Staten Island Summer (2015)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Rhys Thomas

Cast: Graham Phillips, Zack Pearlman, John DeLuca

Running time: 107 minutes

Danny and Frank have been best friends since forever. Now, it is the last summer before Danny goes on to Harvard, and they both work as lifeguards at the same water park. Their goal is to end summer with a big bash, with their fellow employees at the water park and all of their friends. Their main idea is to score with women, but they have to contend with a boss that wants to put the kibosh on the celebrations.

Staten Island Summer is your average teen sex comedy, filled with lusty boys, party animals, prudes, loose women, clueless parents and controlling father figures. There is no room for anything but extremes and clichés here. Every character fits in a category we have seen many times before.

That being said, this 2015 comedy, that has more than its share of SNL alumnis in the cast, manages to be funny a good portion of the time. It does not reinvent the recipe, but it does a decent job of delivering a potable version of it.

Rating: «««

Little Accidents (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Sara Colangelo

Cast: Elizabeth Banks, Boyd Holbrook, Chloë Sevigny, Josh Lucas

Running time: 105 minutes

In a small American town already devastated by a mining that left a big group of men dead, the mood only gets darker when the teenage son of the company man held responsible by many in town for the accident disappears. The boy was accidently killed in an altercation with another kid, who then hid the body in the wood to conceal his involvement. These two events will bring together the dead kid’s mother, the boy involved in his death and a former minor who survived the mining accident.

While overly dramatic at times, Little Accidents offers nonetheless a sincere look at a town dealing with dramatic events the best it can. Such situations will bring its share of conflicts, with lawyers and the likes being involved. These ordeals tend to tear people apart, and the filmmakers do a good job of showing that here.

The acting is mostly solid here, especially from Elizabeth Banks and Boyd Holbrook. This 2014 drama is to be viewed with minimal expectations, and it should be avoided if you are turned off by dreary settings.

Rating: «««

Last Weekend (2014)

Genre: Drama / Comedy

Directed by: Tom Dolby and Tom Williams

Cast: Patricia Clarkson, Zachary Booth, Joseph Cross

Running time: 94 minutes

Celia and Malcolm Green are thinking about selling their lake house in California. The matriarch, who is the definite leader of the family, invites her two sons and their entourage for a long weekend to announce their decision. Unfortunately, events unfold and things unravel, destroying all plans.

The premise of this film offered much promise, but things kind of fell apart for me in the delivery. First off, I found most of the acting performances fake and unconvincing. Also, the overly artsy look of some of the camera shots was distracting. And, I found most of the characters so annoying that I really did not care about their fate and their life going forward. That made it hard to get emotionally invested in the story. So, overall, one could say there is nothing much to redeem this film in my book.

Rating: «

Mystery Road (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Ivan Sen

Cast: Aaron Pedersen, Hugo Weaving, Jack Thompson

Running time: 118 minutes

Written and directed by Ivan Sen, and set in the town of Winton, Queenland, Australia, Mystery Road tells the story of Detective Jay Swan, who investigates the death of an aboriginal teenage girl whose body was found on the side of the road.

This film has received many accolades, but, simply put, it did not resonate with me. At first, I found the Australian accent off-putting and hard to understand. By the time, I got used to it; I could not get into the story. There was something missing to truly hook me, and I’m not quite sure what it was. Maybe I simply was not in the right mood for this particular film. In any case, I did not find anything memorable to hold onto here.

Rating: «

Hot Tub Time Machine 2 (2015)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Steve Pink

Cast: Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Adam Scott

Running time: 99 minutes

Lou Dorchen and Nick Webber have both benefited from their trip back in time to build successful careers and become rich and famous. When Lou gets shot in the groin during a party, Nick and Lou’s son, Jacob, bring the victim back to the hot tub to go back in time and stop the killer. But, instead of ending up in the past, they go to the future of an alternate universe, where the mystery shooter is.

The premise of this sequel is even sillier than the one of the original. They really worked hard, trying to make another soup from the leftovers of the first film, but they should not have bothered. Hot Tub Time Machine 2 is fully focused on the humor, at the expense of the story and of common sense. The problem is that, with a few exceptions, the jokes are not that funny. It is no wonder really that John Cusack stayed away from this one.

Rating: ««

12 Years a Slave (2013)

Genre: Historical / Drama

Directed by: Steve McQueen

Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’O, Sarah Paulson

Running time: 134 minutes

Based on the slave narrative memoirs of Solomon Northup, 12 Years a Slave tells the story of how a free African-American man living with his wife and kids in the New York area was enslaved for over a decade. Northup, who was making a living as a violinist, was invited to perform in Washington by two white men, who then drugged him and sold him to a slave pen. It would take 12 years of hardships before he would get his freedom back. Solomon Northup would then become an advocate for the abolition of slavery.

This film is not for the faint of heart. Some scenes can be hard to take, as the violence is very graphic and feels quite real. That being said, the subject matter demanded such realism. As it was long ago, we tend to forget about the atrocity that was slavery, but, at least, a movie like 12 Years a Slave did a great job shining a bright light on it.

All of the actors involved did a solid job here carrying their respective characters. The makers of 12 Years a Slave had a loaded cast to work with, with names such as Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti and Brad Pitt. In some cases, these actors had smaller roles. Fortunately, in all cases, the appearance of these well-known actors did not feel like cameos and they did not take away from the whole package.

12 Years a Slave is a film that has to be seen, at least once, if not more. I highly recommend it.

Rating: «««««

Bad Santa 2 (2016)

Genre: Christmas / Comedy

Directed by: Terry Zwigoff

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Kathy Bates, Christina Hendricks, Brett Kelly

Running time: 92 minutes

Many years have passed since Willie was stabbed in the back by his partner in crime Marcus. Now a free man, he gets fired from his valet parking job because of another incident in the workplace. As Willie is about to commit suicide in his apartment, Thurman Merman, who is now 21, comes in and tells him that someone has sent him money and a phone. The gift is from Marcus, who is apologetic and wants Willie to go in the crime business with him again. Marcus also has another partner also, in the person of Sunny, Willie’s estranged mother. Though he is hesitant at first, due to his hatred for the woman who gave birth to him and for the man that turned on him, Willie will be convinced to get on board to steal money from a charitable organization before Christmas.

As one could expect, this sequel to the 2003 Christmas black comedy is lewd, crude and vulgar. And, really, it is part of its charm. While not as good as the original, which remains a favorite of mine, the second one is not without charm. Sure, some of the magic was gone and a little too much emphasis was put on constant punchlines, at the expense of the story, but I was still entertained by this movie.

The role of Willie is tailor-made for Billy Bob Thornton. He did a great job in it. Kathy Bates, as the brash crooked mother figure, was an awesome addition to the cast. The lovely Christina Hendricks was also a nice touch.

Overall, Bad Santa 2 needs to be taken for what it is: A raucous black comedy not meant to make you think too hard. It doesn't feel as fresh as the original, but, if you have seen the first one and love the characters, it is worth watching for the entertainment value.

Rating: «««

About Alex (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Jesse Zwick

Cast: Nate Parker, Jason Ritter, Maggie Grace, Max Greenfield

Running time: 96 minutes

A group of longtime friends from college reunites for a few days at a country house after one of them, Alex, tries to commit suicide. They are all at a sort of crossroads in their respective lives, and things are sure to unravel following the traumatic events.

In reviews, About Alex has suffered greatly from comparisons to The Big Chill. The plots are indeed quite similar.

That being said, I still enjoyed this 2014 drama greatly. The story was compelling, the acting was good and the bond between the characters, quite tenuous at times, felt quite real. Every character is very self-centered, but that is the nature of the beast with this generation.

All things considered, though it certainly does not reinvent anything storytelling-wise, About Alex is still a compelling drama about life and friendships.

Rating: ««««

Romance & Cigarettes (2005)

Genre: Musical / Romantic Comedy

Directed by: John Turturro

Cast: James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi

Running time: 105 minutes

Set in the modern day working class New York City, this musical tells the story of Nick Murder, a man whose marriage to his wife Kitty Kane is on the rocks after she finds out about his affair with another woman, named Tula. Nick is now torn between his passion for Tula and the family life with his wife.

This movie, which was written and directed by John Turturro, a talented actor in his own right, reunites a great ensemble cast on screen. With names such as James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Kate Winslet, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Aida Turturro and many more, a lot of talent was on the set.

With the cast involved, and the music in the soundtrack, which was great, I so wanted to love this movie. Unfortunately, I did not. The premise was compelling, but I found the way they brought the story to life on screen silly and hard to follow. In spite of all the talent involved, this film never really captivated me. I kept tuning it out. In the end, it was a big disappointment to me.

Rating: ««

Poltergeist 3 (1988)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Gary Sherman

Cast: Tom Skerritt, Nancy Allen, Heather O’Rourke, Lara Flynn Boyle

Running time: 98 minutes

After her recent bouts with malevolent spirits looking to take her away, young Carol Anne Freeling has been sent by her parents to live with her aunt and uncle in Chicago. But, as you would expect, the evil spirit of Reverend Kane still manages to find the young girl and he still needs her, so her purity can lead him into the light.

The scariest thing about this horror film is the sight of young Heather O’Rourke. She was sick during the shooting of this film and it showed. Her face was all bloated and she did not seem well at all. Sadly, she passed away months before the release of the film, due to intestinal issues.

The rest of the movie is so bad it is laughable. The script is horrible and the acting is putrid. Zelda Rubinstein worked well in small doses in the first film, but she was given more and more lines to deliver in the two sequels, and it did not go well. The rest of the cast was not much better. Julian Beck had died, so the character of Reverend Henry Kane was portrayed on screen by Nathan Davis and looked totally cartoonish. That was unfortunate, as Kane was the only highlight in the bleak second Poltergeist movie.

All things considered, this film should be avoided at all costs.

Rating: «

Mercenaries (2014)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Christopher Ray

Cast: Kristanna Loken, Brigitte Nielsen, Vivica A. Fox

Running time: 90 minutes

During a visit to Kazakhstan, the daughter of the US president is taken hostage for ransom by a female warlord. At a loss as to how to get the first daughter back home safe, the CIA recruits a group of female convicts with special skills for this very special mission.

Mercenaries is your typical ass-kicking action movie where very little emphasis is put on writing a compelling story that makes sense. It was a nice touch to have strong female ass-kickers in this film, but, beyond that, this film has not much more than your usual clichés to offer. A few scenes made me chuckle, but this remains a very forgettable title.

Rating: ««

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Steve Pink

Cast: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke

Running time: 99 minutes

After their friend Lou ends up in the hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning, following an incident they suspect was a suicide attempt. Adam and Nick, whose respective lives are going nowhere, decide to book a trip to a ski resort where they use to go when they were younger. The three longtime friends bring along Jacob, Adam’s young adult nephew with them on the trip. Following a night of drinking, they go for a soak in the hot tub, but some bizarre circumstances will bring them back in time to 1986. As they look for a way to go back to their normal life, they must insure that things go as they did in their past so as to avoid the butterfly effect on the present they want to go back to.

In spite of its silly premise, the finished product is still a very entertaining comedy. The cast was solid, considering the genre and the material. They made what could easily have become a stupid mess a good film.

Hot Tub Time Machine is a comedy that is well worth watching. Some zaniness and funny business, with many great tracks from the 80’s; overall, it is a fun and movie.

Rating: ««««

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Brian Gibson

Cast: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke

Running time: 91 minutes

After their home was destroyed by the poltergeist that haunted it, Steven and Diane Freeling took refuge at the house of Diane’s mother. Unfortunately, a change of scenery was not enough, and the evil spirits followed them to their new location. One year later, the malevolent spirits are coming back again for Carol Anne, and the Freelings will get the help of a psychic and a Native American shaman to fight them off.

The same main actors are back to play the members of the Freeling family, except for Dominique Dunne, who, sadly, was murdered by her boyfriend shortly after the first movie of the franchise came out. Zelda Rubinstein is also back, as the psychic Tangina Barrons.

Another unfortunate thing, though less dramatic this time, is that the actors were not given much to work with the second time around. The script was silly and cheesy, and totally uninteresting. The magic of the first film was gone. The quality of the material is reflected in the work of the actors, which was very uninspired and wooden.

The bright spot in this dim experience of a movie for me was Julian Beck’s performance as Reverend Henry Kane, the human form incarnation of the evil spirits coming after Carol Anne Freeling. He kind of reminded me of Robert Mitchum’s character in The Night of the Hunter, only even more sinister and evil.

It was also a nice touch to see Will Sampson, of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest fame, though his performance was nothing to write home about.

Overall, this sequel to the classic that is Poltergeist does not have much to offer. It is a major letdown.

Rating: ««

Lilyhammer (2012-2014)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Steven Van Zant, Trond Fausa Aurvâg, Steinar Sagen

Number of seasons: 3

American mafia underboss Frank Tagliano goes into Witness Protection after testifying against new mob head, Aldo Delucci. Inspired by the Olympics held there in 1994, Tagliano chooses to be relocated to Lillehammer, Norway, where he will make a new life for himself as a club owner. While he will somewhat adapt himself to his new surroundings, Frank’s mobster roots are sure to come back to the surface once in a while.

Lilyhammer was one of the first TV show originally distributed in North America by Netflix, though it was first shown in Norway.

Steven Van Zant, better known as guitarist of the E. Street Band, is absolutely amazing as Frank Tagliano. He played a mobster in The Sopranoes before, and he did it again brilliantly in Lilyhammer. He has the right look for it. I would not cast him as the main love interest in a romantic comedy, but, for the role of Tagliano, he was great. The supporting cast was also very good.

Some things in this show do not make sense, like Frank Tagliano understanding most of what is said to him in Norwegian right upon arrival, simply after listening to some tapes, though he never learns to speak it. I get that this liberty makes storytelling much easier, but it flies in the face of logic. Also, because of the scenery, some of the subtitles were hard to see and read. I still managed to grasp the jist of it all, but I have missed some bits of dialogue.

All things considered, though, Lilyhammer remains a very good show. I popped huge for the many references to The Godfather and The Sopranoes. A cameo by Bruce Springsteen in the last episode was also great.

Rating: ««««

Swelter (2014)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Keith Parmer

Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Josh Henderson, Brad Carter

Running time: 96 minutes

Five robbers perpetrated an armed robbery in a Vegas casino. In the process, one of them was shot in the head and presumed dead. The other four were captured and sent to jail. The one who was shot was rescued by a local physician. With no memory of his past as a criminal, he becomes the sheriff in the small town of Baker. Upon their release from jail, three members of the gang break out their leader and go on a hunt to find their former partner and the 10 million dollars they had stolen from that casino. Their search will lead them to Baker, where a confrontation between the past and the present is inevitable.

The filmmakers tried to make a gangster movie with some elements of a western, and the end result is not very satisfying. The acting was for the most part very bland and uninspired. Even Van Damme, from which not much is to be expected, has given better performances in the past.

As for the storyline of Swelter, it is thin and full of holes. It probably melted in the hot California sun, which was an important character in this film. Overall, this is a very forgettable movie. Do not bother, unless you are a masochist.

Rating: «

The Girl Next Door (2004)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Luke Greenfield

Cast: Emile Hirsch, Elisha Cuthbert, Timothy Olyphant

Running time: 108 minutes

Matthew Kidman is a very good student who has always respected the rules. Now a senior, he has been accepted to Georgetown University and he is in the running for a major scholarship, that he very much needs to go on with his education. A whole lot of craziness then comes into his life, in the form of Danielle, who moves in next door to housesit. The boy falls for the new neighbor, only to find out that she is a former porn star.

I must admit, Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert have a very good chemistry on screen. They work very well off each other.

While The Girl Next Door was not the greatest film ever made, it was still a fun romantic comedy. It contains its share of clichés, but, on occasion, it did manage to deviate for the usual recipe and offered some interesting twists. There was also a good dose of good funny lines. While nothing spectacular, the acting was mostly good.

The biggest charm of this movie is that it does not take itself seriously. It is meant to be enjoyed for what it is: Entertaining and light.

Rating: «««

Mourir à tue-tête (1979)

Genre: Franco / Drama / Documentary

Réalisateur: Anne Claire Poirier

Distribution: Julie Vincent, Germain Houde, Monique Miller, Micheline Lanctôt

Running time: 96 minutes

À mi-chemin entre l’œuvre de fiction et le documentaire, Mourir à tue-tête est en fait un manifeste féministe sur le viol. Une réalisatrice et une monteuse travaillent à un film sur le viol et s’interrogent sur ce sujet controversé. Les scènes de leur film sont entrecoupés de leurs discussion, d’images d’archives montrant les diverses façons dont les hommes ont violé des femmes dans l’histoire de l’humanité et d’une portion où divers personnages féminins de différentes couches de la société tenter d’expliquer leur vision du viol à un juge mâle très peu ouvert d’esprit.

Le film auquel travaillent la réalisatrice et sa monteuse raconte l’histoire de Suzanne, une infirmière sortant de son quart de travail tard le soir. Elle est accostée par un homme qui la traîne de force dans la partie arrière de son camion pour la violer. La scène du viol, tourné à partir du point de vue de la victime, est d’une dureté incroyable, autant dans la parole que dans le geste. Le cauchemar de Suzanne s’éternise et nous en venons à nous sentir comme si nous étions dans ses souliers. Germain Houde est convaincant au point d’en être déconcertant dans le rôle du violeur. La haine et le mépris que son personnage éprouve pour les femmes transpirent de tous les pores de sa peau. La réalisatrice a fait du bon travail en montrant ce qui devait l’être avec honnêteté sans tomber dans l’exploitation de la nudité.

Comme toute œuvre féministe, ce film d’Anne Claire Poirier manque grandement de nuances. En voyant ce film, on pourrait croire que tous les hommes sont des violeurs potentiels et qu’il n’y a jamais eu de femmes violeuses et de gars violés. Nous savons tous que, même si les proportions sont moindres, ces derniers phénomènes existent bel et bien.

Cela étant dit, comme tout bon documentaire, ce film de 1979 avait un message à passer et voulait donner une voix aux femmes. Il est encore d’actualité, malgré les préjugés véhiculés, et il serait encore apte à alimenter les discussions. En ce sens, Mourir à tue-tête demeure une œuvre à voir.

Note: «««

Anna (2013)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Jorge Dorado

Cast: Mark Strong, Taissa Farmiga, Noah Taylor

Running time: 99 minutes

John Washington works as a detective for an agency specialized in viewing memories. Through psychic ability, the detective sits down with clients and enters their memories to find out the truth about particular cases. Still coping with the loss of his wife to suicide, John is looking to get back into his work. He is sent to see Anna Greene, a brilliant but dangerous teenage girl, with the mandate of having her stop her hunger strike. But, he is in for much more than that.

The premise of this film was so interesting that I was willing to suspend disbelief and give it a chance. What I got was a very compelling story that could have given a great thriller. There were plenty of riveting plot twists and the viewer was kept guessing as to what the truth was up until the end. Unfortunately, the acting was so badly stiff that it kept taking away from my appreciation. In the end, I was left disappointed and wondering what could have been.

Rating: ««

Bad Santa (2003)

Genre: Christmas / Comedy

Directed by: Terry Zwigoff

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Tony Cox, Lauren Graham, Brett Kelly

Running time: 91 minutes

Willie Stokes and Marcus have had the same scheme going for years: Every holiday season, they find a job as Santa and elf in a shopping mall. Once their gig is over, they rob the place and make their escape only to start again in a different city the next year. Slowly, Willie’s propensity for the bottle and the pleasures of the flesh with big women is putting the business in jeopardy. When they arrive in Phoenix, Willie meets Thurman Merman, a lonely overweight kid who is living with his senile grandma and is being constantly bullied at school. At first, Willie finds the annoyingly gullible kid aggravating, but the boy slowly starts to grow on him.

Considering the sequel is coming out soon, I decided to revisit this film, which is a guilty pleasure of mine. It remains one of the few Christmas movies I truly love.

Billy Bob Thornton was tailor-made for this role. While he has offered much greater performances in such films as Sling Blade, Thornton goes full force into the role of a drunken and broken man who might very well find his redemption. In that sense, the character of Willie Stokes reminds us of The Grinch, whose heart finally grew.

The rest of the cast also did a good job. It was particularly a treat to see John Ritter in here. This film was shot shortly before his untimely death.

Overall, while Bad Santa is not your typical wholesome holiday film, I deeply appreciate it for daring to be crude and dark in a comedic way. This is one of those I can watch again and again.

Rating: «««««

13 Sins (2014)

Genre: Horror / Thriller

Directed by: Daniel Stamm

Cast: Devon Graye, Mark Webber, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Ron Perlman

Running time: 92 minutes

This remake of a Thai horror comedy film tells the story of Elliot Brindle, a man who has a mentally handicapped brother, a dependent father and a wife-to-be to take care of, but, as his wedding date is approaching, he loses his job in sales. Desperate for money, he gets a mysterious call from a man telling him he’s been selected to take part in a game, where he will be asked to perform 13 evil deeds. The first thing he must do is kill a fly, but, as they go along, the demands become more and more extreme and are worth more and more money. If he reaches the end, he is a millionaire. If he quits, he loses everything.

I really enjoyed the premise of this film and I felt like the storytelling was really effective in keeping the viewer guessing. I loved the darkness of this movie’s tone, but I felt a bit let down by the ending. It fell kind of flat for me. That being said, I was still quite entertained by 95% of this film, so I certainly cannot trash it completely. As far as the acting goes, it was pretty good. This is worth watching, with medium expectations.

Rating: «««

Poltergeist (1982)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Tobe Hooper

Cast: JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke

Running time: 93 minutes

Steven and Diane Freeling are living in a cozy little Californian suburb, but their idyllic life turns to a nightmare when an evil spirit, or poltergeist, abducts Carol Anne, the couple’s youngest daughter, within her home. The Freelings will seek help from ghost experts to retrieve their sweet little girls from the grip of these malevolent ghostly creatures.

Written by the great Steven Spielberg, the original Poltergeist movie remains a classic to this day. The special effects were particularly well done, especially for the era when the film was made. Also, the Freelings felt like a real tight-knit family who would go through hellfire and brimstone to get one of their own back. It did not feel fake at all. Everybody was good in their respective roles.

While not the scariest movie of all-time, Poltergeist does a solid job of keeping you on edge. With good acting, a compelling storyline and great special effect, it is a film well worth seeing, if you haven’t already done so. If you have seen it, it is good enough to watch again. It is sad to think that two of the movie’s starts, Heather O’Rourke and Dominique Dunne, would die prematurely a few years after its release.

Rating: «««««

96 Minutes (2012)

Genre: Drama / Thriller

Directed by: Aimée Lagos

Cast: Brittany Snow, Evan Ross, Christian Serratos, J. Michael Trautmann

Running time: 93 minutes

This dramatic thriller covers a day in the life of four students, with distinct stories, whose path will cross. Over the course of a 96 minutes period, their lives will be forever changed as they travel together in the same stolen vehicle, with one of them badly injured by a bullet to the face.

96 Minutes goes back and forth between the intense car ride and the events that lead to it and it does a good job of it. The movements in time were seamless. Great job by the director, as the pace was kept fast, and we were kept guessing all the way through as far as how it would end.

As far as the acting was concerned, the performances were mostly OK, though nothing was really spectacular in that department. The ending was disappointing, and it felt a little rushed.

Overall, this is a decent thriller, with some good and bad elements. Very average.

Rating: «««

Le Ring intérieur (2002)

Genre: Franco / Documentary

Réalisateur: Dan Bigras

Distribution: Dan Bigras, Charles Ali Nestor, David Loiseau, Steve Vigneault

Durée: 75 minutes

Dans ce documentaire de 2002, le chanteur, musicien et cinéaste Dan Bigras s’est servi de sa propre aventure dans l’entraînement pour les arts martiaux mixtes pour faire un essai  sur la colère et sur les façons de la canaliser positivement. Bigras s’est adonné à ce sport pour rebâtir son corps, ravagé par des années d’abus d’alcool.

Dans Le Ring intérieur, Bigras discutent avec Charles Ali Nestor, David Loiseau et Steve Vigneault du parcours de vie qui les a menés aux combats extrêmes. Tout au long du documentaire, la colère demeure un thème principal. Ce film offre un petit séjour dans un monde fascinant tout en montrant qu’il est possible de se servir d’une énergie potentiellement destructrice pour en faire quelque chose de positif.

Rating: ««««

Very Good Girls (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Naomi Foner

Cast: Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Olsen, Boyd Holbrook

Running time: 91 minutes

Lilly and Gerri have been best friends for a long time. During their last summer before college, they are both set on losing their virginity. But, when they fall for the same guy, an artist they meet on the beach, their strong friendship is tested to the max.

This is the first feature film directed by Naomi Foner, and it was severely bashed by most movie critics. I, for one, did not hate this film. Sure, it contains a good dose of clichés, but the acting on the part of Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen was pretty good. They managed to conjure the difficulties of those late teenage years, where drama is always close by.

All things considered, Very Good Girls is not a very good film, but it is not a bad one either. It could have been so much more, especially considering the supporting cast contained names such as Richard Dreyfuss, Demi Moore, Ellen Barkin and Peter Sarsgaard. The script kind of floated on the surface, never really sinking its teeth in the story. There are definitely some missed opportunities there, but what was delivered on the screen was still potable.

Rating: «««

Halloween (1978)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: John Carpenter

Cast: Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, P.J. Soles

Running time: 91 minutes

On Halloween night of 1963, young Michael Myers, 6, stabs his older sister to death in the family home. The boy is then committed to a mental institution, from which he escapes 15 years later. Myers travels back to his hometown with the goal to kill again. With Dr. Loomis on his trail, Michael Myers is on the loose, and Laurie Strode, who is babysitting on Halloween night, seems set to cross his path.

This film has become a classic of the horror/slasher genre. It is a very effective movie in the sense that it doesn’t rely in extreme violence and goriness to cause an effect. John Carpenter concentrates on setting a tone and an atmosphere, with a slow and deliberate pace and really good eerie music. You know something is coming, you just don’t know when it will come.

The acting is sometimes a bit hammy and some of the scenes of violence come off as a tad cartoonish at times, especially when you look at it almost 40 years later, but, when you see it as a product of its time, Halloween is a very good horror movie.

Rating: ««««

Keeping Up with the Joneses (2016)

Genre: Comedy / Action

Directed by: Greg Mottola

Cast: Zack Galifianakis, Jon Hamm, Isla Fisher, Gail Gadot

Running time: 105 minutes

Jeff and Karen Gaffney are a down-to-earth and plain suburban couple living in a cozy and beautiful cul-de-sac in Atlanta. Their calm lifestyle takes a sharp turn when Tim and Natalie Jones move next door. Karen soon starts suspecting the Joneses of being spies. At first, Jeff is too enamored with his new neighbors to believe it, but, soon enough, the Gaffneys are embroiled in a massive case of espionage that involves Jeff’s workplace.

This new release has been bashed by critics, but, in my humble opinion, this is a fun little movie that needs to be taken for what it is meant to be: Entertainment. All four main actors gave decent performances, though Jon Hamm basically played the kind of role he is known for, and the script contained many good jokes. There were some weaker moments, and the strong ones were not earth-shatteringly funny, but I was still entertained by this film. All things considered, it was a fun time at the movies.

Rating: «««

Felony (2013)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Matthew Saville

Cast: Joel Edgerton, Tom Wilkinson, Jai Courtney

Running time: 105 minutes

Mal Toohey is a well-respected police detective who gets shot in the line of duty during a raid, but is saved by his protective vest. That evening, he goes out to celebrate with his fellow officers. As he drives back home, after drinking too much, he hits a teenage boy who was traveling on his bike. Mal calls an ambulance, but fails to tell anyone of his involvement in the accident. An honest young cop, who falls for the boy’s mother, suspects Toohey of being the person responsible, so he starts investigating the matter, though his superiors are trying to convince him to let it go.

While the subject matter of this Australian thriller is nothing really new in itself, the script and the directorial job done by Matthew Saville manage to breathe some freshness into the concept of the good cop trying to do his job in spite of the bad ones trying to protect each other.

There are some solid acting performances here, especially on Tom Wilkinson’s part. The veteran actor does a solid job as the senior detective trying to protect his younger officer, in spite of the fact that he knows he did something terribly wrong. A few of Wilkinson’s dialogues with his fellow cast members were really intense and well done.

Overall, this is a really good movie. I especially appreciated the fact that the filmmakers did not try to paint a rosy picture by the time the movie ended. It is a more realistic way of seeing things to say that, sometimes, people do choose to ignore the reality in certain situations.

Rating: ««««

Le Dîner de cons (1998)

Genre: Franco / Comedy

Réalisateur: Francis Veber

Distribution: Jacques Villeret, Thierry Lhermitte, Daniel Prévost

Durée: 77 minutes

Chaque semaine, Pierre Brochant, éditeur, organise avec ses amis un dîner de cons. Le but de cet exercice mesquin est d’inviter quelqu’un que l’on voit comme un con pour se moquer de lui abondamment. Cette fois-ci, grâce à un ami, Pierre a trouvé tout un spécimen : François Pignon, un employé du ministère de Finances qui construit fièrement des maquettes de lieux célèbres en allumettes. Peu de temps avant le dîner en question, Brochant se fait un tour de reins en jouant au golf, mais il espère tout de même être des festivités et il invite Pignon chez lui pour l’étudier un peu. Il n’a alors pas idée à quel point le karma va le rattraper.

Le Dîner de cons est en fait une adaptation de la pièce de théâtre du même nom. Le film garde une grande théâtralité, ce qui lui donne beaucoup de charme.

La chimie entre Thierry Lhermitte et Jacques Villeret à l’écran est absolument fabuleuse. Autant on a envie de détester l’un qu’on ne peut s’empêcher d’aimer l’autre. Je suis particulièrement fan de Villeret. Juste au moment où on n’en revient pratiquement pas à quel point son personnage peut être con, il réussit à nous toucher à nous attendrir. Le regretté Villeret fait un travail de maître ici, et son comparse est très convaincant lui aussi dans le rôle de l’éditeur Brochant.

Ce film est une grande petite comédie. Bien qu’il ne dure pas très longtemps, il en a beaucoup à offrir. Film à voir et à revoir.

Rating: «««««

30 Rock (2006-2013)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer

Number of seasons: 7

Liz Lemon is head writer for TGS, a sketch comedy show ala Saturday Night Live. As part of her job, Liz must contend with Jack Donaghy, the very controlling network executive for NBC. Over the course of the series, Lemon and Donaghy develop a very special working relationship. She must also learn to deal with lazy writers, egotistical actors and a load of funny characters at work, not leaving her much time for her ailing personal life.

This show was created by the wonderful Tina Fey, who took inspiration from her years as a writer for SNL. I can imagine the things she has seen there at 30 Rockerfeller Plaza.

Fey also plays the lead role in 30 Rock. The character of Liz Lemon was tailor-made for her and she was great in it. That said, the shining star here for me was Alec Baldwin. He brought Jack Donaghy to life and made you forget it was an actor here delivering lines. This show gave me a bigger appreciation for the better-known Baldwin brother.

As far as secondary roles go, I really popped big for Rachel Dratch in her many appearances as various zany characters. Chris Parnell, as Dr. Leo Spaceman, and Dean Winters, as Dennis, a former flame of Liz Lemon, were other highlights for me. I have used that “Hey Dummies” line many times.

It took me longer to get used to the characters portrayed by Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski. They grew on me as the show went along, but they were never favorites of mine.

30 Rock offers loads of laughs, through a long list of classic episodes. It was also a lot of fun to see the various cameos through the seven seasons of the show. Overall, this is well worth watching for comedy fans.

Rating: ««««

Home Run (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: David Boyd

Cast: Scott Elrod, Dorian Brown, Charles Henry Wyson

Running time: 113 minutes

Cory Brand is an alcoholic, just like his dad was. Now a pro baseball player, his definite talent for the game is marred by his destructive behavior on and off the field. After his latest incident got him suspended by his team, Cory is sent by his agent back to his hometown to take part in a publicity stunt. On the way there, Cory is involved in a car crash, where speed and alcohol was a factor, which leaves his brother badly hurt. The fallen hero is then forced to enter a 12-step program and to do some community service, by coaching a young baseball team.

The message of this film comes at you like a baseball straight in the middle of the plate, that you can see coming a mile away. This is a movie with a Christian theme where a man with demons is forced to surrender himself to a higher power to find redemption. Not necessarily my cup of tea, but, at least, the filmmakers are clear in their intentions here.

Home Run is not a bad film in itself. The cast members are all mostly unknown, except maybe for Vivica A. Fox, but they all do a decent job. For this genre, I have seen so much worst. The story is also compelling, though you can clearly see the strings. The tender and harder moments are highlighted in a major way with sappy music. And, in the end, everything seems to come together a little too easily. Nonetheless, this is one of the better sappy Christian feel-good movies you can find.

Rating: «««

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

Genre: Musical

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Ewan McGregor, John Leguizamo

Running time: 128 minutes

In 1900, Christian, a depressed British writer who moved to Paris the year before, looks back on his relationship with cabaret singer and courtesan Satine, with whom he fell in love while at the Moulin Rouge.

Visually-speaking, this is a magnificent film. The colors, the costumes, the sets: the whole thing comes off the screen with a loud and beautiful scream. The story of Moulin Rouge! is an eternally compelling one, about the battle between monetary considerations and absolute feelings in the matters of the heart.

The two leads, Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor, are very good in their respective roles. The supporting cast also did some solid work here.

It was an interesting choice to adapt and use modern songs in a movie set in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. It gave the movie a very fresh and distinct feel.

Overall, though musicals are not necessarily my favorite thing and this one offers a good dose of cheesiness, which was to be expected, it remains a very good film.

Rating: ««««

The Endless Summer (1966)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Bruce Brown

Cast: Mike Hynson, Robert August

Running time: 95 minutes

Director and narrator Bruce Brown follows two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, who are traveling around the globe looking for the best waves. They start out in Hawaii, but then travel to Africa, to Australia, to New Zealand, and to Tahiti. Along the way, they interact with the locals, learn about their ways and initiate some to the love of surfing.

I must admit that it took me a little while to get my feet wet and find my wave with this documentary. At first, I was really wondering what the point of it all was. It really started slow and almost lost me, but then I got it. I was hooked for the trip through the surfer’s world, though I have never and will never surf.

The images in The Endless Summer are simply majestic. Though the film was shot in the 1960’s, they are clear and crisp, really putting the viewer in the heart of the action. You can feel the power of those waves coming up and crashing down around those daredevils of the sea. Brown’s narration is also very good. He manages to be bring a good dose of humor to the proceedings, without having to try too hard.

All things considered, I highly recommend this film. Even if you are not an adept of the sport of surfing – I sure was not -, you can get a lot of entertainment out of it.

Rating: ««««

The Dreamers (2003)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Bernardo Bertolucci

Cast: Michael Pitt, Eva Green, Louis Garrel

Running time: 115 minutes

Matthew left California to go study French in Paris at the end of the 1960’s as an exchange student. During a protest at La Cinématèque, he meets Isabelle and Théo, twin brother and sister, who have a very particular incestuous relationship. Soon, Michael moves in with them and falls madly in love with the lifestyle of having sex and of talking movies, music and books. But, can something so idyllic really last?

Set against the backdrop of the student riots of 1968, in Paris, The Dreamers offers a very compelling look back in time, when young people were trying very hard to liberate themselves and each other, be it sexually, spiritually or politically.

While I found the main characters a little pretentious and annoying at first, they soon became so honest and real to me that they brought me back to my former years of ideals, when we so wanted things to be like in the movies and in the books. I most certainly never got to liberate myself sexually quite as much as Matthew, Isabelle and Théo, but I sure did talk art and dream a lot. There was some solid acting here by all three main actors.

From the director that also gave us Last Tango in Paris, The Dreamers is a very good film about the dreams of youth. Whatever the generation, the kids are always more eager for change. Some scenes, involving nudity, sex and blood, might shock and disgust some people, but it is well worth watching for those open minded enough to take it.

Rating: ««««

300 (2006)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Zack Snyder

Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Heady, David Wenham

Running time: 116 minutes

Based on the comic series of the same name, 300 is a fictionalized retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, during the Persian War. Despite contrary orders from the Oracle, King Leonidas decides to lead 300 Spartan men into battle the Persian God-King Xerxes.

The gladiator and such genre is not my regular cup of tea, but I must admit that this epic fantasy war action film is stunning from a visual standpoint. The images and the colors are amazing. You can clearly see Zack Snyder’s signature on this one.

The acting is a bit over-the-top and cheesy, and so are the dialogues, but that is kind of the nature of the beast with this genre. The characters are also very one dimensional. 300 is a fun and entertaining film that lacks depth but offers a lot of sizzle.

Rating: «««

Beerfest (2006)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Jay Chandrasekhar

Cast: Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Donald Sutherland

Running time: 110 minutes

After their grandfather’s funeral, Jan and Todd Wolfhouse, two Americans of German descent, are told that family tradition demands that they travel to Germany to spread the ashes there during Oktoberfest. During that trip, they end up at Beerfest, a yearly underground event consisting of drinking games. There, they discover that their grandfather is a relative of Baron Wolfgang von Wolfhausen, who runs Beerfest, and that the two had a major falling out years before. Outnumbered, the American boys are humiliated. Back in the States, they decide to assemble a team of friends and train to seek their revenge the following year.

This film, made by the Broken Lizard comedy group, does not offer much in terms of hilarity. A few scenes, like the one illustrating the difference between perception and reality in the seeking of a one-night relationship while drunk and the fake sequel preview at the end with Willie Nelson, really made me laugh. As for the rest, there were barely a few chuckles.

The material was not that funny, the acting was bad, and the German accents were over-the-top. All things considered, I would not recommend this title. Seek some highlights to see the little this one has to offer.

Rating: ««

The Office - US (2005-2013)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer

Number of seasons: 9

The employees of the fictitious Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company are taking part in the shooting of a documentary. Over the course of 9 seasons, we see them interact with each other and talk directly to the camera as they go on with their daily routine.

This American TV series is based on the British original, created by Ricky Gervais.

Steve Carell did an awesome job as Michael Scott, the regional manager of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin for most of the serioues. Michael was a good salesman, but he is a lousy manager. He has a knack for saying the wrong things at the wrong times and he does not have much to offer in terms of work ethics. Carell brings the Michael Scott to life without copying Ricky Gervais’ portrayal of David Brent, in the original version. There are similarities in the characters, but there are different tones and colors too.

Another big element of The Office – US is the loving relationship between Jim and Pam. The makers of this show sure did milk it for all it was worth, and they may have dragged a little too long on it, but the chemistry between John Krasinski and Jenna Fischer was undeniable in the roles of the two love birds.

There are a slew of other great characters in this show, too many to mention them all. Acting-wise, there was not really a bad note here. Every character was well defined and well delivered on screen.

I felt that the American version of The Office went a little too long. It should have ended after Steve Carell left the show, at the end of season 7. A show based mostly on awkward situations that can happen in the workplace can get old and repetitive quite fast, but, through nine seasons, there were many classic episodes. Though I feel like the last two seasons were not necessary, at least, the show ended on a strong finale, which is a feat in itself.

Rating: ««««