Imaginary Heroes

Release date: 14 May 2004 (France - Cannes Film Festival)

Written and directed by Dan Harris, Imaginary Heroes stars the ever-so-gorgeous Sigourney Weaver, Jeff Daniels, Emile Hirsch and Michelle Williams as members of the Travis family. The Travis family is thrown into turmoil when their eldest son, a high school (or it may have been college) swimming star, commits suicide. His death is the springboard for a whole host of melodrama with mom deciding to relive her 'flower power' drug days, father disappearing into a shell, and youngest son (whom the story revolves around) struggling to come to terms with abuse, his real roots in the family, and his sexual identity. This film is essentially a rework of the much better film Ordinary People. Where it ultimately fails is not with Sigourney or Hirsch's acting (both are great) but with the plodding pace and the director's decision to employ every melodramatic shtick ever invented in the film. As an aside, Daniels is just plain awful and I hope was simply miscast. Woefully self-important, this is a trite film trying to be something bigger and bolder than the stock Sunday-Night-at-the-Movie's drama it really is.

My rating 4 out of 10.

Ghost in the Shell (aka Kokaku kidotai)

Release date: 29 March 1996 (USA)

Based on the work of Masamune Shirow, this brilliant, brilliant anime film from 1996, directed by Mamoru Oshii, traces the action of Major Kusanagi, a (wo)man/machine AI as she tries to solve the death and subsequent disappearance of another AI, known as the PuppetMaster.

The film, on a simple level, is a police thriller but if viewed critically it's an exploration of ethics and philosophy surrounding life, the role of the state, and the continuing 'creep' of technology into our lives. It truly is, in a word: brilliant.

While I still find the ending disappointing, you have to give eprops to Shirow and Oshii for vision and for setting the trail the Wachowski brothers would follow with the Matrix trilogy three years later (in 1999). Rent it; see it!

My rating: 9 out of 10.

Wired to Win

Release date: December 2005 (USA)

Tonight we visited the Ontario Science Centre for a premier screening of Wired to Win, a documentary on 'surviving the Tour de France'. The film actually is more about your brain (generally) but certainly does a great job advertising the cycling. As you can imagine, G and I were keen to see this film having put a kilometer or three (actually 180km) on our own bikes when we raced in and completed the Ironman Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon in July 2004.

This film was shot in 2004 initially using Tyler Hamilton (who ironically was disqualified from the race that summer because of drug doping) and other riders. They've taken two years to rejing the film for theatrical release on the IMAX screen. The Omnimax images of the centenary Tour de France are astounding and worth any price of admission. To boot, I learn a few things about my brain and how it functions to boot.

My rating: 8 out of 10.

Hamam (aka Steam)

Release date: 16 November 1997 (Argentina)

Haman is a Turkey/Italy/Spain production directed by Ferzan Ozpetek. Everyone seems to think this is a gay themed flick, and while it does have a Francesco-likes-Mehmet angle, it is more the story of a man reconnecting with his culture. Our lead, Francesco, dashes off to Istanbul to sell a hamam he's inherited from a dead aunt, Anita. However, on arriving he finds he loves the Hamam (not to mention Mehmet, the son of the family who has run the hamam since Anita's death) and decides to stay and restore it, which pisses off some nasty Turkish mafia guys. Francesco's wife, Marta, arrives on scene bent on divorce but seeing how much Francesco has changed opts to love him again and forego the divorce. But it's so-sad, too-bad as Francesco is murdered by the mafia bad guys leaving poor Marta to morph into dear, dead aunt Anita. The end. Aside from some lovely scenes in the hamam, not much more here to sustain me.

My rating: 4 out of 10.

Irreversible

Release date: 23 May 2002 (France - Cannes Film Festival)

Filmed back in 2002, it this is a VERY difficult movie to watch. Written and directed by Gaspar Noe, Irreversible uses the all-a-rage-now reverse-chronological order gag to tell the story of the rape of a gorgeous pre-Matrix-days Monica Bellucci and the subsequent brutal murder of the rapist at the hands of her ex-lover and boyfriend. The murder of the rapist in a gay club is brutal to watch while the rape scene, which seems to go on forever (9 minutes in fact), is clearly one of the most grotesque scenes filmed in a long, long time. Bellucci was so very brave to take on the role. In the end, this movie as it spins backward through time touches on themes of regret (Bellucci is pregnant by her boyfriend but regrets his silly boyishness when compared with her more cultured ex-lover); vengeance is it basest form; and the old catch phrase of hindsight is 20-20. Engaging and utterly, brutally, horribly disturbing this film is hard to deny.

My rating: 7 out of 10.

Come Undone (aka Preque rien)

Release date: 7 June 2000 (France)

Friday's movie was the 2000 French film, Presque rien, starring Stéphane Rideau. This film was directed by Sébastien Lifshitz, and, in typical French fashion, is slow, confused and depressing. Essentially a coming of age story, it follows Mathieu (played by Jérémie Elkaïm) as he heads south to his family's summer home and falls in love with Cedric (played by Rideau).

Sure, this film has full-frontal nudity of both lads but even that is not enough to make you interested in what's happening. The film leaves more questions than answers. Like, why does Mathieu leave Cedric? Like, what leads Mathieu to the obvious suicide attempt hinted at in the film. Like, why do the lads opt to head off to Nantes? And, like, who really cares? ...

All in all a tedious, flawed movie. Mr. Lifshitz's should have his director's status reviewed.

My rating 2 out of 10.

Little Children

Release date: 1 September 2006 (USA)

Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, Little Children tells a story of dysfunction in quiet-town America stars Kate Winslet, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly and a perfectly cast Jackie Earle Haley. Todd Field directs, finally doing justice to himself after the debacle that was In The Bedroom (I know it won Academy Awards, but, I'm sorry, just a plain terrible, awful film).

The story here is told quietly, artfully and disturbingly as the various characters collide in the repressed world that is American suburbia. An exceptional film. Haley and Winslet should get Academy nods.

My rating 9 out of 10.

Manufactured Landscapes

Release date: 9 September 2006 (Canada - Toronto International Film Festival)

This documentary is based on the works of the very celebrated Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky. It speaks to the impact man is having on the planet due to industrialization, particularly in China. Manufactured Landscapes, directed by Jennifer Baichwal, starts with a fascinating extended shot (presumably done in one take) of a factory in China that goes on forever and forever and forever. From there, we get many frames of Burtynsky gorgeous and eerie photographs coupled with montages of himself at work in China and Bangladesh. The photographs, shown on the big screen, are worth the price of admission itself. Though Edward professes not to make judgements on what he is photographing (is industrialization good or bad?), many times the music Baichwal uses when showing images imply industrialization is bad. If nothing else, this film will get you thinking about your own impact here and will generate some discussion afterwards.

My rating 7 out of 10.

More info on Edward Burtynsky can be found at Artsy here.

La Luna

Release date: 29 August 1979 (Italy)

Bernardo Bertolucci's brilliant 1979 Italian film, La Luna, was utterly controversial for its day and age but clearly displays Bertolucci's brilliance. It is, in a word, a masterpiece. Written by Franco Arcalli (who also did Once Upon A Time in America), it is famous for its ice-cream palour seduction and - of course - for the incestuous scenes of mother Caterina (played bythe ever-fabulous Jill Clayburgh) masturbating her heroin-addicted son, Joe (played by Matthew Barry). The film remained mythically near-impossible to acquire on video, CD or DVD until March 2007 when Castlerock Italy finally, joyously released a DVD version. It is a film that requires patience.

My rating 10 out of 10.

Huozhe (aka To Live)

Release date: 18 May 1994 (France - Cannes Filme Festival)

I watched this wonderful gem of a movie, directed by Zhang Yimou back in 1994, on Wednesday. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes and starring Ge You and (sigh) Gong Li, it is a sweeping and moving drama, a Chinese Gone With The Wind. The story centres on Fugui (played by You) and the trials and tribulations he and wife Jaizhen (Li) face as China suffers through the Revolution from the 1940s to 1970s. Fugui, a gambler, loses everything as the film begins and as the years move on he discovers "to live" is everything. In the end, we and he realize what it life is all about: family. Beautifully filmed and directed, it does have the tinge of a Sunday night at the movies drama.

My rating 7 out of 10.

Cut Sleeve Boys

Release date: 20 July 2006 (Thailand)

Directed by Ray Yeung (whom we met and directed the director up to Bloor for coffee), Cut Sleeve Boys centers on the lives of two gaysians, the hunky, muscle-obsessed Mel and the campy Ash as they proceed through their lives (and guys) after the death of their closeted best friend. This film is campy, laugh-out-loud funny, and endearing. To boot there is some fair sex scenes (woohoo dirty dancing in the tranny bar) and heartwarming moments. The one that stood out for me when Mel returns home to find his bf playing the piano. And of course there's some good music along the way.

My rating 7 out of 10.

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover

Release date: 11 September 1989 (Canada - Toronto International Film Festival)

Oh my gawd, could any film ever be as audacious, as brutal, as mean, and as utterly gorgeous as Peter Greenaway's 1989 The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover? I don't even know where to start describing this feast for the eyes and mind. Our cook prepares sumptuous meals for the brutal, animalistic restaurant owner thief while his wife (played by Helen Mirren) carries on an affair under his nose (and in his restroom and kitchen) with her lover.

This film was hard to watch and even harder to rate. It is avant garde, it is an art house piece, it is beautiful (thanks to costumes by Jean-Paul Gaultier), it is unlike anything you'll ever see. It is in a category unto itself.

Say what you will about this film ... its use of colour, that it's a modern fable, that it's a allegory for Thatcherism ... the fact is, retribution has never been captured so perfectly on film. Sickeningly so.

My rating 10 out of 10.

Colma: the Musical

Release date: 2006 (USA)

Colma, directed by first time director, Richard Wong (who was in the house on Friday), tells the story of Rodal, Billy and Maribel as they grow-up in the graveyard town that is Colma (just outside of San Francisco).

It is a musical coming-of-age story: fresh, funny, tender and worth whatever effort you may have to make to see it. There is love and partying and sex and struggle; the struggle being the central focus. Billy struggles to deal with the feelings he still has for his ex; Rodel struggles with his poetic voice and his homosexuality; Maribel struggles with her constant desire for sex and partying and keeping the two best friends, friends.

H.P. Mendoza, who plays Rodel, wrote the music and the screenplay, and, if this first effort is any indication, should go far. Well done mate. The direction is spot on, fresh (split screen use is great); funny (cartwheeling extras appear in one song; the beerhall inspired scene and song are fantastic); and tender (the song where Maribel and Rodel walk through the graveyard as 'ghosts' dance is so utterly tragic). You can sample some of the music here.

My rating 10 out 10.

Three Times (aka Zui hao de shi guang)

Release date: 20 May 2005 (France - Cannes Film Festival)

Directed by Hsiao-hsien Hou, Three Times tells three stories of love/longing in 1966, 1911 and 2005. The stories are not connected except by the two stars playing the lead characters in each segment - Qi She and Chen Chang.

Hou's direction is breathtaking (he and Wong Kar-wai approach film in a similar way). Each frame is gorgeous; with plenty - in a minimalist way - going on.

I felt the first story, entitled "A Time For Love" worked the best of the three. It is a wonderful homage to first love and the ends we'll go to find the person who sets our hearts aflutter. Hou plays out this story in a pool hall with not more than 100 words total during its 35-odd minute playing time. Storytelling with so few words and the Platter's lovely "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" music setting the tone was worth the rental alone.

In the second story, "A Time for Freedom", set in 1911 Hou takes a silent movie approach showing the characters dialogue on screen in the manner of a Keystone Cops flick. It works, I thought, and on the whole the story of a political activist and his concubine is good. The key moment coming near the end when she asks what his intentions are for her (i.e., freedom from concubineness). The answer, of course, is silence and we see she knows what life she is forever destined for ... despite the kindness of her master. The piano music in this segment is excellent.

In the last story, set in a grimy 2004 Taipei and entitled "A Time for Youth" we see Qi, now playing the role of a bisexual, as she maneuvers through drugs, sex, premature birth and emails while Chang wanders about looking for her ... and food. This segment did little for me. I think it captures what Hou was after though ... a statement on the lives we now live but I did not like it.

Three Times is poignant, visually magnificent, and will for some brief moments remind you of the pain/joy of love. Hou's film connects you with your own personal love history. And that is rare film-making. Bravo Hou!

My rating 8 out of 10.

Nico & Dani (aka Krampack)

Release date: 9 September 2000 (Canada - Toronto International Film Festival)

You can search online for the definition of what 'krampack' means. And while there is some of the definition clearly evident in this film, the story is far more a coming-of-age story told in a refreshing non-Hollywood fashion. I'll say 'amen' under my breath for that. Directed by Cesc Gay, this Catalan (i.e., Spanish) film is fun, unabashed about sex, and had me laughing outloud in several spots.

The teens here (in Europe in general) are far more intelligent and mature than any 18 year-old you'll run into at the Eaton Center. They approach life with a zest kids here in North America have lost. Nico arrives at the summer home of his childhood friend, Dani, and the two plan to idyl away the summer fishing and fixing a motorcycle when Elena and Berta appear on the scene and derail everything.

Dani, you see, is just coming to terms with his homosexuality and a classic tale of jealously ensues when Nico begins spending more time with the girls than Dani. It's predictable fare, yes, but done in a refreshing way. I was a little miffed at the scene where Dani confirms his gayness by trying to bed Berta (while she and he are drunk) and the whole plot line of Dani running to the local gay writer Julian for help and another avenue to confirm his sexuality.

That aside, this was an amusing little flick for a Sunday afternoon and worth a rent if you've 90 minutes to kill. In 2000 it won the Special Award for Youth at Cannes.

My rating 6 out of 10.

Open Water

Release date: 16 January 2004 (USA - Sundance Film Festival)

Well, where to begin with this sad and sorry piece of work? How about with how so very embarrassed anyone involved in this project must feel. The premise, based on "true story", has our husband and wife duo left behind in the middle of the ocean after detouring from a scuba tour in shark infested waters. Cut to scenes of shark fins; and scenes of thunder; and scenes of utter darkness; and a blame-game section; and then finally (blissfully) scenes of our couple being chowed down on by the sharks. The End.

Being kind, my rating 2 out of 10.

Match Point

Release date: 12 May 2005 (France - Cannes Film Festival)

Match Point was directed, of course, by the one and only Woody Allen and, I thought, was quite a departure for him. Sure, we have all the familiar Woodism in full array: love, betrayal, classical music, beautiful framing and characters not shy to speak their minds. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a thoroughly-detestable Chris, an ex-tennis star going nowhere fast until he lands a tennis pro job and meets up with floppish upperclass Brit, Tom Hewitt. Tom, has a sister, Chloe who Chris is soon bedding and marrying, and hence begins his climb up the corporate ladder of Chloe/Tom's papa's company.

The thing is, Chris also has the hots for Tom's fiance, Nola Rice (played by Scarlett Yawn-hanssen: this girl is lucky she's pretty cause she sure can't act). What results in the end, when (*spoiler alert*) Chris gets Nola pregnant is a deep, dark slide into murder and mayhew that ends, again I thought, brilliantly in a non-Hollywood ending.

My rating 7 out of 10.

Whale Rider

Release date: 9 September 2002 (Canada - Toronto International Film Festival)

This film wasn't what I expected. I dunno, I thought it would be about some lass riding a whale alla-Free Willy. So, imagine my surprise to find it was all about Maori history and culture. I loved this film. Pai (played by Oscar-nominated, and deservedly so, Keisha Castle-Hughes) must overcome her grandfather and a thousand years of Whangara history to win the respect of her community and the love of her family. Whale Rider is wonderfully acted, beautifully-shot and may have you reaching for a tissue. The story here is one of love and acceptance and how our own cultural history often blinds us. Absolutely worth a rent.

My rating 9 out of 10.

The Sentinel

Release date: 21 April 2006 (USA)

The Sentinel is a film meant to capitalize on the whole Michael Douglas doing spy/action films and a vehicle for Canadian, Keifer Sutherland, to stretch himself beyond his usual role in the TV show, 24. I'm joking of course, cause Keifer plays the exact same character he knows so well. The plot (and I use that word loosely) such as it is has Secret Service guru Douglas having to scamper around to clear his name after he is framed in a plot to kill the President. Course, adding to the 'realism' of this plot is the fact Douglas is also having an affair with the First Lady. Oh brother. Keifer plays the good guy Secret Service agent trying to track Douglas down. It's all ho-hum and (yawn) uninspiring.

My rating 3 out of 10.

Marie Antoinette

Release date: 24 May 2006 (France - Cannes Film Festival)

Based on Antonia Fraser's book, Marie Antoinette tells the story of the Queen of France from the time she enters the court of Louis XVI to the French Revolution, when both Marie and Louis lose their heads. I had high hopes for this film, directed by Sofia Coppola, but - having studied the French Revolution in great detail throughout university - I was disappointed with the outcome. While it all looks wonderful and gorgeous and splendid cinamatograhic-wise, I was utterly disinterested in the characters (especially Kirsten Dunst playing Marie). Perhaps that was what Coppola had in mind, showing us the splendor and excess to reinforce how utterly removed the Crown was from the people during the 1780s?? Bad acting aside (Dunst, Schwartzman) it is a 'pretty' film made a little more watchable with the choice of music.

My rating 5 out of 10.