The Reader
2008, dir. Stephen Daldry.
star. David Kross, Ralph Fiennes, Kate Winslet, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin
2 hours 6 minutes
Contnuing the Nazi theme of the season (having just seen Valkyrie, and a preview for Defiance played in front of both films), Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes star in The Reader, based on the novel by Bernhard Schlink. David Kross stars as Michael, a young german teenager in 1858 who falls ill as is helped by a strange older woman Hanna, played by Winslet. They conduct an affair, but then without warning, Hanna disappears. Ten years later, Michael is studying law and ends up at a war crimes trial where one of the defendants turns out to be Hanna herself. Michael could help exonnerate her (at least partially), but refuses to do so out off secrecy, as does Winslet, who admits to actions she did not do out of shame for her own secret.
In a similar vein to Valkyrie, The Reader examines to collective guilt of the German people with regard to the holocaust, and asks whether or not or not there are different levels of that guilt. My issue with The Reader, however, is that Hanna's actions do not make sense to her. Without giving it away, I can tell you I do not share Hanna's secret shame; that said, if the choice were revealing that secret or facing a life sentence in prison, I would reveal the shameful truth in a heartbeat, not matter how embarassing it might seem. But as I said, that may be easier for me to say, considering I'm not in that position.
Winslet is great as always as Hanna, and will probably nab another Oscar nomination for the role. The best performances, though, are Kross and Fiennes sharing the role of Michael. Fiennes gives what I think is his best work since The English Patient, and certainly his most subdued. Kross is equally strong as the younger Michael, and hopefully will show up in a lot more work. The great strength of the two actors is that their portrayals blend seamlessly into each other, and it feels like one whole character, rather than two separate ones.
3 1/2 stars out of 5.
saw Saturday afternoon at Silvercity with Paddy, my aunt Susan, and Steve. had a can of Coke Zero and some popcorn.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Life Understood Backwards
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2008. Dir. David Fincher. 2 hours 47 minutes.
Saw Benjamin Button on Boxing Day. Had a diet Coke.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the story of man (played by Brad Pitt) who is born as an old man, and goes through his life aging backwards, becoming more youthful as everyone else around him gets older. The film takes its name, premise, and protagonist's name from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, but nothing else.
The film will probably remind many of Forrest Gump, and with good reason, as they both had the same screenwriter. Benjamin Button, I would argue, has a bit more depth to it. While Gump seemed to revolve around the theme of chance and fate, Button is more directly about life and how we travel through it. Although I am only 27, I think I can safely gauge that I will be happy to trade my youth for wisdom, an oppurtunity that Button does not seem to get. Forrest Gump traveled through life as an idiot, essentially; Ben Button, while growing younger, develops what I would describe as a vapidity. This is not a flaw of Brad Pitt's performance, but actually a strength, since I feel that loss of accumulated wisdom is the point of the story.
Cate Blanchett does a strong job as Button lifelong love, Daisy, especially in the framing scenes at her deathbed, where she recounts the tale to her daughter, played by Julia Ormond, who I would love to see make a comeback into mainstream films (or any films at all) since she seemed to disappear in the late 90's. There's been awards talk for Taraji Henson, who plays Button's adopted mother, but I can't say that her performance did much for me.
Overall, I liked Benjamin Button quite a bit, and it really made me ponder my own life, which is all you can ask of any film.
5 stars out of 5
2008. Dir. David Fincher. 2 hours 47 minutes.
Saw Benjamin Button on Boxing Day. Had a diet Coke.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is the story of man (played by Brad Pitt) who is born as an old man, and goes through his life aging backwards, becoming more youthful as everyone else around him gets older. The film takes its name, premise, and protagonist's name from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, but nothing else.
The film will probably remind many of Forrest Gump, and with good reason, as they both had the same screenwriter. Benjamin Button, I would argue, has a bit more depth to it. While Gump seemed to revolve around the theme of chance and fate, Button is more directly about life and how we travel through it. Although I am only 27, I think I can safely gauge that I will be happy to trade my youth for wisdom, an oppurtunity that Button does not seem to get. Forrest Gump traveled through life as an idiot, essentially; Ben Button, while growing younger, develops what I would describe as a vapidity. This is not a flaw of Brad Pitt's performance, but actually a strength, since I feel that loss of accumulated wisdom is the point of the story.
Cate Blanchett does a strong job as Button lifelong love, Daisy, especially in the framing scenes at her deathbed, where she recounts the tale to her daughter, played by Julia Ormond, who I would love to see make a comeback into mainstream films (or any films at all) since she seemed to disappear in the late 90's. There's been awards talk for Taraji Henson, who plays Button's adopted mother, but I can't say that her performance did much for me.
Overall, I liked Benjamin Button quite a bit, and it really made me ponder my own life, which is all you can ask of any film.
5 stars out of 5
Saturday, December 27, 2008
This Is Not A World Warr II movie ....
Valkyrie
2008, dir. Bryan Singer.
stars Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Thomas Kretchmann, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard
2 hours
Saw this on Christmas Day at Silvercity, with Paddy, my aunt Susan, my cousins Steve and Lauren, and Lauren's friend Malcolm, all the way from Scotland.
Tom Cruise stars in Valkyrie, one of a few movies this winter that deal with Nazi Germany and World War II. In this case, Valkyrie is the story of a group of German officers and businessmen who believe that Hitler has done only harm to Germany (specifically, militarily), and that he must be replaced. And of course to replace him, he must be assassinated. The film covers the 15th and last such attempt, with Cruise leading the team to kill Hitler and use the SS’ own mechanisms against itself to facilitate a coup d’etat.
The disadvantage this film has is that it’s a well-known fact that Hitler was not assassinated, but committed suicide in his bunker near the end of the war. So of course, the audience knows this plan will fail. Thus the film, in order to generate any suspense, must show the whys and hows of that failure, and for good measure, should show just how close it was. To give credit the film, I, only half-seriously, thought the plan was going to work. By that I mean that film is successfully suspenseful, in that the visceral part of my brain took over from the logical.
Cruise is surrounded in the film but a host of talented British actors, including Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Kenneth Branagh but despite what some have said, I thought Cruise held together the ensemble well. Don’t get me wrong here, he is definitely more Tom Cruise than Claus Von Staffenberg (the officer he portrays), but he is convincing in his portrayal.
Valkyrie may not be the deepest film you see this year, but it is an entertaining movie, and hopefully might lead Tom Cruise to some favoured status.
3 stars out of 5.
2008, dir. Bryan Singer.
stars Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Thomas Kretchmann, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard
2 hours
Saw this on Christmas Day at Silvercity, with Paddy, my aunt Susan, my cousins Steve and Lauren, and Lauren's friend Malcolm, all the way from Scotland.
Tom Cruise stars in Valkyrie, one of a few movies this winter that deal with Nazi Germany and World War II. In this case, Valkyrie is the story of a group of German officers and businessmen who believe that Hitler has done only harm to Germany (specifically, militarily), and that he must be replaced. And of course to replace him, he must be assassinated. The film covers the 15th and last such attempt, with Cruise leading the team to kill Hitler and use the SS’ own mechanisms against itself to facilitate a coup d’etat.
The disadvantage this film has is that it’s a well-known fact that Hitler was not assassinated, but committed suicide in his bunker near the end of the war. So of course, the audience knows this plan will fail. Thus the film, in order to generate any suspense, must show the whys and hows of that failure, and for good measure, should show just how close it was. To give credit the film, I, only half-seriously, thought the plan was going to work. By that I mean that film is successfully suspenseful, in that the visceral part of my brain took over from the logical.
Cruise is surrounded in the film but a host of talented British actors, including Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Kenneth Branagh but despite what some have said, I thought Cruise held together the ensemble well. Don’t get me wrong here, he is definitely more Tom Cruise than Claus Von Staffenberg (the officer he portrays), but he is convincing in his portrayal.
Valkyrie may not be the deepest film you see this year, but it is an entertaining movie, and hopefully might lead Tom Cruise to some favoured status.
3 stars out of 5.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
IMDB
I like the IMDB, it's a good tool, but it can be dumb as shit sometimes. A good example is today's poll:
Which of these performers made the worst post-Oscar winning career choices? (Suggested by "Jdchrstnsn")
Dan Aykroyd
Kim Basinger
Nicolas Cage
Kevin Costner
Whoopi Goldberg
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Dennis Hopper
Tom Hulce
Juliette Lewis
John Lithgow
Pat Morita
Haley Joel Osment
Chazz Palminteri
Burt Reynolds
Elisabeth Shue
Billy Bob Thornton
John Travolta
Jon Voight
Robin Williams
Dan Aykroyd, Dennis Hopper, Tom Hulce, Juliette Lewis, John Lithgow, Pat Morita, Holey Joel Osment, Chazz Palminteri, Burt Reynolds, Elisabeth Shue, and John Travolta have NEVER WON Oscars. That's more than half the list they've provided. I mean, come on, you're supposed to be the source for accurate film information, and this is what they provide. For christ's sake.
Which of these performers made the worst post-Oscar winning career choices? (Suggested by "Jdchrstnsn")
Dan Aykroyd
Kim Basinger
Nicolas Cage
Kevin Costner
Whoopi Goldberg
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Dennis Hopper
Tom Hulce
Juliette Lewis
John Lithgow
Pat Morita
Haley Joel Osment
Chazz Palminteri
Burt Reynolds
Elisabeth Shue
Billy Bob Thornton
John Travolta
Jon Voight
Robin Williams
Dan Aykroyd, Dennis Hopper, Tom Hulce, Juliette Lewis, John Lithgow, Pat Morita, Holey Joel Osment, Chazz Palminteri, Burt Reynolds, Elisabeth Shue, and John Travolta have NEVER WON Oscars. That's more than half the list they've provided. I mean, come on, you're supposed to be the source for accurate film information, and this is what they provide. For christ's sake.
Upcoming movies in the next week
Welcome to the holiday edition of Upcoming Movies, and on this Christmas weekend, there are a bunch:
Tomorrow, Christmas Day. If your family is starting to annoy you and you want to escape to the movies, you have no less than 7 new movies opening in Ottawa tomorrow. Here are your choices:
The Reader
This adapation of the bestselling German novel (and Oprha's Book Club pick) is about a man who discovers that the older woman he had as a lover when he was young might have a terrible secret in her past. Psst .... the secret involves Nazis. Directed by Stephen Daldry (The Hours) and starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Brune Ganz and my favorite Romanian actress, Alexandra Maria Lara (this is the 3rd film in 4 years with Ganz and Lara, all of which involved Nazis).
The Spirit
Comic Book writer Frank Miller directs this comic book adapatation, which is getting some downright awful reviews. Stars Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson.
Bedtime Stories
From Disney comes this Adam Sandler movie where he tells stories to his nephews, and the stories come to life. Sarcastic Yay!
Doubt
This new film is about a power struggle between a head nun and a young idealist priest in a New York parish in the 1960s. The play was a huge hit on Broadway, and teh film has garnered lots of awards attention already. Stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis. Opens on Christmas Day, but also heads to the Bytowne a week later on New Years Day if you want to support your local independent theatre.
Valkyrie
Want more Nazis? Instead of Oprah's Book Club pick The Reader, you can have Oprah's Couch Club pick Tom Cruise in Valyrie, where Cruise must single-handedly assasinate Adolph Hitler in order to restore Scientology as the dominant force in Germany. From director Bryan Singer, and also starring Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, and Bill Nighy.
Marley & Me
Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston adopt the worst puppy ever, but grow to love it. If you want to see a real bad dog, rent White Dog.
And my pick for a Christmas movie this year, David Fincher's
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt stars as a a baby born as an old man who then ages backwards, while the world keeps going forward. The movie looks fantastic, and I encoruage everyone to check it out. Also stars Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton.
I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Tomorrow, Christmas Day. If your family is starting to annoy you and you want to escape to the movies, you have no less than 7 new movies opening in Ottawa tomorrow. Here are your choices:
The Reader
This adapation of the bestselling German novel (and Oprha's Book Club pick) is about a man who discovers that the older woman he had as a lover when he was young might have a terrible secret in her past. Psst .... the secret involves Nazis. Directed by Stephen Daldry (The Hours) and starring Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Brune Ganz and my favorite Romanian actress, Alexandra Maria Lara (this is the 3rd film in 4 years with Ganz and Lara, all of which involved Nazis).
The Spirit
Comic Book writer Frank Miller directs this comic book adapatation, which is getting some downright awful reviews. Stars Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson.
Bedtime Stories
From Disney comes this Adam Sandler movie where he tells stories to his nephews, and the stories come to life. Sarcastic Yay!
Doubt
This new film is about a power struggle between a head nun and a young idealist priest in a New York parish in the 1960s. The play was a huge hit on Broadway, and teh film has garnered lots of awards attention already. Stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis. Opens on Christmas Day, but also heads to the Bytowne a week later on New Years Day if you want to support your local independent theatre.
Valkyrie
Want more Nazis? Instead of Oprah's Book Club pick The Reader, you can have Oprah's Couch Club pick Tom Cruise in Valyrie, where Cruise must single-handedly assasinate Adolph Hitler in order to restore Scientology as the dominant force in Germany. From director Bryan Singer, and also starring Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, and Bill Nighy.
Marley & Me
Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston adopt the worst puppy ever, but grow to love it. If you want to see a real bad dog, rent White Dog.
And my pick for a Christmas movie this year, David Fincher's
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Brad Pitt stars as a a baby born as an old man who then ages backwards, while the world keeps going forward. The movie looks fantastic, and I encoruage everyone to check it out. Also stars Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton.
I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Who Wants to Be $501,959.70 CDN-aire?
That's how much 20 million Indian Rupess is ... so not even half a million US dollars. Still, it's a lot for a slumdog from Mumbai, I guess.
Paddy and I caught Slumdog Millionaire last night at the World Exchange. I drank a bottle of Coke Zero. The movie is about a young man named Jamal who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and Bombay in India, who ends up winning 20 million Rupees on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Officials believe that he must have cheated, so they interrogate/torture him into telling them how he did it. Gradually, he reveals how each question is related to important events from his life, from his early childhood right up until present day.
The film has a frenetic energy that has eluded most this year's films, and while some may complain that it's all too convenient, I think that that may be the point. The movie strives to show how fate will lead us on our path to getting what we need in life. Dev Patel, as the oldest of the Jamals, is fantastic in his role, though I'm not sure why he's getting awards and award nominations as a supporting actor, since he's clearly the lead in this film. Overall, a great time at the movies, and, with apologies to Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder, the best end credits dance sequence all year. (It's kind of a Bollywood film, so of course there has to be a dance sequence).
4 and a half stars out of 5.
Slumdog Millionaire
2008. 1hour 56minutes.
dir. Danny Boyle. Star. Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Freida Pinto.
Paddy and I caught Slumdog Millionaire last night at the World Exchange. I drank a bottle of Coke Zero. The movie is about a young man named Jamal who grew up in the slums of Mumbai and Bombay in India, who ends up winning 20 million Rupees on the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Officials believe that he must have cheated, so they interrogate/torture him into telling them how he did it. Gradually, he reveals how each question is related to important events from his life, from his early childhood right up until present day.
The film has a frenetic energy that has eluded most this year's films, and while some may complain that it's all too convenient, I think that that may be the point. The movie strives to show how fate will lead us on our path to getting what we need in life. Dev Patel, as the oldest of the Jamals, is fantastic in his role, though I'm not sure why he's getting awards and award nominations as a supporting actor, since he's clearly the lead in this film. Overall, a great time at the movies, and, with apologies to Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder, the best end credits dance sequence all year. (It's kind of a Bollywood film, so of course there has to be a dance sequence).
4 and a half stars out of 5.
Slumdog Millionaire
2008. 1hour 56minutes.
dir. Danny Boyle. Star. Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Freida Pinto.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Screen Actors Guild Award Nominations
Perhaps more relevant to winning an Oscar are the SAG Awards, more so than the Golden Globes or other Critics awards. Why? Beacuse the Oscars are not voted on by critics, but by the Academy, which is by and large made up of actors (with other film professionals making up a minority). Expect a strong correlation between these nominations and the Oscar nominations:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
RICHARD JENKINS / Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films)
FRANK LANGELLA / Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures)
SEAN PENN / Harvey Milk - “MILK” (Focus Features)
BRAD PITT / Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
MICKEY ROURKE / Randy - “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNE HATHAWAY / Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics)
ANGELINA JOLIE / Christine Collins - “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
MERYL STREEP / Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
KATE WINSLET / April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JOSH BROLIN / Dan White - “MILK” (Focus Features)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. / Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER” (Paramount Pictures)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN / Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
HEATH LEDGER / Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DEV PATEL / Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Sister James - “DOUBT” (Miramax Flms)
PENÉLOPE CRUZ / Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company)
VIOLA DAVIS / Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
TARAJI P. HENSON / Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
KATE WINSLET / Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture [the SAG equivalent of Best Picture]
DOUBT (Miramax)
FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
MILK (Focus Features)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
RICHARD JENKINS / Walter Vale - “THE VISITOR” (Overture Films)
FRANK LANGELLA / Richard Nixon - “FROST/NIXON” (Universal Pictures)
SEAN PENN / Harvey Milk - “MILK” (Focus Features)
BRAD PITT / Benjamin Button - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
MICKEY ROURKE / Randy - “THE WRESTLER” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
ANNE HATHAWAY / Kym - “RACHEL GETTING MARRIED” (Sony Pictures Classics)
ANGELINA JOLIE / Christine Collins - “CHANGELING” (Universal Pictures)
MELISSA LEO / Ray Eddy - “FROZEN RIVER” (Sony Pictures Classics)
MERYL STREEP / Sister Aloysius Beauvier - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
KATE WINSLET / April Wheeler - “REVOLUTIONARY ROAD” (Paramount Vantage)
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
JOSH BROLIN / Dan White - “MILK” (Focus Features)
ROBERT DOWNEY, JR. / Kirk Lazarus - “TROPIC THUNDER” (Paramount Pictures)
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN / Father Brendan Flynn - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
HEATH LEDGER / Joker - “THE DARK KNIGHT” (Warner Bros. Pictures)
DEV PATEL / Older Jamal - “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE” (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
AMY ADAMS / Sister James - “DOUBT” (Miramax Flms)
PENÉLOPE CRUZ / Maria Elena - “VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA” (The Weinstein Company)
VIOLA DAVIS / Mrs. Miller - “DOUBT” (Miramax Films)
TARAJI P. HENSON / Queenie - “THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON” (Paramount Pictures)
KATE WINSLET / Hanna Schmitz - “THE READER” (The Weinstein Company)
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture [the SAG equivalent of Best Picture]
DOUBT (Miramax)
FROST/NIXON (Universal Pictures)
MILK (Focus Features)
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount Pictures)
Will O'Neill Film Screening # 2 - To Live and Die In L.A.
The next film screened is going to William Friedkin's 1985 action crime thriller To Live And Die In L.A. Friedkin is well-known for his car chase stunts from The French Connection, but many (myself included) feel that the chase in TLADILA is just as good. The film stars William Petersen as a US Secret Service agent with the counterfeit division investogating the murder of his partner (who yes, I kid you not, had ONE day until retirement) at the hands of master counterfeiter Willem Dafoe.A great unrelenting crime film, with just enough 80's cheeze factor to give it a couple good laughs, not the least of which is the score by none other than Wang Chung.
To Live and Die In L.A., Saturday December 27th at 2:30 pm.
To Live and Die In L.A.
1985, dir. William Friedkin, 1 hour 57 minutes
stars William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, Dean Stockwell, John Pankow, Robert Downey Sr., John Turturro, Debra Feuer.
To Live and Die In L.A., Saturday December 27th at 2:30 pm.
To Live and Die In L.A.
1985, dir. William Friedkin, 1 hour 57 minutes
stars William Petersen, Willem Dafoe, Dean Stockwell, John Pankow, Robert Downey Sr., John Turturro, Debra Feuer.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
New Mayfair January Schedule
The Mayfair (the NEW Mayfair) has just released their new schedule for January, which is also the first indication of what kind of programming they'll be doing under the new management. Some highlights include:
LOTS of James Bond:
Dr. No
From Russia With Love
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
For Your Eyes Only
Octopussy
A View To A Kill
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
some classic cult films:
Eraserhead
Showgirls
Vigilante
Mean Streets
some recent films:
Changeling
Choke
Rocknrolla
Let The Right One In
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
a lot of Asian cinema, the only one I recognized was Mad Detective,
quite a few documentaries, most of them about movies and the arts,
and it all starts off at the grand opening Open House (free, by the way) with some shorts by the very talented people at IFCO, and a screening of Fritz Lang's classic Metropolis, with supposedly "live music".
Looks to be a promising month. Between the Mayfair, Bytowne, and regular theatre schedules, there's about 27 films I want to check out in January, so I don't know how I'm going to pull all that off. We'll see, I guess.
LOTS of James Bond:
Dr. No
From Russia With Love
On Her Majesty's Secret Service
For Your Eyes Only
Octopussy
A View To A Kill
Casino Royale
Quantum of Solace
some classic cult films:
Eraserhead
Showgirls
Vigilante
Mean Streets
some recent films:
Changeling
Choke
Rocknrolla
Let The Right One In
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
a lot of Asian cinema, the only one I recognized was Mad Detective,
quite a few documentaries, most of them about movies and the arts,
and it all starts off at the grand opening Open House (free, by the way) with some shorts by the very talented people at IFCO, and a screening of Fritz Lang's classic Metropolis, with supposedly "live music".
Looks to be a promising month. Between the Mayfair, Bytowne, and regular theatre schedules, there's about 27 films I want to check out in January, so I don't know how I'm going to pull all that off. We'll see, I guess.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Upcoming movies in the next week
Another week, another batch of movies. If you can find your way around in the weather and without buses, here are some movie-going options:
Wednesday
Ashes of Time Redux
2008, Wong Kar Wai. This new version of Ashes of Time played at the Cannes Film Festival last May, but it hasn't gotten great reviews. To be honest, the trailer playing at the Bytowne hasn't really done anything for me.
Exclusively at The Bytowne
Friday
Tell No One
2007? 2008? I guess this is a new movie, although it played in Gatineau during the summer of 2007. Now it gets an English-subtitled release (don't let the trailer fool you; this is a French film). The trailer looks pretty good, and the film includes Canadian actress Marie-Josee Croze.
Exclusively at the Bytowne
Slumdog Millionaire
This new 2008 film from Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine) is already winning awards, and look for some Oscar love as well. A 2008 Golden Globe nominee for best drama (and the first of the nominees to play in Ottawa), the film is about a young boy from Mubai who makes it to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and finds that every question somehow relates to his slum upbringing. Considered by many to be the best film of the year.
Exclusively at World Exchange
Seven Pounds
This new film with will Smith and his director of Pursuit of Happyness is about an IRS agent who has the ability to drastically affect the lives of 7 unconnected individuals. Presumably not by auditing them.
Yes Man
I have to admit that this new Jim Carrey film has interested me more than anything he's done in 10 years. I'll probably still wait 'til video, however.
and for the kids, there's
The Tale of Despereaux.
Those of you who subject yourselves to TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8 will have seen that family schill themselves for this animated film, featuring the vocal talents of Emma Watson, who apparently plays Hymen or Harmony or whatever the girl character's name is in Harry Potter.
And as I noted last month, The Wizard of Oz is playing at the Bytowne this Monday and Tuesday. If you haven't seen it on teh big screen, make a point to check it out.
***
The Bytowne has posted their schedule for January, and some highlights include classics such as Trainspotting, Akira Kurosawa's High And Low, and The Apartment from Billy Wilder. New releases include some critical heavyweights like Doubt, starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman; and The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke. Some acclaimed foreign films include the 2008 Palme D'Or winner The Class, and the swedish vampire tale Let The Right One In. Plus, there's always Repo, The Genetic Opera featuring none other than Paris Hilton. Who says The Bytowne doesn't have class?
Have fun!
Wednesday
Ashes of Time Redux
2008, Wong Kar Wai. This new version of Ashes of Time played at the Cannes Film Festival last May, but it hasn't gotten great reviews. To be honest, the trailer playing at the Bytowne hasn't really done anything for me.
Exclusively at The Bytowne
Friday
Tell No One
2007? 2008? I guess this is a new movie, although it played in Gatineau during the summer of 2007. Now it gets an English-subtitled release (don't let the trailer fool you; this is a French film). The trailer looks pretty good, and the film includes Canadian actress Marie-Josee Croze.
Exclusively at the Bytowne
Slumdog Millionaire
This new 2008 film from Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine) is already winning awards, and look for some Oscar love as well. A 2008 Golden Globe nominee for best drama (and the first of the nominees to play in Ottawa), the film is about a young boy from Mubai who makes it to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and finds that every question somehow relates to his slum upbringing. Considered by many to be the best film of the year.
Exclusively at World Exchange
Seven Pounds
This new film with will Smith and his director of Pursuit of Happyness is about an IRS agent who has the ability to drastically affect the lives of 7 unconnected individuals. Presumably not by auditing them.
Yes Man
I have to admit that this new Jim Carrey film has interested me more than anything he's done in 10 years. I'll probably still wait 'til video, however.
and for the kids, there's
The Tale of Despereaux.
Those of you who subject yourselves to TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8 will have seen that family schill themselves for this animated film, featuring the vocal talents of Emma Watson, who apparently plays Hymen or Harmony or whatever the girl character's name is in Harry Potter.
And as I noted last month, The Wizard of Oz is playing at the Bytowne this Monday and Tuesday. If you haven't seen it on teh big screen, make a point to check it out.
***
The Bytowne has posted their schedule for January, and some highlights include classics such as Trainspotting, Akira Kurosawa's High And Low, and The Apartment from Billy Wilder. New releases include some critical heavyweights like Doubt, starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman; and The Wrestler, starring Mickey Rourke. Some acclaimed foreign films include the 2008 Palme D'Or winner The Class, and the swedish vampire tale Let The Right One In. Plus, there's always Repo, The Genetic Opera featuring none other than Paris Hilton. Who says The Bytowne doesn't have class?
Have fun!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
If Good Movies Die, Keanu Dies. If Keanu Dies, Good Movies Survive.
The Day The Earth Stood Still
2008, dir. Scott Derrickson. Stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, Jon Hamm.
1 hour 45 minutes.
Saw this Sunday night with Paddy. Had a can of Coke Zero.
I bought the original, classic, actually good version of The Day The Earth Stood Still on blu-ray last weekend, and it included a free pass to see this remake. So I didn't pay, and yet I still felt ripped off. This film is just stupid. Keanu Reeves looks awful. It's over, buddy. Did I say the film is stupid? It's not laughably bad, because that I can find entertaining. It's dull, boring, tepid. It's one thing to be subtle, it's a wholly different thing to just be vague and ambiguous for the sake of covering up your own lack of interesting ideas. Jennifer Connelly and Kathy Bates, you're both Oscar winners. Act like it. And by that I mean, ACT like it. I don't even know what to say.
0 stars.
2008, dir. Scott Derrickson. Stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, Jon Hamm.
1 hour 45 minutes.
Saw this Sunday night with Paddy. Had a can of Coke Zero.
I bought the original, classic, actually good version of The Day The Earth Stood Still on blu-ray last weekend, and it included a free pass to see this remake. So I didn't pay, and yet I still felt ripped off. This film is just stupid. Keanu Reeves looks awful. It's over, buddy. Did I say the film is stupid? It's not laughably bad, because that I can find entertaining. It's dull, boring, tepid. It's one thing to be subtle, it's a wholly different thing to just be vague and ambiguous for the sake of covering up your own lack of interesting ideas. Jennifer Connelly and Kathy Bates, you're both Oscar winners. Act like it. And by that I mean, ACT like it. I don't even know what to say.
0 stars.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Will O'Neill Film Screening Collective
The Will O'Neill Film Screening Collective is going to be a loosely scheduled series of film screenings at my apartment. Basically, every so often, I'm going to sit down to watch a really good film and invite whoever wants to watch it to come join me. It's going to be very informal, just sitting around watching movies on DVD or Blu-Ray. They won't be planned out very far in advance, maybe just a week or so. I'll be posting each notice here on this blog, and you can also join the Facebook group. So, if you see a film posted and you think you might want to watch it, come on over. Bring some snacks or something to drink if you want, or otherwise just bring yourself. The films will be scheduled at variable times; some will be on weekends, some on weekdays, some in the afternoon, some in the evening, and maybe even a few late at night. I'm going to try to do one every couple of weeks or so, but they may be more frequent during times like the holidays.
The first screening is this Thursday at 8, with Lars Von Trier's film Europa. Other films that may be screened in the future include:
Paris, Texas
Last Year at Marienbad
Cat People
To Live and Die In L.A.
The Searchers
Down By Law
and other films by directors such as:
Ingmar Bergman
Martin Scorsese
Alfred Hitchcock
Jean-Luc Godard
Michael Mann
Werner Herzog
Also, if people have suggestions, send them along and I might include them on the schedule.
The first screening is this Thursday at 8, with Lars Von Trier's film Europa. Other films that may be screened in the future include:
Paris, Texas
Last Year at Marienbad
Cat People
To Live and Die In L.A.
The Searchers
Down By Law
and other films by directors such as:
Ingmar Bergman
Martin Scorsese
Alfred Hitchcock
Jean-Luc Godard
Michael Mann
Werner Herzog
Also, if people have suggestions, send them along and I might include them on the schedule.
Will O'Neill Film Screening # 1 - Europa
The first Will O'Neill Film Screening is this Thursday Night, December 18th, at 8 pm. The film is Lars Von Trier's 1991 film, Europa. The film is in English with some German, and is 1 hour 47 minutes long.
Synopsis
“You will now listen to my voice . . . On the count of ten you will be in Europa . . .” So begins Max von Sydow’s opening narration to Lars von Trier’s hypnotic Europa (known in the U.S. as Zentropa), a fever dream in which American pacifist Leopold Kessler (Jean-Marc Barr) stumbles into a job as a sleeping-car conductor for the Zentropa railways in a Kafkaesque 1945 postwar Frankfurt. With its gorgeous black-and-white and color imagery and meticulously recreated (if then nightmarishly deconstructed) costumes and sets, Europa is one of the great Danish filmmaker’s weirdest and most wonderful works, a runaway-train ride to an oddly futuristic past.
Synopsis
“You will now listen to my voice . . . On the count of ten you will be in Europa . . .” So begins Max von Sydow’s opening narration to Lars von Trier’s hypnotic Europa (known in the U.S. as Zentropa), a fever dream in which American pacifist Leopold Kessler (Jean-Marc Barr) stumbles into a job as a sleeping-car conductor for the Zentropa railways in a Kafkaesque 1945 postwar Frankfurt. With its gorgeous black-and-white and color imagery and meticulously recreated (if then nightmarishly deconstructed) costumes and sets, Europa is one of the great Danish filmmaker’s weirdest and most wonderful works, a runaway-train ride to an oddly futuristic past.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Golden Globe Nominations (with comments)
For those of you who care, Oscar season is in full swing now, with some awards and nominations already having been announced. The first of the big ones, the Golden Globes, were announced this morning, and here they are, with my comments:
Actor, Comedy
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleason, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman Last Chance Harvey
No real complaints here, though I would have thrown in Will Ferrell from Step Brothers instead of one of the In Bruges boys, which has got to be the most depressing "comedy" I've seen all year.
Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader
These could easily be the 5 Oscar nominees, although either Rosemarie DeWitt or Debra Winger from Rachel Getting Married could knock out Amy Adams.
Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, Ben Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
Clearly missing Christopher Nolan for Dark Knight, and Gus Van Sant for Milk.
Supporting Actor
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Tunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
The Golden Globes have always been known for star-fucking as much as for honouring worthy performances, but Tom Cruise? Tropic Thunder? Funny as shit, but giving Cruise back some cred should be award enough. Fiennes for The Duchess is also bullshit. Should be Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, or James Franco for Milk, or Eddie Marsan for Happy Go Lucky. Or for star power and honoring comedy, Brad Pitt or John Malkovich from Burn After Reading.
Oh Well, doesn't matter. If you're looking for an economic stimulus, take all the money you can spare and bet it on Ledger.
Actor
Leo DiCaprio, Rev Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Again, don't be surprised if these are the five Oscar nominees, with Clint Eastwood for Gran Turino possibly knocking someone out (hint: one of the pretty boys).
Best Comedy/Musical
Burn After Reading
Happy Go Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I would ahve thought Tropic Thunder would have landed here, and Step Brothers should have, either over In Bruges, which, as I said earlier, was the most depressing comedy I've seen in a long long time.
Actress, Drama
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Joie, The Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved you So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Five probable, and obvious choices.
Actress, Comedy
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
I'm very happy to see Rebecca Hall here, and Frances McDormand, but I still say this (and the Oscar) should go to Sally Hawkins. Her performance seems so easy, and flighty, but I defy anyone to fake that kind of constant demeanor as convincingly as she does.
Picture, Drama
Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
The big category, but where's The Dark Knight. Don't worry, I still think it will be ehere when the Oscar nominations are announced.
Actor, Comedy
Javier Bardem, Vicky Cristina
Colin Farrell, In Bruges
James Franco, Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleason, In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman Last Chance Harvey
No real complaints here, though I would have thrown in Will Ferrell from Step Brothers instead of one of the In Bruges boys, which has got to be the most depressing "comedy" I've seen all year.
Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Kate Winslet, The Reader
These could easily be the 5 Oscar nominees, although either Rosemarie DeWitt or Debra Winger from Rachel Getting Married could knock out Amy Adams.
Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, Ben Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
Clearly missing Christopher Nolan for Dark Knight, and Gus Van Sant for Milk.
Supporting Actor
Tom Cruise, Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Tunder
Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
The Golden Globes have always been known for star-fucking as much as for honouring worthy performances, but Tom Cruise? Tropic Thunder? Funny as shit, but giving Cruise back some cred should be award enough. Fiennes for The Duchess is also bullshit. Should be Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, or James Franco for Milk, or Eddie Marsan for Happy Go Lucky. Or for star power and honoring comedy, Brad Pitt or John Malkovich from Burn After Reading.
Oh Well, doesn't matter. If you're looking for an economic stimulus, take all the money you can spare and bet it on Ledger.
Actor
Leo DiCaprio, Rev Road
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Again, don't be surprised if these are the five Oscar nominees, with Clint Eastwood for Gran Turino possibly knocking someone out (hint: one of the pretty boys).
Best Comedy/Musical
Burn After Reading
Happy Go Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I would ahve thought Tropic Thunder would have landed here, and Step Brothers should have, either over In Bruges, which, as I said earlier, was the most depressing comedy I've seen in a long long time.
Actress, Drama
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Joie, The Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas, I’ve Loved you So Long
Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
Five probable, and obvious choices.
Actress, Comedy
Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand, Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep, Mamma Mia
Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
I'm very happy to see Rebecca Hall here, and Frances McDormand, but I still say this (and the Oscar) should go to Sally Hawkins. Her performance seems so easy, and flighty, but I defy anyone to fake that kind of constant demeanor as convincingly as she does.
Picture, Drama
Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
The big category, but where's The Dark Knight. Don't worry, I still think it will be ehere when the Oscar nominations are announced.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Upcoming movies in the next week
If the weather and the transit strike aren't keeping you down, there are a few new movies coming out in the next week for your enjoyment
Friday
Milk, 2008, from director Gus Van Sant. Stars Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, and Diego Luna. I caught this in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago, and now it opens wider, including in Ottawa. I highly recommend it, and I have no doubt that it will garner some Oscar nominations.
The Day The Earth Stood Still, 2008
This remake of teh 1951 sci-fi classic hits regular and IMAX theatres as well on Friday. I'm a big fan of teh original, so I'll be checking this out for curiosity's sake, if nothing else, though I admit the trailer intrigues me.
Stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, and Jaden Smith.
Outsourced, 2008
I have no idea what Outsourced is about, so:
"Outsourced opens in Seattle, where thirtysomething mid-level manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) oversees the call centre for Western Novelty, a company selling kitschy knick-knacks. In a ruthless cost-cutting maneuver, Todd’s shark of a boss informs him that Western Novelty is outsourcing the call centre to India. Unless Todd agrees to relocate to India for three to four months to train his replacement, he’ll not only lose his job, but his stock options as well.
Grumbling all the way to Bombay, Todd initially makes zero effort to embrace his new home or familiarize himself with India’s rich and varied culture, despite the unfailingly friendly efforts of his replacement, Puro (Asif Basra) to make him comfortable. Over time, however, Todd gradually overcomes his resistance to savour and celebrate the cultural differences between the U.S. and India. Of course, it helps that he has a lovely and spirited tour guide in Asha (Ayesha Dharker), his star employee.
Sweet but never saccharine, Outsourced benefits greatly from the pairing of Hamilton and Dharker, whose beguiling workplace romance feels natural, as the film mostly avoids the rank clichés found in the majority of contemporary romantic comedies. More impressively, the filmmakers depict the Indian characters with empathy and respect; they’re as puzzled by Todd as he is by them.
Outsourced is a happy surprise. What could have easily been yet another, patronizing fish-out-of-water comedy, about an American yuppie surrounded by zany ethnic stereotypes, turns out to be a smart, low-key charmer.
– Tim Knight, Reel.com"
If you're a Patti Smith fan, you'll be expecting, of course, Patti Smith: Dream of Life, which opens at the Bytowne on Friday. The trailer played in front of Resevoir Dogs on Monday, and it looked like your standard musician documentary.
and, if you want to know what you SHOULDN'T do with a power drill, check out Darren Aronofsky's debut feature PI, from 1998. I caught this at the Mayfair when it first came out 10 years ago, and I'm excited to see it again on the big screen this Monday night at the Bytowne. It comes just in anticipation of Aronofsky's latest work, The Wrestler, which should be out in January. It is worth seeing, buses or no buses.
caution, this trailer does contain some spoilers, apparently
Have fun!
Friday
Milk, 2008, from director Gus Van Sant. Stars Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, and Diego Luna. I caught this in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago, and now it opens wider, including in Ottawa. I highly recommend it, and I have no doubt that it will garner some Oscar nominations.
The Day The Earth Stood Still, 2008
This remake of teh 1951 sci-fi classic hits regular and IMAX theatres as well on Friday. I'm a big fan of teh original, so I'll be checking this out for curiosity's sake, if nothing else, though I admit the trailer intrigues me.
Stars Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, and Jaden Smith.
Outsourced, 2008
I have no idea what Outsourced is about, so:
"Outsourced opens in Seattle, where thirtysomething mid-level manager Todd Anderson (Josh Hamilton) oversees the call centre for Western Novelty, a company selling kitschy knick-knacks. In a ruthless cost-cutting maneuver, Todd’s shark of a boss informs him that Western Novelty is outsourcing the call centre to India. Unless Todd agrees to relocate to India for three to four months to train his replacement, he’ll not only lose his job, but his stock options as well.
Grumbling all the way to Bombay, Todd initially makes zero effort to embrace his new home or familiarize himself with India’s rich and varied culture, despite the unfailingly friendly efforts of his replacement, Puro (Asif Basra) to make him comfortable. Over time, however, Todd gradually overcomes his resistance to savour and celebrate the cultural differences between the U.S. and India. Of course, it helps that he has a lovely and spirited tour guide in Asha (Ayesha Dharker), his star employee.
Sweet but never saccharine, Outsourced benefits greatly from the pairing of Hamilton and Dharker, whose beguiling workplace romance feels natural, as the film mostly avoids the rank clichés found in the majority of contemporary romantic comedies. More impressively, the filmmakers depict the Indian characters with empathy and respect; they’re as puzzled by Todd as he is by them.
Outsourced is a happy surprise. What could have easily been yet another, patronizing fish-out-of-water comedy, about an American yuppie surrounded by zany ethnic stereotypes, turns out to be a smart, low-key charmer.
– Tim Knight, Reel.com"
If you're a Patti Smith fan, you'll be expecting, of course, Patti Smith: Dream of Life, which opens at the Bytowne on Friday. The trailer played in front of Resevoir Dogs on Monday, and it looked like your standard musician documentary.
and, if you want to know what you SHOULDN'T do with a power drill, check out Darren Aronofsky's debut feature PI, from 1998. I caught this at the Mayfair when it first came out 10 years ago, and I'm excited to see it again on the big screen this Monday night at the Bytowne. It comes just in anticipation of Aronofsky's latest work, The Wrestler, which should be out in January. It is worth seeing, buses or no buses.
caution, this trailer does contain some spoilers, apparently
Have fun!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Are you cool? I need you to be cool.
Resevoir Dogs
1991
dir. Quentin Tarantino. Star. Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney.
Steph, Paddy and I saw this on Monday at the Bytowne. Steph split our usual diet pepsi and popcorn. There were a few problems with the print, including sound problems on the second reel, and a weird purple haze around any black objects or clothing in the film (and since the thieves all wear black suits, this was kind of annoying).
I was never as much a fan of Resevoir Dogs as I was Pulp Fiction, but like many films, that changed once I saw it up on the big screen. Even though it seems more intimate than most heist films, because it shows more of the aftermath and none of the actual heist, I found that Tarantino's alternating extreme close-ups and very wide shots gave the characters a larger-than-lifefeel that has always been absent in my home viewings. Overall, a great time at the movies.
5 stars out of 5
1991
dir. Quentin Tarantino. Star. Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Steve Buscemi, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Lawrence Tierney.
Steph, Paddy and I saw this on Monday at the Bytowne. Steph split our usual diet pepsi and popcorn. There were a few problems with the print, including sound problems on the second reel, and a weird purple haze around any black objects or clothing in the film (and since the thieves all wear black suits, this was kind of annoying).
I was never as much a fan of Resevoir Dogs as I was Pulp Fiction, but like many films, that changed once I saw it up on the big screen. Even though it seems more intimate than most heist films, because it shows more of the aftermath and none of the actual heist, I found that Tarantino's alternating extreme close-ups and very wide shots gave the characters a larger-than-lifefeel that has always been absent in my home viewings. Overall, a great time at the movies.
5 stars out of 5
Monday, December 8, 2008
Home (away from home) Viewing Highlights of the week
On my travels, besides our trip to see Milk, I did catch a few other films while I was away.
On the plane, I caught a few films on my portable DVD player, including Carl Theodor Dreyer's Ordet, Rabid Dogs by Mario Bava, and Breathless, by Jean-Luc Godard. My favorite though, was a danish film called Brothers, from a woman named Susanne Bier. It concerns two brothers, one of whom is a drunk, loser ex-convict, and another who is married with two kids, and then goes off to Afghanistan and is presumed dead. The loser brother comes in to help around the house, and ... things happen. But not necessarily what you think happens, or why. I don't want to give too much away, but I highly recommend this film. If, however, you don't like to watch Danish films, you can wait until next year's remake, directed by Jim Sheridan (In The Name of the Father; In America) and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, and Natalie Portman. Well worth a look.
I couldn't find a trailer for the film, unfortunately.
On the plane, I caught a few films on my portable DVD player, including Carl Theodor Dreyer's Ordet, Rabid Dogs by Mario Bava, and Breathless, by Jean-Luc Godard. My favorite though, was a danish film called Brothers, from a woman named Susanne Bier. It concerns two brothers, one of whom is a drunk, loser ex-convict, and another who is married with two kids, and then goes off to Afghanistan and is presumed dead. The loser brother comes in to help around the house, and ... things happen. But not necessarily what you think happens, or why. I don't want to give too much away, but I highly recommend this film. If, however, you don't like to watch Danish films, you can wait until next year's remake, directed by Jim Sheridan (In The Name of the Father; In America) and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, and Natalie Portman. Well worth a look.
I couldn't find a trailer for the film, unfortunately.
Got Milk?
Back from vacation, and I did get to see a few films while I was away.
Milk
2008 dir. Gus Van Sant. Star. Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna.
Although it doesn't come out until this Friday here in Ottawa, I saw Milk last weekend in Vancouver with Paul and Heather at the Fifth Avenue and Burrard st. theatre. I had some popcorn and diet coke.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in the United States. After a few failed attempts, Milk was elected at a City Supervisor in San Francisco in 1978. His election came as a result of the gay community amssing in district around the intersection of Market and Castro sts. This biopic, Van Sant's first mainstream film in almost a decade, shows Milk's life from his move to SF in 1970 up until his assassination at the hands of a colleague in 1978. Although the film is very straightforward in style, and is absolutely the typical biopic, this is made up for by the great performances, especially from Penn and Brolin, who will more than likely earn Oscar nominations.
If you live in Toronto, Vancouver, New York or similar big city, go check out this film. If not, check it out this weekend when it opens wide. And if you're a homophobe, you probably won't see it, but you should.
And lay off the twinkies.
4 stars out of 5
Milk
2008 dir. Gus Van Sant. Star. Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna.
Although it doesn't come out until this Friday here in Ottawa, I saw Milk last weekend in Vancouver with Paul and Heather at the Fifth Avenue and Burrard st. theatre. I had some popcorn and diet coke.
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man elected to public office in the United States. After a few failed attempts, Milk was elected at a City Supervisor in San Francisco in 1978. His election came as a result of the gay community amssing in district around the intersection of Market and Castro sts. This biopic, Van Sant's first mainstream film in almost a decade, shows Milk's life from his move to SF in 1970 up until his assassination at the hands of a colleague in 1978. Although the film is very straightforward in style, and is absolutely the typical biopic, this is made up for by the great performances, especially from Penn and Brolin, who will more than likely earn Oscar nominations.
If you live in Toronto, Vancouver, New York or similar big city, go check out this film. If not, check it out this weekend when it opens wide. And if you're a homophobe, you probably won't see it, but you should.
And lay off the twinkies.
4 stars out of 5
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