Mad Men (2007-2015)

Genre: TV / Drama

Starring: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, Vincent Kartheiser

Number of seasons: 7

Set in 1960’s, the story of Mad Men revolves around Don Draper, a charming ad man in a fictional Madison Avenue advertising agency first called Sterling Cooper. Draper holds a big and dark secret buried inside him as he tries to balance work, family and his taste for seducing strangers, mostly women. The world evolves around him; sometimes he is on top of his game, other times he falls behind.

The greatness of Mad Men resides in large part in how truly real it feels. Clothing, hairdos, facial hair, attitudes, cars and sets; the viewer really feels like he has been transported back to a time of deep and major changes. The seven seasons of this show cover the whole decade of the 60’s and we see the impact of deaths, assassinations, elections, a moon landing and many other events have had on humanity through the various characters. Things are in a constant evolution, no stagnation. We also have a look how the role of women is society changed over a short period of time. Some of those things would not fly today, not even close. And drinking in the workplace…forget about it.

Jon Hamm is really solid here, as Don Draper. Hamm plays a character that people will love and hate all at once. He has deep flaws, but you cannot help root for him. Other good performances are offered here by Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, Vincent Kartheiser and Johm Slattery. Whether you love or hate their characters, you care, and that is a definite sign that the acting chops are very good. I had a harder time enjoying January Jones’ Betty Draper, though I started to appreciate her more by the end of the series.

I devoured the first few seasons of Mad Men. Then, midway through, it felt lackluster to me. Business picked up later, but the show ultimately ended on a flat note for me. By the end of the last group of seven episodes, I just did not feel it anymore. Nonetheless, for the acting performances and the efforts put into transporting us back in time, I give this show a positive grade overall.

Rating: ««««

La guerre des tuques 3D

Genre: Franco / Animated

Réalisateur: François Brisson et Jean-François Pouliot

Distribution: Mariloup Wolfe, Nicholas Savard-L’Herbier, Sophie Cadieux

Running time: 90 minutes

Durant le congé scolaire des Fêtes, un groupe de jeunes enfants décident de former deux clans qui combattront l’un contre l’autre pour le contrôle d’un fort construit dans la neige. Malheureusement, lorsqu’on se fait la guerre, il est fort probable qu’on se fasse mal.

Cette version animée du classique des Contes pour tous réalisé en 1984 par André Melançon ne réinvente pas l’histoire originale. À part quelques petites omissions, nous y retrouvons pas mal le même déroulement, mais avec de l’animation maintenant au lieu de vraies personnes.

Le résultat en est fort charmant. Au début, j’ai eu un peu de mal à me faire à la qualité de l’animation et à l’aspect visuel des personnages, mais mon œil à tôt fait de s’y habituer. J’ai embarqué dans l’histoire, même si je la connaissais déjà; nous pouvons reconnaître les voix de certains comédiens connus dans les personnages, ce qui est toujours un peu drôle.

Mon seul petit bémol est dans la musique du film. De nombreux artistes bien réputés ont été mis à contribution, mais aucune pièce tirée de ce film d’animation n’est venue me chercher. Un peu dommage. Somme toute, La guerre des tuques 3D est une nouvelle version bien cute de quelque chose qui existait déjà. Cela n’apportera rien à la version originale, à part peut-être la faire découvrir aux plus jeunes. Un bon moment en famille.

Note: «««

Dave Attell: Road Work (2014)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Scott Gawlik

Starring: Dave Attell

Running time: 60 minutes

In this stand-up comedy TV special from 2014, we see Dave Attell at work on the road, in various comedy clubs across the Unites States. Going from Louisiana to Minnesota, the American comic shares his own brand of filthy and dirty humor, to the delight of the small crowds on hand in each spot.

Being a fan of stand-up comedy and having been in a few comedy clubs over the years, I could really feel the energy of those crowds watching Attell at work in intimate settings. The editing was really well done and the movement from one place to another was seamless. That kind of quick pace fitted nicely with the edgy content.

Dave Attell’s comedy stylings will not be everyone’s cup of tea. It is politically incorrect to the max. Personally, I love it. The content is made of dark humor and the delivery is deliberate. Attell does not waste time on long stories, he keeps the punches coming at a fast pace. In the end, he left me wanting more. That was the only issue I found with Road Work: Too short. Still definitely worth watching.

Rating: ««««

Misery (1990)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Rob Reiner

Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall

Running time: 107 minutes

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, this psychological thriller tells the story of novelist Paul Sheldon, who gained success writing novels featuring a character named Misery. After writing his latest novel in a remote lodge in Colorado, he gets in his car to drive back to his home in New York. While driving, he gets caught in a blizzard and has a severe car accident that leaves him badly injured. He is rescued by former nurse, Annie Wilkes, who takes him to her home. Sheldon soon realizes that Wilkes is a fan obsessed with him and his books and that she has no intention of setting him free once he heals up.

Kathy Bates was truly frightening as Annie Wilkes. She made that character so believable; it will give you nightmares thinking about the possibility of falling into the hands of such a person while in a vulnerable position. Bates comes off the screen with utmost presence and intensity, it sure is quite something to take in. James Caan holds his own also, as Paul Sheldon, a man physically broken by a car accident who then has to fight off a psychotic fan set on getting her way.

The story of Misery is quite compelling, and the big screen adaptation was well done. This film grabs you and keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way through.

The only turn off for me was the cutsy ending; it made the ordeal of the main character come off as lighter than it was supposed to be. All the way through, the suspense is strong and the tension is high. Then: Aw shucks, it sure was a tough time, but let’s smile about it. Without that last part, it would have been a perfect movie. It came out 25 years ago and is still a very effective thrilling ride.

Rating: ««««

Eraserhead (1977)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: David Lynch

Starring: Jack Nance, Charlotte Stewart, Allen Joseph

Running time: 89 minutes

Eraserhead is the story of Henry Spencer, a man who is left to take care of his extremely deformed child after the mother walks out on them, because of the incessant crying of the newborn odd creature.

This is David Lynch’s first feature-length film, and to say that it is not my cup of tea is an understatement. I can recognize the artistic merit of a film that was clearly made with a small budget stretched over a long period of time. That being said, it was a complete and utter mess of nonsense to me. I simply could not get into it. Some might dig the creativity of it, but, personally, I cannot recommend this one.

Rating: «

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Genre: Film Noir

Directed by: Charles Laughton

Starring: Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish

Running time: 92 minutes

Reverend Harry Powell travels through small towns preaching and killing people. After he gets arrested for a small crime, he spends time in jail with a man about to be hanged. He comes to find out that his cellmate stashed quite a bit of money around his house, where his wife and two kids are still living. The man has instructed his young son to protect his younger sister and to never tell anyone where the money is, but, upon his release, Powell sets his sight on that man’s family, hoping to get the massive loot.

Robert Mitchum is absolutely spectacular as Reverend Powell, a despicable man who uses his charms to get his way and kill people. The scenes of him singing alone in the night, so as to let the people afraid of him know he’s coming, are truly frightening. Billy Chapin was also very good for his young age as the boy trying to protect his dead father’s money from Powell.

Originally, The Night of the Hunter did not gather much success for Charles Laughton, but this film has come to influence many a director with its expressionistic style. The use of shadows, sets, camera angles and such is a wonderful thing to see for movie-lovers out there.

I really enjoyed The Night of the Hunter. The pace is slow and deliberate, making the movie scarier in the process. Things fell apart a little and got corny in the end, but, overall, this classic film offers a compelling storyline directed by a talented moviemaker and delivered on screen by a solid cast.

Rating: ««««