A Single Man

A Single Man is the directorial debut from Yves Saint Lauren's Tom Ford and provides fantastic performances from Colin Firth and Julianne Moore but very little else worth its time. The story follows Colin Firth whose male lover of 16 years has passed away as he deals with his day to day life. To represent his depression Ford employs the color technique of making his face so dulled it is practically gray, until moments of joy when he miraculously within a shot becomes Florida spray tan orange. The film doesn't really go anywhere until he meets with his best friend Charlie, played spectacularly by Julianne Moore who in playing an English woman shows her Meryl Streep like versatility to do practically anything. We are then graced with a moment when we learn more about his character than just he misses his companion and is sad but as soon as the door closes as he leaves Charlie's house, so does the door close on any form of actual story. With several shots of rippling male back muscle and rear nudity you can be forgiven for expecting text of 'a new fragrance by Fendi' to appear on screen. Whilst Ford creates a beautiful landscape on the screen he lacks the knowledge of film to present it in a way that tells story above your average film student technique level. When attempting to create a flashback to a romantic moment jump cuts pull you away from ebracing it. This film is simply a case of filmmaking 101 but with a higher production budget mixed with high end commercials. If you are simply in love with films which look beautiful then this will provide an enjoyable moment but it gives little more than this. Much more to the point it is overstyled to the point where the film does not look like it is lived in. Julianne Moore's characted is somebody who is unhappy with her life and doesn't get out of bed most mornings yet not a single hair clip will be found out of place visually. All in all this film proves to be a huge disappointment considering the calibre of actors.

A Single Man has been picked up by the Weinstein Company and is expected to have a rush release in time for awards season this December providing the Weinstein's follow through on their promises....

White Stripes: Under Great White Northern Lights

This documentary follow Jack and Meg White as they tour Canada throwing in an impromptu show at every location.  The performances as always are fascinating and shot on 16mm film stock it has a beautiful grainy appearance appropriate to its subjects.  However, the big question is how much of this is actually documentary.  Jack White enjoys preaching the chaos theory but some of it has to be taken with a grain of salt.  Even the fact that during his and Meg's interview portions there is a man lying on a bed in the background of set surely preconceived by none other than Jack himself.  They talk about the impromptu performances on their tour claiming that they just show up and figure out where would be fun to play a couple of hours before.  In reality this is just not possible with public performance licenses being required for such gigs and the staff to run crowd control, not to mention sourcing electricity for amplifiers and microphones.  Additionally there is talk of how they never have a set list and don't know what they're going to do until it happens on stage.  They may not write it down but surely they will have some pre conceived notion especially when we see bagpipers on stage part way through a show, again another thing which has no choice but to be planned.  Additionally there is Jack mentioning how him and Meg are brother and sister when in fact they are not, they were simply once married.  To add to the deceit of this three people are cited as 'Jack and Meg's distant cousin' and his title in the credits is Jack White III which by this point you just don't know anymore.  Regardless of how reliable a source Jack himself is there is also the pre meditated shots and scenarios such as Jack and Meg standing posed in front of aeroplanes.  This may be a masterful piece of filmmaking but whether or not it is a documentary is highly questionable.

Butterfly

Butterfly is a film which catches you without you even noticing. There are moments that it appears nothing interesting is occuring yet you cannot help but remain attached. The ending grabs you unexpectedly as the emotion of the film culminates in a beautifully subtle manner. A large part of this films worth lays in that of it's lead, a child actor able to convey depth and realism to an extraordinairy degree. The premise of this film revolves around him growing up and starting school where he becomes attached to his teachers knowledge through his learning. At the same time he is learning to become a musicican alongside his older brother. There are political moments within the film but it never forces them upon you or preaches any sort of opinion. All in all a stunning piece of subtlety in film making.

Kinamund

This gentle Danish film tells the story of Keld who receives no respect from anyone in his life, including his son. His wife leaves him and wants him to admit to adultery to speed up the process. In lamenting his life he begins eating at the local Chinese grill where he chronologically orders the different meal numbers day by day. Eventually he befriends the owner of this family business, Feng when the pipes burst and he begins work to fix them. Feng is in seach of someone to marry his sister Ling so that she can remain with the family in Denmark. In order to earn the money for his divorce settlement Keld agrees and despite the language barrier they develop a soft presence with each other. This movie offers what appears as a predictable point a to point b story but successfully takes its audience in unexpected directions.

Spring Forward

Spring Forward tells the story of Paul (Liev Schreiber) and Murphy (Ned Beatty) developing a bond as they work together for the parks and recreations department. Paul has just been released from prison and Murphy is an older vet whose son is dying. Through the time they spend with each other they learn from each other and form a close bond. Both Beatty and Schrieber offer admirable performances, neither exceptional but the script does not allow for this. Overall Spring Forward is an enjoyable gentle film.

Scorsese and Depp for Sinatra biopic?

Reports are beginning to roll in of an authorized Sinatra biopic (with his daughter at the helm of making it happen) with Johnny Depp set to star. It definately sounds like an interesting project and will utilize Sinatra recordings rather than attempts to impersonate his singing. The obvious question has to be that if Sinatra was so well known for his blue eyes will Depp be changing that for the role? Even with Depp's undoubted acting ability and breadth of skill he still just doesn't seem imageinable as Sinatra for now. Since its Scorsese you know he must have seen something good to put him there though so for now all trust in this project lies with the man with the most famous eyebrows in the industry.

Deliver Us From Evil

Sadly this documentary highlights just how big a problem child abuse within the church has become. Over 100,000 victims of clergy abuse have come forward in America alone. Father O'Grady was trusted by those around him because of his authority, much like a teacher and on several occasional violated the trust of the families he worked with by molesting their children. The daunting facts which become apparent are how aware the church were made yet their efforts were focused solely on keeping things quiet and moving him onto another parish where nobody would know of his past. Eerily even in testimony he never seems connected to the abuse. In deposition he is even asked if he has ever been told that he may have dissasociative disorder and he replies that he probably has. Even when discussing the specifics of what he did to the children, there seems to be a presence of joy in his voice, although that could just be the jovial sounding Irish accent. Within his eyes you never see any true aknowledgement of what he has done despite the fact he openly discusses it to the camera. Although this documentary could have been crafted slightly better it still plays an important part in raising awareness of the all to common practice of clergy abuse and the churches resistance to deal with the problem, even the Pope is listed as one who has worked to avoid public scandal.

Another Wuthering Heights in the works.....

Wuthering Heights is very much like Pride and Prejudice. They will never stop making new versions of it. Unfortunately the newest Wuthering Heights comes bearing the presence of Gossip Girls Ed Westwick as Heathcliff. Since Heathcliff is supposed to be the rugged type this just doesn't seem like the best possible pairing of actor and character. Natalie Portman was previously linked to the project but left and is said to be being replaced by Bond girl Gemma Arterton.

The Outsider

The Outsider focuses on filmmaker Jim Toback (Black & White, Two Guys and a Girl) as he shoots a film called When Will I be Loved in just twelve days. The initial synopsis forges the impression of a behind the scenes as they mad dash a movie together in such a short space of time. In the end it becomes a mix of shooting the movie and a retrospective on who Toback is from people in the industry who know him. He is definately a film maker with an interesting how I came to make films story. As a Harvard Student he ended up on a drug trip which lasted eight days causing him to insist he was never the same again. This documentary serves more as background watching. You don't need to be fully invested as it never goes so deep in Jim Toback or the Behind the Scenes to fully realize its potential in either direction. A complete focus on one of the other with simple snippets of other elements perhaps could have produced a more interesting view in the end.

Overnight

Overnight is a documentary offering a glimpse into what can become with quick success and how fragile it all is. Troy Duffy was a bartender who all of a sudden was being taken under Harvey Weinstein's wing. Weinstein offered him a deal unlike others that you hear of including purchasing the bar he worked in so they could own it between them. If Harvey did that for every film he made, he would own half the bars in Hollywood by now. Duffy believes Weinstein to be the big bad bully in this movie never realizing that he has been the cause of his own downfall. Anyone who thinks that they will be treated with kid gloves and able to do whatever they want at Miramax because their so great is headed for trouble. His band, who were included in the deal to record the soundtrack are on the verge of also procuring a record contract when things go awry. Troy Duffy relishes in the fact that he doesn't work the same as others in the industry but at the same time his method is far too juxt aposed to have ever sat well with Hollywood. When you scream down the phone at people and ask someone to let William Morris know that you are unhappy and will leave them unless they get things together then clearly you don't realize where you sit in the grand scheme of things. A movie deal is never finalized to be made until the cameras are rolling. The sadness of this documentary is that Duffy's ignorance prevents him from ever realizing that he simply failed to play nice and thought that the studio needed him since he was the new kid in town. In Hollywood, they can make you as fast as they can break you. An interesting hypocricy is his mention of ass kissers growing by the minute, yet early on we see footage of him hanging around Patrick Swayze, Mark Wahlberg and others.
Anyone who has ever heard tales of the Weinstein brothers ought to know never to risk pushing them the wrong way and this will show you exactly why.
Ironically after a proclamation that he doesn't plan to make any more movies, the sequel the Bondock Saints (the focus of this documentary) is currently in production. In watching Overnight though, you do have to question the reasoning behind it, presumably after being offered the too good to be true deal he simply wanted his friends to chronicle his rise to the top.

Manufacturing Dissent

With Michael Moore producing such one sided documentaries he must have known there would be a backlash. This movie is one of those. It doesn't take the same harsh tone and employ the scare tactics that Moore himself has become famous for (ironically at the same time for imploring his enemies for their use of such methods.) The focus begins back in his high school days and pieces together his life up until the time of the 2004 elections in which he was so active. When it becomes apparent that Moore's first documentary, Roger and Me all about trying to secure an interview with Roger based on General Motors in Michigan did actually obtain two interviews which were left on the cutting room floor, it becomes apparent just how far the truth has been stretched over the years. When watching Bowling for Columbine or Fahrenheit 9/11 you can visibly see Moore pulling the audiences strings as if they were marionettes. Yet the fact it is so obvious makes it acceptable, until people uncovered just how far he bent the 'truth.'
Even if it is interesting to see lies and manipulations which weren't obvious in Moore's documentary, you do find yourself in a paradox of questioning if you can fully believe either side. Like the politics he criticizes you can be left not believing that either side is 100% truth.
Manufacturing Dissent gives us the reminder that you must always take a step back from the truth of documentaries to consider its believability, like an episode of Wife Swap the answer usually lies somewhere in the middle.

Piracy and Pirates

Despite the industry recent celebration over Swedish peer to peer site Pirate Bay being found guilty of infringing copyright laws they still see piracy as a huge threat. Unlike the music industry the movie industry's movement to conquer the threat has been faster than the several years it took them. When Napster was the first big file sharing site and was successfully shut down there was no evidence of how to provide consumers with a similar paid service and by the time they created itunes and all the other services now in existence it was too late. Everybody was too well versed on how not to pay for products at this point.
Netflix has gone a long way in servicing consumers who derive their content from online as opposed to through a physical product. Movies have the one advantage that they take much longer to download and with how we allow our computers to fall into disarray as we cram them full of photos and music there sometimes simply isn't the space to add movie files.
The number of movie files accessed online is around the 500 million mark, and that is just in one month. However, the industry needs to consider the types of people who are accessing these files. While the industry looks at this as 500 million physical sales which could have been made, they need to consider those who never intend to purchase any dvd's anyway and if this service were not available would still not be paying for a product.
In a recent panel Richard Linklater referenced a screening abroad of A Scanner Darkly which occured a few years ago. When he questioned the audience on who had already seen the movie prior to its release there almost all of the audience raised their hands. Even though they had all accessed an illegal version of the film, it seeded the desire to experience it on the big screen in the way it was originally intended.
Additionally the recent case of the leaked copy of Wolverine is an interesting one to consider. The industry is still fuming over the extra millions they could have made were it not for those pesky pirates. Considering the leaked copy lacked several special effects yet to be added in post production those viewing it were not able to gain the full experience. Those simply wishing to see the movie without paying will have surely waited for a complete version to be leaked online, which it inevitable will and probably already has. It becomes explicably clear that those consuming this by product were simply eager fans of the franchise unable to contain their anticipation for the next installment who are probably the people taking up the seats at the midnight release screenings.
The dvd industry will never suffer the same way the music industry has until internet connections and computer memory becomes infinate as those not particularly tech savy are still unsure of the world. While there are people costing the industry through these means it may actually be helping with dvd sales in a roundabout way in some cases. The movie industry looks set to stay strong during the current recession despite all of this as we all seek our escape from everything going on around us. What better way to escape than into an entirely different world?

A Jihad For Love

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780046/

This documentary is outstanding. It highlights the extreme segragation experienced by homosexual Muslims. Through a mix of people and a mix of countries the filmmakers allow the subjects to voice their stories in their entirety never covering their words with a voice over artist. It raises the question of religious interpretation of their texts as many scholars disagree so fundamentally with homosexuality through this while others read the text in a different manner. There is never any way to know which side will be considered right at the end of the day but the persecution that these people face is unacceptable. Iranian Mulslims who have moved to Paris face execution if they return. Homosexuality can lead to being stoned to death and for some has already resulted in prison sentences and lashings. Showing their faces in this documentary is just a fraction of the bravery that some of these young people have encountered. Although some do not wish to fully reveal their identity it is stylististically covered through soft focus and views of other images as opposed to crime watch style recreations of altered voices and shadows. Overall an educational experience of just what some people have to go through for love.

Last Resort

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258761/

Last Resort follows Tanya and her son as they arrive in England to meet her fiance. After he fails to show up she declares herself a refugee to stay in the country and contact him. She encounters Alfie, (Paddy Consadine) an English man who helps her to slowly improve their living situation. Tanya feels lost after she finds out it will take 6-8 months to cancel her asylum request and head home. Last Resort does not try to make any political statements with this film but instead focuses solely on a woman unsure of what direction her life is taking her in. A gentle film well worth watching.

Ping Pong Playa

Chris is a layabout who is only interested in playing basketball with his friends until forced to take over coaching at his parents ping pong academy. Though initially using it as an opportunity to scam money out of children he turns out to have a natural talent but just a bad attitude. He does however, decide to enter the Golden Cock Tournament since his brothers wrist is injured. The movie is comedic and pokes fun at racial stereotypes with quips about Chris being the Asian who talks like a stereotypical black person even referring to his father as 'dog.' Although incredibly predictable and not a laugh a minute still entertaining throughout. Just don't expect to feel enlightened about ping pong by the end.

Warner nabs Primeval

Warner has announced through a six figure deal that they have bought the rights to British Drama (currently showing on BBC America) Primeval. The plan to turn it into a movie will predictably bring about some Jurassic Park elements through the focus of the show being dinosaurs entering the modern world but it has more of a science fiction edge than pure action.

Pictures From the Playhouse

Pictures From the Playhouse is currently rejoicing in its premier at Cannes. Pieced together from nine behind the scenes documentaries from Ingmar Bergman's work as well as new interviews with his collaborators. Hopefully it won't be too long before this is unleashed for the rest of us to continue celebrating the genius that is Bergman. It is satisfying to the world of cinema that his relevance in cinematic history and artistic influence lives on.

The Story of Bonnie and Clyde

Dunaway is well within her rights to ballast this film which begins production shortly. Considering Bonnie and Clyde is such a pinnacle on the time line of movie history there is absolutely no reason to try to re-visit or recreate such a piece of perfection. Hilary Duff understandably wants to continue branching out from her Disney days but it would be impossible to do anything but pale in comparison to Dunaway. The story, the writing, the casting, the violence and the visuals of Bonnie and Clyde was so spot on that I can't imagine this will end up being worth the time let alone the price of a movie ticket.

Please Vote For Me

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1097256/

In China democracy is finally created through a class of young children allowing them the opportunity to vote for their next class monitor. The teacher has already selected three children to be in the running. Not only does this documentary highlight democracy but also simply the behavior of young children. Upon a girl standing in front of the class to perform a song on her flute and give a speech one of her rivals riles the class up into chanting nasty words against her leading to tears in the hallway. Interestingly the children are not the ones focused on winning at first but it is the push from the parents which incites tactical campaigning such as being told to ask people for bad points on their rivals. All in all a fascinating study on human behavior.

Ma Vie En Rose

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119590/

Ma Vie En Rose is cinematic perfection when it comes to tackling the obscure and absurd. Ludovic is a young boy who wants nothing more than to be a girl. He has already decided that he will have a sex change when he is older and marry the son of his fathers boss. His many day dreams including a television character reminiscent of Barbie take him flying through the air into her world but never in a way that seems incomprehensible. George Du Fresne shows incredible maturity through his acting in this lead role. Every moment in this families life delicately portrays the geniune struggle of a family as they figure out the best way to cope with their sons abnormalities.

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1157705/

Marina Zenovich does a superb job at tackling the now well known case of Polanski's sexual involvement with a minor which led to him fleeing America. Prior media has portrayed it more as him not wanting to serve time but this documentary unearths the real reason. The judge presiding over the case (who is now deceased) was more concerned about his public image and association with celebrity than doing his job properly. The two lawyers working for either side divulge how elements of the trial and sentencing were simply for show. With the recent ongoing fight from Polanski to have his name cleared and this documentary being cited within the case it is now more than simply a look at the past of one of our most revered filmmakers.

Broken Flowers

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412019/

As a huge Bill Murray fan I have to say this turned out to be a rather disappointing fare. It just never seemed to go anywhere. I must add that films where nothing happens are not a bad thing, take the masterpiece that is Lost in Translation. The tone of Broken Flowers never fluctuates or evolves. A story doesn't necessarily have to have the classic three act structure with an arc but you should learn something about the characters, the people within. Even though we learn a little about Don's (Murray) prior relationships it never teaches us anything about him.

We're Not Married

A classic movie where couples find out that they were never legally married. Some are joyous about this and others don't take it so well. Everything is kept relatively simple with one story concluding before the next taking place. All in all a simple yet enjoyable tale.

Nine

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0875034/

So the trailer of Nine has just been unleashed upon the world and looks more than fantastic. Rob Marshall (Chicago) has put a very strong artistic stamp on it. It looks very Chicago-ish whilst looking entirely different at the same time. It looks well worth th $10-12 (depending on where you live!!!) to see it in the cinema as opposed to the small screen. Not many films are made in this grandeur way anymore, unless you count blowing things up which for some warrants seeing it big. Even if just for what looks like one of the most amazing ensemble casts ever it looks like it will entice a lot of movie goers and award nominations.

Release currently November 25th!

Saving Grace

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0195234/

Saving Grace is a well executed light hearted fare. After the death of her husband, Grace discovers mounting debt which he hid from her. Unable to work out how to even hold onto her house she hatches a plan with her pot smoking gardener played by Craig Ferguson. With Grace's incredible agriculture skills they decide to grow their own marijuana and sell it. With little time to make the money needed they have to aim high and light up the green house right into the sky. There are moments of comedy but don't go into this expecting a fare of constant laugh out loud moments. The ending may not be to everyones taste but it wraps everything up, just with a bit too much of a jump.

Secret Things

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287963/

Secret Things is undeniably European. If sex scenes during a film make you feel prudish then this is definately one to skip. Nathalie and Sandrine meet working in a club. After being fired Nathalie concocts a plan for them to find their place in business through utilizing their sexual power over men. The story has an interesting focus on human connection but unfortunately loses its voice near the end. Christophe is a handsome young heir to the business awaiting his fathers death and he relishes toying with people more than the two women. The film changes tone to a point of pulling you out of the world it has created. The last scene is fitting however be prepared to ignore the fifteen minutes or so prior to this to enjoy it more.

Nim's Island

Although Nim's Island offers nothing spectacularly new in terms of a childrens movie it is a great vehicle for Abigail Breslin and Jodie Foster. Unfortunately Gerard Butler does not shine in this. Jodie Foster's battle with herself as she leaves her house for the first time in years shows a side of her which we do not often see. Be warned, by the end of this you may want to pack up and move to a remote island.

Step Brothers

Will Ferrell's movies tend to be a bit hit and miss (Anchorman vs Semi Pro, Taladega Nights anybody?) but his pairing with John C Reiley works perfectly. Their comedic skills work wonders side by side suiting the storyline as they forge a relationship. As grown up children their immaturity and behavior is obviously unrealistic for the real world but throughout the movie undeniably believable. In a day and age when most comedies are no longer funny, this one took the time to truly find the laughter.

Land Before Time

I had a brief memory of this movie from my childhood and dug it out to re-watch recently. It was definately worth it. An adorable tale of dinosaurs finding their way imperfectly yet perfectly. The only down side of the Land Before Time is that it could do with a modern day touch up session, but at the same time its classic look simply adds to its charm.

Meet the Robinsons

The best part of this movie is the ending, not because its over but because of the beautiful way it all comes together. Meet the Robinson's isn't a Disney movie aiming for laughs but instead the classic Disney concept of a well told meaningful story. It aims to educate but not in an obvious way like many childrens movies. It never underestimates its audience and is a true gem.

Igby Goes Down

The Culkin family have offered the movie industry something unique. There always seems to be a younger sibling to portray the younger version of their brother!
Igby goes down is an incredibly well written movie. Kieran Culkin shows that he is an incredibly talented actor with a lot of potential and an ability to make interesting choices. What could have easily become a very two dimensional character is fully fleshed out through his portrayal in the moments where emotion boils out of a boy who usually takes delight in simply being irritating.

Tsotsi

Tsotsi means thug and that is the life that he is living. After shooting a woman who tries to stop him from stealing her car he finds out she was desperately trying to protect her baby, who is in the back seat. Tsotsi's life has led him to contain a lot of anger and he doesn't know right from wrong. He is uneducated and lives in a town ship. As he attempts to look after the child this all changes. This is all done marvelously. There is no overnight transformation that would appear unrealistic. Even when he tries to do the right thing he is still incredibly flawed in how he does it. Overall this movie is a piece of excellence in film making and the personal journey of its character.

Paperclips

This documentary goes to show the power that younger generations hold. What began as a class project to learn about the holocaust in rural Tennessee culminated in a project spanning years instead of months but with an outcome of human change well worth it. Teachers in this small school thought that teaching about the Holocaust would give their students a better understanding on prejudice rendering them less likely to judge each other. When students discovered that paperclips were worn as a sign of support for the imprisoned Jews in Poland by those who faced imprisonment themselves if they spoke out a new idea arose. They decided to collect 6 million paperclips to represent the 6 million jews killed during the Holocaust. The results far exceeded expectation with in excess of 24 million being sent with letters from all across the world. The letters they received with many seeing their contributed paperclip as a tribute to those they lost in that time are touching. The element which holds this documentary back from becoming truly great is that that it was made at the end of the project when all the paperclips had been collected so most of it was in retrospect. But seeing students talk about what they learnt and how it has changed them as people makes this film worth while.

Let The Right One In

If vampires are not your thing do not be put off by the fact that this is an offbeat love story between two twelve year olds where one of them happens to be a vampire. The story is so artistically told and delicate that even those without a penchant for blood and fangs will enjoy this. The casting of its two young leads is phenomenal. It never reaches to shock or scare but instead to simply create a relationship between two isolated humans. The only down side of this movie is that Hollywood has already picked up the rights to tarnish what is an outstanding Swedish film.

I've Loved You So Long

Kristen Scott Thomas is absolutely astounding in her silence. After fifteen years in prison she comes to stay with her sister who was too young to have fully known her before. They set about creating a relationship rather than being able to build on foundations. Throughout their time spent together we learn more about the reason for the prison sentence as Scott Thomas's character builds herself a new life and integrates herself into family life with her sisters husband and adopted children. Every moment of this film is beautifully crafted to the point where why she was in prison almost doesn't matter. It wouldn't have been a disappointing movie if this had never been divulged as it is all about the moments between people.

Sex and Lucia

At least the title forewarns, there is a substantial amount of sex in this movie. But nothing shockingly out of the ordinary. Ultimately it is a study of relationships and how small a world we really live in. Sometimes you never realize just how your life has interconnected with others until after the fact. Lucia lives with her boyfriend but he does not know that he has a daughter from a one night stand. As relationships fall apart and new ones are formed the characters intermingle with each other throughout each of their stories, in amongst the sex! For a movie which looks like it may go for the predictable ending with nicely tied endings it veers from this because thankfully it was not made in Hollywood.

Take My Eyes

This Spanish movie tackles the subject of domestic abuse somewhat well and strikingly realistically. Pilar takes her son and leaves her abusive husband in the middle of the night to flee to her sisters, so anxious she doesn't even remember to change out of her slippers. She still loves him however and he works his way back into her life. Even though there is nothing mind blowing in the movie it is worth watching for how it deals with its subject.

Stay

The first thing wrong with this film is Ewan McGregor's attempt at an American accent. In addition he slips into Scottish on more than one occasion. Note to film makers, always let him just be Scottish. The movie has some impressive moments of surrealism as Mcgregor, playing a therapist attempts to help Ryan Gosling who states he plans to kill himself on his 21st Birthday. Just a few days away. It seems as though McGregor is the one losing his mind and he has conversations with people he is later told are dead and sees the same events occuring multiple times. It never successfully finds a groove to maintain the interest and give just enough away that you may figure it out. If you do sit through this movie then you will see why. In addition to this, the 'payoff' at the end is a poor and lazy conclusion.

Separate Lies

Despite a great cast containing Emily Blunt and Rupert Everett this film fails to ever take off. With these two conducting an affair and becoming involved in a hit and run leading to the death of her maids husband for Blunt the storyline contains a great deal of potential. Unfortunately it just never gets there. Her oh so politely English husband appears to just let everything happen and is the one pushing the lies to cover up the fact she was driving. She speaks of how she can't give up Everett yet we never see it, believe it or feel it. There are almost no scenes with the two together so it is almost as if they vanish completely when together. This film never aims very high and falls far to the wayside.

On a Clear Day You Can SeeForever

Now I do have to admit to having become a slight closet Barbara Streisand fan after watching Funny Girl. However, this movie has been the exception to that trend so far. Vincente Minnelli made a musical long after musicals had begun to die out. That may have been blamed for this films failure at the time. But despite his signature beauty and use of color (much like Baz Luhrman's) this film failed to create a world which would cause audiences to care. Barbara plays a woman who is slightly psychic but never knows what will happen to herself andwhen she is hypnotized by a doctor attempting to cure her of her nicotine addiction she regressing into different personalities. Unfortunately for audiences, we are then treated to wailing songs describing what is going on with each one as her mind is living in that moment. Even if you fall for Streisand's movies, keep a safe distance from this one.

Celebrity

As someone who is mildly interested in Woody Allen's work but not bowled over this does appear to be one of his stronger suits. You are never meant to like the characters, never meant to feel what they are feeling. Everyone is focused on success, relationships, and of course celebrity. Allen offers insightful glimpses into different pockets of life for just long enough to learn about the people. Some drift in and out more than others so you're left never knowing if you will see certain people again. A lot like life. Even if Allen's work occassionally fails to pull you in this one is worth watching as one of his stronger suits.

Fast Food Nation

The concept of making a fiction movie from a book which had its Warhol-esque fifteen minutes of fame for detailing the practices of fast food joints is definitely a bizarre one. There are moments within this movie that were enjoyable but a lot of it leaves you wondering why they bothered with the scene. Do we really care is ultimately the problem with the film as a whole. It fails to find it's voice or a particular focus. The story of imigrants crossing the border and working in the meat processing factory could have been a movie in itself but ultimately it becomes lost amongst the other stories, and as do they.

Sleepless in Seattle

This is a movie that needs revisiting even for romantic comedy cynics such as myself (the majority are simply not funny, nor romantic) as this actually executes both well. Watching a weeping woman recall the story line to An Affair to Remember followed by Tom Hanks mockery weeping of a very mannish film is sure to amuse. This is a movie that I hadn't sen since its initial release and so I was entirely unaware of just how well written it actually is.

17 Again

Obviously anyone who enjoys sitting and staring at Zac Efrons face will enjoy this movie but it may draw a slightly larger crowd in for the young star. Although he doesn't shine any new acting skills, the script can't help but even draw in those whose usual choice would not include this movie.

Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession

This documentary for any film buff reflects upon a once existent LA movie channel called Z channel with the most eclectic and fascinating line up of movies. Educating with its wide breadth of films it both educated and entertained until its demise. At the heart of the channel was its programmer Jerry who lived and breathed movies and ultimately caused his own life to destruct. If nothing else this documentary will at least leave you with a long list of movies to watch.

Special

Paul Rappaport who you may just recognize from a brief stint in Friends as Phoebe's cop boyfriend Gary shows that he has more than what it takes to carry a movie by himself. In a definate movie with a message you never feel like this is being thrust down your throat as it truly is a story about a person and that is ultimately what matters. Partaking in a drug test in which he suffers adverse effects believing himself to have super powers, you almost want him to actually have them as everyone around them sees him running into walls while he sees himself running through them. The moment that really makes this movie however is the final minute where it becomes a stronger movie from a single moment.

Blindsight

The word 'touching' is often overplayed to the point of simply sounding cliche to describe a film, but this documentary really is. It is the kind of movie to make you reflect upon your own life and achievements. In Tibet blindness is treated as a curse and means you must have done something wrong in a previous life. Sally, a blind woman traveled to Tibet and on a donkey rode around rural towns recruiting blind children to set up the first blind school. You may think that is amazing but it goes further. She contacts Eric, a blind mountain climber who has even reached the top of Everest. Together with a group of climbing experts that Eric has previously walked with they take 6 children from the school to reach a 27,000 feet height at one of the summits of Everest. The fact that they have no prior climbing experience and are children would be reason enough for this to be a huge feat. The documentary does not waste time showing endless footage of them climbing. Instead it focuses on their stories, their families and the trust and team work it takes for them to accomplish this together.

The Lake House

Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock appear to have simply turned up to receive their paychecks on this movie and not a lot more. Even though the movie has little to offer these two are capable of making it a note worthy film through their performances. It really seems as if both actors checked out for The Lake House and as a result I am bitter that it stole time from my life.

Death to the Remake

Going slightly sideways into television I have to air my distress at yet another horrific idea for a remake. Not only is it bad enough that English comedy Absolutely Fabulous is going to be remade in America (when half the humor is overly posh drunkenness.) but now they're getting their grubby mitts on Peep Show. Peep Show is truly unique and comedic genius. Every episode is quotable from start to finish. Like the English version of The Office (don't even get me started on that blood bath of a remake) it is carefully crafted with quality as the most important aspect. Rather than create a 23 episode series with a few jokes in each, only 6 episodes are required in each series but with every single moment, a moment of comedic perfection. I dread to imagine what will happen to this show once it gets torn apart. I imagine it will be a lot like a car crash...but one that you can help but look at.

Yes Men

Everyone should leave this movie wanting to be a yes man. What exactly does this entail? Intelligent pranks to put it simply. The Yes Men look for companies who are not ethically responsible and through a little misguidance of identity seek to point this out through posing as industry heads at conferences and even on national and international news channels. So successful have the Yes Men been at their ethical pranks that another movie has already been spurned, Yes Men Fix the World. Amazingly they have not been sued for everything despite during the second documentary causing a company's shares to drop by the million. But perhaps this just goes to show that is because the Yes Men are just pointing out what these corporations know deep down inside already.

Tell No One

The tagline admittedly previously put me off the movie. Bla bla bla murdered wife e-mailing 8 years on sounds a bit crap basically. Don't make this mistake. Instead of being a crap oh is it my wife actually alive or just someone pretending to be her movie it becomes an intelligent mystery of what really transpired on the night she was supposedly murdered. They never try to pull the cheap stunt of making you guess whether she is alive or not. Her husband believes and that is all the belief that we need. At moments the mystery appears to be going nowhere and it does wrap everything up nicely but not in a way that you feel cheated by the story.

2 Days in Paris

If you have (which hopefully you have) experienced the joyous cinematic experience of Richard Linklater's Before Sunset and Before Sunrise starring one July Delpy, then you cannot but feel that her writing/directorial/starring effort is somewhat an imitation of this. Perhaps it is the relationship that she found herself in at some point between the two meetings. There is also a slight feel of Woody Allen through Adam Goldberg's overly analytical character as Delpy's boyfriend. An enjoyable element of the film is knowing that Delpy dragged her own parents into the film to play, who else, her parents. Overall it is an interesting study of a relationship as cracks begin to surface in a surreal 2 days in Paris.

Dark Days

This movie will not bowl you over but for the 80 minutes of your life it will take to casually watch it you learn of another life. A group of people set up their own community in a tunnel by Penn Station in Manhattan. Each person is there for a different reason. Some are more alert than others. Yet you see how they have become a family. We learn about their pets that they brought in to share their homes, built from scrap wood. Some pets thrive and others simply did not acclimatise to the living quarters. Yet you have to admire the ingenuity of getting a cat when your 'town' is rat infested. Take a moment to find the human element.

From Dust to Glory

I can honestly say that I have never held even a remote interest in any sort of car or motorbike racing.....until watching this documentary. The beginning feels very standard with the who's who of the Baha 1000 mile race. About half an hour in when considering switching to something else all of a sudden this became a great human piece where a knowledge or interest in racing suddenly was of no consequence. When you meet people like Weather Man who sets up a broadcast station high up to help combat the lack of communication and Mouse who intends to complete 1000 miles himself on a motorbike as opposed to the traditional team relay method it is impossible to not care. All of a sudden these are great guys sitting reminiscing about the amazing experiences they have encountered and shared whether it be their first race or their 20th completing such a mammoth track. The reality of danger is there ever moment with the death of a spectator which could happen at any moment when there is no barrier to separate the racers from the fans. It doesn't matter what anybody's involvement is, they all have this humungous near death speed thrill that will bond them for life.

11:14

There is very little to say about this movie. You will find yourself intrigued as to the connection amongst the stories but more just to say you figured it out than you actually care. Three stories occur in an evening which all are inevitably intertwined. A drunk driver, a young girl and a group of teenagers in their car form the basis of the movie with many others coming in and out. The scenarios which occur honestly should be hilarious. Yet I was left without laughter throughout the entire film. The only thing which stopped me switching off was figuring out the story which plays back and forth with time until the end when all the loose ends are tied up. With such a decent cast and potential for great black humour this film fell far below par in relation to expectations.

Delirious

Delirious is a movie which proves choosing to watch something based on Steve Buscemi is usually a good decision (with the exception of Interview.) He stars alongside Michael Pitt and Alison Lohman. Buscemi shines as an incredibly unlikeable paparazzo with very few redeeming qualities, in fact almost none. Michael Pitt plays the a homeless person who by chance encounters pop star Alison Lohman and Steve Buscemi on the same day. Working as an assistant to Buscemi for free in exchange for a place to stay he finds opportunities in life. Michael Pitt has always had an off beat quality to him, none to unlike Buscemi. With the way Pitt shies away from main stream movies to work with the Gus Van Sants of the world he could very well become the 'next' Buscemi. He has an eye for interesting movies such as Funny Games and a quiet intensity.
Right from the title sequence with a shot of Pitt looking as if he were a stock motion puppet this film stood out and by the end will prove to be everything you expect of it. More than worth taking the time out of life for.

Marvin's Room

Having seen this movie several years ago as a young kid who just wanted to watch Leonardo DiCaprio's movies because he was good looking, I had a feeling that being a little older and (hopefully) a little wiser, I may truly appreciate it this time around. I forgot just how subtle but powerful this movie is. There are no cheap tricks and cheap emotions. Instead a slow build on characters makes the people real. A steady creation of humans we can connect with will always evoke more emotion than some stereotypical moments of sadness with a 50 piece orchestral soundtrack. Those movies may make us feel something in the moment, but movies such as Marvin's Room are the kind that stay with you long beyond the credits.

Seventh Seal

A movie that is more for educational purposes than sheer enjoyment. Initially I planned to switch it off after an hour assuming that two thirds of the film would be enough to give me a fair assessment. However once things began to make sense and fit together you do become invested. It goes to show how great Bergman was and how much the film industry loses when it loses a great filmmaker. Who else could make the point so beautifully and intelligently that 'love is perfect in its imperfection.' The message comes across far more powerful in a forum such as this than through whoever happens to currently be hot in Hollywood taking yet another paycheck movie hacked out in 6 months.

A brief thought on comedy movies : I managed to watch two movies today. When I first arose I was feeling particularly brain dead so I watched Stepford Wives (the remake) I watched the original a couple of weeks ago so it was kind of fun to watch the remake after that. Original definately much better though. It was a better constructed story and based on that rather than trying to be funny. I think that's the problem with most comedies. They just try to hard. I really do fail to laugh at the majority of them. They try to hard to be funny that it's not about the character or the story and if you don't care and invest yourself in those then nothing matters as much. Also because they just go for the cheap laughs anything that is funny just vanishes on the second viewing. The few movies that I find really funny are incredibly well crafted with superb writing. This is Spinal Tap is 100% the funniest movie of all time, one of the few that could make me laugh, let alone that hard and that frequently.

Postcards From the Edge

The story could have been stronger, but with Meryl Streep and Shirley MacLaine it was definately worth the watch. A few good film industry in jokes as well. Meryl Streep being told the insurance companies won't back her for her next movie after having had an OD unless she stays somewhere suitable responds wittily with 'What am I supposed to do, stay in a halfway house for wayward SAG members?' Meryl shows that she has an impresive singing voice performing two songs and they're both fantastic for completely different reasons. All in all this movie won't change your life but if you have a lazy Sunday afternoon, stick it in.

Me and Orson Welles

Don't be mistaken by the title which makes it sound like someone dustily recounting the time they once got to spend with the young Mr Welles. Richard Linklater's latest offering is everything but this. Zac Efron may be the star who has all the girls running after him, but Christian Mckay as Orson Welles is the real star of this movie. He plays a character who thanks to Citizen Kane, we are all aware of and does this perfectly. This is a great case of a director casting an unknown, knowing that a name celebrity would be far too distracting. Within this movie we are truly transported into believing we are watching the Orson Welles. His appearance seems as if it were created for this role and the voice is flawless. We see a Welles who is young and full of arrogance, and he knows it. You are left never entirely sure what is a performance in his life. There are moments where he lets his emotions show, only ever in intimate settings. At the end you never truly know which of these moments were real, and which were simply creations of his mind to achieve his goal. The main focus is on a high school student, in the right place, at the right time, who finds himself drafted into a performance of Julius Ceasar. This young teenager played by Zac Efron, you cannot help but laugh when a young girl asks if he sings or if he has done any plays before. His response? A little, and just a few high school plays. Efron still has a lot to learn as a performer but this film gives him the chance to show his potential aside from his American Idol styled singing performance on the stage, which is exactly what you expect it would be.
An incredibly well crafted film with an Oscar worth performance of Welles. Hopefully his stature as an unknown will not cause him to be overlooked.

My Suicide

This movie has cult teen phenomenon written all over it. With a mix of movie satire and heavy animation at the beginning, sure to attract all its followers, the film moves gently into darker water without ever leaving the former behind completely. Every single teenager seems to have the thought at some point 'what if I killed myself.' Sometimes it is even the people you would least expect to have reason to feel this way. As teenagers we are all so self consumed with what we don't have, too busy noticing what everyone else has, that it takes something like a kid proclaiming they will kill themselves on film for a school project to make everyone aware of everything they already have. At the beginning, the film passes itself off in a documentary style with camera style and plausible animation to assist. The only fault with this film is the end. By that I don't mean what happens. It is the victim of too many moments where the film feels like it is the end but then it continues. This leads to a feeling of the last moment being tacked on but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't take away from what it is a great film. With the right marketing and release strategy, this film has the potential to become huge and stick around for a long time. As long as their are unhappy teenagers in the world, this movie will have a place.

Palookaville - I had very high hopes for this film. It should be one of those films inclusive of the line 'with hilarious consequences' included in the byline. The idea of three guys who know nothing attempting crime should be easy enough to be well executed. Unfortunately aside from an accidental bakery robbery instead of the jewelery store next door and a mix up at the end there's very little to be amused at in this film. The acting is by no means at fault, the movie just seems unsure of the tone it wishes to take at times. Unfortunately in its effort to spike both humour through human idiocracy and real personal moments it never quite reaches either successfully. That is not to say that this film is not worth viewing entirely, just more background watching than anything else.

Sixteen Candles - Now I have to admit to never having seen Sixteen Candles before. Blasphemy I know, but maybe it means more as a restrospective than it would have at a younger age. If I had seen this in high school then it may have been a movie that gave me false hope for what, or should I say who, I aspired to have. This movie hits perfectly on the sheer embarassment of everything high school had to offer without ever going overboard enough to make it seem unrealistic. I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon with this one but it was definately worth the wait to understand and appreciate every little nuance whilst associating characters with people I once knew. See if you can spot the number of songs in the soundtrack which have appeared in movies since with similar settings....

Kicking and Screaming - No no no, not the Will Ferrell atrocity. Noah Baumbach of Squid and the Whale, and Margot at the Wedding. Already being a huge fan of his other works, maybe my expectations were a little high. The tagline of characters who talk a lot and never do anything after graduation says it all really. There are some great moments in this movie and it was enjoyable to watch but nothing ever really changed. All the way through the characters spoke and behaved exactly as in the initial scene taking place during their College graduation party. It is definately interesting to watch as it is indicitive of Baumbachs more recent work. I fully applaud a man who so constantly creates characters that we have no reason to like, yet cannot help watching.

Anvil! The Story of Anvil! - My favourite film at this years Sxsw festival, it received a standing ovation with not a single person leaving before the end of the credits. It didn't matter where I had to be at that moment in time, everything inside me was caught up applauding with all my might for those we had all spent the last hour and a bit getting to know. This is a documentary of a band who should have made it big a long time ago, but missed their chance somehow. It is sadly a representation of what most bands in the music industry go through for their dream. However, few want it as much as Anvil who have been going for 30 years and are now in the stages of recording their 14th studio album. Every time they play, even if only to 15 people, they give everything inside of them in case their opportunity is in that moment. Robb Reiner and Lips are the two founding members of the band. You may be mistaken for thinking it is a new version of This is Spinal Tap at first but by the end there is no doubt that these are heartwarming people and with all your might you will want them to suceed. These two guys know each other so well that they break up the band and put it back together every five minutes because they are as close as brothers where the argument never lasts long. The humour finds place in an amp which really does go to 11 and a conversation about their first song they wrote along with the concept for another called thumb hanging. It doesn't matter if you like metal music or despise it. This documentary shows two people who give every single part of themselves to achieving their dream, something which many of us in todays society are too gutless to attempt, for this alone they should receive success. If you see one documentary this year make sure it is this one.

How to Draw a Boney

For a documentary which focuses on solely one person, the audience should be incredibly invested. I almost feel guilty for not caring. We follow a man who was in the shadow of the Warhol movement. They were friends which surely heightened Ray's lack of sales. The glimpses into his art are insightful. He was creating modern art, at a time when the concept of modern art was being created. Yet I cannot help feeling that more of a personal insight would have helped this piece as a whole. What influenced Ray? Where did Ray draw his inspiration from? At the heart of it all, who was Ray? Sadly for us, we gain a brief glimpse into his life, but these questions are never answered.

The Prisoner: Or How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair

An incredibly simplistic documentary which touches on what many Americans remain unaware of. When mentioning the idea of people being wrongly accused of terrorism a common response is 'well they must have done something.' This film follows a man who was detained for nine months of his life. Their only response at the end? Sorry. Nothing can make up for the time that they stole from his life or the pain they inflicted upon him. As a respectful Muslim he was asked about his sexual conduct. He suffered verbal abuse, electric torture and malnourishment. Army officers spat in his face and called him a son of a bitch while telling him to shut up. What saves American face in this documentary? That of an American soldier who worked at the camp he had been detained to with his brothers. Yunis ignored his anger and helped to restore piece in a restless camp full of innocent detainees. For those who believe that the war being fought is fair and that America is a hero this is just one of many stories which must be heard. Many innocent civillians have been arrested and tortured, accused of crimes, such as planning an assasination against Tony Blair, yet no evidence is required. If this is how we treat Iraqi's then we must ask ourselves, are they really better off than they were before?

Grosse Point Blank

This film only requires brief comment. It is incredibly clear on the tone it wishes to portray and the pace it desires to keep. It is a well written, well constructed piece of film. Yet somehow I find myself not caring about the characters. Do I really care if John Cusack wins back Minnie Driver 10 years after ditching her at the prom? No! The films only real gem is the performance of Joan Cusack. Though a supporting role she catapults comedy into a piece which tries hard to achieve this at several moments, but never quite achieves it.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

The main flaw within this documentary is the lack of an explantation of Enron's background. As somebody who grew up in England and at the time of this huge fiasco was too young to have cared about this side of life I had little sense of the company's objectives. They talked of various ventures but never set out a clear description of the company for those of us not in the know.
This film moved delightfully through its paces from person to person. It wasn't necassary for them to stick with one point of view for the entire film but they skipped from person to person according to who fit the moment best. I have to say it is all good and well for people to partake in this documentary and state on film that they knew the company was committing a crime, that they felt that things were not right. But in reality, how many of them really knew at the time? Is it simply a case of saving face for the camera? The most honest perspective is that of a journalist who created an article about Enron shares being over priced. They seemed to be over estimating the worth of the company (which they truly were guilty of at the time) and she ventured into this water. She admits that she was too naive to explore deeper and understand what was truly occuring within the company. For this I admire her far more than people who partook in company dealings but since the demise state that they knew all along.
This documentary is almost fable like. The story of a company who lied a little, forcing them to lie a little more as time went on. It shows how covering tracks to produce results can lead to enormous discrepency between the truth and fact. The executives pushed the truth a little to make the company successful, after getting away with this, why not push it a little further? This film shows us why.

Diving Belle and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a movie truly made to inspire film makers. When I was younger, I used to wonder why film credits were so long. Of course there is the obvious answer that so many people make a contribution. But does an audience really need to know who the drivers were, or who provided kraft services? The answer to that is no. It is like the Academy Awards which is watched by millions, but only a small handful of people know thos in the long lists of names reeled off by emotional receivers in between sobs and proclamations of 'oh my god.' The real answer to why film credits are so long lies within a film such as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Every now and then in life, we find a film that is just so powerful we need more than the running time to take it all in. The credits run so we can absorb the masterpiece which we have just observed. So that we can deal with our emotions. In watching films, we often involve ourselves so strongly that whilst simply sitting in the darkness, we have taken a long emotional journey. We have felt every aspect of the spectrum of emotions and we feel as if we have physically been through something. I now believe that sometimes credits are not long enough for us to deal with everything a movie takes us through. Maybe for some special films, we need just a little bit longer to help us to readjust to our own lives before we head back out to face the world.

So todays movies were:

One True Thing - I absolutely loved this movie when I was younger. I remember having it on vhs when I lived at home and would be up all night. I would sit watching movies but because my parents room was just above I had to keep it really quiet so I would have to sit right up close with headphones on. Granted I didn't have any decent heavy duty headphones so cue me sitting attached to the set that came free with my walkman! Meryl Streep is just a power house. She makes the movie. It's a very stereotypical story - dying parent has to be taken care of and reconnects with a child they were never close to growing up. But something about this one just works. Its so well written and visually realized. I remember sitting in said living room attached to the tv welling up at the sight of Meryl Streep unable to get out of the bath tub and when they were singing carols in front of all the trees. It's not her death that was sad as there is no sentimental tearjearker moment for the popcorn crowd but isntead its the journey they take and the way the characters grow.

Crash - I have to admit to not being bowled over completely when I last saw this. But watching it again there are so many minute nuances that make it special. Having said that I do think it still pushes a little too heavily on stereotypes even though it is supposed to be highlighting the immorality of that. Not a movie I feel a need to watch over and over, I'll have to go back and look at what else had been nominated for Best Picture the year it won the Oscar. Surely there must have been a stronger contender which wasn't so much of a one tone piece.


It has been noted to me a lot recently that I really like depressing movies. This is unequivocably true. They are the pieces which really evoke emotion, the pieces we learn from and the pieces we ultimately grow from through sharing an experience on the screen.