TIFF '08

RocknRolla
I enjoyed this film for what it was. It was a Guy Richie wham-bam shoot-em up mobster flick, so if you've seen Snatch or Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, you know what's coming to you if you sit down in front of this film.
Guy Richie is a director I feel indifferent towards. I could do without the incomprehensible English accents his actors have, but his cinematography and editing is so slick I can't turn away, even if the characters are being dunked into a tank of live, starving crayfish. The soundtrack was cool, Gerard Butler was as sexy as ever, but Thandie Newton was annoying as hell. Her body is like a toothpick; I was just waiting for someone to accidentally snap her in half.

O'Horten
I fairly enjoyed this film. It was the complete opposite to my morning film that day, RocknRolla, but I felt O'Horten had a good message. The film was about train conductor as he's about to retire. It shows how his life revolved around his job, and he didn't have much else of a life beyond that. The film follows him as he is picking up the pieces of his life. He visits old acquaintances, he has an awkward unplanned run-in with a 6 year old, and pretty much learns how to spend all his free time. Set in Norway, the landscape really fits the mood of the character. The character of O'Horten didn't seem ready to retire. His job was his identity, and I think anyone can relate to the sense of loss when something significant in your life is over.

Cold Lunch
This was the second Norwegian film I saw at the festival. Lately I've really wanted to visit Scandinavian countries, so I tried to pick movies from this geographic area. Cold Lunch was also a very touching film. The characters all have problems in their lives that they need to come over themselves, but have trouble acknowledging that they have these problems. One girl lived his life isolated in her father's apartment, so then the day he dies, she has trouble having an independent life. One other guy has trouble saving money and being honest to the people around him. He also does not know how to take initiative. Then another lady has a baby, but is in an abusive relationship with his husband, but she is so passive toward him, that she never has the guts to leave him. All these stories are told in vignettes, all separate from one another, but still told over the same time. The ending was pretty disappointing without giving any factual information away, none of the characters learn how to get over their troubles. They are all the same as how they were at the beginning of the movie. I guess this film is trying to say that in essence people don't change, when they don't feel like changing.

Edison and Leo
This movie was really cute. It was the first Canadian movie I watched at the festival and I really enjoyed it. At first thinking it was a children's movie, I was quickly corrected with the obvious display of adult humour and innuendos. The film is a claymation fictional story about Thomas Edison and his son Leo. The humour is pretty ranchy, and it's hilarious watching claymation version of Edison trying to hook up with all these random women. Definitely something to check out for some ridiculous humour, with a random historical twist.

JCVD
This has got to be my favourite film at this years festival. It had most, if not everything that I look for in a film. Satire, action, humour, self-deprecation, good cinematography, good pacing, French language, and an non-Hollywood ending. The premise is Jean-Claude Van Damme plays himself, in a fictional story, where he is being framed for holding up a post-office. Without giving anyway any tasty details, just imagine the possibilities, ha. I really enjoyed this film. It'll be hard to top.

My Mother, My Bride & I
This was a heart touching German film about a middle-aged man who lives with his mother, but it looking for love. He goes through a mail-order service, in neighbouring Romania, and comes back with a charming young lady. The mother and bride have conflicting values, so drama ensues through most of the film.
I really like how this film was shot. No tripods were used, and, as the director said in the Q & A, he made all the shots come from a person's point of view, so at eye level. This perspective gave the film a very natural look and got the audience involved with the film. The actors were very realistic, and gave very good performances. I enjoyed this film also.

Me and Orson Welles
This was a cute film, it wasn't profound in anyway, I didn't learn any of the great misteries of life, but it definitely had some spunk. The story is a high school kids finds himself working on a production of Julius Caesar directed and staring Orson Welles. This is the kid's dream (note: Zac Efron plays the kid, so much of my reason to see this film was to be able to make fun of Efron, in my head, ha).
Overall the film is pretty meh. Props to the guy playing Joseph Cotton. Cotton was an amazing actor back in those days, and it was good to see him represented well today. Clare Danes, playing the love interest was really annoying, but then again, I've never been a fan of hers, something about her mannerisms are just so contrived. The guy playing Orson Welles was decent, but didn't have the grandeur that the real Welles commanded (but hey, that'd be hella hard to duplicate).
Also this film was directed by Richard Linklater, which is the strongest reason why I chose to see this film. He does a fine job; I'd say this is one of his Hollywood films, a la Bad News Bears and Fast Food Nation.

Coopers' Camera
This movie was sooo funny. I can't even think of a word that could describe how funny it was. I honestly laughed for 85% percent of this film, it was great (but I'm sure the packed house of like-minded individuals only encouraged the contagious laugher). The story is of a guy who gets a video camera for Christmas for his family, and the whole film is actually shot with the camera. The film takes place in 1985, so it has a very grainy look, and is pretty much a means of representing anyone's dysfunctional Christmas celebration from back in the day (who didn't have one of those massive camcorders and stalked family members around the house, thinking they were the most creative person in the world...ha) The film is chalk full of talented Canadian actors, which was awesome, and the director is actually from my hometown, which made it ever more cool.
I hope this film gets some distribution, but seeing how it's shot to look like a grainy video, and the star quota isn't really there, the olds are looking slim for some good exhibition of this film. But I definitely recommend this one for some good laughs.

3 Wise Men
This was the weakest film I saw at the festival, sadly. They can't all be winners. The film takes place mostly in a bar, where three old friends are catching up with one another. One of them has just become a father, so they are drinking to celebrate. The pre-bar scenes I found to be disconnected and not explained well. The director, before the movie, said this film only took about 11 days to shoot, and I think that's evident in the quality of the film. I think this story would work very well as a theatre production. The dialogue was strong, but told through the cinematic medium it comes through as very diluted. I was hoping there would be a good message about life, at least toward the end of the film, but that didn't come through. It was an interesting film to watch, but I left feeling unchanged. Ah well, there's always at least one film that doesn't rub you right.

Death Proof (2007)

I was surprisingly impressed with this movie. I originally had Death Proof pegged as a cheesy thrill-seekers horror movie, and I guess in a way it was, but it really stood up against my preconceived perception of the film.

In essence the film is damn sexy, and I think that’s what Tarantino intended the feel of the movie to be. The girls he chose for his victims and avengers ooze with sexiness. Their hair, their bodies, and their dialogue are all awesome, kudos to Tarantino for casting well.

Another thing I liked about this film, as I mentioned earlier, is the dialogue. Everything is just so snappy, and natural feeling, it’s hard to try to not memorize the lines.

The film nut in me is also gaga over the cinematography, and editing. Tarantino wanted to give Death Proof a vintage old feel to it, as if the celluloid had literally started to fall apart from wear-and-tear, as grind house movies from the 70s experienced. It shows that Tarantino had put the time and energy into setting up his compositions. One of my favourite shots is when the character Arlene a.k.a. Butterfly is having a smoke on the porch of the bar, during a rainstorm. The lighting is just right, as mostly a backfill, and Tarantino does this magnificent slow zoom-in on Arlene as she’s reflecting on the night’s recent events.

The soundtrack is also killer. I needs me to download that mutha.

One funny weakness to the film is Tarantino’s performance as Warren the bartender. What a douchebad. While I did laugh at his line “If Warren says it, we do it”, it really takes away from the general mood that he is trying to set for this movie.

Short Cuts (1993)

This is a good movie. It is the second time I’ve seen it now, and while it wasn’t as magical as the first time I watched it, it was still quite enjoyable. The movie is told as vignettes of different lives of people who are loosely interconnected, and shows them bumping into one another by chance, as they go through their natural life routine. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia makes homage to this style, in a glossier, big-budget feel, but it doesn’t beat the originality and subtleness of Short Cuts.
The casting of this film is incredible. It reads as a who’s who in big name Hollywood back in the early to mid-nineties. Special props to Peter Gallagher and Tim Robbins, who, in my opinion, are awesome in this film. Julianna Moore is annoying as hell. Something about that woman, in everything she does, just rubs me the wrong way. In one scene she shows her cooter, nonchalantly, while having a fight with her husband, it’s just a gross sight.
The pacing of Short Cuts is what’s really remarkable about this film. Robert Altman makes the whole film seamless and natural. The film is just over 3 hours, but never is there a particularly boring scene. All scenes seem critical to the development of the film.
I definitely recommend this movie for someone who wants to beef up their film viewing repertoire. While the setting and costume tragically date this film, character motive and trajectory are completely timeless. Altman, in the behind-the-scenes, documentary, describes Short Cuts as a lot of smoking, with a dab of alcoholism, and infidelity. In a way this is what life is for Middle America. None of the characters’ are in anyway extraordinary individuals; they are just people trying to get through life as best they can. But drama sweeps in and inevitably people make selfish, rude responses. This film is pretty much showing how these people aren’t especially prone to swallowing their pride, as is the rest of the human race.

Gandhi (1982)

Gandhi was a pretty meh movie, and I feel like a jerk for saying it, but Richard Attenborough has no flair has a director. You know when you watch a movie, there’s always at least one aspect that sticks out for you, well in Attenborough’s film is just meat and potatoes. Sure Gandhi was one of the most influential people of the last century, I have read his autobiography, and it changed how I saw the world, but watching the movie, it felt so fictitious. I’ve only seen one other Attenborough film, Chaplain, and got the same feeling from it too; amazing story, but flat direction.
Ben Kingsley was pretty good as Gandhi, but, again I feel like a jerk for saying it, the performance didn’t seem exceptional.
I’m thinking my guilt for writing this negative review is probably due to the subject matter. Gandhi was an incredible person who changed so many people’s lives, therefore it feels wrong to deride anything that is associated with his legacy. Probably that’s what the Academy was thinking when they were handing out the Oscar’s that year.

Steve Carrell: The next Leslie Nielson?

No review today, but I want to comment on an idea that I haven't read about in the media, but that I found interesting. Steve Carrell is totally the next Leslie Nielson. Major proof available in Carrell's new movie "Get Smart". This movie (from the preview) looks completely like a remake of the Naked Gun Series. The premise is similar, the characters are similiar (including The Rock in the role that would have been played by OJ, so obvious), the major difference being the CGI going on in the background (which may be a flaw in the end for Get Smart).
Getting back to Carrell and Nielson, it's even uncanny that they look similar. The mannerisms are all there.

Cloverfield (2008)

This movie had almost everything I can enjoy in a horror movie, which is hard to do because the horror genre is the last genre you can find me getting into. The movie was short, clocking in at less than 84 minutes. The story was far-fetched (because I just can't handle the real stuff, I get nightmares). And it took place in a cool location (NYC, rockin!).
The quasi-unique thing about this film, as most viewers would probably agree, is the "hand-held" shooting style. I guess about 95% of this film is done this way. I can't recall any non hand-held shots, but I'm sure there were a couple wide shots inserted seamlessly in order to give the viewer a broader perspective of the scene.
I thought it was really corny that the main dude was so set on finding his love interest who was trapped in her apartment. Chances are she is dead man, but of course the film is usually optimistic and she was alive when they get to her.
Another thing that was dumb was that it took forever for the horror to start. Yeah the young/beauty NYC people know how to throw a house party, yes I'm uber jealous and would love to live in Manhattan with no appearance of the stresses of money and a career. But really, I don't think it takes 15 minutes to get this idea across. Five minutes max and I totally would have gotten the drift.
What the film really had going for it though was that it never explains afterwards what sparked the attack by that crazy monster and where it came from. The film felt like an unfinished alien version of the Blair Witch Project mixed with The Ring. When horror movies give too much information they're just not scary they're hella lame. It's all about the keeping the viewer wondering what the hell is going to happen next, and Cloverfield totally pulled this off.
In essence I recommend this film because it doesn't pretend to be pretentious, it's kind of like a hey, wouldn't it be crazy if this happened, oh and we're going to deliver it from a one person's perspective, so it really gets into your skin. Enjoy!

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

This movie was so cute. I really enjoyed it. It's been about 8 months since I first wanted to see this movie. Was there gratification in the delay? Meh, what can I say it was a cute film. I loved the scene where Lars gets upset about how Bianca is too busy to spend an evening playing Scrabble with him, just like a real boy would, hehe.
It's sad and touching that Lars lived such a secluded life. I'm glad the character was able to break out of his shell eventually.
I guess from a critic's more objective point of view the film is pretty formulaic. But I find it hard to admit this because Ryan Gosling is just so dreamy that I melt when he's on screen.
I recommend this movie if you're looking for something kind of light, but touching and all round cute.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

This was an enjoyable film. Disturbing and horrific with all the fixing of a Thanksgiving dinner, but also subtle and not very graphic. Maybe if it was more graphic it would have been a very different film, and I would be having nightmares, haha.
I was sadly disappointed with the ending, but it didn't wreck the film for me, surprisingly. I think because the ending kind of made sense with what happened through the whole film. I won't spoil anything, I promise. After finishing the film I couldn't think of any big critique, and even question the point of this entry. It was a film in itself. Like a good novel, it delivered what it promised, nothing more, nothing less.
I enjoyed Tommy Lee Jones as the county sheriff. His character reminded me a lot of the character Francis Mcdormand played in Fargo, it was cool seeing it again.
Final verdict: The film is watchable, but I don't think you'd be missing much if you let it pass you by.

Across the Universe (2007)

Overall this movie was alright. I wasn't expecting much because I had heard mixed reviews, but was really impressed by the cinematography, and also the song choice. A couple of the tunes I didn't recognize, which was nice. For anyone who hasn't heard of this film, it is set in the 60s, a dramatization of the significant events that occurred done as a musical using exclusively Beatles music. The concept is definitely intriguing. This film in the end I found hard to categorize because it's a whole lotta too much going on. I haven't counted, but I'm sure it covers every major film genre. I enjoyed the musical genre of it, and also the coming of age segments, but the war scenes I found too graphic, and a rough juxtaposition after the free spirited first half of the film. Some parts were dumb, like the scene where the young lovers are making out, naked underwater. Yeah it's looks cool with their hair all floaty like, but really, I don't need to see a naked Evan Rachel Wood. That girl has always had a creepy undertone to her, even here, when she plays the sweet innocent American girl.
I say check out this film if you'd like to hear some cool new versions of classic Beatles' tunes. The story is pretty much fluff, but that's understandable, since it totally takes second chair behind the music.

Enchanted (2007)

I had been wanting to see this movie since it came out, so I grabbed the chance when it was playing as an in-flight movie. I enjoyed this movie for what it was. It's a syrupy tale of fairy tale characters who find themselves thrown into modern day NYC. It was kind of like Borat, for 6 year olds...hilarity at foreigners who have trouble coping with their new environment. I especially loved the fairy tale singing that took place all over the city.
The movie starts out as a cartoon, which was cute, and then when the characters are thrown into NYC it goes to real life. Props to the whole cast, to be honest. I later found out that the main dude's girlfriend was Idina Menzel, none other than the lady who played the Wicked Witch in the stage production of Wicked, way cool...unfortunately she didn't sing one note, what's with that? She totally would have stole the show, which I guess is why they probably cut any parts she might have sang during. James Marsden was so dreamy in a I'm-ignorantly-and-blissfully-in-love-with-my-lady prince, so yeah, ironically creepy, haha
With all this going for it, I was really disappointed with the ending. It does have a happy ending (ah geez, I hope I didn't spoil it for you), but not in the way I wanted it to be. Ah well, it was definitely an enjoyable watch, and good escape from the hunger pains I endured during the beginning of my flight :)

Party Girl (1995)

A film I had never heard of until the other day, starring Parker Posey is apparently a cult film. Cult film and Parker Posey I had to check it out. I have to say it was alright, Parker has some funny moments but overall I'd say it's a flat film. It's just the feel the film has. It's definitely low-budget, which is obvious in both script and shooting, but it does have a bit of the low-budget charm, just nothing that makes it stand out from every other low-budget film with charm.
The casts wardrobe made this film worth watching. Checking out styles from the mid-90s are hilarious, mostly because this is the style that is coming back right now...so watching it makes it feel I should be taking fashion notes. I think H&M must have watched this movie to get tips, ha.

Let's All Hate Toronto (2007)

This was a decent documentary about why all of Canada hates the city of Toronto and its people. I personally don't have too much of an outstanding beef with the place, but I found the concept to this film cute. It's pretty much a film you shouldn't take seriously because it pokes fun of itself through and through. I like how they gave my hometown Hamilton credit for hating Toronto the most vehemently, haha...Footage shot at Ivor Wynne stadium was hilarious and totally captures how a local North Hamiltonian behaves...don't be looking in my direction I'm more in the South-Western area :)
The majority of the film is about the protagonist going from coast to coast to learn about why Canadians hate Toronto, and to try and shed some light on their deriding sentiment.
The film doesn't try to be serious political or anything, if anything this film is just about the filmmakers enjoying their trip across Canada and connecting with people from different areas of our country and being silly at the same time. Hey, if I could find funding to do the same, I'd be there in a second.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

I really enjoyed this movie, it was a helluva roller coaster ride. Paul Greengrass really knows what he's doing when it come to the action/thriller genre. Every cut seemed to be flawless, and effortlessly assembled. Maybe if I speak even more in it's praise you'll think I'll bullshit? But it's true, this movie rocks out! Acting was intense too. Props to David Strathairn for being a kickass evil dude! Lady actresses seemed willowy with what they were given, the script totally could have given Julia Stiles at least one scene where she could pistol whip some CIA henchman, but no, her scenes demanded that she looks worried and longingly into Matt Damon's eyes, and then run frantically from her potential killer, what gives!
On an artistic note, I found the colouring very interesting. It comprised mostly blues, cold tones giving the film a very somber feel. Also I really loved the real locations that are used throughout the film. When Damon walks out of the Paris subway station toward the "Gare du Nord" it made me feel special that I had walked up those exact steps around 18 months ago (I totally have something in common with Matt Damon, sweet). Also shots of London were wicked, and make me excited for my upcoming trip there....at least I won't have a sniper looming behind my back, like somebody else.
All in all, I recommend this movie, because it's totally enjoyable, it's a popcorn movie for sure, but it's so thrilling that you'll feel more CIA savvy than before!

Juno (2007)

I rather enjoyed this film. The beginning half I found annoying with it's clever wit, but by the midway point the dialogue had settle into a more comfortable pace. Juno has a very indie feel to it, which felt very deliberate...I think in the not too future (possibly present) time these "indie" films can be studied for what they represent and portray. There's something predictable about these films. Last year's "indie gem" was Little Miss Sunshine. These are not bad films, but they're just as formulaic, and as more as released I wonder what's the point. Just as the Romantic Comedy genre was ruined by Britney Murphy, Kate Hudson etc, I think the Indie Film will eventually be on the edge of ruin if they keep churning out meatloaf like this.
I guess that was just a tip of the iceburg of my genre criticism, but to be fair Juno is a really enjoyable film. It's well acted, well written, and well directed. Special attention to Jennifer Garner for her role, I really believed her need for a baby. The soundtrack was very catchy, in the indie-genre (I'm-going-to-try-not-to-criticize this); I may buy this next week when it's released. A lot of people have been raving about Michael Cera's performance in this film. Yeah, it's good, but I don't think it's anything extraordinary or different from what he's already done.
Ah well, I say check out this film because you probably will enjoy it. I think I've become jaded because I've seen my share of indie films over the past few years.

Margot at the Wedding (2007)

Wow, this is one of those movies that is hard to wrap your head around. It was honestly the most melodrama I think I've experienced in a 90 minute stretch. I felt so unnerved by the end of it I pledged I would never act like that around my family. I'm thinking this is director Noah Baumbach's intention because he's no stranger to these situations in his films. It's hard to say I enjoyed this film because the characters are just so erratic and rude, but at the same time it shows such a truthful ugly side of humanity. The portrayals of the characters by the cast was beautifully done with special nods to Jennifer Jason Leigh and John Turturro (who, granted was only there for 5 minutes, but totally rocked it). Jack Black had an unconvincing crying scene, who my friend told me later that's how boy's cry (I still think it was bad acting). Also, aside from that, the only thing that bugged me was the unstable camera composition. I understand maybe Baumbach was trying to illustrate the family's unrest with a shaky cam, but I think it was used cheaply.
The film's ending was really open, in that I was interested to see how the character's resolved their melodrama. Up until the final minutes there was so much that wasn't explained about the actions of the characters. It's interesting how Baumbach uses this lack of information given to pull in the audience with suspense. The film is such a snapshot of these characters' lives that you never get a chance to understand fully their ideas and desires.
I guess I recommend this film if you are interested in a family melodrama case study. Beware feelings of anxiety that may come while watching it.

49th Parallel (1941)

This is one of those films that you've never heard of before but has a cast and director that ring a bell. It's funny when these kinds of films pop up because they're kind of fringe classics, i guess, because their not on any top movie lists. That being said 49th Parallel is a decently solid film, but understandable not an all-time classic. Directed by Michael Powell who's one of the greatest British directors and with a smart cast, including Laurence Olivier and Leslie Howard, it's almost a surprise this film doesn't get more recognition beyond the film elite. I think what holds this film back is it's too contemporary in it's time. The film takes place during World War II, right before the American's joined the Allies. My brief readings told me this film was made in efforts to convince the American's that they need to join the war. I find this ironic because the film takes place in Canada, and Americans don't share all the same values as Canadians.
Enjoyable scenes in the film: Laurence Olivier playing a French-Canadian fur-trapper was so funny. His accent was ridiculous, but he really got into which was awesome. Leslie Howard playing a Native Indian historian, not caring when the German's threaten to shoot him, but has a hissy fit when they destroy his paintings and literature, haha. Any scene where Canadians are portrayed as defenseless, yet rational human beings who offer any stranger food and lodging whenever they bump into the German's. Now I know we're supposed to be friendly, but I think that image of hospitality is probably pushing it.
Minor inconvenience, the plot dragged on at times, but overall it was a smooth pace.
What I found interesting about this film is that it's a British film portraying Canadian values. I don't think I've seen a film like this before, so it was kind of cool to see how another country sees us besides the awful misrepresentation made by any American films.
I say check out this film is the above subject matter paints your fancy.

Disturbia (2007) & Transformers (2007)

The reason I clumped these films together is because they both star cutie-patootie Shia LaBeouf and they were both pretty much average films. Transformers was slightly better though. So both these films are about Shia's character getting into mischief, and then talking himself out of it, that crazy rascal. He plays a typical teen boy, obsessed with video games, attractive lady companions, and talking his parents off. Both films pair Shia with a gorgeous, thin, yet curvy love interest. These "tight hotties" are doing so much for my self-esteem :s...the films both end with Shia macking on his lady... ah shit, I totally spoiled it for everyone!
In terms of narrative both films are pretty weak, but you can't expect much from major hollywood vehicles. Disturbia was pegged as a Hichcock Rear Window knock-off; yeah, the story has the same skeleton, but really the efforts are not where near comparison, puh-leeze. Transformers is a what-you-see-what-you-get, which means a 15 year old wrote the scripts, but I won't deride it for that reason, because they never pretended to be more than an summer blockbuster.
In the way that supporting actors go, the films had some credibility. Carrie-Anne Moss played a never-there mom very well, but Transformers took the cake with John Turturro playing the bad-cop turned good-cop, he totally made the slow "story" scenes enjoyable to watch.
In the end I recommend Transformers for a good popcorn flick, but Disturbia is pretty weak, so no go there.

Feist - December 3, 2007 - Hamilton Place

This show was great, I really enjoyed it. It was my second time seeing Feist live so I came in with some expectations, Feist met those expectations, but for different reasons. The first time I saw Feist it was at the Folk Festival in Ottawa, we were outdoors, it was rainy and cold, and dark. All things said it was also a great show because Feist is awesome live. I was standing right against the bars, so I had one of the best spots essentially, and it was a pretty cheap ticket to get in.
Last night the show was indoors, it was seated, and I was on the first balcony so not as close as I'd like. Feist definitely brought her lady funk which was great, she chatted a bit with the audience, and did a fair mix of her older stuff along with most tunes from her new cd. She did a 3 song encore which I thought was more than generous due to lack of audience participation, but it seemed like it was part of the set regardless of how the audience reacted. Opening band Great Lake Swimmers were great also. Their songs were so soothing that I felt like curling up and napping it was so relaxing.
What I find interesting about Feist, and what got me wanting to write this post is that even with only 3 CD releases to her name her music is evolving in such an organic way. Her first CD, which most people have not even heard of "Monarch (Lay Down Your Jewelled Head)" has an unpolished feel to it. I can't claim much expertise to this album because I've only listened to it maybe one and a half times, but it's definitely neat to listen to to get a grasp of Feist's roots. "Let it Die" is the album that introduced most people to Feist, including myself. The CD is awesome, and by far one of my favourites. It has a disco era feel to it that really makes it a swayable album to listen to. Most of the tunes are down tempo, but she uses awesome classical instruments with electrofusion it's definitely candy for your ears.
The latest CD, "The Remainder" took some time for me to warm up to. The sound is a lot more professional than "Let it Die", and also more accessible to audiences. I originally saw this as Feist selling out because it was only after her song "1234" was used for iPod, that she became popular in the states. But eventually I have come to enjoy this CD also because it still evokes the classic Feist style and rhythm.

Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989)

It's been a few years since I last watched this film, and it still really impressed me. It's one of those films that you feel you learn something new about the characters and also about yourself with each viewing. I'm always torn whether to categorize the film as optimistic or pessimistic because the characters go through such drama, but in the end the vulnerable characters end up better off than the stubborn/obnoxious characters.
Sex, Lies, and Videotape is visually low-budget, which I would say is it's only main weakness. Errors in continuity and poor audio-dubbing can be distracting, but because of the strong story and characters, don't seem to cause too much of a blip for people who don't notice them.
James Spader and Peter Gallagher are so sexy and natural in these roles, they were really cast well. Their characters really remind me of guys I personally know, which keeps me coming back to watch this film.
In the end I recommend this film for anyone who has had a bad relationship in their life, and feel like it's destroyed them emotionally. Not to sound too bleak, but this film really gives insight as to how people feel after they have been betrayed by the person they have loved more than anyone else in their life. In my opinion the film is still kind of open in the ending, making you not sure as to what will happen to the main characters, it's definitely more realistic than 99% of Hollywood movies made today.

Freaky Friday (1976)

This is the kind of film that only children can enjoy, literally. The last time I watched this film I was around 8 years old, so I thought it was the wittiest things I'd ever seen. Watching it now, it's pretty drab. For anyone not familiar with this film's premise, a mother and daughter who are fed up with each other simultaneously declare they would rather be the other person, and then at the blink of an eye, the daughter is in the mother's body, and the mother is in the daughter's body.
This film, all of that aside, was very casted. Jodie Foster plays a very convincing mother, for someone in their early teens, and Barbara Harris is hilarious as the mom turned young teen. Harris is definitely more entertaining to watch because she pulls off slapstick comedy like no other. Watching her try to put on fake eyelashes is so funny, you really believe she has no idea how to be an adult. Of course supporting roles too are great. John Astin, legendary Gomez Addams from the original Addams Family pulls is weight.
Overall this movie is only worth watching if you remember seeing this as a child, and you feel nostalgic, besides that it's just like eating a cream-filled donut, only feels like a sweet idea before you start eating it.

The Lives of Others (2006)

This was a very good film. It takes place in 1984 East Germany and illustrates how it's citizens how no privacy from State Security. The story is of one of the spy's who lives a lonely life, one day has a change of heart and does not record the rebellious activities of the artist he is spying on. The spy starts to agree with the artist's political convictions, and even goes so far as to help the artist's girlfriend return to him.
There are very strong voyeuristic elements in this film, which makes it very interesting to watch. You can't help but feel empathy toward the lonely spy because he everyone wants to feel as if their presence in other people's lives are making a positive impact. The lonely spy is in the position where he can allow something to happen that can change a nation, and he doesn't hesitate for a moment.
I was very moved by this film and recommend it to everyone to see because it's such a truthful tale of human actions. This film won best foreign-language film at the Oscar's this past year, which it very much deserved.

The River (1951)

I found this film to be very unique. It takes place in India and describes Indian philosophy and way of life through a British family that lives on an estate. The story is of two sisters, one in her twenties, and the other in her teens who fight over a young man who is a family friend and comes to stay awhile on the estate. It gets pretty "Mean Girls" between them because the young man is friendly toward both girls, so neither of them back away. The film ends just as a tragedy is ending, so it kind of a toss between a sad and happy ending.
What I liked about this film is the philosophy about life and families that is intertwined in the plot. I had an interest to see this film because Wes Anderson said that The River is the film that most inspired his new film The Darjeeling Limited (2007), and me being a big Wes Anderson fan (and giant film geek), I had to watch this soon.
This film was also the first colour film Jean Renoir made. Renoir being a very reputable French director really wanted to make a different film that his current oeuvre. I think this film, while having a very different stage than his other films, is very similar in theme to his other films.
Overall this film is pretty good, but not amazing. I think one would enjoy this film if they're looking for a film that takes them to a part of the world they've never been to (unless they've been to India). It's something to watch when you want to kick back, relax, and reflect on life.

Shortbus (2006)

This movie was pretty magical, I really enjoyed it. Shortbus is about sex and trust in relationships. A number of different story lines, dealing with similar, but unique relationships. The relationships are weaved together giving the film a bigger picture on how people act with their mates. I felt this film was very honest in it's portrayal. John Cameron Mitchell is amazing as the writer and director of this film. Anyone who has seen Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001) would definitely enjoy this film. To capture NYC as a whole, Mitchell uses an amazing art piece of the city as a stand-in and then zigzags over it's skyline to segue between different scenes. The performances were also very good. I thought it was cool seeing Sook-Yin Lee, former MuchMusic VJ acting it up.
Overall the film had a mid tempo tone to it. I felt neither depressed, or delighted after the film, but rather balanced about it's outlook on relationships. Mitchell showed both sides of the coin, so that you know that relationships are an imperfect thing.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

This movie was pretty decent. It was your typical corporate scandal documentary, not that I'm an expert on this genre, but I've seen my share of "greedy-corporate-bastard" vs. "Poor-defenseless-public". The movie is all about exposing how Enron mislead the world about their accounts. I thought it was pretty interesting the different ways that Enron got away with all so much fraud, before a righteous whistle blower came out.
The format of the film is pretty standard for this genre. Opening of "wow, we can't believe they got away with all that", to some impressive investigative reporting on their business methods, to "gee, they all new the illusion wouldn't last forever". I watched this film for the content more than anything. Enron was a huge story a few years ago, but this doc is definitely still topical in today's criticism of corporate worlds. What I find interesting is the portrayal of the executives as human beings, as opposed to seeing them as soulless talking heads. They all knew they were cheating so many people out of their life's savings, but for some reason they just wouldn't come clean. I don't think it's something everyone has the capacity of doing, but it's wild when those who do, take it so far.
I think this movie is worth watching if you're looking for a doc on a corporate expose. The film is definitely content over style, so kind of educational.

Away From Her (2006)

Wow! This film was nothing short of amazing and fantastic. I came into watching this film thinking it'll be too much on the art-house/pretentious side for me to enjoy it, but boy was I wrong. This film was incredible for it's script, direction, and acting; all forces seemed to be just right.
Before I just continue singing words of praise for this film let me mention it's premise. A couple in their golden years are dealing with the wife having Alzheimer's. She decides it's best for the both of them if she stays in an institution where they treat people with the same disease.
The movie is about to continuing tension that goes on between the couple as the disease deteriorates her memory. I don't want to ruin anything else because it's such a tragic story. It's the kind of film you feel sad watching but also inspired in the way that you don't want to waste your life with trivial pursuits.

Hot Fuzz (2007)

This movie was alright. It's a British buddy-cop satire, with intentionally hilarious gore. What made this film only alright was that it just feels like a follow up to zombie satire "Shaun of the Dead" that is made by the same ensemble; the only major difference is the setting. Not to saying that duplicating the tone was bad, this movie was consistently funny. The crazy deaths that go on throughout the film are awesome.
The actors' performances were also alright, they were what you would expect if you've seen Shaun of the Dead. The ending was also pretty blah and hollywoodesque.
In the end it's one of the best popcorn movies I've seen lately, I recommend it for some silly fun!

Mysterious Skin (2004)

This film was actually a lot lighter than I thought it would be. Sure, there's tons of gay porn, and child molestation, but the way Gregg Araki delivered the subject matter in this film is totally more mainstream than his three earlier films that I have watched in class. I feel like this film is the breaking point between cult status and mainstream (on the art-house level) recognition. The cast is full of fully known actors. Joseph Gordan-Levitt (from 3rd Rock from the Sun, and 10 Things I hate about you), Michelle Trachtenburg (from Harriet The Spy), and Elisabeth Shue (from mostly 80s teen melodramas).
The film had a strong message about how kids are very impressionable when they are little so you gotta watch out who they're hanging out with after baseball practice. It's not the kind of film I recommend watching on a Sunday afternoon to kick back after a long week, you gotta be ready for some heavy drama, but the strange part is it didn't feel disturbing to watch all these things. The way Araki presents all this emotional baggage is in the way to show how everyone feels they go through drama in their life, it's very accessible.
I recommend this film if you're looking for something kind of deep, and maybe soul-wrenching. The performance by Joseph Gordan-Levitt is also pretty good.

Repulsion (1965)

This was a pretty subtle and disturbing films I've seen. I don't think I would have known what was going on, unless I read the back. The story is of a young manicurist who is completely repulsed by sex. The first half of the film involved her being pursued by a seemingly nice man, who wants to take her to dinner, awkward nights where she has to overhear her sister having sex, and extended moments of daydreaming at work.
Catherine Deneuve plays the young protagonist, and she's probably the ideal actress for the film, quiet, seemingly pretentious, but an actual flake.
There is hardly any action that actually goes on in the film, it's more about the suspense and psychological effect that everything is having on her. The cinematography is good, and the black and white is good at deepening to dark feel the film has.
On an satirical note, this film has a message saying don't fall for the blonde girl, she'll only lead you on, and then slit your throat, ha.
Overall it was decent, it wasn't really my thing, but I found it interesting to watch.

Toronto International Film Festival '07 - Part II

L'Age des Tenebres
This was another film I felt was very good. It was so dark and yet so comedic at the same time. I was never sure it cry or laugh at what was going on, on screen.
The protagonist is a man who does not like his job, his wife and kids ignore him because they are preoccupied with technological distractions that they have around them. This is a film I knew I would like months before I saw it. Deny Arcand the director is extraordinarily skilled at balancing mainstream accessible films with artful poetic substance. I was surprised at the lifestyle the protagonist chose in the end of the film. I don't want to ruin any of it, it felt really idealistic, but something that wouldn't be feasible for everyone to do.

Smiley Face
Hands down the most entertaining film I saw during the festival. It's a stoner comedy with a female protagonist, which makes it stand out because most stoner films have men in the leading roles. Anna Faris is amazing in this film, I don't think anyone else could have done this role the way she did it. The supporting cast also brought in strong performances, Adam Brody, and Jim from The Office, both very funny playing different stereotypes than what audiences are used to seeing them in. The physical comedy and wacky mannerisms that she pulls off are very impressive. I really want to own this film one day, not to say that it was the best film at the festival for me, but just that it's one of those films that you know you can watch a bunch of times and not be bored with it. What really made the movie special as well was the script. The movie would randomly branch off into economic theory or marxism propoganda in very hilarious circumstances.

I'm Not There
This was probably the only movie that I had high expectations for, but then was surprisingly disappointed. Another musician's biopic, I'm Not There takes an experimental look at the life and apparently different personas of Bob Dylan. I was not aware of what happened in Bob Dylan's life going into the film, nor do I know anything about it now, but the way it was presented I was definitely confused whether what was being depicted were true events or a fabricated story. The film has 6 different actors play Bob Dylan at different points of his life, which sounds all interesting and everything. But what threw me off is that in addition to this the film did not go in any kind of chronological order. It was definitely interesting to see, but I just didn't dig the direction.

Chacun Son Cinema
This was one of this film's that you have to see at a film festival, because it's dedicated to people who love and are changed by film. The film was comprised of shorts; each directed by a uniquely recongized international director. There were many 20 films all together, each having a special outlook on how people treat film watching, their emotional ties to it, and what they feel when they are at a movie house. One of my favourites was the Roman Polanski film. In the film a couple is watching a porographic film in a seemingly empty theatre. They all of a sudden hear a man moaning in one of the last rows before the balcony. His moaning is disturbing them because from their perspective the man is fondling himself. The couple get the theatre manager to talk to him. When the theatre manager asks him why he's sitting in the main area when he has a balcony seat, the man responds that he fell. Trust me, it was a lot smoother watching it unfold on screen.

La Fille Coupee En Deux
This was another very nice film, it was about a love triangle. I really liked the direction by Claude Chambrol. He does film with a subtle thriller angle. I didn't see the thriller aspect coming up, until something very sudden and drastic happens. The girl in the love triangle is played by the girl who's in Swimming Pool, another popular recent French film. She is torn between an older and a younger man. Both men hate each other and fight for her attention. I liked how the film ended very unpredictably, I didn't see it coming, so it was really entertaining.

The Visitor
This was a charming film that I enjoyed watching. I chose to see this film because the director also did The Station Agent, which I also enjoyed, and The Visitor has many of the same qualities. The Visitor has a slow, but steady pace. The story is very interesting, along with character development, so it kept my attention. It's the story of an aging college professor who's unmotivated about his life, until he stumbles upon a par of house squatters who are staying at his mostly unused apartment. He takes a liking to the couple, and he forms a quick bond with them, mostly with the guy. But suddenly things that a turn for the worst and the professor sees himself going to the furtherest length to help his new found friends. It's a great story about trust, loyalty, and the simply pleasures in companionship, I recommend it.

L'Amour Cache
This was the second film that I walked out of half way through. I originally was interested in seeing it because one of my favourite french actress' Isabelle Huppert was the star. Unfortunately the film, in my opinion didn't end up having much to offer me. The story was of a mother who despises her daughter and never wanted to have her in the first place. The daughter also seems very uncomfortable around her mother. The film is about the mother trying to overcome this disgust, so it was a pretty highly emotional film. What didn't work for me was that every other shot the boom mic would drift into the top of the film, it was totally unprofessional, and completely distracting in my film watching experience. Seeing the mic took away any believability this film had for me. In addition to this the story felt really piecemeal, but that could have been because I was really distracted to begin with. I had no problem walking out of the film, might as well.

Nothing Is Private
I really enjoyed this film. My expectations were pretty high going into the film, and it wasn't completely what I was expecting, but I was definitely impressed. The acting, direction, soundtrack, story, and morals were all very strong in this film. The story is of a young arab-american girl who repeatedly is misunderstood by her parents and the people around her. She's portrayed as the victim in the film, most likely of her environment. She keeps being put into compromising situations by people who try to force her to do things she's unsure she wants to do. It also takes place during the gulf war of the early 90s, so American politics is one of the forefront themes of the film. It is a highly emotional film, with some good dark comedy moments.

Toronto International Film Festival '07 - Part I

Just recently I had the pleasure of working and viewing many different films at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was a great experience, one that I'll probably remember (at least the highlights) for a long time. I decided it would be a good idea to reflect on the films I watched. I put them in chronological order of when I saw them because it would take too much time to decide which film I liked best.

Young People Fucking
This was one of my favourite's of the festival hands down. It's a story about how sex is anything but casual regardless of the situation between consenting parties. It was an endearing story, that was also hilarious. It's definitely worth seeing more than once. Most of the stories leave on an upnote because the couples are able to resolve the drama and comes about when they are fooling around.

Control
This was also a good film. It's a bio-pic of the singer/songwriter Ian Curtis for Joy Division. Performances were spectacular, and the story was very tragic. I enjoyed the black and white cinematography in the film, I feel it gave it a more legendary feel to the story. The film also made me really want to listen to Joy Divison, I need to add some to my ipod soon. The only weakness for me in this film was that the perspective was partial to Debbie Curtis, his wife, so in the end it made her look like the victim in Ian's death, which seems too subjective to be fair.

Le Deuxieme Souffle
This was one of the weaker films I saw at the festival. It was a 2.5 hour french gangster film. For one that's too long for me to enjoy, two, I don't care much for that genre, the french part was just ok. The film had a really slow pace, it seemed to be about a retiring hitman, who gets dragged into one last job, but then things take a turn for the worst. I was kind of just waiting for the hitman to die, signally the film's end, but he seemed to survive a lot, including slitting his wrists/cracking his head open at the same time.

Chaotic Ana
This was definitely an interesting film. I can't completely decide what I thought about it because it was such a strong piece, with some innovative story/cinematic techniques. The story is very detailed, so it's hard to summarize in a few words without not doing it justice. The main idea is that they discover that she had all these past lives where each time she was tragically killed when she was 22. The present character in the film is 21, which is only one layer of the story as a whole. It's the kind of film that feels like you're peeling an onion to get to the center.

Trumbo
I picked this film at the last minute because I didn't want to see the film I had a ticket for at the same time. It was a documentary about a man who was blacklisted as a communist during the dark times of the 50s. The man clearly had an interesting life, and there were parts of the doc that I thought were great, but most of the film ended up being famous present day actors dictating old letters written by Trumbo during his heyday. This was a neat technique at first, but half the movie consisted of this, so half way through the film it really felt like a one-trick-pony. Mediocre film overall

Breakfast with Scot
This was such a cute film, I really enjoyed watching it. It's the story of a gay male couple who take in the son of one of their sister's because she had recently died. The nephew has a very effeminate matter which results in the couple thinking he needs to tone down his flair. The homosexuality theme is a major part of the film, but it does it in such an accessible, good-nature way, that one never feels uncomfortable with the subject matter, regardless of their feelings about homosexuality. It was the most mainstream feeling film that I saw, but it being a low-budget Canadian feature I doubt it'll get much distribution. The performances in this light-humoured film were also very good, especially the young boy playing Scot.

The Sun Also Rises
This was the least interesting film for me during the festival. It's a lyrical portrayal of different characters who live in the chinese countryside. The characters weren't connected, to my knowledge, and I ended up walking out halfway through because I felt like I was wasting my time and I was exhausted from a long day.

Bill
This was one of my favourite films at the festival. Aaron Eckarts plays a man who hates his cheating wife, hates his job, and aspires to own a donut franchise. Bill is a light-hearted dark comedy (if those two tones can be put side-by-side) with some playful slapstick. I think this film will get medium distribution because of the star-power, but it still has an indie feel, so it won't be huge either.

Blood Brothers
Another film I would have rather skipped. It was also a gangster film, but this time it was in chinese, so I couldn't even enjoy the language alone. It was at least only 97 minutes long, so I wasn't dying for air. I found the plot weak, because it felt like they didn't explain why and how they because gangsters, but also maybe I zoned out because I knew I wasn't into it from the get go.

Short Cuts Canada Programme 3
I decided that I wanted to give short films a chance because I don't see many, and I was modestly surprised. The first 3 films were pretty artsy, and felt pointless in my opinion, I think I just can't get into lyrical films, I need a point, dammit. But the shorts got better as they came along; they must have put them in order of quality. One of the good ones was about this cement monster that follows this guy around. No one else can see this cement monster, so the man slowly goes insane. It was a pretty comedic film, in the end the man dies, but it was funny because right after that the monster found someone else to torment. My feeling is that the shorts are good for experimenting with different CGI-effects that people want to test out before they take them to the feature length, or also if they don't have a huge budget.

This is a little more than half of the films I saw. I'll be posting the second half after some much needed relaxation (as soon as I had finished the festival I had to head to class all week).

Moonstruck (1987)

As far as contemporary romantic comedies go, this movie is definitely one of the best. Staring Cher and a young Nicholas Cage, this film has a subtle humour that works consistently. I think it was the writing that won me over in the first 20 minutes. Cher initially is planning on marrying Cage's brother, but the situation is altered, Cher meets Cage, and they fall in love.
What I liked about this film is that Cher acts kind of butch, making her character stand out from all those willowy girly-girls that seem to be in most romantic comedies these days. The film also takes place in NYC, in the little Italy area, so all the characters have heavy italian accents, which is hilarious.
The visible age difference between Cher and Nicholas Cage, is not played with during the film, which i found odd, because it could have been part of a number of their conversations. Both actors performed very well, and I admit Cage was really cute back then.

Souvenirs of Canada (2006)

I thought this was a sweet movie. Based on the visual art book by Douglas Coupland, the film follows Coupland as he creates a shrine to Canada, and interacts with his family. It's a nice mixture neither feeling too historical, or too saccharine. The chemistry between Coupland and his family is quaint, but performative to the camera.
What I enjoyed about this film is that Broken Social Scene and The New Pornographers are both on the soundtrack. It made me feel pride for being a Canadian, for it's idiosyncrasies. The nature, the vast wilderness, and pop culture that seems long time lost.
I recommend this film because it doesn't feel like a history lesson at all, but you learn to appreciate what Canada is. Running at only 70 minutes long, it's clean and concise.

Play Time (1967)

Wow, this movie was really something special! I really mean that. There were times when I loved what was going on, there were times I got lost in it's magic, and there were times when I wanted to pull my hair out because it was frustrating me to no ends.
This film, is honestly like no film I have seen before. I was originally a bit weary to see it because I had the impression that Tati was somewhat avant-garde and elitist, and he is to a degree, but you have to let go of your expectations before coming in to see his films.
There's an intense starkness that he employs in his composition, which takes some getting used to. But what grabbed my attention is that his shots look like they're photographs with moving elements. And I know believe there's difference between good cinematography and good photography in a film. Tati never moves the camera, but he doesn't have to because he's able to fill the screen with all the important action. Lots of times he has 2 or 3 different actions going on with different characters, which probably requires multiple viewings.
His narrative is also very different from what I'm used to. He doesn't seem to have any cause and effect present, but is able to build on what is going on, so that he viewer doesn't know what is going to happen next. The film, over the course of the 2 hours follows two people in a fake Paris; a gentleman who is trying to meet someone for an interview/meeting, and a woman who is in town with a tourist group. The two eventually meet and have a connection.
The part of this film that made me want to tear my hair out is the lack of dialogue in the film. One of my favourite attributes in film is banter between characters. Watching a film that has characters only mumble a few phrases here and there, with not much exchange from other characters was frustrating.
In essence I recommend this film because it is really different than other comedic films. The jokes themselves have been done by others but there's a spontaneity/unrehearsed feel to what you see. Definitely enjoyable.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)

This movie was even more blah than the previous HP. These movies are impossible to shrink into under 3 hours long. I was thinking after I left the movie a smart (but less profitable) idea would be to convert the HP books into a serial (for tv, or even in movie installments). HP books, as anyone who has read them, are plot driven with loads of content, including two or three subplots that enhance the main thread. In the present movies, there are no subplots, and even the main narrative is watered so thin that you feel like you're watched a 2.5 hour summary of the novel, geez.
I was also very disappointed that the supporting characters got hardly no screen time. A person feels like they have no relevance being there, and that the actors could be using their time for better acting opportunities (ie alan rickman, emma thompson, maggie smith etc.).
In essence, these films do the book no justice. In the ending credits it said "Based on the novel by J.K. Rowlings" which does make sense, and does defend how so much is taken away from the story.
Worst disappointment: NO QUIDDITCH SCENES! wtf that's the best part of the books

Hairspray (2007)

This movie was awesome!! I really enjoyed watching it because it's the kind of film that gives me goosebumps when a really awesome choreographed scene is going on with good singing; it also makes me feel so happy at the end of it. Upbeat musicals are definitely one of my favourite genres. Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnbald was amazing. The girl really has great charm and presence on camera.
Some of the minor disappointments, my fave Amanda Bynes was hardly given any screen time, and when she did her singing was heavily produced (fake?) and her dancing was atrocious. Amanda I was so hoping to see more from you. However there were a half dozen slapstick moments where she shined, so it wasn't a complete loss.
John Travolta was pretty funny dressed in drag, he really pulled off the look dancing, but singing he really sounded like he was trying to recreate his voice from Grease which doesn't really work when you're trying to portray a middle age house wife.
The array of other teen actors that played supporting roles were all very talented with the singing and dancing, which was very enjoyable.
I really wish there were more movies like this. They really leave the audience in a good mood when they leave the theater, even the users waiting at the end to clean were moving their hips to the closing song.

Made (2001)

I really liked this film; it was really well done. Starring Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau and directed by Favreau, it really highlights the unmistakably good chemistry between the two. Vaughn and Favreau also starred in Swingers (1996) together which is also an awesome display of their great chemistry. In these films Vaughn plays the comic relief to Favreau's straight guy character. Favreau is the guy with a good conscious, he wants to live a respectable life, raise his girlfriend's daughter properly, and show dignity to his fellow man. Vaughn is just the opposite, which is where the hilarity comes in. Vaughn is the guy who believes he shouldn't have to work to get anything, that's he's god's gift to women, and that his ignorance is endearing, haha.
Their film chemistry is similar with Jay and Silent Bob. Vaughn has a word count of at least 70 when he's worked up, while Favreau will pull Vaughn foot out of his mouth and clean up after the messes he makes.
Puff Daddy makes an interesting appearance also.

The Simpsons Movie (2007)

This movie lived up to my expectations, but those were pretty low. I didn't there would be much to The Simpsons Movie because everything that they show could be capable of has already been achieved in the 18 years it has been on the air. There have been many comparisons to the South Park Movie, which was wildly successful and was heralded by critics. But the thing with South Park is that it hadn't been on tv as long, and it's conventions are a lot less restricting.
What made The Simpsons Movie lacklustre is that all the decent jokes are hyperboles of the jokes everyone is familiar with from the regular series.
Something that did stand out was the animation, it was a lot more sophisticated than the show (and while you may be pointing out that all I'm doing is comparing the film to the show, I think it's necessary, because the movie only exists because of the show). I enjoyed the animation because it was like watching the show in high-def with a wide-angle lens. While this did nothing to make the plot anymore interesting, it made for nice eye candy.
The Simpsons have increasingly decreased in originality over the years; this is obvious for anyone who tunes in every once and a while. A few months ago I read the academic sized study on The Simpsons: "Planet Simpsons". It really brings to light how the show is becoming an exageration of itself, and I believe that the movie is no exception.

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

So I finally told myself I should sit down and watch this film that so many people have badmouthed, yet had gotten so much attention last May. I read the book about a year and a half ago, and I remember most of what happened, so that obviously took an influence in my thoughts on the film.
In essence, the film is like flat cola, it seems sweet and that it has potential, but it really has no buzz going on. I admit I couldn't even get through the whole thing. I got to 1.5/2.5 hours, and decided that the film really wasn't going to change in pace or do anything quite interesting that I haven't read before, so I decided not to waste another hour of my time ( I have valuable other things to watch, haha).
The film is really a paint-by-number depiction. The cinematography is too damn dark, and moody lighty, that just makes it confusing to see what's going on. The direction is also non-existent. I say save your time and don't watch it.

Kicking and Screaming (1995)

I thought this movie was alright. The story is about a group of friends who have just graduated college, and how they spend that first year of independence from school.
I thought it was very well written with subtle, but decent acting for the cast. Honestly going into the film I was hoping for a more archaic narrative. When I first heard about Kicking and Screaming, I hoped that it would have the same feel as Linklater's Slacker from 1990. Instead Kicking and Screaming is a lot more accessible than Slacker. I have to say though that K&S is the middle of the pendulum swing with Slacker on the art house extreme, and Reality Bites on the mainstream extreme. Essentially K&S should be the ideal candidate for apathetic post-college individuals. I think this film would have got more attention, but it doesn't seem to want to toot it's own horn.
This is the first feature film by Noah Baumbach, and I feel like it should get some attention, since he's been doing well for himself lately (ie. The Squid and the Whale, a must see). On the other hand, my theory is that K&S isn't getting much nostalgic attention, the way Slacker did, because it was just recently put on the Criterion Collection. Baumbach is a writer/director worth keeping tabs on.

Smokin' Aces (2006)

I'm just rolling out the bad review today. I watched Smokin Aces two days ago, and I just didn't see the point of it. I know they were trying to create a slick heist/caper film, but it just was a flash of bling and posse.
When I first saw the trailer for this film I really thought it had potential. It had a decent cast, the premise looked interesting, and the cinematography seemed tight. Granted while watching it I was chatting on msn, but still I didn't miss anything by looking away.
I think the main thing that makes this a poor film is that they spend a confusing amount of time on the sub-plots. Because there are so many people looking to kill Buddy Israel, they spend time with each of the hitmen. Maybe in theory this sounded like a good idea, see how there are so many different people looking out to score from the murder, but at the same time, it's just confusing because it keeps jumping back and forth between the stories, but never having the characters crosspaths, which would be an interesting plot development.

Knocked Up (2007)

I thought this movie was alright, but it wasn't really what I was expecting. I was hoping for a film that was more like 40 Year Old Virgin, which is a very funny movie, one of my favourites. The reason why I heavily juxtaposed these two films is because they're both directed by Judd Apatow, who is known for his wise-crack humour mixed in with lovable slapstick (both genre pretty difficult to master).
What Knocked Up had that I found weakened the film is drama and poor improv. I read in an interview with Seth Rogen (the protagonist) that Judd let him do a lot of improv. While this approach may be creative, it actually led to the characters mostly swearing, and not being witty. Seth also brought in tid-bits of autobiographical info, ie. where he grew up, and some other random Canadiana references. The autobio study was just whatever, but for me, if there's an abundance of profane language in a film, without a balance of wit, then the film has the quality of a typical college home movie (seriously!).
I was also pretty disappointed by the ending. Yeah it was cutesy and all that jazz, but still was pretty unrealisitic.

Alpha Dog (2006)

I thought this was an interesting case study on how messed up the people are in America. Cinematically, however, I thought this was a weak film. The script was lacking originality (most of it was swearing), the composition was stark, and the actors looked like they were uninspired.
The interesting part of the film, the premise, I think deserves attention though. A kid is kidnapped because his brother owes money to a drug dealer. After a couple of hours the kid decides he'd like to stay with his kidnappers because he feels smothered in his homelife. Most of the film revolves around the conflict of whether the kid should be taken back to his parents, or if he should be allowed to stay and hang out with his kidnappers. The guys he stays with are very nice to him, and they become friends, so it's complicated to say whether he was being held against his will.
In the end (spoiler) the kid is killed because his captors would rather he die than go to prison for kidnapping (which happens anyway).
Now what's interesting in this whole drama is that it illustrated that the tragedy occurred because pretty much everyone was behaving selfishly. The brother who owed the money got his brother in that situation because he couldn't get his act together. The kid remained "kidnapped" because his parents wouldn't let him have a life. The drug dealer loses everything that he had because he didn't treat anyone with respect. And the kidnapped kid gets killed because he milked his shortlived freedom, when he should have returned sooner to his parents.
I think this is a good study on the american way of life. Everyone is looking out for their own back, but by not stepping up to help anyone else, they're screwing themselves over.
I found this interpretation took me some time to come up with because they film doesn't do much for the imagination, it is what it is. It felt very expository, rather than reflexive (I prefer the latter) so you really have to engage yourself in the characters actions to get a sense of why they are doing what they are doing.

The U.S. vs. John Lennon (2006)

I thought this was a really smartly made film. It shows how sometimes authority will really go to any length to crush revolutionaries.
The film started out lacking, unfortunately, it seemed like it was hastily put together, to show a general view of the feelings at that time. But after 15 minutes or so it got a lot better.
I really enjoyed the footage that they put together of the various demonstrations and media interviews that John was a part of. It really gave a strong sense that he was a committed person to the peace movements.
I liked how the testimonials didn't take up too much of the film, and rather was a lot of archival footage and photos.
I thought it was interesting that John's son, Sean, had no involvement with the film. Was it because he entered John's life so late, and after most of his protest years, or did he not want to put himself in the situation where he had to recount his memories with his father?
Overall, I think this movie is worth checking out. It's completely partial to John Lennon's case, but why would they take the other side, that'd just be ridiculous.

A Night at the Museum (2006)

I thought this movie was pretty weak, but that's not to say I think no would enjoy this film. Both my mom and sister said they enjoyed the film quite a bit, and I can respect from afar their enjoyment. The thing about this film is that it's too easy and self-explanatory for me. Not to sound elitist, but I've seen this formula many times before so there's nothing new for me to see. If you are interested in said formula, this is my interpretation of it: any-robin-william's-movie-involving-a-family. There is usually an inept father, who's trying desperately to connect with his family. The kid feels like the world is out to get him because he has trouble respecting his father. But then it all ends up happy with the father and kids rejoining when after they go through a series of hijinks (often making use of fantasy devices, see how this is kid-friendly).
This film stars Ben Stiller, who I've enjoyed over the years, but his performance in this film is like week old pizza, you think it's going to be delish, but it tastes dried up, and tried. He plays the same character here as in most of his other films. I think the last film I enjoyed with him is Dodgeball, which was pretty funny.
I think what turned me off of this film, is that it's pure Disney. While I can see how it's good for kids, from afar, I cringe at the thought of having to sit through a +90 minute fare.
The one positive note, I did really enjoy the brief scenes between Ricky Gervais and Stiller, along with Dick van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Stiller. Gervais is hilarious, and should have been given more screen time; Dyke and Rooney are asstacular in the scene where they brawl Stiller.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

I really liked this film. It had a strong message about staying true to your dream, which I could relate to. The protagonist (played by Will Smith) never let go of what was sacred in his life, his son, and his pursuit of happiness.
When I originally heard about this film I thought it was going to be a syrupy story about overcoming all obstacles, and in a way it was, but I think the sincerity and the real hardships of the protagonist won me over. I think also knowing that this was a real story, of a man who was pretty much living on the streets when he got his break in life to work at a stock broker's firm. I think it's kind of funny that the corruption of finances is never brought up. I guess it's more of a rags to riches story, rather than an expose on the damning of corporate finance.
This film was all about the acting. With Will Smith and his real-life son, playing his son, I think this aspects really carried the film. Will Smith was phenomenal in his portrayal of the protagonist.
The direction of the film was alright, but I didn't see it as anything auteurish about it.
I say this is a film worth checking out if you're looking for motivation in following your dream.

Shrek The Third (2007)

This movie was pretty hit-and-miss. It was better than I thought it would be, but still didn't achieve the same excellence as the first Shrek (like a sequel would be able to beat it).
The storyline continues off where the 2nd Shrek ended, which is pretty self-explanatory, but the characters are portrayed a lot more one-dimensionally. I enjoyed the pop culture references as always, and there were a few that seemed fresh.
In terms of visual aesthetics, the animation seems pretty flat. The character's bodies look like they've been created hastily because they look disproportioned to their environment. I mean that Shrek's body looks awkwardly made, kind of thing. This aspects distracted me a bit, because I feel they could have tried to make the long shots more accurate. The close ups, I admit are well done.
The music that is nondiegetic felt awkward because they were mostly done during montages, and overall, these montage sequences were weak. I think what makes Shrek good is the dialogue between the characters. Shrek, at it's best, feels like a theatre play because it deals with prejudices people toward others who do not fit in.
I was also pretty disappointed that they didn't have a karaoke bar sequence during the credits, those were always my favourite (maybe the studio didn't feel like paying a bundle for copyrights).

Volver (2006)

I thought this was a good film. The story was fantastic and kept my attention the whole way through. The cinematography was also strong with good composition and good use of colours. The acting was alright too. I don't see what the fuss over Penelope Cruz is. She's a so-so actor, with a really nice body, but people lavish her with praise, why? Because she's Spanish? lame.
There's a plot motif that happens toward the end that i like, borrowing heavily from Chinatown, if you know what I mean?
This film is worth seeing for the drama that occurs between the family members. They act like a real family acts, close to each other, but in a way so close that they lie about some of the most important events in their lives, true to life, I'd say.

Children of Men (2006)

This was an intense film. I enjoyed it, but it's not something I could watch again, unless I had a specific reason to. The subject matter and visual were very heart wrenching, but made me realize how fragile human life is. I guess I'm over generalizing the film, but it's hard to put into words because the film does not have a lot of dialogue. That's not to say that the film has a weak script. I think the style of the director, Alfonso Cuaron, did very well with this story.
He is known for his long static takes, so it was put together very eloquently.
I recommend this film because this subject matter of the world's fertility rate is a significant topic, and one that is very present in today's issues.
Clive Owen was pretty good as the films protagonist, and I thought he carried the narrative decently.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

I thought this was a pretty weak film. I didn't enjoy it because the cinematography had no imagination, and the characters screamed and fought so much that I almost didn't want to finish watching it.
This style of film is one of my LEAST favourites. Similar films include It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World, and Flight of the Phoenix. Ironic fact, these 3 films have been each remade within the past few years, all remakes complete trash. The original films are no masterpieces either, why the hell do they remake the crappy films.
Ernest Borgnine is also so friggin annoying in this film, his voice and face respectively.
I don't recommend this film unless you want to watch something that will help you appreciate good films.

West Side Story (1961)

I really like this movie. For months now I've been trying to see this movie for free (the library had a ridiculous queue), so I ask a friend who owned it, and I must say it's one of the best musicals ever. This was my 2nd time watching it, but it was even better watching it again. The dancing is superb, and I do love great choreography. Story is fine, it doesn't stand out, just a modern take at romeo and juliet, but the dancing and singing, sigh so good.
The setting and costume is also worth paying attention to. There is some great use of bright colours in the women's dresses, against the drab colours the men wear.
Some of my favourite song (and I love them all) "Play is cool, boy", "America", "When you're a jet", "Mambo" (which has no singing, just awesome dancing), and "Tonight" to some extent.

Help! (1965)

This movie is alright. The pacing is slow though. Unfortunately I've been making constant comparisons with A Hard Day's Night, an earlier Beatles film. In my opinion, A Hard Day's Night is a classic slapstick comedy, I own it too. While Help doesn't fit into the same mold as A Hard Day's Night, it still has some amazing elements, that is making me finish watching the film, rather than just turn it off. Both films are directed by Richard Lester, so they have many common cinematic devices, but Help! feels very subtle and quiet in comparison to AHDN. What I like about Help! is that The Fab Four still deliver their random ironic situational comments. John seems ot be getting more air time than the others, but he's been the funniest so far. The plot revolves around a conundrum that Ringo has found himself in, but Ringo's aloof performance is more annoying than silly. Paul and George seem bored with what they're doing, but maybe that's because they don't have as much screen time.
Special attention to the sections devoted to The Beatles doing their music video schitck. "She's got a ticket to ride" where they're on a ski hill is pretty funny. Director Lestor has some awesome off-center cinematography, that still feels original to watch today. The Monkees tv series came out a year after this film was released (1966-1968) and hugely steels comedic devices from Help!, which I'm sad to say devalues this film. While I realize Help! precedes The Monkees' series, the commonality makes it hard for it to stand out.
By the end of the film, I feel like it was able to redeem itself. Funny scene, the four of them are wearing funny beards; the irony is Ringo and John wear beards that they actually have for real later in life, haha.
I think overall this film is worth seeing if you want to see something funny/silly.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997)

I enjoyed this movie for a number of reasons. For one, the pacing is really good. I think Eastwood really knows his timing with his films because even though this film is two and a half hours long, it goes by so smoothly so it doesn't feel long at all. I constantly feel engaged in the action of the scene. One reason why I think the scenes are so engaging is because Eastwood balances the tone of each scene so that they work together. There are a number of comic relief scenes that I think really lighten the film up, so that the whol film does not revolve around the murder case. I think it is important to have a subplot because it lets the audience relax for a few minutes, instead of constantly getting more info about the main plot.
John Cusack was also good in this film. Even though he plays his character the same as any other one of his characters, I think it works in the context of the film. The same with Kevin Spacy. I think Spacy's character is a lot like the one he played in The Usual Suspects, but of course in another setting, but there are many character commonalities, like lying to the other characters, that he performs.

The Holiday (2006)

I thought this was a cute film. The premise was good, the cast was good, and the setting was awesome. However, I thought the story line wasn't balanced enough. For anyone familiar with the story line you know that two women switch houses for their vacation, and they end up falling in love with a guy at the vacation spot. It's unbalanced because more time is spent on the romanace with Cameron Diaz than with Kate Winslet. I guess it makes sense in the story line because it was more about the physical attraction between Cameron Diaz and Judd Law, than with Kate Winslet and Jack Black.
I found myself paying a lot of attention to the jewelery that both Cameron and Kate were wearing. There was simple, yet elegant pieces. Since I recently got my ears pierced I pay more attention to earings that other ladies wear. Also the necklaces were really cool that they wore in the film. They were mostly long necklaces and also simple and elegant so they matched the earings they wore. Both actresses wore the jewelery effortlessly and it really added to the tone of the film, I feel.
Judd Law and Jack Black were also cute in this film. I thought it was good that their romance stories were also brought to light, but it was a good decision to never make the film too sad or depressing when the characters were discussing how their last relationship ended.
This film reminds me of Love Actually which is also British (The Holiday I guess is half British), except The Holiday is only with two overlapping romances while Love Actually has many relationships going on. I guess The Holiday can be seen as an echo film to try and capture the same audience that was won over by Love Actually.

Marie Antoinette (2006)

I was really disappointed by this film for a number of reasons.
I don't like it when films bastardizes culture from centuries ago with terms, phrases ways of life from the 20th century. I know it's meant to be a twist on a period piece, but it really takes away from the authenticity of the film and I lose respect when many ideals are not present.
I know Sophia Coppola was trying to be all punk rock with this film, and at times it's really cool hearing bands like The Strokes in the soundtrack of a period piece, but really that takes away any seriousness the film could inhibit.
The party scenes were very well edited in my opinion, but what they were doing at the parties were pretty lame. Playing put-a-famous-name-on-your-forehead-and-guess-who-you-are probably wasn't around in the 18th century, or pot for that matter. I really just think the film is Sophia trying to make Marie Antoinette like any other young girl in the 20th century, but that an unfair representation of their way of life.
Too much of the film was focused of whether or not she was having sex with her husband. I think other elements should have gotten more attention.
The French didn't like this film in Cannes, and I gotta agree with them on this one.

Y tu mama tambien (2001)

This was an impressive film. It was the second time I've seen it and boy it seemed to make a lot more sense this time around.
The cinematography in this film in incredible; I couldn't look away because the composition had me at the edge of my seat. The colours are so bold, and vivid, it felt like I was there.
The characters are also really strong. Their stories are realistic; they have their own goals and vices, I feel like I learned more about human natures from watching it.
The pacing of the film is also really good. I had forgotten that one of the story techniques of the film is that all the natural sound is cut off, and a ominous voice-over shares further information about one of the characters, it was really well done.

The Stepford Wives (1975)

This was a pleasantly eerie film. I say it's pleasant because it was well done and it was subtle rather than over the top. So that no one gets confused this is the original film, the remake from a few years ago pales in comparison.
What I liked about this film is that the politics of 2nd wave women's liberation are fresh in the text of the film. It's very obvious the dominant theme in this film.
What didn't take me as a surprised, and I thought was a good choice was that the film had a bleak ending. This isn't a typical Hollywood film for that reason. It came out in 1975 making it part of the tail end of the New Hollywood Cinema years.
Katharine Ross was alright in this film. It's hard for me to take her very seriously after knowing her as the mousy cute girl in The Graduate, c'est la vie.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)

I thought this was a decent film. It wasn't what I was expecting because I didn't think the film was based on a theater production. I find film adaptations from theatrical plays interesting because they do not require a lot of set design, most of the time the film can take place in just a few areas, sometimes only one room is necessary. I want to examine how there is a huge difference between these 2 room films and epics that use many continents to tell their story.
Arsenic and Old Lace is a typical theatrical production. Most of the film takes place in the living room of the two old ladies that are killing old lonely men as charity.
I initially watched the film because Cary Grant was in it. While he was enjoyable to watch, I have to admit that the magic that I once saw in his films are gone (reading a person's biography, and watching almost 2 dozen of their films can make a person feel bored with an actor).

L'homme qui aimait les femmes (1977)

This was a really good film. I really enjoy Truffaut films more now. When I was watching this film I found many elements that make this film the predecessor of the highly recognized film “Adaptation” which is also a great film.
While the immediate subject matter is not identical, there are many thematic devices that make a parallel reading very easy to do.
For one they are both about men who are writing about love and relationships. While Adaptation is about how flowers are symbols of love, L’homme takes a literal stand on the subject.
There is a scene that reflects this. In L’homme, The writer is describing what he likes about each woman specifically. He describes them as having something unique about themselves that he is drawn to. In Adaptation, the writer uses different flowers as metaphors for each woman that he could be attracted to.
Both writers are also obsessed with how they are writing their books. They admit that they are putting their personal sentiments into their writing because each writer has a personal approach to whatever subject they are dealing with. Both writers want to try to overcome being too narrow viewed, and they regard it as a vice, but they don’t realize that it is not a flaw, but rather a strength to have a unique position.
In both films there is a scene toward the end when they are confronted by a former lover. The lover tells them that they have to learn how to like themselves because their problem is they push people away because they have low self-esteem. They don’t allow themselves to love one single woman because they have trouble metaphorically looking at themselves in the mirror.
There is also a scene in the film where there is a conversation over the phone where the woman just wants to hear the man breath, she doesn’t want him to say anything she just wants to have a sign that he is present and giving her his full attention.
Also a minor detail, Meryl Streep, one of the main women in Adaptation looks uncannily like one of the women in L’homme; I don’t think it’s a coincidence.
Once I realized that these films have so much in common in made L’homme even the more interesting to watch. I found myself looking for more similarities, but I think the other observations I made don’t have much foundation.
The films ended very differently. Adaptation ended with the protagonist feeling free and open to new opportunities about his life. He feels he can move on from his former lover, and the death of his brother. While L’homme ended with the protagonist dying from his weakness; he was reaching for the nurses legs and fell off his hospital bed and died.
Both films are very good stories.

The New Pornographers – Ottawa Bluesfest – Sunday July 16, 2006

I thought this was a good show. I was unfortunately somewhat disappointed, but it was merely because of aesthetic reasons ie. the band does not look like rock stars, what the giff! The sound was tight (even though the mix was poorly done).
To get back to this aesthetic thing, the members of the band looked ordinary and geeky. I think bands should dress up, or at least try and present some kind of performative image, it makes the whole seeing them live more worth it, instead of the look like you’re watching them jam in some garage. One of the main things that through me off was the bassist was a total doppelganger for my old film professor M. Raymond, so it was funny and kind of weird watching him rocking out wearing a ‘Where’s Waldo” shirt, and I don’t think he was being ironic.
I was feeling kind of gross as well because I had been outside for most of the afternoon and it was so friggin hot out, it was not enjoyable to stand around for a few hours on top of that.
Overall, they played the songs I wanted to hear, so they weren’t a disappointment in terms of that, it was just the presentation that I think needs work. The band members didn’t move around the stage at all making it look like they were part of an awkward junior high band performing in a talent show, hehe.
Controller.Controller played before them and I really enjoyed their set, they rocked hard, it was fun.

The Pink Panther (2006)

Wow! I really think this movie is underrated, I thought it was hilarious. I’ve seen the first two original Pink Panther movies from the 60s and hated them, in comparison this version is so much better.
The funniest part of the film is that it’s Steve Martin, an American actor with a corny French accent. The accent is so bad he was definitely trying to make it the worse French accent ever, it was hilarious. One of my favourite parts was when Kevin Kline says a word in French to Steve Martin, and Steve has a “what the fuck does that mean” look oh his face, haha the French character doesn’t know French, just a bad accent. It was even funnier when Steve Martin, with a French accent was trying to learn how to speak with an American accent, haha. The whole scene is a lady trying to teach him how to say “I would like to buy a hamburger” to say the least it was not successful. The next scene has Steve Martin in NYC having his first hamburger, he acts like hamburgers are disgusting, but he bites into is and is in friggin’ love
I have so many lines I loved in this movie that Steve delivered. His facial expressions were so funny also. Also surprising there was some impressive cinematography also, I wasn’t expecting any stylization, kudos!
I wasn’t anything out of this film initially because I had hated the original Pink Panther movies (I respect Peter Sellers, I just don’t think there’s anything special about his version of the character, it was lame).
Here is the trainer who trains! hehehe

Short Cuts (1993)

I thought this was an enjoyable film. For those who are not familiar with this film, think the movie that inspired Magnolia?
I like Short Cuts more than Magnolia because it doesn’t have that syrupy orchestral music playing in the background the whole time; it’s more gritty and believable. Julianne Moore is in both films also, I think she’s alright in Short Cuts.
This film is three hours long, but I found the pacing so well done that I didn’t even notice the time going by, I think it was because Robert Altman made sure that each segment of each story was not very long making the viewer eager to see where and how the story will continue to develop in it’s next segment. I found I was eager also to see how each character would bump into one another. Most of the characters are related to one another or are neighbour or have some affiliation with each other, and I found it interesting to see how each would meet.
All of the cast members I enjoyed, This film is definitely worth checking out.

The English Patient (1996)

I really didn’t like this film, I thought it was crap. It in no way appeals to me, and I will now say why.
For one there is not much dialogue in this film. You may thing, but the visuals speak where words would be, but no. All the visuals are the same, there is no vary whatsoever in the visuals. The characters mostly rely on facial expressions to say their emotions, but there is only one expression in this whole entire friggin film. The oh I miss my lover, my life is soo deprived, I was happy at one time, I wish I could love someone passionately, I’m lonely and I need a huggy-wuggy, bleh! I’d rather listen to someone say this than have to look at their facial expressions.
The other thing is that the cinematography has nothing to it, I never say this, but I could have done better cinematography myself. Gah! I can understand why this film won 9 academy awards, I don’t agree with the academies decisions as it is, so The English Patient film can take their crappy awards, and shove it.
I guess I’m a little irritated that I sat through this film. I just don’t understand this type of film, why do people find it appealing, it’s so boring and predictable, in the bad way.

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

I thought this was a really good movie. I didn’t think I was a fan of Westerns, but the style that the spaghetti western is done in is really good. What I like about this kind of western is that there is a dimension of parody in the film. When I watched “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly” a few months ago with my dad, I had no clue why he was laughing all the time, I just thought the film was being corny and not knowing it. Now I realize that the director was aware and consciously put the parody elements in the film. One of the strongest ways this dimension is portrayed, I believe, is in the soundtrack. It’s an awesome soundtrack with a funny flute loop and chain clang against something. The cinematography is also amazing, I put it up there with my favourite films in terms of visuals, it’s orgasmic! I really want to see ‘For a Few Dollars More’, but it seems to be a hot ticket item at the library for a few weeks, argh nugget!
Note to fans of the Back to the Future trilogy: Fistful of Dollars has the scene that Marty used to get the idea of the ‘bullet-proof vest’; it was cool seeing that scene.
This is definitely a film to watch to get a well rounded film history.

Nine to Five (1980)

This was a cute and enjoyable film. Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda and Dolly Parton have good chemistry together, and even though it could be slightly irritating to watch their hijinks, I couldn’t help chuckling to myself.
Nine to Five is a kind of self-mockery of the women’s liberation movement during the 70s. I thought they played it well; I especially found it interesting to see how different the times were over 25 years ago. Just a few weeks ago I had heard about this film because they were releasing a 25th anniversary DVD.
I also found this film interesting because of all the old technology that the have in the office. All their office equipment are antiques when compared to what is around today, it was pretty funny watching the characters function with the gi-normous photocopier, it’s loco.
I recommend this movie as an easy watch. Thinking about it now, it reminds me of Weekend at Bernie’s, but with the subject matter dealing with woman’s lib instead.

Holiday (1938)

This is another great Cary Grant picture. It’s the third film he starred in with Katherine Hepburn, and I have to say this film is my favourite with Hepburn because she was not annoying at all, I found her very charming and victimized actually (which sucked, but I guess helped me sympathize with her character).
I was deceived at the beginning of this film. The love interest in the film initially is named Julia, and I got so excited because I thought hey it’s going to be another Cary Grant love Julia film. It was like this for most of the film, but half way through it turns out that the character known as Julia was shallow and uninteresting, which blew for me personally in a way, but since I found Hepburn’s character so endearing I just told myself I wasn’t like that crazy Julia character and enjoyed the film.
Cary did some cool nonchalant acrobatics. I’m reading a biography of his and seeing him do the acrobatics (because he’s where he originated in show biz) really shown that the man has class and talent.
In terms of story this was a good film. It was explained very well why Hepburn was the black sheep of the family, besides a few renegade ideas she talked about, she didn’t seem that far from the pack (I guess they wanted me to use my imagination).
I say check out this film if you want to see classic Cary and a non-irriating Hepburn.

Snow Falling on Cedars (1999)

I have to say that this film did nothing for me, and I know why. This film, along with many films of the same style, is extremely lyrical. That means that there are no jokes. The film revolves around illustrating the passion and the yearning the characters have for each other. There is always the direction of withdrawl that one character experiences for the other and the audience experiences this by being shown flashback over flashback of the characters happy encounters overlapped with the sad character's desire for the other, who is trying to move on with their life. I find it hard to sit through these types of films because, in two words, they’re dramatized drama. This style of filmmaking is bland to me. Now you may think I’m a hypocrite, but I love lyrical foreign films, and most lyrical Canadian films; it’s just the American lyrical film that makes me want to fall asleep or fast forward through the film.
The topic of the film was pretty interesting, and I would label this an enjoyable film, but it’s honestly the director’s fault that I don’t like this film. I don’t blame the director for ruining it for me because it’s his style; I just think it’s important to give credit where credit is due. Scott Hicks also directed Shine which I enjoy, but that’s because there was some comic relief present. I think for myself, an American film with no comic relief whatsoever is sacrilegious; it’s their strongest device in their films.
Snow Falling on Cedars did have some great performances and they deserve attention. Ethan Hawke was very cute and lonely.

The Break Up (2006)

I really liked this movie. Yes, it was really depressing to watch a loving relationship end, but at the same time I thought this film had excellent flow and great character development (the film student in me, what do you expect). Both characters had their flaws in terms of communication and it was interesting to watch how the other received and responded to that communication and more so lack of communication.
It would have been nice to see the couple for a bit at least during their happy period (but I guess that’s not what the film is about). Instead the two years the relationship occurred is represented through the opening credits of snapshots (candid and organized). I thought that was an effective device, but it would have been nice to see a scene or two of them actually being in the relationship (instead of starting the film after the credits with them fighting).
There was some humour also in the film to lighten the incredible dark and depressing fall of the relationship. Aniston’s effeminate brother, during a dinner scene, is trying to get Vince to sing a drum beat in harmony to other people at the table. He kept repeating “come, come on the bass drum” to try and encourage Vince, it was hilarious! Jon Favreau also stole some scenes as Vince’s best buddy who tries to console him during this period of break up (I felt sad that Jon has gained so much weight since “Swingers”, he was hot in that film, what happened Jon? I thought you lost all your baby fat from “Rudy” years ago, you can’t claim its baby fat anymore).
I definitely recommend checking this film out. I saw it with my roommates and the consensus was it was a bad film because it made them feel awkward to watch it. I guess the voyeur in me holds nothing against that!

The Thin Man (1934)

I thought this was a great film. It’s definitely one that is entertaining, let has enough substance that one does not feel like are killing brain cells.
William Powell stars as a former detective who marries woman with a large dowry who is living a life of luxury. One day there is a murder and he gets roped in (partially unwittingly) into cracking the case of who the murderer is. This film is definitely a classic caper (probably one of the best of it’s kind). William Powell is dashing and debonair; his character is constantly drinking, it’s hilarious. The chemistry between he and his wife is reason enough to watch this film. It’s a fast talking, almost screwball comedy (but he already has the girl, so the film is picking up after a few years of marriage). They joke around, very dryly, about not caring about one another, it’s so funny. This movie must have made dinner parties the hippest thing on this side of the coast.

Amadeus (1984)

I was surprised by this film because I feel like I’ve taken so much from watching it. Initially I had thought of this film as a hoaky, bio-pic of some dude with loads of melodrama and a few bits of historical information. Instead what I got was an self-enriching lesson about how history is recorded and remember. Now obviously these are all my observations because I have nowhere near enough time to research the accuracy of this film about the life of Mozart, but everyone has their own stance.
I enjoyed the novelty occurrences that this film provided. I felt like it was more of a story of the lifestyle during his time period. I never thought too much about it, but they really cared a lot about their white wigs in that time, I would think it has the equivalent importance people have to their favourite clothes.
Even though this film was long I think it was all important to have on the screen. While usually when you know a film is over 120 minutes you have to commit to really watching it, but what I found with this film is that because it was more about the daily occurrences in Mozart’s life I felt I didn’t have to give it 100% of my attention the entire time. I was able to chat with a roommate at one point, and surf the internet for some information and still was able to attain the main just of the film. Sidenote, my observations tell me that the film was called Amadeus (Mozart's middle name) to maybe show a more candid angle of Mozart's life
I recommend this film for someone who is interested in watching all the marquee Oscar films (because it won during it’s year). It is definitely an interesting story about how an artist has to struggle to put his work in exhibition because of the powers that control distribution and commission for the project (definitely something that still applies to today’s art work).