God's Pocket (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: John Slattery

Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Turturro, Christina Hendricks, Richard Jenkins

Running time: 88 minutes

This film is based on the 1983 novel of the same name, written by Pete Dexter. After his stepson is killed in a fight on a job site, a blue collar worker’s life goes on a downward spiral as he tries to find the money he needs to give his wife’s son a proper burial. In the meantime, a reporter comes to town to investigate the murder.

This was Philip Seymour Hoffman’s final film before his untimely death from a drug overdose, and I so wish it was a better one. Hoffman’s performance was good. He looked the part, and it felt real. John Turturro was good too.

I just have to say that I was confused about what the filmmakers were trying to accomplish with this film. By the end of it, it just felt like it all went nowhere. I get that the action is set in a town where nothing ever changes because people always look the other way, but I just feel like there was a lot of untapped potential in this one. It could have been so good, but it was just OK, thanks in large part to a few of the acting performances.

Rating: «««

One for the Money (2012)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Julie Anne Robinson

Cast: Katherine Heigl, Jason O’Mara, Daniel Sunjata

Running time: 91 minutes

Desperate for money after losing her job, Stephanie Plum turns to her cousin Vinnie for a job as…wait for it…a bail enforcement agent. The first person she has to get is former vice cop Joe Morelli, who is wanted for murder. Morelli also happens to be a former flame of Stephanie. Back in high school, he dumped her after taking her virginity.

There is nothing quite disappointing like an unfunny comedy. There was nothing here that brought me even close to cracking a smile, never mind laughing. Katherine Heigl has never been a favorite of mine, but, usually, when supported by a strong cast, she can manage to be ok. Here, she had no such thing, and it was a mess to behold. Honestly, the only thing I can find to say is: Don’t waste your time on this one.

Rating: «

Lawless (2012)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: John Hillcoat

Cast: Shia LeBeouf, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce

Running time: 115 minutes

In the early 1930’s, in the midst of Prohibition, the three Bondurant brothers, Forrest, Howard and Jack, are running a very lucrative moonshine business in the backwoods of Virginia. The boys are both feared and loved in the area and they are believed to be immortal by the locals. A new torn in their sides arrives in the form of Special Deputy Charley Rakes. Rakes is coming from Chicago and is dead set on stopping the Bondurant clan at all costs.

This film is based on the novel titled The Wettest County in the World, written by Matt Bondurant. Bondurant was inspired by the lives of his grandfather and his grand uncles. The book was adapted for the screen by Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave.

While not an epic gagnster film, the likes of which we have come to see and love over the years, Lawless is still an effective film. The storyline is compelling and it easy to get invested in the characters and their fate, emotionally-speaking.

The actors and actresses involved all offer some solid performances, but I have to mention Guy Pearce. He is absolutely convincing as the over-zealous man of the law that you cannot help but hate, even though he is out to stop criminals from doing their bad deeds. In a way, his methods are worse than the crimes being committed.

All things considered, Lawless is a very good crime drama that is well worth the viewer’s time. It is a very entertaining movie for the fans of the crime genre.

Rating: ««««

St. Vincent (2014)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Theodore Melfi

Cast: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts

Running time: 102 minutes

On the surface, Vincent MacKenna looks like nothing but a grumpy old alcoholic, who drinks, gambles and wastes his life away, but, like most other people, he has a story. In Vincent’s case, it might be more noteworthy than one would originally think. When a newly-separated mom and her young son move next door to Vincent, the old man ends up babysitting as a very last option in a dire situation and he takes the boy under his wing. Maybe the innocence of a child, free of preconceived ideas, can get to the bottom of what kind of man Vincent truly is.

How amazing it is to see Bill Murray again in a comedic role. He is given a lot to work with as Vincent MacKenna and he sure did show the extent of his talent. He offers a great mixture of humor, crassness and sensitivity, making his character so very loveable in spite of his many flaws. Melissa McCarthy has a secondary role here, as an overwhelmed newly-single mom working long hours to provide for her son, but she does it justice. Jaeden Lieberer is also very solid as the young boy. A special mention for Naomi Watts, who is unrecognizable as a European pole dance/prostitute.

Sure, by the end, St. Vincent gets a tad sentimental, but, really, I don’t care. It made me laugh, it choked me up in some places; what we have here is a compelling storyline delivered on screen by solid actors. And, it was all put together efficiently by the filmmakers to make a beautiful film. This is a work of art that does not take itself seriously, which makes it even more charming. And, the end credits, with Bill Murray and a Bob Dylan song; it kept me hooked to my seat. Overall, this is a movie I love very much and that I will see again for sure.

Rating: «««««

Kundun (2009)

Genre: Biographical

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Telthong

Running time: 134 minutes

This 2009 biographical film directed by Martin Scorsese is based on the life and writings of the 14^th Dalai Lama. This straightforward chronological tale tells the story of how a little boy was chosen near the border of China, groomed for the job and then became the 14^th Dalai Lama.

The cinematography was absolutely astonishing here, from a visual standpoint. The action is not at the forefront here; this film relates a long journey through beautiful images. Though the cast was not composed of a group of well-known actors, the people hired to portray the various characters still managed to make you feel that enormous pressure put on a young boy to become this big wise leader and the difficulties involved in the long journey that followed.

This film, which caused some controversy, especially in China, is well worth seeing, for the visual aspects and for the historical importance of the story being told.

Rating: ««««

Labor Day (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Jason Reitman

Cast: Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin, Tobey Maguire

Running time: 111 minutes

Based on the 2009 Joyce Maynard novel of the same name, Labor Day is the story of an escaped convict who finds refuge with a depressed single mother and her young son over Labor Day weekend. Over the course of those few days, the boy and his mother find the father/husband presence that had been missing in their lives and a love blossoms between these two lonely souls. The story is told in flashback fashion, narrated by the son as a grown man.

Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin, two seasoned and talented actors, have an undeniable chemistry together. They are both believable in their respective roles and they light up the screen together. As for the film itself, it is a tad melodramatic and predictable, though still compelling. Overall, this is a nice and sweet little movie for a slow night where one does not want to think too much. Light and easy.

Rating: «««

Avatar (2009)

Genre: Science-fiction

Directed by: James Cameron

Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang

Running time: 161 minutes

Half-way through the 22^nd Century, Jack Sully, a former marine now confined to a wheelchair, joins a group of scientists studying the Na’vi tribe, a group of blue-skinned humanoids living on Pandora, a habitable moon, through the use of hybrids called avatars. Alongside these scientists is the Resource Development Administration, with Colonel Miles Quaritch at the head of its private security force, looking to mine for a valuable mineral, even if it means getting rid of this Na’vi tribe.

When this film first came out, I never felt compelled to join the masses that rushed to the theatres to see it. I knew it was not my thing. Even since I was a boy, science was never really my cup of tea, so I never really got into science-fiction, with the made-up jargon for stuff that does not really exist. I am more of a down-to-earth, reality-based, kind of guy.

That being said, I must give props to James Cameron for this giant undertaking, a true tour de force. Even though it is not my favorite genre, I cannot deny the absolute beauty of the visuals offered in Avatar. The images and colors are so magnificent; it is a true thing of beauty. The acting itself did not really matter, though there were some solid lines here and there that made me laugh. This film also carries a very worthy message.

So, while I don’t think I will ever care to see this one again, I am glad I did so this once. A very beautifully-made film with a good heart. It was too long for my taste, especially since it is an effort for me to get into films of this genre. I am sure that, for some fans of science-fiction, this might be the greatest thing since sliced bread.

Rating: «««

Rudderless (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: William H. Macy

Cast: Billy Crudup, Felicity Huffman, Anton Yelchin

Running time: 105 minutes

Sam Manning is a successful man working in an advertising firm. His life falls apart the day his son Josh kills six other students in the college library before dying himself. Finding it hard to grieve amidst all of the media attention, Sam turns to the bottle and totally separates himself from his high-rolling life. He moves into a sailboat on a lake far from home and finds some work as a contractor assistant. One day, having found the strength to clean out her son’s room, Sam’s ex-wife brings him a box of CD’s containing songs Josh wrote and recorded himself on his computer. Sam starts playing these songs at a local tavern, never telling anyone who their true author is, and he soon ends up in a band. As it tends to happen, the past that Sam is trying to bury deep inside him is bound to come out.

I did not quite know what to expect from this film, which was William H. Macy’s first as a director. He did a fine job here. It is a loaded storyline, but, within the confines of a movie lasting less than 2 hours, he managed to stay on track and tell an interesting story that kept me hooked all the way through. Rudderless does not reinvent the wheel, since stories of parents having to cope with crimes done by their kids have been told before, but Macy puts a nice spin on his version and makes it compelling.

Billy Crudup was the highlight of the film for me. Both his acting and his singing were good. Kudos also to Anton Yelchin, who did some solid work in the role of Quentin, Sam’s young protégé, whose mind is set of forming a band with the older man.

The soundtrack of Rudderless is also a nice treat; the songs are very good.

Overall, this is a very good movie that is well worth watching.

Rating: ««««

The Other Woman (2009)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Don Roos

Cast: Natalie Portman, Lisa Kudrow, Lauren Ambrose

Running time: 102 minutes

Based on the Ayelet Waldman novel titled Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, The Other Woman is the story of Emilia Greenleaf, who falls in love with married attorney Jack Woolf. Jack leaves his physician wife, Carolyn, to start a new family with Emilia, but their newborn child dies at the age of three days old. Still reeling from this major loss, Emilia tries to pick up the pieces of herself all the while attempting to build a positive relationship with Jack’s young son from his previous marriage, William. It all proves to be a very difficult task.

Natalie Portman is solid as usual, as Emilia Greenleaf. She has to convey a myriad of emotions and she does so in a convincing way. That is no surprise. I must admit I did not particularly care for Lisa Kudrow, in the role of the vengeful ex-wife. Anytime I see her on screen, I can’t seem to dissociate her from her role in Friends, and it pulls me out of any story I am trying to get into. It was the same problem here, though her presence was minor enough not to detract too badly.

The Other Woman got some heavily negative reviews from critics, mostly in regards to the directing work and the script many referred to as cluttered. I, for one, did not find it that bad. The director managed to avoid many traps of the melodramatic tales. In my book, it never went too far overboard. Through flashbacks, we could put together the pieces of the past that was still haunting the main character, and I found it easy to follow along. I was hooked and wanted to know more. The script could have been cleaned up a bit, but it was not as bad as many made it out to be.

While far from perfect, The Other Woman offers a compelling story nicely carried by a very talented Natalie Portman.

Rating: «««

Arbitrage (2012)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Nicholas Jarecki

Cast: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth, Brit Marling

Running time: 107 minutes

Robert Miller is a businessman about to make a major transaction. Unbeknownst to everybody in the company, including Robert’s daughter Brooke, who works for her father, the patriarch has cooked the books in an effort to avoid being arrested for fraud. While trying to insure the complicated transaction goes through as planned, Robert is involved in a car accident that leaves his mistress dead. He decides to do his best to cover up his involvement in the tragic event, though Detective Bryer suspects him and is on his tail.

There is a very good ensemble cast at work here and the storyline is very compelling. Richard Gere is convincing as the conflicted businessman trying to save his own behind, and so are the rest of the actors and actresses involved in their respective roles.

This film keeps you on the edge of your seat, wondering how it all ends. Problem is, the filmmakers tried to get too cute with the ending, leaving the viewer wanting more. I hate it when storytellers don’t commit to a conclusion. Leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Rating: ««««

Jay Mohr: Funny for a Girl (2012)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Scott Montoya

Cast: Jay Mohr

Running time: 57 minutes

This comedy special was Jay Mohr’s first in over 7 years, and, in my humble opinion, he should have waited longer. For close to an hour, this show went absolutely nowhere. It never did manage to build any rhythm or momentum; it was all over the place. There were a few good bits here and there; the rest was unfunny ramblings about a multitude of unrelated subjects. The people in the crowd seemed to enjoy themselves; good for them. The impressions were good, but they were not used to deliver anything remotely funny. I’ll give the former SNL writer and cast member some props for the few good jokes and the impressions, but it is not enough to give this show a passing grade.

Rating: ««

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Sean Durkin

Cast: Elizabeth Olsen, John Hawkes, Sarah Paulson

Running time: 102 minutes

After escaping from the cult with whom she was living, Martha finds refuge with her sister Lucy and her husband Ted. As she tries to find comfort with the only true family she has left, Martha is still haunted by her past and by the controlling cult leader Patrick. As her behavior becomes more and more unusual, Lucy and Ted are finding it harder and harder to live with their visitor who still will not say what happened to her.

This film was Elizabeth Olsen’s breakout role. She was truly amazing as the traumatized Martha, a woman still trying to wrap her head around what she had to go through all the while having to learn to live in a normal environment again. You can see the anguish in her face; it feels very real.

Martha Marcy May Marlene is a very good psychological drama. At first, I felt like the ending came a little abruptly, but I get it: This is a character-study, the events are secondary. The movie went back and forth between Martha’s past with the cult and her time with her family. The way that was done was a little confusing at times; I had to rewind a few times to get back on track. Besides that, no complaint on my part in regards to this film.

Rating: ««««

4 Minute Mile (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Charles-Olivier Michaud

Cast: Kelly Blatz, Richard Jenkins, Kim Basinger

Running time: 96 minutes

Drew is a smart teenager and a very good runner, but, ever since his father died when he was a kid, his life has been going downhill. His older brother, Wes keeps implicating him in his drug deals. Coleman, a neighbor who used to be a great athlete but is now a lonely old crippled drunk, sees something special in Drew as a runner and decides to take him under his wing.

This is a charming little movie. It does not take itself seriously or get too dramatic, and the acting is good. No over-the-top chewing of the scenery here, just a sincere portrayal of characters who feel real. Richard Jenkins, who I have seen in many small roles in the past, truly shines here.

In a way, the ending felt kind of predictable, somewhat reminiscent of Gran Torino. It felt like a mixture of the Eastwood gem with a Disney movie made to tug on your heartstrings. Yet, the filmmakers had a compelling story to tell and did so in very good fashion. The tone of 4 Minute Mile is well balanced, touching enough to make you feel something without getting overly sappy.

Rating: ««««

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Tony Gilroy

Cast: Jeremy Rennen, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton

Running time: 135 minutes

This fourth installment in the Bourne franchise is the first one not to feature the character of Jason Bourne. Part of the events in this one overlap the events of the previous film. After Bourne’s actions exposes Operation Treadstone and Operation Blackbriar, the CIA decides to terminate their newer black-op Operation Outcome and to kill off the genetically-enhanced agents they created to serve its purposes. Unfortunately for them, one of these agents, Aaron Cross, survives and soon becomes a thorn in their side.

The presence of Matt Damon truly missed in this film. In my book, Jeremy Renner was never able to pick up where the actor portraying Jason Bourne left off. He never really made me care about Aaron Cross and what happened to him. Rachel Weisz did not offer anything to rave about either. My biggest disappointment acting-wise, though, was Edward Norton. Such a great actor offering such a forgettable performance, it is sad. I cannot fully fault him, since he was not given much to work with.

The biggest flaw of The Bourne Legacy in my eyes is in the convoluted storyline. They go into the backstory of these CIA black-ops, but it becomes such a mess, it is easy to lose interest. Also, Tony Gilroy, who was a screenwriter for the previous Bourne films, took over from Paul Greengrass as director. He decided to get rid of the shaky cameras, which had become a big trait of the previous two films, thus creating a more static feel to the action. It was a bad decision in my opinion, though some would disagree.

Overall, this was a very forgettable flick. Some better moments and cool scenes visually-speaking, but nothing to write home about. Cannot wait to see what comes of the fifth installment, due this year.

Rating: ««

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn

Running time: 115 minutes

In this third installment of the franchise based on Robert Ludlum’s books and characters, Jason Bourne is on the run again, trying to put together the final pieces of the puzzle regarding his past, Operation Treadstone and its successor Operation Blackbriar. With the CIA still on his tail, Bourne embarks on a cat and mouse game hoping to finally know who he really is.

Just like its predecessor, The Bourne Supremacy, this second sequel is a fast-paced thrilling ride through multiple cities with a compelling storyline and captivating characters. As usual, Matt Damon is solid as Jason Bourne, still making this character ultimately believable. Kudos also to David Strathairn, an experienced character actor, doing a really good acting job as Noah Vozen, a CIA Deputy Director who is working extra hard to stop Bourne at all costs.

I really enjoy the work that Paul Greengrass did with the first two sequels in the Jason Bourne franchise. The camera work is frantic and it may bother some people, but, to me, it is totally fitting for this story. I have seen this movie a few times, and it still manages to keep me on the edge of my seat. The franchise truly peaked here, which is a rare thing in Hollywood when it comes to sequels.

Rating: «««««

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Colin Trevorrow

Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Duplass, Jake Johnson

Running time: 86 minutes

A writer for Seattle Magazine proposes to investigate a classified ad in the newspaper from a person looking for someone to travel through time with him, safety not guaranteed. The writer takes with him on his business trip two interns, a blasé college grad and a nerdy biology student, hoping that they will do most of the work on the story.

Based on the premise, I was expecting a very stupid movie. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. What I found is a very charming film, with good acting and a compelling storyline. This is a very short movie, at less than 90 minutes, but it is well worth it. It doesn’t take itself seriously, and that is a big part of its charm. Many moments in this one made me smile and laugh, a fun time of movie-watching. Highly recommended.

Rating: ««««

To Die For (1995)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Cast: Nicole Kidman, Joaquin Phoenix, Matt Dillon

Running time: 106 minutes

Suzanne Stone is a driven and ambitious woman who sets her sight on the goal of becoming a news anchor. She marries Larry Maretto, hoping that his family business will bring in the money and keep him busy while she pursues her dream. When Larry is found dead, his wife is soon suspected of being involved in the murder.

Based on the novel of the same name written by Joyce Maynard, this film starts after the murder. All the way through, we go back and forth in the timeline. Every character, except of course the dead husband, tells his or her side of the story in a faux-documentary style, looking right in the camera while being interviewed by an invisible person. We get to see the story from the beginning to the end of the relationship between Suzanne and Larry. Then, the aftermath.

Nicole Kidman is absolutely fantastic in the main role. She was so believable as the manipulative and driven vixen; I have rarely seen her that good in a movie. Joaquin Phoenix was also very good in his role. It took me a little while to get in this film, since it started kind of slow, but I was finally pulled in for the ride and really enjoyed it.

Fans of simple story told in a linear fashion will not like this particular film, but it is well worth the time for the open-minded people. The movements back and forth within the story were done in seamless fashion; another solid directing job by Gus Van Sant. Fantastic black comedy.

Rating: ««««

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Matt Damon, Franka Polente, Brian Cox

Running time: 108 minutes

This is the sequel to The Bourne Identity. After the events of the first film, the Jason Bourne character, still haunted by his past as a CIA assassin, is trying to fly under the radar and to live a cozy little life with his girlfriend Marie. While in India, Bourne comes under attack from a hired gun, in an elaborate plan to set him up, but Marie ends up taking the bullet. Looking to put the remaining pieces of his puzzled past in place and to avenge his girl’s death, Bourne will spring back into action, as the CIA is out looking for him.

After all the setup was done in the first film, it was so much easier to tell a really effective story in the sequel. They went right into the action; the pace was fast and it was a thrilling ride. Paul Greengrass got on board as director in this one, and, to me, that helped the product. I prefer the way the action scenes were shot in this sequel, compared to the original; it felt crisper. The flow was better.

As always, Matt Damon was solid. He truly inhabited the Jason Bourne character; it felt real and honest.

This second installment in the Jason Bourne franchise offers some great entertainment; a great action thriller well worth seeing.

Rating: «««««

Nebraska (2013)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Alexander Payne

Cast: Bruce Dern, Will Forte, June Squibb

Running time: 114 minutes

Woody Grant is an aging drunk with a wife and two grown sons. When he receives a Sweepstakes letter by mail saying he might be a millionaire, Woody gets in his mind to go to Lincoln, Nebraska, to collect his money. No one in the family takes it seriously, but in an effort to shut him up, one his sons, David, decides to take the old man on a road trip. It will be the perfect opportunity for the two men, who had never communicated much, to get to know each other a little better.

I absolutely loved this film, Such a beautiful story told in a film shot in black and white, which was a good choice. The acting was superb. I’m quite happy that Bruce Dern got another chance, later in life, to show what he is capable of as an actor. He made his character so believable, as did June Squibb. I so hated her character at first, which was a sign she did her job well. By the end of the film, I saw in her the disgruntled and tired woman used-up by such a hard life that still loves her man, deep down. Will Forte was a nice surprise as David. I never knew the SNL alumni had that in him.

Overall, Nebraska is a fantastic cinematic work of art about family, money, regret and love. It is well worth seeing. I might even watch again, somewhere down the line, once I reach another chapter in my life. I hope my wife never turn into Woody’s wife. Yikes.

Rating: «««««

The Bourne Identity (2002)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Doug Liman

Cast: Matt Damon, Franka Polente, Chris Cooper

Running time: 118 minutes

This cinematic adaptation of Robert Ludlum’s novel tells the story of Jason Bourne, a man who gets picked out of the ocean by fishermen with bullet wounds in his back. When Bourne wakes up, he has no recollection of his identity. As he tries to put the pieces of his life together, he has to fight off the people in charge of Operation Treadstone, a CIA black op program, who clearly wants to be rid of their former agent for good.

The Bourne Identity is a very effective action film. The pace is fast and the story is compelling. It does not reinvent the wheel, but it provides very good entertainment while it lasts. Matt Damon and Chris Cooper are solid in their respective roles, and the supporting cast is not bad either.

This was a solid intro to what would become a lucrative franchise in Hollywood. Very good action film.

Rating: ««««

Chris Porter: Ugly and Angry (2014)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Jay Chapman

Cast: Chris Porter

Running time: 60 minutes

As you can see from the title of his Netflix comedy special, Last Comic Standing Season 4 finalist Chris Porter falls into the “Angry Comedian” category. While not necessarily crude, his material is somewhat edgy, with some strong language. The angry genre is not everyone’s cup of tea, but it is one I dig a lot.

I identified a lot with Porter’s material. From the struggle of remaining nice in spite of stupid questions to the people who constantly feel the urge to fill every bit of silence around you and the acceptance of your own lack of handsomeness, this American comic’s stuff really resonated with me. I found myself laughing out loud many times. Both the lines themselves and the delivery contributed to making this a funny show.

The only fault I found in Chris Porter: Ugly and Angry is that the comic started strong and then the material got a bit weaker. The closing stuff was still funny, but it is better to build to a strong finish, since that is what the viewer will remember most. Still worth seeing for fans of the genre.

Rating: ««««

Requiem (2001)

Genre: Franco / Horror

Réalisateur: Hervé Renoh

Distribution: Patrick Dell’Isola, Moussa Maskri, Jo Prestia

Running time: 92 minutes

Marcus, Gippé, Rafik, Poupousse et Christian sont cinq criminels travaillant pour le mystérieux Goliath. Lors d’un braquage qui tourne mal, Christian est laissé pour mort par les quatre autres, qui sont ensuite arrêtés et mis en prison. Pour sa part, Christian, qui a collaboré avec les autorités, se réfugie comme frère dans un monastère. Plus d’une décennie plus tard, les quatre acolytes s’évadent de prison, et la route les mène directement vers le monastère où réside maintenant Christian. S’en suit ensuite un combat à finir entre anciens alliés.

Ce film français de 2001 me laisse quelque peu perplexe. D’une part, l’histoire est fort intéressante, avec un excellent dénouement coup-de-poing. D’autre part, le jeu des acteurs est très inégal. Parfois juste, mais trop souvent exagéré, ce travail d’acteur m’a trop souvent fait décrocher. Mention honorable aux décors, que j’ai trouvés très utiles pour raconter l’histoire en question.

Requiem est un film qui, s’il a à être vu, doit l’être avec des attentes minimales.

Rating: «««

Chelsea Peretti: One of the Greats (2014)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Lance Bangs

Cast: Chelsea Peretti

Running time: 74 minutes

This Netflix comedy special stars stand-up comic and Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Chelsea Peretti up on stage in front of a live crowd. For over an hour, she delivers funny and energetic material about being a woman, men and loads of other subjects.

The opening sequence, with Peretti arriving to the gig on a motorcycle and the creepy voice-over discussing the preparation for the show, was a nice touch. On the other hand, during the show itself, the camera would once in a while cut to animals sitting in the crowd or to various characters trying to interfere with the show, and to me that was an annoying distraction that did not add anything to the experience.

That being said, overall, this is a very funny stand-up comedy special.

Rating: ««««

Drugstore Cowboy (1989)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Gus Van Sant

Cast: Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch, James Remar, Heather Graham

Running time: 102 minutes

Based on the autobiographical novel of the same name written by James Fogle, this 1989 crime drama tells the story of Bob Hughes, a self-described drug fiend who moves around the country with his crew of three, which includes his girlfriend Dianne, robbing drugstores. After a traumatic event happens within the gang, Bob decides to go clean and join the methadone program. Unfortunately for him, after spending so many years in the drug world, his past was bound to catch up with him.

I was pleasantly surprised by Matt Dillon’s performance here. While he has always been quite descent as an actor in the other roles I have seen him play, he showed great depth in Drugstore Cowboy. He was quite convincing and he made me wish I had seen this gem of a film long before I did.

It was a nice treat, also, to see Beat culture icon William S. Burroughs in the role of Father Tom, an aging junkie priest.

This was Gus Van Sant’s second film as a director and he has garnered well-deserved praise for it. Over the years, Van Sant has shown a great deal of ability for telling stories about marginalized people, and, with Drugstore Cowboy, he gave us a compelling story about multidimensional characters. He neither demonized nor glorified the characters; he just showed them for what they were, faults included. Well worth watching.

Rating: ««««

Tracks (2013)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: John Curran

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Adam Driver, Rolley Mintuma

Running time: 113 minutes

This 2013 film is the cinematic adaptation of Robyn Davidson’s memoir of the same name and it tells the story of Mrs. Davidson’s 9 months long journey through the Australian desert with her dog and some trained camels to carry her baggage.

I did not know what to expect when I started watching this particular title on Netflix. The film starts very slow, as it chronicles Robyn Davidson’s efforts to attain some camels for her journey and to learn to train them. Once her trip through the desert began, though, I was fully hooked and wanted to see where it led.

Mia Wasikowska offers a great performance as the main character, and it is a good thing she did, because she was carrying that whole film on her shoulders like camels in a desert. Most of the acting work to be done had to be done by her, and she pulled her weight and then some. Some scenes can be hard to take, especially for the animal lovers among us, but Tracks is a film well worth seeing. It is a great story of courage and of search for self.

Rating: ««««

Say It Isn't So (2001)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: J.B. Rogers

Cast: Chris Klein, Heather Graham

Running time: 95 minutes

Gilly Noble is lonely man who works in animal control. He grew up in foster care, not knowing where he came from. He meets Jo, a cute hairdresser, and falls madly in love with her. Shortly after starting a relationship with her, he finds out that she might be his sister.

I wish that I could say that, from that point on, hilarity ensued, but that would be a lie. This movie is a 90 minutes mixture of unfunny humor. Over the years, I have come to accept that movies need to be judged individually, based on what there are trying to accomplish. With Say It Isn’t So, I am still not sure what the point was. If it was comedy, well, it was not funny. Were we supposed to care for these characters and their plight? I sure hope not.

Chris Klein is fine in secondary roles, as he has shown in the American Pie franchise and in a few other flicks, but, as a male lead, not so much. As for Heather Graham, she is no leading lady either. Both of their characters are unidimensional, and the actors did not do much to attempt to give them any depth. I feel bad for veterans like Sally Field and Richard Jenkins for getting mixed up in this. I guess a paycheck is a paycheck.

I will give this one a nudge higher than the minimum for the final punchline, which made me burst out laughing. Kudos to the filmmakers for that one; I should have seen it coming, but I did not. That was funny; the rest of the film was not.

Rating: ««