http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/oscars-ballot2014/index.html?picks=1d2b3d4b5e6b7b8b9b10a12b11c13b15e14e17c18e16c21a20b19a22e23c24a
I find the critics' fawning adulation of "The Wolf of Wall Street" utterly baffling. I did not see any of the moral take on the price of hedonism, and I can remember no instance of "velvet glove subtlety" anywhere in the film. Rather it was a overlong and poorly done attempt at quasi-docudrama-satire that ultimately felt like a prequel to "The Hangover", but without any of the comedy or good looking men.
I'm reminded of my similar bewilderment a few years ago, when "everyone" thought that "Mystic River" was the greatest movie of the year - another one that mystified me, as I found that movie plodding and obvious, with ridiculous caricatures and characters and dialogue. I remain convinced that Marcia Gay Harden won the supporting actor Oscar primarily because her character in the film was the only one that made any sense.
February 27, 2014
February 16, 2014
Adult World (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1067765/
Cute little story, and so good to see John Cusack back and excellent as always. A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Cute little story, and so good to see John Cusack back and excellent as always. A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Tangled (2010)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398286/
The remarkable animation in this one makes it very much worth watching, if you can endure all of the songs (there seem to be an awful lot of these, and they don't all weave in well with the story). This telling of Rapunzel has some clever elements, but is also a bit scary for kids, so overall I think it misses its mark as adults likely find it too juvenile.
The remarkable animation in this one makes it very much worth watching, if you can endure all of the songs (there seem to be an awful lot of these, and they don't all weave in well with the story). This telling of Rapunzel has some clever elements, but is also a bit scary for kids, so overall I think it misses its mark as adults likely find it too juvenile.
Dorothy Mills (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034306/
A spooky little thriller set on a foggy and isolated island off the coast of Ireland. The story effectively combines ghosts and madness, and makes for a creepy movie. Good performances overcome the gaps in the script.
A spooky little thriller set on a foggy and isolated island off the coast of Ireland. The story effectively combines ghosts and madness, and makes for a creepy movie. Good performances overcome the gaps in the script.
January 25, 2014
Seventh Continent (1989)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098327/
Very strange. The first 2/3 is the epitome of mundane and then gets weird. Apparently based on a true story, this film is unsettling and only somewhat engaging. From the same fellow who brought us Funny Games (not the American one) and Cache, so no surprise really.
Very strange. The first 2/3 is the epitome of mundane and then gets weird. Apparently based on a true story, this film is unsettling and only somewhat engaging. From the same fellow who brought us Funny Games (not the American one) and Cache, so no surprise really.
January 22, 2014
Filth (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1450321/
Strangely enjoyable, if a bit hard to watch at times. The depths of depravity are pretty...well, deep. But the portrayal of anguish and pain, self-loathing and contempt, by MacAvoy is exquisite in its madness and horror. The comeuppance and conclusion are equally twisted, with just a hint of redemption. Well done. Great soundtrack, too.
Strangely enjoyable, if a bit hard to watch at times. The depths of depravity are pretty...well, deep. But the portrayal of anguish and pain, self-loathing and contempt, by MacAvoy is exquisite in its madness and horror. The comeuppance and conclusion are equally twisted, with just a hint of redemption. Well done. Great soundtrack, too.
January 19, 2014
The White Tiger (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2318405/
An okay film about Russians in WWII searching for a mysterious German tank. The battle scenes are excellent, if a bit too long, and the acting is very good. The ending is weird and unsatisfactory, with the confessions of Adolf's ghost and the crazy tank driver disappearing into the woods. Strange and mildly entertaining but a bit too long.
An okay film about Russians in WWII searching for a mysterious German tank. The battle scenes are excellent, if a bit too long, and the acting is very good. The ending is weird and unsatisfactory, with the confessions of Adolf's ghost and the crazy tank driver disappearing into the woods. Strange and mildly entertaining but a bit too long.
January 18, 2014
Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1951264/
A good continuation from part one, and very true to the book, but I still cannot suspend my disbelief about the age of the characters. Jennifer Lawrence is a far cry from 16, and really so is Katniss. Interesting to see so many big names in this, so clearly the franchise has legs (with another two movies to follow, there is still lots of money to be made here).
Last Vegas (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1204975/
I was afraid this would be as bad as Stand-up Guys, but it wasn't. A bit like The Hangover meets The Bucket List, complete with Viagra jokes. Michael Douglas looks unbelievably shiny. The central plot is a bit ham-handed, but otherwise an enjoyable light comedy.
I was afraid this would be as bad as Stand-up Guys, but it wasn't. A bit like The Hangover meets The Bucket List, complete with Viagra jokes. Michael Douglas looks unbelievably shiny. The central plot is a bit ham-handed, but otherwise an enjoyable light comedy.
Paranoia (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1413495/
Really not very good. Mediocre performances, a lame plot, and terrible dialogue. Too bad, as the premise of industrial espionage has such promise, but I've yet to see it done well.
Really not very good. Mediocre performances, a lame plot, and terrible dialogue. Too bad, as the premise of industrial espionage has such promise, but I've yet to see it done well.
January 15, 2014
Gravity (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/
Wow - spectacular effects and a great suspenseful story. Likely worth seeing in the theatre (and in 3D), but even on a small screen it was a gripping and exciting movie. A few scientific flaws (likely many more, but I'm not a space expert) but nothing so distracting as to make it unenjoyable. Highly recommend this one.
Wow - spectacular effects and a great suspenseful story. Likely worth seeing in the theatre (and in 3D), but even on a small screen it was a gripping and exciting movie. A few scientific flaws (likely many more, but I'm not a space expert) but nothing so distracting as to make it unenjoyable. Highly recommend this one.
January 12, 2014
Her (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/
An interesting modern day romance, taking our immersion in social media and online relationships to the extreme. The romance between Theodore and Samantha feels very real, especially when they argue, but starts to feel contrived when her artificial intelligence moves far beyond his comprehension and then further beyond the boundaries of her electronic world. The plot is interesting but ultimately unsatisfying, as the artifice has too many unexplored dimensions.
An interesting modern day romance, taking our immersion in social media and online relationships to the extreme. The romance between Theodore and Samantha feels very real, especially when they argue, but starts to feel contrived when her artificial intelligence moves far beyond his comprehension and then further beyond the boundaries of her electronic world. The plot is interesting but ultimately unsatisfying, as the artifice has too many unexplored dimensions.
January 11, 2014
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/
A 3-hour version of The Hangover, minus the comedy, music and good looking men. The bad scenes just go on and on, and then just a little bit more. Painfully boring, unbelievably stupid, and not even nice to look at. Martin Scorsese should hang his head in shame. Leo too.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0359950/
This movie was pretty good, but really has nothing to do with the Walter Mitty story; other than the first part of the film where he drifts off into fantasy occasionally, this Walter is less Mitty and more Indiana Jones. Aside from the lack of literary connection, the story is very engaging and told well. The "end of Life" story thread is a bit overdone, while some other threads (ex. how does his mom know the photographer?) are left irritatingly unaddressed. The only real Mittyesque element is Ben Stiller - he doesn't bring anything startling or special to the role, so in a likely unintentional way, embodies the anyman/everyman character perfectly.
This movie was pretty good, but really has nothing to do with the Walter Mitty story; other than the first part of the film where he drifts off into fantasy occasionally, this Walter is less Mitty and more Indiana Jones. Aside from the lack of literary connection, the story is very engaging and told well. The "end of Life" story thread is a bit overdone, while some other threads (ex. how does his mom know the photographer?) are left irritatingly unaddressed. The only real Mittyesque element is Ben Stiller - he doesn't bring anything startling or special to the role, so in a likely unintentional way, embodies the anyman/everyman character perfectly.
January 8, 2014
Inequality for All (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2215151/
Carrying on from The Corporation, Inside Job, and The Smartest Guys in the Room, this smart documentary gives an insider's perspective on how the 1%-ers got there and what they're up to. The day is interesting and well presented, but strangely it doesn't feel as revelatory or shocking as the earlier entries in this canon. Still, a quiet call to action or smart reminder to keep paying attention is not unwelcome. A particular interesting point was the confluence of the outrage of the Occupy Movement and the Tea Party, both initiated by the 2007 recession. Both driven to rally and yell at one another about the same thing: the influence of government on the economy. Also interesting to me was the commentary about unions and their relevancy and importance in today's economy.
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