Stately Plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a ticket for the cinema upon which the film, theatre number, and showtime were printed. He had very much enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and was looking forward very much to viewing the second film in the trilogy. Eagerly, he was anticipating whether Lisbeth would discover the identity of her father and whether her companion, the redoubtable Mikael would be able to escape again from the intergalatic — er, Swedish crime syndicate. Two hours later, he knew the answers but was grossly disappointed by the manner in which they …
The A-Team
Though it is truly a ridiculous film, The A-Team is not entirely terrible. Perhaps in the upper tier of recently released mainstream theatrical tripe, it is no less crazy than the original stress, as it should be. As the faceless antagonist Lynch says as he watches an explosion from afar, “it’s just like Call of Duty.” Given that one of the most superficial and gratuitous films in several years almost won last year’s best picture award and a pompous war/comedy picture was among the finalists, perhaps this film is destined for critical acclaim. The were some humourous scenes and creative …
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Far too few films feature enthralling character development and an elegant touch to create suspense and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is one of those works. It is a clever psychological thriller — not without its flaws but still much more intriguing than the average film. Although one audience member walked out in digust when he found out that it was filmed in Swedish with subtitles, I did not feel that that hampered the story at all. Interestingly, another woman in the theatre forgot that the film was restricted and reacted in shock whenever a rated-R moment occured. Stieg Larsen elegantly incorporates …
The Big Short
When people think they know more than they actually do, the potential for massive mistakes multiplies. Or, as outlined in The Big Short by Michael Lewis, there is a potential for absolutely astronomical errors. Following the mantra that “Greed is Good,” Wall Street banks create securities out of thin air and sell them to others who can neither calculate risk correctly nor price it appropriately. Some firms take positions against what they are selling to their customers as conflicts of interest abound. The oversight of ratings agencies and the United States Treasury is entirely absent. Incompetence and ignorance are mixed …
Ridley Scott Releases a Robin Hood Prequel
Robin Hood combines strong action sequences with memorable performances from the lead actors. It is probably more of a medieval action film than a tribute to the folktale because the plot covers how Robin Longstride became a legend. There is not much devoted to the mythical feats such as splitting an apple with an arrow or steal from the rich to give to the poor. However, the film is successful because it provides motivation for Robin’s actions. Returning to England after the death of Richard the Lionheart in France, Robin evolves from a brave archer to a man of conscious …
Hot Docs ’10
I wasn’t able to devote as much time to Hot Docs as I had the year before but I remained able to attend some enjoyment screenings. Unfortunately, although the topics, like film and sport were interesting, the narrative structure of all three documentaries that I screened was flawed. The People vs. George Lucas recounts the dissonance between Star Wars fans and franchise creator George Lucas. Fans are willing to dress up like their favourite characters or recreate scenes from the original trilogy but they loathe the changes Lucas made for the Special Edition or the new filmmaking of the Prequels. Some …
The Secret in Their Eyes
A film that alternates between drama, romance, and comedy, The Secret in Their Eyes shows that thoughtful filmmaking is not dead (at least until the final ten minutes when subtlety goes out the window). Esposito is a retired investigator who is now an aspiring writer. Although he has changed careers, he cannot put his two passions – an unsolved case and an unrequited love – out of his mind. The crime in question, a twenty-five year old murder and rape case, is not overly intricate. Some crime thrillers compile twist after twist until the story passes the bounds of plausibility …
Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today
“The war was over but there was no peace.” Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today is the documentary complement to the dramatic Judgment at Nuremberg. Both feature the themes of good and evil and how one can determine morality in a subjective world. The opening comments of the prosecutor in the documentary seem as certain as the fictional character in the drama. At that time and place – post-war Germany in 1945 and 1946 – it certainly seemed that those on trial must have steadfastly supported the sinister atrocities of the German Reich. Judgment at Nuremberg shows that that interpretation is …
The Misfortunates
Like that episode of The Simpsons when Bart, Lisa, and Maggie were forced into temporary foster care with the Flanders, The Misfortunates explores the meaning of family. The Strobbes may be a family of violent and lazy drunkards but they are very loyal to each other. The four brothers – often incompetently but always sincerely – try to raise the next generation to mixed results. Their drinking habits, fighting, and unemployment have a clear deleterious effect on thirteen-year-old Gunther but he can’t decide whether to support his family or get away from them. Forced to write lines at school because …
Neil Young Trunk Show
Concert films are difficult to evaluate because they are similar to the television broadcast of a sports event. The entertainment value of the event is closely tied to the event itself. If a director misses a shot and the viewer misses part of the action, the mistake is recognized but excellent performance is rarely acknowledged. The Neil Young Trunk Show rocks but does it rock because Neil Young rocks or because it is an amazing film? Neil Young certainly rocks, combining acoustic and rock numbers. There are passionate lyrics, intricate solos, and a diverse selection of songs. Anyone could have …
Alice in Wonderland
What will be the first truly great 3-D film? Alice in Wonderland entertains throughout but proves to be a colourful pop-up book more than a significant movie. I found the screenplay to be sorely lacking; perhaps all of these “destiny” films share the same shortcomings. If it is foretold that the protagonist is going to do something than they will do it by the time the climax arrives. The rising action of “will he give up?” or “will she walk away?” becomes entirely meaningless. The film seems to lack irreverence or innocence and becomes a series of mundane events. At …
Shutter Island
So what if Shutter Island is a visually stunning work of art? Would you expect anything else from the best director of the past quarter-century? The overhead shots – which give the audience the impression of peering down and spying on the mysterious island – are a captivating technique employed by Martin Scorsese. Some of the long shots which zoom into extreme close-ups rival the visual interest of the dolly zooms in GoodFellas. Irrespective of the rest of the film, the cinematography is spectacular. The plot befits a blunt felt-tipped marker rather than an elegant quill. I cannot blame the …
The Runaways
If the aim of a film is to create a mood, The Runaways succeeds. 1970s sex, drugs, and rock and roll is perfectly captured by director Floria Sigismondi. Canted angles, zooming in and out of focus, trailing shots; Sigismondi employs a variety of techniques. It’s true that the content – chronicling the 1970s band comprising Joan Jett and Cherie Currie – is controversial and somewhat shocking but the craft of the director brings this historical film to the next level. The audience wishes that the film could continue, even though it encompasses the entire career of the band. Jett and …
Chloe
Chloe showcases what talent can accomplish, especially during the first half of the film. Compelling performances, creative cinematography, and clever direction grab the audience’s attention. Fearing that her husband David may be cheating, Catherine hires the titular character to tempt him. As Chloe reveals what transpires between her and the music professor, she becomes closer with Catherine. The story is told from Catherine’s perspective: we see how she imagines what happens between David and Chloe gradually, how she wistfully gazes at other couples and compares them to what she thinks her relationships has lost. Gradually, she pulls apart from her …
The Messenger
The Messenger is better than The Hurt Locker. Both films express common themes, such as the mental state of army personnel – during and after their deployment – and how people react differently to stressful situations. The films also introduce themselves slowly, using staccato rhythm of individual missions and assignments before reverting to a more traditional Hollywood storyline arc. Staff Sergeant Will Montgomery returns from Iraq after suffering an eye injury. He is assigned to the “Angels of Death” squadron, led by Captain Tony Stone, which is tasked with informing the next of kin after a casualty. Initial encounters with …
Un prophète
Most reviews of Un prophète are either very positive or quite negative. There seems to be no middle ground. I don’t know what to make of it. I would ask any view of Avatar or The Hurt Locker whether each film would have the same impact if it were the fourth or fifth version of that style of film. Unfortunately for Un prophète, it seems like it is one neo-realist film too many. After films like Gomorrah, Sin Nombre, and The Disappearance of Alice Creed have broken down all taboos and shown the gritty omnipresent nature of crime. Relative to …