Initially apprehensive about how the narrative structure of Barney’s Version would translate to the screen, I was presently surprised. The film mixes flashbacks with events occurring in the present day, jumping forwards years and months at a time without jarring the audience. Brief moments of forgetfulness and showing the protagonist through mirrors or translucent surfaces illustrates the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease before Barney is completely stricken in the final quarter of the film. On the other hand, I thought that the book included more of a Rashomon-type vibe than what was featured by the film. The work was entertaining – …
True Grit
A remake of a the film which earned John Wayne his only Academy Award, the Coen Brothers’ True Grit makes the most of modern filmmaking technology while remaining faithful to its western roots. Thanks to excellent performances and fine cinematography, the film takes its predecessor out of the studio and into the real world. Wayne’s original may have been considered a classic at the time it was released but this version shows how badly it has aged badly. Both are based on the same 1968 novel by Charles Portis but it has taken until the Joel and Ethan Coen adapted …
Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer
So often, documentaries are praised because they bring interesting information to light, not because of the director’s craft or production values. The documentary combines interviews with archival footage, mixing objective facts with subjective opinions. Viewers leave the theatre believing that they have been totally informed about the latest crisis which is about to erupt when in fact they were only shown highlights of one side of the issue. The works can still be a productive use of two hours but one must keep their critical thinking filters on at all times. At first glance, Client 9: The Rise and Fall …
Rabbit Hole
Not every film must conclude with a happy ending. For some works, permitting the protagonists to achieve some progress is more satisfying than any Hollywood ending. Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart star in Rabbit Hole, playing Becca and Howie, two parents grieving over the loss of their young child. Both parents navigate their grief in different ways, encountering other characters who have also lost a child like Becca’s mother and Gaby from their support group, in addition to Jason, the teenaged driver involved in the car accident which killed their son. In one sense, Rabbit Hole is another one of …
The Talent Code
Mind or matter, art or science, nature or nurture … coaches have been debating how athletes develop talent for years. Hypotheses abound, some supported by empirical evidence and others by experimental results. The Talent Code hopes to cut through all of these ideas and provide a concrete theory. The slim volume may lack the depth to settle this debate once and for all but it certainly provides a few pieces of advice that could help any coach, teacher, or educator. The book focuses on the creation of myelin, a substance which insulates connections between neurons and improves the efficiency of …
The King’s Speech
Over the course of a given year, only a handful of elite films are released. Hollywood has diluted most of the major genres and most works are shallow copies of something that succeeded previously. The King’s Speech is a shining example of the contrary: a film that balances drama and comedy, features a stellar cast that honours their craft with skilled performances, and a plot that is relevant and informative. The topic – the speech impediment of King George VI and how it is threatening his ability to lead the United Kingdom following the abdication of his brother Edward VIII …
Black Swan
Ballet may not be an art that holds wide appeal but this fact should not prevent filmgoers from viewing Darren Aronofsky’s latest work, Black Swan. The director meant for this to complement The Wrestler, another film about a performer sacrificing themselves for the sake of their art. The series is significant and sophisticated so it can be enjoyed even if the subject is totally ignored. Natalie Portman plays Nina, a ballerina growing into her first major role, the lead in Swan Lake. Nina is technically gifted but dispassionate, unsure about what she wants for herself. Portman took this role because …
Brock and the Deathly Hallows (1/2)
As innovative as J.K. Rowling’s books have proven themselves over the years – pairing a self-contained universe which parallels Star Wars in terms of detail and scope with fictional characters struggling with the same obstacles as their real life counterparts – they have also hosted a number of flaws. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I may attempt to tell an epic tale but it is ultimately tripped up by archetypal characters and lazy narrative techniques. It is somewhat ironic that Hermione Grange constantly espouses the benefits of the logic throughout the film only to be let down by …
127 Hours
Although he won an Oscar two years ago for Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle delivered a much better film with his latest work, 127 Hours. The film chronicles five days in the life of Aron Ralston, a climber who was trapped in a canyon by a heavy boulder and only survived by amputating his own right arm. Despite the grim subject-matter, 127 Hours boasts a fair amount of energy, suiting the personality its protagonist. The opening montage captures the hectic pace of modern life well, the very lifestyle that Ralston seeks to escape by climbing. Boyle described the film as something …
Discourse on Documentaries, Part II: Education and Finance
The good documentary will chronicle the events which comprise an important issue, explaining exactly what is happening and outlining its significance. The excellent documentary will not only accomplish those goals but determine how the events transpired and suggest how the issue might be resolved. Due to the visual medium, it does not hurt to grab the audience’s attention with a hint of humour or a drop of drama. Two films – Waiting for Superman (**½) and The Inside Job (***½) – entertain and inform viewers. While both raise interesting questions, only one provides answers and proposes the next steps to …
The Girl Who Kicked a Hornet’s Nest
If the original Star Wars saga unfolded like the Millennium Trilogy, Luke Skywalker would have still destroyed the Death Star at the conclusion of A New Hope. However, the battle would not have continued on Hoth, Bespin, and Endor; rather The Empire Strikes Back would have consisted of Darth Vader’s meticulous attempts to frame the rebel pilot and The Return of the Jedi would have been Luke’s return after an acquittal. The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo proved to be an atypical and intriguing film that was overwhelmed by two tepid sequels. The Girl Who Played with Fire was tolerable …
The Social Network
In my mind, the best attribute of The Social Network is the screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. The rest of the film may have been interesting and intriguing at times but most of the work was more solid than stupendous. Sorkin’s contribution, based on a real story and making use of rapid-fire dialogue and a unique narrative structure, shines. Sorkin has always been able to take the real world and render it remarkable and witty on-screen. The film recounts the creation of Facebook, is a pop-culture phenomenon. At this time, it is uncertain whether it will remain relevant over the years …
Bell Lightbox Screenings, Part I: The Godfather
The reason that we screen films at the Bell Lightbox is so we can better appreciate today’s films. It’s not solely a matter of enjoying the film that is shown – although that is also a significant factor – but to understand its impact on the films that followed it. The Godfather is one of the best films of all time and it is always satisfying, despite the condescension dripping from Lightbox staff and the crowd of jackanapes who had smuggled six-packs into the theatre and insisted on quoting every famous line aloud. Those drawbacks were trivial relative to the …
The Town
Choosing between Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and The Town last week required careful consideration at first. However, after reading how the sequel to the 1986 opus against unbridled capitalism fell off the rails in the final moments – apparently Oliver Stone chose traditional Hollywood fare over meaningful social commentary – the decision became much easier to make. Luckily, despite occasional threats to do the same, Ben Affleck kept it together — to the relief of all in attendance. Affleck’s second turn as a director demonstrates both skill and the potential for further improvement. The camera angles adeptly capture the …
T.I.F.F. 2010, Part V: Jaloux
The final film that I screened at this year’s festival was Jaloux, directed by Patrick Demers. The low-budget work was filmed over sixteen days in Northern Quebec without a script; the director began with a storyboard that outlined the action and the small cast refined each scene by reviewing each day’s rushes every evening. Consequently, the cast was invested in the product as much as the financial backers and everyone cared deeply about the final product. It is unusual for the cast to review their own work during production. Sophie Cadieux, Maxime Denommée, and Benoît Gouin were able to get …
T.I.F.F. 2010, Part IV: Essential Killing
If there is one piece of conventional wisdom challenged by the Toronto International Film Festival on a yearly basis, it is Hollywood’s reliance on traditional plot structure and repetitive themes. When a director brings their work to the festival, they can create something original based on a kernel of an idea that has formed in their head, exposing the audience to unique characters, surprising twists, and an entirely new experience. Essential Killing is one of those novel motion pictures. A Taliban soldier named Mohammed is captured and rendered to Poland after he is tortured by United States forces. On a …