The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

Genre: Science-fiction / Thriller

Directed by: George Nolfi

Cast: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

Running time: 106 minutes

David Norris is a young US Congressman and aspiring Senator with a knack for getting himself in trouble. After a first unsuccessful attempt at getting elected to the Senate, David meets Elise, a promising ballet dancer, in a public washroom, as he’s preparing his concession speech. He’s intent on pursuing this relationship, but his life soon unravels as he realizes that a technologically-advanced intelligence network is following him around to make sure he keeps to the plan set for him and that he stays away from Elise.

The plot of The Adjustment Bureau is quite compelling and both lead actors were great choices to carry the roles. Matt Damon has that kind of charm where you can believe in him as a young politician, but he also has that physicality where he is believable in the action scenes.

This film offers a good mix of science-fiction, romance and thriller, with an interesting look at the concept of free will. That being said, I feel like the filmmakers played a little too safe and tried to be a little too cute with the ending. They could have pushed it a little further. Nonetheless, this was an entertaining movie.

Rating: ««««

Ô rage électrique (1985)

Genre: Franco / Documentary

Réalisateur: Carl Brubacher

Distribution: Plume Latraverse

Running time: 79 minutes

Dans ce documentaire datant de 1985, le réalisateur Carl Brubacher nous présente le chanteur québécois Plume Latraverse, qui revient à Percé, en Gaspésie, lieu où il a fait ses premiers pas en chanson, pour revoir des vieux amis et pour faire un spectacle. Plume en profite pour parler devant la caméra de sa vie, de sa carrière, de sa vision de la musique et de nombreux autres sujets.

Ô rage électrique est un documentaire absolument fascinant sur une chanteur qui est toujours demeuré un peu mystérieux, se tenant loin des entrevues et des revues à potins. Dans ce documentaire, Plume se livre beaucoup, sans toutefois tout dévoiler. Il est aussi possible de le voir travailler sur scène, en spectacle et en répétition, avec ses musiciens. Même si le style de Latraverse peut sembler bâclé en surface, on peut voir toute la rigueur qui se cache derrière tout ça.

Nous avons avec ce film la chance de voir un côté plus humain de ce personnage créé à la fin des années 60 par Michel Latraverse. C’est un film à voir.

Rating: «««««

When We Were Beautiful (2009)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Phil Griffin

Cast: Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan, Tico Torres

Running time: 75 minutes

This 2009 documentary was produced to celebrate Bon Jovi’s 25^th anniversary. As the band went on another world tour, its members took time to reflect on their history, their passions and their future.

Really, this film should have been called When I Was Beautiful, because it is all about Jon Bon Jovi. The other members get a bit of time in passing, but then it’s back to Jon and how it’s all his vision, how hard he works, how he makes all the decisions, how the band is not a democracy and so on and so forth. The guy wants to control everything and then complains about the pressure. I also call bullshit on Jon claiming that Leonard Cohen told him that his live rendition of Hallelujah is his favorite. Yeah, right…

When We Were Beautiful still offers some interesting insights into a band that has had quite an impact, but it also illustrates what is wrong with this enterprise in my opinion. I am not surprised Richie ended up leaving.

Rating: ««

White House Down (2013)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Roland Emmerich

Cast: Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx, Maggie Gyllenhal

Running time: 131 minutes

John Cale is a divorced US Capitol police officer working for Speaker of the House, Eli Raphelson. After picking up his daughter at his ex-wife’s house, he brings her along to the White House, where he has a job interview for the Secret Service. The interview doesn’t turn out well for him, but Cale stays for a visit of the White House with his daughter, who is obsessed with politics. While they are there, a paramilitary group takes over the building, so John will have to spring into action to protect both his daughter and President John Sawyer.

While this film was sold as an action thriller, most of the characters are so cartoonish and the story is so filled with clichés that it is difficult to ever take it seriously. The acting was often over the top, which did not help. I must admit that Maggie Gyllenhal was never convincing to me as a member of the Secret Service.

In spite of its flaws, White House Down still manages to me amusing and entertaining, tough most of the laughing happens at its expense.

Rating: «««

La Bataille d'Alger (1966)

Genre: Franco / Historical

Réalisateur: Gillo Pontecorvo

Distribution: Brahim Haggiag, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi

Running time: 124 minutes

Ce drame historique est en quelque sorte une reconstitution de la Bataille d’Alger de 1957, où la population algérienne musulmane s’est soulevée, par l’entremise des efforts du FLN, contre le colonialisme français.

Ce film étant tourné dans un style rappelant fortement le documentaire, le spectateur est transporté directement au milieu de l’action, ce qui donne au tout beaucoup de réalisme. Le jeu des comédiens contribue aussi énormément à ce sentiment.

Somme toute, La Bataille d’Alger est un film à voir.

Rating: «««««

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey (2012)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Ramona S. Diaz

Cast: Neal Schon, Ross Valory, Jonathan Cain, Arnel Pineda

Running time: 105 minutes

This 2012 documentary film chronicles the process that lead to Arnel Pineda, a local singer from Manila, in the Philippines, becoming the lead singer of the American rock band Journey. Pinela was found by the other band members, on Youtube, performing various songs with his cover band. He auditioned and joined the band for the Revelation album and tour in 2008.

Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey offers the perfect example of the American Dream, where a relatively unknown singer from the Philippines can be found through the Internet and join a well-established band, thus finding a much better living for his family that he ever could have hoped for beforehand.

This film also delves into the past of Journey, into what led to their more prominent frontman, Steve Perry, to leave and into the years that followed.

I love these rock n’ roll stories and I love this documentary. I highly recommend it.

Rating: «««««

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock

Cast: Carole Lombard, Robert Montgomery, Gene Raymond

Running time: 94 minutes

David Smith, a lawyer living in New York, is visited at his office by a county official telling him that, due to a matter of jurisdictions, his marriage to his wife Ann is invalid. Over the course of the day, Ann finds out about this through the same official, a childhood friend. When her husband fails to discuss the matter with her as she expected when he comes home, a quarrel erupts that leads to their separation. David, who beforehand had his doubts about married life, will try anything to conquer the woman he loves.

Though this film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, it certainly cannot be called Hitchcockian in nature. It is anything but that, really. Mr. & Mrs. Smith is a plain little screwball farce. There are some funny moments, but there is a lack of substance to it all: Nothing much ever happens. All the way through, I was waiting for something for Godot, so to speak. It is a little lover’s quarrel stretched out over more than 90 minutes. The people involved were all talented, but I just lost interest pretty quickly.

Rating: ««

Rising Sun (1993)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Philip Kaufman

Cast: Sean Connery, Wesley Snipes, Harvey Keitel

Running time: 91 minutes

In this film based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, police detective Web Smith gets the assistance of John Connor, a retired police officer who is an expert in Japanese affairs, to try to solve the violent murder of an escort during a gala at the LA headquarters of a Japanese company.

This film is filled with interesting twists and turns that make its storyline quite compelling. All the way through, you have a feeling that things might very well not be as they seem, so it keeps you on the edge of your seat. In that sense, Philip Kaufman did some great directorial work.

The acting, on the other hand, was very uneven. For example, through the years, I have seen much better performances by such names as Connery, Snipes and Keitel. Also, casting Tia Carrere as a tech expert was quite a funny idea.

Overall, Rising Sun managed to be an entertaining action film in spite of the uninspired acting, largely thanks to good directing and a good storyline.

Rating: «««