The Passenger (1975)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Michelangelo Antonioni

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider, Steven Berkoff

Running time: 126 minutes

David Locke is a television journalist who is in Chad, gathering footage and information for a documentary on post-colonial Africa. Coming back to his hotel, he realizes that the businessman in the room next to his, with whom he had conversations in the past, is dead on his bed. Locke decides to modify their respective papers and switch their identities. What he doesn’t know is that Robertson, the man whose identity he took, is an arms dealer connected to the rebels involved in the current civil war.

This drama art film has a very slow and deliberate pace. There is not a lot of action or dialogue; it is more of a character study. Like David Locke, many of us have, at one time or another felt alienated from the world around and has wanted to escape and start over.

The role of David Locke was a very different one for Nicholson. There was only one little scene of anger; the rest was subtle and laid back, with lots more restraint than we have been accustomed to with Jack.

Overall, this a good art film, with beautiful scenery, great shots and good acting. You just have to adjust to the slow pace and put the effort in to appreciate it.

Rating: ««««

Toni Erdmann (2016)

Genre: Comedy / Drama / Foreign

Directed by: Maren Ade

Cast: Peter Simonischek, Sandra Hüller, Ingrid Bisu

Running time: 162 minutes

Winfried Conradi is a divorced music teacher who, in an attempt to reconnect with his adult daughter, Ines, a young woman consumed by her work in business consulting, creates the character of Toni Erdmann for himself, so he can move around in her universe and hopefully interact a little more closely with her.

When I found out that this German-Austrian film was going to be redone in the States, with my favorite actor (Jack Nicholson) in the lead role, I decided to track down the original.

Toni Erdmann is kind of like the character of Ines, Winfriend’s daughter. It is not easily approachable; it demands effort on the part of the interested party. That being said, it is well worth it. The characters are multi-dimensional and well fleshed-out, and the story is very compelling. It contains multiple moments that are both funny and sweet. Here is a film that deserves the multiple awards it won.

Rating: «««««

Votez Bougon (2016)

Genre: Franco / Comedy

Réalisateur: Jean-François Pouliot

Distribution: Rémy Girard, Louison Danis, Hélène Bourgeois-Leclerc, Antoine Bertrand

Durée: 93 minutes

Paul Bougon et sa famille vivent toujours de l’aide sociale. Après avoir participé à une émission de télévision, où il confronte le député local, le paternel de la famille Bougon gagne des appuis et décide de fonder sa propre troupe politique, le Parti de l’Écoeurement National (PEN). Son but premier est de faire une passe d’argent en vendant des cartes de membre, mais, armé d’un discours populiste qui gagne en popularité, il se laisse prendre au jeu de la politique, au risque de perdre les gens qui sont le plus près de lui depuis toujours.

Le propos de Votez Bougon est très actuel. La situation politique aux États-Unis, en France et ailleurs nous montre à quel point les discours populistes peuvent prendre de l’ampleur et trouver une résonance au sein de la populace. Ce film humoristique illustre aussi très bien à quel point le pouvoir peut corrompre les plus grands idéaux.

Pour ce qui est de l’humour de Votez Bougon, le ton est évidemment cru, à l’image de la série télévisée qui a inspiré le film. Il y a de bonnes blagues, mais d’autres tombent un peu à plat. Cela dit, la plus grande faille du film, à mon avis, est l’utilisation de personnages tels que Junior et Dolorès. Ils n’auraient pas été là que nous n’aurions pas vu la différence. Dommage pour les comédiens talentueux impliqués.

Somme toute, Votez Bougon est une comédie à l’humour inégal qui offre un propos très actuel et intéressant.

Note: «««

Why Him? (2016)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: John Hamburg

Cast: James Franco, Bryan Cranston, Zoey Deutch

Running time: 111 minutes

Ned Fleming is the CEO of a printing company going through difficult times financially. During a celebration dinner for his 55^th birthday, he gets a surprised chat via the Internet with his daughter Stephanie, a student at Stanford. During the conversation, his daughter’s boyfriend (whose existence was still unknown to the family) comes into the room and decides to moon the computer camera, to the shock of everyone. As they travel to California to see Stephanie, Ned, his wife and their son finally meet Laid Mayhew, her boyfriend, who happens to be the rich CEO of a gaming company. When the eccentric Laid asks Ned for his daughter’s hand in marriage, the father will try everything in his power to stop this planned proposal from going forward.

Why Him? is a very light and fun comedy. Many moments are quite funny, others are a little flatter. The subject matter of a father disapproving of his daughter’s choice for a boyfriend is easily relatable, though this film doesn’t add much to what has already been done. The acting is OK for the genre. Overall, this is some decent light entertainment.

Rating: «««

Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2 (2017)

Genre: Franco / Action

Réalisateur: Alain Desrochers

Distribution: Patrick Huard, Colm Feore, Mariana Mazza

Durée: 128 minutes

Depuis leur dernière collaboration, Martin Ward et David Bouchard se sont perdus de vue. Ward est maintenant officier de la GRC et il fait une descente avec son équipe dans un garage clandestin où des voitures volées sont transformées par un réseau organisé. C’est là que Ward retrouve Bouchard sur son chemin. Ce dernier, encore enquêteur à la Sûreté du Québec, a infiltré le réseau pour le court-circuiter de l’intérieur. Ward et Bouchard reformeront donc encore une fois leur équipe assez particulière pour venir à bout de ce réseau de trafic de voitures qui cache quelque chose de bien plus gros.

Je dois avouer que j’avais certaines appréhensions avant de voir la deuxième mouture de Bon Cop, Bad Cop. Souvent, les suites de films marquants sentent le réchauffé et ratent la cible. Ce n’est pas le cas ici. Les personnages ne sont pas demeurés fixés dans le temps; ils ont bien évolué. En plus, l’histoire est bien ficelée, donnant un film d’action très enlevant et captivant.

J’ai particulièrement apprécié le fait que les créateurs ont ajouté tout un côté humain à l’histoire, avec la maladie du personnage de Martin Ward. En plus, ils y sont parvenus sans que cela ne devienne lourd et larmoyant. J’ai aussi grandement aimé la contribution de l’humoriste Mariana Mazza. Pour une nouvelle venue au cinéma, elle a su tirer son épingle du jeu. Sa présence a contribué beaucoup d’humour au film.

Somme toute, Bon Cop, Bad Cop 2 est une excellence comédie d’action qui a largement dépassé mes attentes.

Note: «««««

Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping (2016)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Jason Woliner

Cast: Patton Oswalt

Time: 65 minutes

Taking the stage in front of a very partial San Francisco crowd, Patton Oswalt delivered his usual brand of comedy, discussing political correctness, being a father, his worst experience as a stand-up comedian (which involved shitting oneself) and much more.

Oswalt is very clean in his humor that I would characterize as “nerdy”. Some of his stuff was quite funny, especially the bad stand-up experience and the birthday clown story. A big turn off for me is that Oswalt is one of those self-hating male feminists that seem to be in vogue these days. These really annoy me.

In spite of its evident flaws, Talking for Clapping still manages to be an entertaining comedy show.

Rating: «««

Rolling Stones: Totally Stripped (2016)

Genre: Musical

Directed by: Jim Gable

Cast: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Charlie Watts

Following their Voodoo Lounge tour, in 1995, The Rolling Stones decided to hold a few concerts in smaller venues, in cities like Amsterdam, Paris and London. For this occasion, the original bad boys of blues and rock n’ roll decided to dust off some of their lesser known material, that would never get played in a stadium setting.

Totally Stripped is 2016 repackaging of a documentary made in 1995 about these smaller venue events. It also includes a musical CD. We get to see the behind the scenes preparation for the shows, in the studio and in the venues. Then we see clips of the performances, with comments by The Stones themselves and members of their staff.

This is a great documentary about the ultimate rock n’ roll band. The only fault is that, personally, I would have loved to see more musical performances and less commentary.

Rating: ««««

Jeff Foxworthy & Larry the Cable Guy: We've Been Thinking (2016)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Jay Karas

Cast: Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy

Time: 65 minutes

Going into this Netflix comedy special, I had very low expectations, and that was a good thing.

Foxworthy was the first to take the stage in front of a packed house, in Minneapolis. Thankfully, he has moved on from that redneck stuff, but his material is still quite schticky. He starts on one phrase, and then keeps repeating it. At least, some of his material was very funny. The kidney stone story was very entertaining, and I’m sure many out there will relate.

While we stayed midway through the hill in the first part of this show, it went down from there once Larry the Cable took the stage. His act felt old, tired and lame. He tried to compensate by overworking the crowd on some jokes, but it failed miserably.

Don’t waste your time on this one: A few brighter notes, but, really, there is better stuff out there.

Rating: ««