"The Sun’ll Come Out Gomorrah, Bet Your Bottom Dollar..."

Gomorrah (Gomorra)

As much as I enjoy films like The Godfather and Goodfellas, I admit that they have skewed my image of the Mafia. Those films have glamorized the mafia lifestyle to a point where it is easy to forget the average folks who end up suffering the most. Which is why a film like Matteo Garrone’s Golden Globe nominated work, Gomorrah, is so refreshing. It is a startling reminder of how so many innocent, and at times misguided, lives are destroyed by organized crime.

Gomorrah is a film that looks at five individual stories and how they are all intertwined with the Camorra, the ruling Mafia in Naples, Italy. There is the tale of Don Ciro (Gianfelice Imparato), a middleman, who distributes money to the families of imprisoned Camorra members. Totò (Nicolo Manta) a 13-year-old grocery delivery boy who wishes to initiated into the gang. Marco (Marco Macor) and Ciro (Ciro Petrone), two cocky low rent thugs who steal weapons from the Camorra’s secret stash. Pasquale (Salvatore Cantalupo) a haute couture tailor who is offered money to train Chinese garment workers at a rival factory. And finally, Roberto (Carmine Paternoster), a graduate who discovers that the toxic waste management company he works for may not be as upstanding as he initially thought.

The film is based on Roberto Saviano tell all book about the Camorra. Saviano himself was forced to go into hiding after the book was published and, after seeing Gomorrah, I understand why. The Camorra have killed more people than any other organization over the last 30 years. They literally has its hands in every aspect of society. There is nothing that they do not own, and there is not a place where they cannot find you. The fascinating, and equally unsettling, thing about the Camorra is that they essentially are a high powered corporation. Besides dealing in the drug and weapons trade, they own various companies, in numerous industries, that do business with upstanding companies on a daily basis.

This fact is highlighted in the two most compelling stories in Gomorrah, the ones revolving around Pasquale and Roberto. Both men are good natured individuals looking to make an honest name for themselves. Yet they realize, the hard way, just how far the arms of the Camorra reach. Pasquale's arc is by far the saddest of the two, especially when you see how it plays out. The scene in the car with the Chinese, and the bittersweet truck stop moment, stayed with me for a while after the film. Same goes for the scene where Roberto watches the kids driving the trucks filled with toxic waste. While these scenes are not flashy, okay, maybe the car scene, they are shocking and subtly heartbreaking.

Compelling, without being excessively violent, Gomorrah offers much needed realism to an often romanticized gangster genre. Considering how well executed this film is, I am surprised that Gomorrah did not get an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language, especially after receiving nominations at both this year's Golden Globes and BAFTA Awards. Regardless, Gomorrah is a film that should be on your "must see" short list the next time you visit your local DVD store.

Dynamite Explodes With Laughter

Black Dynamite

If recent Hollywood "comedies", and I use that term loosely, such as Dance Flick and Disaster Movie has taught us anything; is that making a spoof movie is rather easy. The director already has the template of the film he/she is spoofing, so all that is left to do is add a few comical mishaps and the movie pretty much writes itself. Making an homage to a film, or genre, is something that is much harder to do. Many have tried to make a fitting homage but only a few, Todd Haynes' Far From Heaven for example, are actually successful. Upon first glance it is easy to dismiss Scott Saunder's film, Black Dynamite, as a mere spoof of the blaxploitation genre. Yet as you proceed through the film it quickly becomes apparent that Black Dynamite is not a spoof at all, but a true homage. It is a love letter to all that the blaxploitation genre has to offer.

After his brother is killed while working undercover, Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White), an Ex-Vietnam Vet/Ex-C.I.A. agent, vows to get revenge at all cost. Assisted by local pimps and black panther members, Dynamite declares war on all those who wish to infect his community with drugs. As the battle goes on, Black Dynamite soon realizes that a bigger conspiracy is afoot. One that could only be orchestrated by one truly dastardly villain..."The Man."

The great thing about Black Dynamite is that it appeals to a broad audience on two distinctive levels. On one level it is a fun screwball comedy that will entertain novices of the blaxploitation genre. On the other hand, for more seasoned fans of the genre, like myself, Dynamite has everything you have come to expect from a blaxploitation film...and I mean everything! It is tough to find a single aspect of the genre that is not covered in this film. One of my favourite moments in Pam Grier's Coffy, is when Coffy is walking into a building and the films' background music is detailing everything that has, and is about to, happen. A similar sequence is played out in Black Dynamite to great comedic effect. Dynamite is investigating his dead brother's apartment and the background music is warning that you never know who may still be hiding out in your dead brother's apartment. Sure enough, the bad guys are lurking around the corner and a shootout ensues.

It is obvious that Michael Jai White and Byron Mines, who plays Bullhorn in the film, spent a lot of time and care ensuring that all the unique elements of the blaxploitation genre were included in the film. You can see moments clearly influenced by films such as: Shaft, Coffy, Sweet Sweetback's Badass Song, Cotton Comes to Harlem, Dolemite, Willie Dynamite, etc. Yet White and Mines somehow find a way to give Black Dynamite its own unique feel. Similar to how Mike Myers was able to make Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery completely unique from the In Like Flint films it was paying homage to. Black Dynamite never feels like a carbon copy of other classic characters. You can easily picture Black Dynamite hanging out at a bar with Superfly and getting the same amount of respect as that character would.

The only real knock I have on Black Dynamite is that the final act goes on far longer than it needs to. By time the "island" sequence was over I had reached my fill of the film. Not to mention that the final battle with "The Man" is just downright silly. Especially when you consider who "The Man" actually is, and the "supernatural assist" that Black Dynamite gets while fighting this individual. Still, the fact that I have watched this film twice now, and laughed at all the same parts, shows that I am willing to overlook the absurd final act. While Black Dynamite works well on DVD, I wish that it had actually gotten a full theatrical release. I believe it would have done very well in theatres, not Austin Powers numbers, but decent enough. Oh well, at least on DVD Black Dynamite will be able to gain the cult following it deserves. Dynamite.........Dynamite....

Best Films of 2009

The end of January officially means it is time to close off the best of 2009 list. As much as I strive to see every film (both good and bad), there is only so much I can squeeze in before the “Best of…” deadline. Here is my selection of the 10 films I enjoyed the most from 2009.

Best of 2009 (click on titles for full review)

10) (500) Days of Summer – This film has made as many “worst of 2009” list as it has “best of 2009.” Regardless, it has been a longtime since I have enjoyed a romantic comedy as much as I did this one.


9) Coraline – The best animated film of 2009 in my opinion. Yes the first half of Up is brilliant but the film quickly loses steam and becomes formulaic in the second half. Coraline was consistently good the entire way through. The story is far more original and took bigger risks than Pixar’s latest.


8) District 9 – Avatar was the film that wowed everyone with its stellar 3D visuals. Yet District 9 was the science fiction film that entertained me the most. The film featured a great story, an original premise, and dazzling special effects. All of which was done on a relatively small budget when compared to most blockbuster such as Avatar.


7) Polytechnique – Denis Villeneuve took a tragic event and managed to tell the story in a beautifully artistic way. Polytechnique is powerful while still managing to avoid sensationalizing such a horrific event.


6) A Serious Man – This brilliant dark comedy from The Coen Brothers just did not catch on with mainstream audiences. I still think it is one of the Coen’s Brothers better films in recent years. If you happen to miss it in theatres, make sure you catch it on DVD.


5) Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire – Raw, dark, and powerful. Whether you love it or hate it, there is no denying that the film features two of the finest female performances of 2009.


4) More Than A Game – A vastly underrated hidden gem. Not only one of the better documentaries to come out in 2009, but also one of the best sports documentaries to come out in a longtime.


3) Up in the Air – This film resonated with me on a very personal level. A great film that was lucky enough to hit theatres at just the right time.


2) Inglourious Basterds – Tarantino’s latest may have divided many but I still think it rivals his best works: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Jackie Brown.


1) Hunger – No other film impacted me the way Steve McQueen’s debut did. Hunger is a tough film to watch at times but also extremely rewarding. Michael Fassbender was merely good in Inglourious Basterds, but he is simply brilliant here.


Honorable Mention: Advertureland; Where the Wild Things Are; Tyson; The Hurt Locker; New York, I Love You; Pontypool; I Love You, Man; Star Trek, Treeless Mountain. Here is the full list of Big Thoughts From A Small Mind’s 2009 Reviews .

Want to see what other bloggers listed as their top 10 films of 2009? Be sure to keep and eye on The LAMB as they are currently compiling the definitive 2009 top ten list voted on by movie bloggers from around the globe.

Polytechnique Exams A Killer

Polytechnique

There is often debate over what real-life events should and should not be covered on film. Regardless of whether the subject is war, genocide, rape, or murder, the fact that it is based on actual events takes away from the escapist element of cinema. This is why films, such as Denis Villeneuve’s Polytechnique, often face a slew of harsh criticisms even before they are released. While some may feel that making a film based on real-life tragedy is insensitive to the victims and their families who lived through it; if done right, these films can serve as a reminder of how important it is to never forget what mankind is capable of.

Polytechnique is a dramatization of the 1989 Montreal Massacre where Marc Lépine (Maxim Gaudette) killed 14 female engineering students, and wounded 14 other people (including 4 men), at the Polytechnic School of Montreal. The narrative of the films follows three individuals on that deadly day and the impact the massacre had on their lives. After the startling opening, we are introduced to Lépine as he is prepping his semi-automatic weapon and preparing his suicide note. Lépine’s note reveals his deep hatred of the feminist movement and how he felt women were destroying man’s role in society. The second person of note in the film is Valerie (Karine Vanasse), an engineering student who is struggling to overcome the confines that come with being a woman in a male dominated profession. Lastly we meet Jean-François (Sébastine Huberdeau), an engineering student who initially thinks that getting a grasp on the course material would be the hardest thing he would have to deal with on this day.

The film is sparse on dialogue but extremely powerful. Director Denis Villeneuve provides just enough dialogue to make his characters rounded enough for us to care about. All it takes is a few well chosen scenes to give us all we need to know about Valerie and Jean-François. The killer never really utters a single word in the film. All of his dialogue comes courtesy of the “voiceovers” when he is writing his suicide notes. Villeneuve skillfully uses other avenues, such as a class presentation on entropy, to provide a better understanding of Léger’s unstable nature.

While the actors do a terrific job in the film, it is Villeneuve who deserves the most praise. His previous films, 32nd Day of August on Earth and Maelstrom, one of my all-time favourite Canadian films, already proved that Denis Villeneuve was a talented director. Yet Villeneuve has truly outdone himself with Polytechnique. The film is both startling and beautiful all at the same time. Villeneuve’s film, similar to another stellar 2009 film, Hunger, is artistic without sensationalizing the horrific event.

I am sure many will see similarities in tone to Gus Van Sant’s Elephant, which I saw at TIFF. a few years back, but I think Polytechnique far surpasses that film. Villeneuve’s film, similar to the Montreal Massacre itself, will stay in our conscious for many years to come. Polytechnique is easily one of the best films of 2009.

Job Security Not the Only Thing Up in the Air These Days

Up in the Air


A film that ask us to care not only about those who are being laid off but also the people doing the firing as well? Clearly this is a joke right? These were some of thoughts going through my head during the first twenty minutes of Jason Reitman's latest work, Up in the Air. I will fully admit that my early bias towards this film was due to the fact that it seemed to be making light of a subject matter that hit home personally for me. A mere two weeks prior to seeing Up in the Air, the company I work for had the tough task of cutting a lot of jobs. Not the best way to usher in the Christmas season to say the least. Though I was fortunate enough to survive the round of layoffs many people, including some good friends, were let go. It was a decision that greatly impacted those who were laid off, those who remained, and those that had the extremely tough task of deciding to let go people go. So what does this have to do with Up in the Air? Everything and nothing depending on your own perspective.

George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizer who spends most of his days firing people on behalf of companies too frightened to do it themselves. Ryan's work as a downsizer has him constantly travelling and living out of a suitcase for the majority of the year. While others may find this unbearable, Ryan relishes in it as he views it as the ultimate form of freedom. Yet the emergence of a young hotshot, Natalie (Anna Kendrick), threatens to permanently ground Ryan's highflying lifestyle. Natalie has created a business model that would allow the firm he works for to fire people via video conferencing. After witnessing people's reactions to being laid off first hand, Ryan believes that a face-to-face human element is needed to facilitate things smoothly. Especially if it is in the form of fake compassion, which Ryan has practically made an art-form. Ryan's boss (Jason Bateman) believes that Natalie's idea will save the company millions in travel expenses but decides to have Ryan take her out into the field as an experiment. This does not sit well with Ryan whose freewheeling traveling ways has now become rather cramped. To further complicate things, Ryan meets a fellow frequent flyer, Alex (Vera Farmiga), who might cause him to redefine all the things he considers important in life.

If Up in the Air had come out in another year, where it did not hit so close to home, there is a good chance I may not have loved it as much as I do. This is not to say that it is not a good film in its own right. It is just that, if I was not getting married in a few months myself, I would have probably found the wedding subplot unnecessary. The film really tries to cover a lot of different topics, maybe too many, in a rather short amount of time. Still, I must give credit to director Jason Reitman for keeping all the threads tightly woven. It is tough to make light of job loss in a way that will get the audience both laughing and reflecting. Yet this is exactly what the film achieves.

Ryan is a compelling character because his cutting cynical views on our unrealistic need for things (i.e. home, job, marriage, etc.) at times rings very true. Ryan views not being tied down to people and places as the ultimate freedom. Yet the freedom that Ryan enjoys so much is far more constricting than he knows. Ryan actually embodies everything that he normally preaches against in his "backpack" seminars. Instead of aspiring to have a family or owning material possessions such as a house, Ryan craves becoming one of only seven people in the world to achieve the highest frequent flyer miles status. He may not be able to tell you about what is going on in his siblings lives but he can rattle off all the best eateries and car rental places in every city. He keeps hotel room keys like a badge of honour.

The thing I liked about the way Reitman displays Ryan's many contradictions is how subtle it is at first. It only gradually show itself through several small, but key, moments with both Alex and Natalie. Speaking of Alex and Natalie, it must be noted that Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick give exceptional performances in this film. I would even go as far as saying that they literally steal the movie right out of Clooney's hands. Yes Clooney's work in Up in the Air is on par with his best performances in films such as Michael Clayton and Three Kings. Yet it is Farmiga and Kendrick that really make this picture shine.

On the surface Vera Farmiga's Alex is merely the female that might actually be able crack Ryan's cold exterior. As the film progresses we see that Vera's role is far more interesting, and complicated, than just the typical love interest. Farmiga gives the film such weight without ever having to overplay the role. There are so many subtle nuances in her performance that is really fascinating to watch. The same argument can be made for Kendrick who, despite having the flashier role, keeps her character grounded as she runs the gambit of emotions. Kendrick is required to be the shark, the comic relief, the conscience, and the hope in the picture. Natalie has the book smarts but her ambition blinds her to the fact that she is not the female Ryan. She is the person in your office who knows nothing about your day to day work, yet has all these great ideas to make your work easier. You hate her at first but eventually get to understand her and, dare I say, care about her on a certain level.

As I mentioned above, Up in the Air really connected with me as everything mentioned in this film hit extremely close to home on a personal level. It is a film that not only asks us to question what we want out life? But, more importantly, who do we want in the seat beside us while we are on this ongoing trip that life provides us. I did find that the film really struggled at times to reach the hopefully ending. If it was up to me, I would have ended the picture with the night shot of Ryan sitting on his bed looking aimlessly out of the hotel window after a key scene, which I will not spoil here, is revealed. Also in any other year I probably would have cut some of the stuff with the wedding as well. Who knows? Maybe I will reflect on this film again in a few years and see if I am still fond of the film. Yet as it stands today, Up in the Air connected with me in a way few other films have this year. Definitely one of the better films of this year.

Updated List of Big Thoughts From a Small Mind's Reviews.

Please note a more updated film review list can now be found in the "Film Review" tab at top of the page

2011 Movie Report Card (click on titles for full review)

Exceptional (Grade Range A+ to A-)
Beauty Day A+
Rubber A+
13 Assassins +A
Wiebo's War A-

Good (Grade Range B+ to B-)
I Saw the Devil B+
Super B+
The High Cost of Living B+
Machete Maidens Unleashed B
The Pirate Tapes B
Hobo With a Shotgun B
Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives B
The First Grader B
The Black Power Mixtape: 1967 - 1975
The Trip B
Mighty Jerome B
Boy Cheerleaders B-
Trust B-

Passed the time (Grade Range C+ to C-)
The Hangover 2 C
Scream 4 C
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen C
A Screaming Man C
The Chocolate Farmer C
The Lumberfros C
St. Henri, the 26th of August C-

Please make it stop (Grade Range D+ to F)
Viva Riva D
The Adjustment Bureau D
The Mechanic F
Vanishing on 7th Street F
Sucker Punch F

2010 Movie Report Card (click on titles for full review)

Blue Valentine A+
Winter's Bone A+
Inception A+
Micmacs A+
The Art of the Steal A+
Toy Story 3 A+
The Illusionist A+
Dogtooth A+
The Mountain Thief A
The Social Network A
Black Swan A
Dogtooth A
Never Let Me Go A
Ajami A
127 Hours A
The Fighter A
Scott Pilgrim vs the World A
The Kids Are All Right A
The American A
Exit Through the Gift Shop A
Mr. Nobody A-
The Last Exorcism A -
Fish Tank A-
The Messenger A-
Enter the Void B+
True Grit B+
Shutter Island B+
Cargo B+
One Big Hapa Family B+
Home B+
Dear Doctor B+
Year of the Carnivore B
Animal Kingdom B
The Kings Speech B
The Ghost Writer B
Youth in Revolt B
This Movie Is Broken B
Predators B
Machete B
The Town B
Gallants B
Waiting for Superman B
Toilet B
Kick-Ass B
The Book of Eli B
High School B
Despicable Me B
TRON:Legacy C+
Life During Wartime C+
Daybreakers C+
The Joneses C+
RoboGeisha C+
The Expendables C
Chloe C
The Losers C
Hot Tub Time Machine C
Alice in Wonderland C
Heartless C
The Last Lovecraft C
The Karate Kid C
Oxhide II C-
Iron Man 2 C -
Salt C-
Red D+
Faster D+
Edge of Darkness D+
Holy Rollers D
Brooklyn's Finest D
The Lovely Bones D
Centurion D
From Paris with Love D
Splice D
She's Out of My League D
Unthinkable F
Piranha F
Cop Out F

2009 Movie Reviews (click on titles for full review)

Hunger A+
Inglourious Basterds A
Up in the Air A
A Single Man A
Polytechnique A
Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire A
More Than A Game A
A Serious Man A
Gomorrah A
District 9 A
(500) Days of Summer A
Coraline A
Adventureland A –
Where the Wild Things Are A-
I Love You, Man A-
Tyson A-
Treeless Mountain A-
New York, I Love You A-
Black Dynamite B+
The Hurt Locker B+
PontyPool B+
Star Trek B+
Zombieland B+
Fifty Dead Men Walking B
Avatar B
An Education B
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans B
Cloud 9 (Wolke 9) B
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus B
Taking of Pehlam 123 B
Sin Nombre B
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince B
The Brothers Bloom B
Taken B
The Hangover B
Watchmen B
Two Lovers B
Whip It B
Moon B
The Road B
Good Hair B
Sunshine Cleaning B-
Up B-
The International B -
The Princess and the Frog C+
Broken Embraces C+
Che C+
Paranormal Activity C+
Gigantic C
Bronson C
The Men Who Stare At Goats C
Duplicity C
Monsters vs Aliens C
Friday the 13th C
Obsessed C
Public Enemies C
The Informant! C
The Other Man C
Bruno C
9 C
The Proposal C
Antichrist C
Knowing C
Killer View C
Crazy Heart C
Surrogates C-
Sherlock Holmes C-
Orphan C-
Outlander C-
Angels and Demons C-
Fast and Furious C-
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra C-
Ninja Assassin D+
A Christmas Carol D+
The Box D+
He's Just Not That Into You D+
Ponyo D
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen D
The Blind Side D
Transporter 3 D
Observe and Report D
Drag Me To Hell D-
The Limits of Control D-
12 Rounds F
Paul Blart Mall Cop F
X-Men Origins: Wolverine F
Push F
My Bloody Valentine 3D F
Bride Wars F


2008 Movie Reviews (click on titles for full review)

Wall-E A+
The Visitor A+
The Dark Knight A+
Iron Man A
Doubt A
Milk A
I've Loved You So Long (Il y a longtemps que je t'aime) A
Rachel Getting Married A
Tropic Thunder A-
Kung-Fu Panda A-
Forgetting Sarah Marshall B+
Young People Fucking B
The Incredible Hulk B
The Good The Bad The Weird B
Happy Go Lucky B
In Bruges B
Funny Games B
Pinapple Express B
La Vie En Rose B
Hellboy II: The Golden Army B-
Rambo B-
Gran Torino B -
Blindness B-
Quantum of Solace C
The Secret Life of Bees C
Mongol C-
Sex and the City C-
Hancock C
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull C -
Speed Racer D+
Mr. Brooks D
Wanted D
Jumper D
Fool's Gold F
Saw V F
Death Race F
The Happening F
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian F



2007 Movie Reviews (click on titles for full review)

Zodiac A+
No Country for Old Men A+
Little Children A+
Children of Men A+
Michael Clayton A
The Darjeeling Limited A-
Black Snake Moan B+
I Am Legend B+
Vers Le Sud B
Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End B
Blood Diamond B-
Flags of our Fathers B-
Dreamgirls C
The Good Sheperd C-
Hairspray C
Beowulf D
Primeval F
Smoking Aces F


2006 Movie Reviews (click on titles for full review)

Apocalypto A-
Sherrybaby B
The Pursuit of Happiness C


New Classics?

Millon Dollar Baby A
Everyone Says I Love You A
Battle Royale B+


Vintage Flicks

Yojimbo A+
Strangers on a Train A+
M A+
A Married Couple A
Lenny A-
Roman Holiday B+
The Philadelphia Story B
Dial M for Murder B-
Sanjuro C
The Terror F

Retro Picks

Following B+
Extremities B
The Elephant Man C-
Hudson Hawk C-


Short Films

Jellyfish Boy B+
On the Flip Side B


Film Festivals (click on titles for full review)

Toronto After Dark Film Festival
TADFF Reviews
TADFF Daily Picks

TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival)
2010 TIFF Reviews
Countdown to TIFF 2010
2009 Recap Part 1
2009 Recap Part 2
2009 RecapPart 3
2008 Recap Part 1
2008 Recap Part 2
2008 Recap Part 3
2008 Recap Part 4

Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival
2010 Daily Picks
2010 Film Reviews

Shinsedai Cinema Festival
2010 - The Dark Harbour & Jellyfish Boy


Yearly Top Ten
Best Films of 2010
Best Films of 2009
Best Films of 2008
Best Films of 2007
Top Ten Films of the Decade: 2000-2009
Worst Films of 2009

Extras

Commentaries
Adventures in Podcasting
Press Releases
Top 10 / Top 5/ Random Lists
Which is Better?
The Must See List
Movie Marketing Monday
Sharing the Blogging Love
Film Pitches
Blog-a-thons
Whatever Happened To...?

Hunger Can Be Quite Filling

The Full List of Big Thoughts From A Small Mind's 2009 Reviews.

Hunger

There have been many predictions regarding who the Oscar nominees will be this year. Yet the one thing that is usually left out of these discussions is timing. In a year in where the Academy Awards have expanded the Best Picture category to allow ten films, one of the best films of 2009 is not even eligible to compete. Although Steve McQueen's stunning debut, Hunger, hit most theatres this year it actually was eligible for Oscar consideration last year. If Hunger had been able to compete this year I am sure more people would be singing its praises. Similar to The Hurt Locker, I think Hunger would have benefitted greatly from the new Oscar rules; and what seems to be a weaker competition pool in general this year.

Set in Belfast's infamous Maze prison in 1981, Hunger looks at the events leading up to IRA hunger strike led by Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender). The interesting thing about this tale is that Bobby Sands only really factors into the third act of the film. The first part focuses on a prison guard (Stuart Graham) whose work has scarred him emotionally beyond repair. In the second section we see what has caused the prison guard all the mental distress. McQueen shows us two inmates (Brian Milligan and Liam McMahon) who endure hell while participating in a IRA prisoners' protest wear they refuse to wear prison clothes and bathe. The IRA prisoners do not see themselves as criminals and want to get political prisoners' status from the British Government. The protest results in a volatile and violent standoff against the prison guards. The remainder of the film focuses on why Bobby Sands was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the cause.

Hunger is a bleak and unrelenting film that will probably drive many viewers mad with its unconventionality. Why should you see it then? Despite its harsh realistic moments, it is an immensely rewarding picture. Hunger is a brilliant piece of filmmaking that not only renews your faith in the future of cinema, but also challenges you ever step of the way. This film raises many questions and shows you both sides of the tale. Yet do not expect any simple answers, this is a film where the viewer must ultimately come up with their own conclusion and the choice is far from easy.

On one hand you must reflect on the war outside the prison before you can look at the one waging within it. Regardless of the events which led to the birth of the Irish Republic Army, the group, during was considered by many to be a terrorist organization. McQueen provides a glimpse of their ruthlessness in a chilling scene at a nursing home. On the other hand, does this justify the harsh treatment that the men had to endure in prison? Does Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s final decision actually mean that the men, though misguided in their methods, were actually fighting for a proper cause on the outside?

The events in Hunger exist completely in a grey area where actions, no matter how horrible, can be justified for and argued against by both sides equally. The only real commentary that McQueen will divulge is that the whole conflict impacted both sides on a deep emotional level. The fact that neither the government/guards nor the IRA prisoners wanted to back down only made the emotional wounds that much deeper.

Hunger may be Steve McQueen's first film but it is far more accomplished than some of the veteran directors working today. This is a film that will resonate with you for a long while. McQueen is able to get extraordinary performances from his cast. One of my favourite scenes in the whole movie is the twenty minute conversation between Sands and a priest (Liam Cunningham). There is so much going on in this scene, from both an acting and story standpoint, that it take multiple viewings for all the subtle elements to come fully into view. Michael Fassbender, who was also good in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, gives a phenomenal performance as Sands. We have seen many actors gain and lose weight for a role but few have given a performance so powerful that you actually forget you are watching an actor.

Hunger is a film that will make you angry, gross you out at times, and ultimately make you sad for all the parties involved. Yet it is a film that you must see for the sheer magnitude and brilliance of it all. Hunger is hands down one of the best films of the year.

Wild Thing You Make My Heart Sing

I attended the 1st Annual Autumn Harvest Short Film Festival this past weekend. Orchestrated by Damien Dornford, the festival not only showcased up-and-coming filmmakers but also raised money for The Children’s Aid Foundation charity as well. 15 short films, ranging from almost every genre you can think of, were screened for a very lively audience. Be sure to keep an eye of for future installments of this festival as it should not be missed.

Where the Wild Things Are

By the time the ending credits started to role on Spike Jonze’s latest work, Where the Wild Things Are, I was not sure how to process what I had just witnessed. The film was the complete opposite of what I had expected. After reflecting on the film over the last couple of days, it became very apparent that it has been quiet sometime since a live action children’s film really stuck with me like this did.

Adapted from Maurice Sendak's classic children's story, Where the Wild Things Are follows a young boy on a fantastical journey of self-discovery. Feeling isolated from his older sister, Max (Max Records) only has his mother (Catherine Keener) to cling to. Yet when Max’s mom invites her new boyfriend (Mark Ruffalo) over for dinner, Max fears that even she has giving up on him. After running away from home, Max comes across a small sailboat at a local dock. The boat eventually leads Max to a mysterious island where monstrous Wild Things roam. After tricking the Wild Things, most notably Carol (James Gandolfini), into believing he posses magical powers, Max is crowned king of the group. Max soon realizes that even on a mysterious island you cannot runaway from your problems.

While Sendak’s children’s story is considered to be a classic by many, do not go into this film expecting a standard children’s flick. One of the brilliant aspects to this film is that it defies many of the conventions you are use to seeing in most kid’s films nowadays. Hollywood has pushed so many traditional children’s pictures, especially of the animated and/or talking animal kind, down our throats over the last few years that it actually takes a bit of time to truly adjust to the different tone and rhythm of this film. Which is one reason I think this film will catch many off guard in several sections. Where the Wild Things Are is far darker than you initially think it will be. Even the wonderfully dark film, Coraline, seems downright sunny in comparison. Jonze not only captures the dark tones of the source material but he actually engulfs himself in it. Despite the fun Max seems to have with his new found friends, you always feel that Max is walking a very fine line. There is a constant uneasiness that, at any moment, either Judith or Carol will make good on their threats of eating Max.

Jonze is able to create this world that both horrifying and invigorating for a child, through the use of life size puppets and subtle special effects. Despite the fantastical aspect of the Wild Things mere existence the bulk of their world, and of Max’s imagination, is grounded in reality. In many ways the use of full size puppets and realism reminded me of some of beloved childhood films of my youth (e.g. The Neverending Story, Dark Crystal, etc). In an era where children are mainly marketed animated movies in 3D, it is nice to see a filmmaker not afraid to buck the trend. What makes Jonze’s accomplishment even bolder is the fact that all of the Wild Things have their own identifiable qualities. Although not all get equal screen time, you still get a strong understanding of both their unique personalities; and the overall role each plays in the group. Spike Jonze skillfully shows us how each one is a reflection of the different stages of Max’s current life. Although big and fearsome at times, the Wild Things are struggling with issues of family, loneliness, love, having their voices heard, etc. Max naively thinks that by being in charge he can fix in them everything that he fears in himself. Yet as the Wild Things world seemingly get worse it becomes clear to Max that life in general was never simple to begin with. It is this realization in Max, and the audience, that allows the abrupt ending to make perfect sense. Jonze does care about wrapping things up perfectly because that is not how life works.

There are times when Spike Jonze's unique voice makes the film a little too stylized for its own good. Certain freeze frames and camera tricks take you out of the picture momentarily instead of pulling you in further. Personally I think such techniques will probably play much smoother on repeat viewings. Regardless, I am willing to let these moments slide though as the majority of the film both engaging and visually stunning. Although this is one of the better children’s films released this year, parents should note that the film is too disturbing for really young children. Older kids should not have any problems with the material as Where the Wild Things Are perfectly captures the complexities of childhood without talking down to its audience. Jonze has made yet another good film that, similar to Sendak’s original work, will probably be analyzed for generations to come.




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A Game No More

This was originally posted in my 2008 Toronto Film Festival Recap. The review has been fixed up and re-posted as the film will finally was released in theatres today.


More Than A Game

First runner-up to Slumdog Millionaire for the “Peoples Choice Award” at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, More Than A Game is an uplifting tale about friendship, hardship, and determination. The documentary looks at how five friends growing up in Akron, Ohio defied all expectation and changed the way America looked at high school basketball. Through the help of Coach Dru, a businessman who knew little about the sport going in, the five young athletes are forced to overcome many obstacles on and off the court. Not only did four of the five men begin playing together in grade school; but one of them, a kid named LeBron James, would become the first high school student to be handpicked by Sports Illustrated as the next big thing. As the wins start to pile up and the media scrutiny become more rampant, egos arise, relationships become strained, and the adversities mount.

While LeBron James is the marquee name that will most likely bring people to the theatre; the audience will be cheering for Coach Dru and the other members of the aptly dubbed “Fab Five” (Little Dru, Sian, Willie, and Romeo) equally, if not more, by the end. Director Kristopher Belman skillfully gives enough weight to each person so that you get a good understanding of the boys bonds to each other and their coach. Belman could have easily just made a film that was nothing more than a basketball highlight reel. Instead Belman opts to make the basketball games a secondary aspect. The real story is how the boys worked hard to achieve what they wanted. We see the damage the game does to the relationship between Coach Dru and his son Little Dru. Belman also provides good insight to how every choice made by the players drastically changes where they end up later in life. Obviously depending on how much you already know about the LeBron James story may impact how you view the film. For me the film was an eye opener as I knew very little about LeBron prior to his NBA career. Uplifting without being sentimental, More Than A Game is definitely a crowd pleaser on several levels.



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Man, Why So Serious?

This was originally posted in my 2009 Toronto Film Festival Recap. The review has been fixed up and re-posted as the film will finally was released in theatres today.


A Serious Man


After last year’s misstep, Burn After Reading, the Coen Brothers find themselves back on track with A Serious Man. Set in Jewish suburbs of Minnesota in 1967, Larry Gopnik (Michael Stuhlbarg) tries hard to live a good and upstanding Jewish life. Despites his best efforts to a “serious man”, Larry cannot seem to stop this downward spiral he seems to have found himself in. His wife (Sari Lennick) has fallen in love with another man and wants Larry to grant her a religious divorce so she can remarry within the faith. Larry’s children only talk to him when they want money or the television fixed. To make matters worse, Larry’s application for tenure at the University is in jeopardy due to a series of mysterious and damaging letters that have suddenly appeared. Looking for guidance, Larry does what any “serious man” would do…seek counsel from the elusive Rabbi Nachtner (George Wyner).

Due to the underlying bleak tone, and the abrupt ending, A Serious Man is bound to divide audiences. Personally I loved the film, as it was a funny commentary on faith and human nature. Larry does all the right things and his life gets worse by the day; whereas everyone else is committing sinful deeds and seemingly living well. Even the religious leaders, who are the most “serious men” of all, are merely going through the motions. All of the various Rabbis in the picture are quick to provide random stories and rhetoric yet none of them can apply the tales to the actual matter at hand. The performances in this film are fantastic even the bit players provided wonderful moments. Stuhlbarg is by far the standout though. Stuhlbarg brings so much comedic subtly to the role that it is easy to miss upon first glance. As I mentioned before the ending will rub many the wrong way, but I found it rather fitting when looking back at the overall themes of the film.




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