we've probably all done that at one point or another).
Phantom Pain
A touching film about a cyclist who survives a horrible accident, and needs to get one of his legs amputated. The protagonist is a slacker, who does not take responsibility in his life, and the accident is a wake up call. The film is German, but has a very American soundtrack, which gives me the impression that they are pushing for wide release. Story is good, acting is strong, but also, the whole film has a Hollywood formula, which lets you predict how it will end. Amazing cinematography of the countryside when he is cycling. Overall, very enjoyable, and accessible.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tales from TIFF'09
TIFF'09 was a pretty good time. I have to admit there was nothing that blew me away, but maybe I just didn't make the right picks. That being said, there were some good films, that I did heartedly enjoy. I decided to try and review them this year as if I was pitching them, enjoy.
Antichrist
Von Trier tries to shock everyone by having Charlotte Gainsbourg drill a hole into her husbands leg, then cut off her genitalia. Set in a dark, yet campy woodland retreat, the audience follows the story of a couple mourning the loss of their son. Twisted and psychologically disturbing, you can't help but cover your eyes a few times, but then leaving the theatre thinking: "That's it"?
The Trotsky
Les Quebecois parle anglais dans ce film du farce political. Colm Feore est le Grande Fromage. Un jeune garcon pense qu'il est Leon Trotsky and plans to start a revolution at his high school. Avec un soundtrack super-pop, Trotsky is a fun, yet poignant tribute to the life of political leader Leon Trotsky. Good times.
Hadewijch
The kind of film that makes you wonder how some people are fanatically religious. Hadewijch follows a young girl in Paris as she tries to make sense of her relationship with God. Very dramatic and European in it's feel, as if they were really trying hard to be profound, but then got lost in the fog, and couldn't turn around.
An Education
Peter Sarsgaard ,with a mild British accent, seduces a school-aged girl, for god knows what reason. The film follows the rise and fall of their relationship. I personally wasn't convinced with plot; however, t'was British, and Peter is very easy on the eyes, so it wasn't a lost cause.
Antichrist
Von Trier tries to shock everyone by having Charlotte Gainsbourg drill a hole into her husbands leg, then cut off her genitalia. Set in a dark, yet campy woodland retreat, the audience follows the story of a couple mourning the loss of their son. Twisted and psychologically disturbing, you can't help but cover your eyes a few times, but then leaving the theatre thinking: "That's it"?
The Trotsky
Les Quebecois parle anglais dans ce film du farce political. Colm Feore est le Grande Fromage. Un jeune garcon pense qu'il est Leon Trotsky and plans to start a revolution at his high school. Avec un soundtrack super-pop, Trotsky is a fun, yet poignant tribute to the life of political leader Leon Trotsky. Good times.
Hadewijch
The kind of film that makes you wonder how some people are fanatically religious. Hadewijch follows a young girl in Paris as she tries to make sense of her relationship with God. Very dramatic and European in it's feel, as if they were really trying hard to be profound, but then got lost in the fog, and couldn't turn around.
An Education
Peter Sarsgaard ,with a mild British accent, seduces a school-aged girl, for god knows what reason. The film follows the rise and fall of their relationship. I personally wasn't convinced with plot; however, t'was British, and Peter is very easy on the eyes, so it wasn't a lost cause.
Rachel Getting Married (2008)
This movie surpassed my expectations, which was awesome. Knowing nothing about this film, besides it being screen at TIFF'08, my impression going into it was, wow, I hope Anne Hathaway isn`t annoying.
I really liked the film for it`s naturalistic style. The handheld camera work was cool, and the dialogue didn`t seem forced. Anne Hathaway did a really good job as a newly clean junkie, who is trying to cope with going home, and living in the shadow of her successful sister.
On some level I was able to relate to the sisters` bond. Regardless of what your sister does there is still unconditional love present, and I liked how regardless of how out of control Kim acted, Rachel was still forgiving, even letting her be the maid of honour.
I can see why this film got a lot of attention, it has a good feel to it, even though there is heavy drama involved. It flows very well, and keeps the audiences attention.
I really liked the film for it`s naturalistic style. The handheld camera work was cool, and the dialogue didn`t seem forced. Anne Hathaway did a really good job as a newly clean junkie, who is trying to cope with going home, and living in the shadow of her successful sister.
On some level I was able to relate to the sisters` bond. Regardless of what your sister does there is still unconditional love present, and I liked how regardless of how out of control Kim acted, Rachel was still forgiving, even letting her be the maid of honour.
I can see why this film got a lot of attention, it has a good feel to it, even though there is heavy drama involved. It flows very well, and keeps the audiences attention.
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