King Richard (2021)

Genre: Biographical / Drama
Directed by: Reinaldo Marcus Green
Cast: Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton
Time: 145 minutes

 

This biographical drama looks at the life of Richard Williams, father and first coach of star tennis players, sisters Venus and Serena Williams. The film shows how the father stubbornly stuck to his guns to bring his daughters to the success he planned for them.

This was a magnificent film. Will Smith’s dedication the role really comes off here. It is amazing. You forget the actor at work and you believe in the character. The supporting cast was also very strong.

Overall, this is a compelling story delivered brilliantly on screen. This movie comes at you and hits you in the face without apology, and you do not even need to disrespect its wife.

Rating: «««««

The Last Dance (2020)

Genre: TV / Documentary
Starring: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Phil Jackson
Number of episodes: 10

 

This 10 episodes documentary tells the story of the Chicago Bulls sports dynasty that reigned over the basketball of the NBA for most of the 1990’s, with a particular focus on Michael Jordan’s last season with the team, in 1997-1998.

With archived footage and new interviews with the likes of Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, Kerr and Jackson, this documentary is a compelling tale of sports excellence. We also hear from journalists and former opponents of the Bulls. To be honest, I have never cared much about basketball, but this series still captivated me. Jordan especially comes off as a complex personality. He could be brash and arrogant, but, damn, what an athlete. I have become a big fan.

This is well worth watching.

 Rating: «««««

Crocodile Dundee II (1988)

Genre: Comedy / Action
Directed by: John Cornell
Cast: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon
Time: 112 minutes

 

Mick Dundee and Sue Charlton are now a couple living in New York City, where the crocodile-hunting wild man is still somewhat a fish out of water. After Sue becomes the target of a Columbian drug cartel because of her ex-husband Bob, who works for the DEA, Mick brings her back to Australia, on his territory, where he can await the attack and protect his girlfriend and himself.

This sequel does not feel as fresh as the first film. While it is still a fun piece of cinematic entertainment, it is a little heavier on the clichés and the silliness. Nonetheless, it was quite amusing.

Rating: «««

On Golden Pond (1981)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Mark Rydell
Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda
Time: 109 minutes

 

Ethel and Norman Thayer are an aging couple who spend every summer at their cottage, in a cozy area called Golden Pond. After a visit from their daughter Chelsea, they agree to care temporarily for Billy, the teenage son of Chelsea’s new boyfriend, while the new lovebirds go on vacation together. An unlikely friendship blooms between Norman, a curmudgeon, and the boy.

This would be Henry Fonda’s last film, A touching one it was. It is a tale about aging, about family relationships and about friendship. And the scenery is beautiful too. A young Jane Fonda in a bikini is nothing to sneeze at either. All things considered, I love this movie.

Rating: «««««

Robot & Frank (2012)

Genre: Science-fiction / Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Jake Schreier
Cast: Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Peter Sarsgaard
Time: 89 minutes

 

In this story set in the near future, Frank is an aging former jewel thief with memory issues that is living alone. Worried about him, his son Hunter buys him a robot servant programmed to help him stay healthy. Resistant at first, Frank warms up to his robotic friend when he realized that it can help him get back to his days of burglary.

This movie is a very sweet and touching reflection on the issue of aging. There are little touches of comedy and science-fiction, but it is all woven together so successfully. There is no confusion in genre here. The acting was solid, and the story kept me hooked all the way through. There was even a few little surprises at the end I did not see coming. I loved this one.

Rating: «««««

L'Acadie, l'Acadie?!? (1971)

Genre: Franco / Documentary
Réalisation: Michel Brault et Pierre Perrault
Distribution: Michel Blanchard, Irène Doiron, Bernard Gauvin
Durée: 117 minutes

 

Ce documentaire en trois parties traite des manifestations pour le bilinguisme et pour le gel des frais de scolarité à l’Université de Moncton en 1968 et 1969. Il aborde aussi la vision que la jeunesse étudiante de l’époque avait de l’Acadie et de ses combats identitaires.

J’avais vu ce film dans une classe quelconque, il y a quelques décennies. C’était vraiment plaisant de le revoir aujourd’hui, avec un regard plus mature. Ce documentaire en noir et blanc est très intéressant pour un Canadien français et un Néo-Brunswickois tel que moi. Les choses ont beaucoup évolué depuis le temps, mais certains vous diront avec raison qu’il y a encore des luttes à faire.

J’ai beaucoup aimé ce film. Il montre son âge, comme un bon film à petit budget de son époque. Il aurait été bien de mieux identifier, pour la postérité, certaines des personnes que nous y voyons. Cela étant dit, ce film offre somme toute un regard très intense sur une époque de grands changements.

Rating: ««««

UHF (1989)

Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Jay Levey
Cast: “Weird Al” Yankovic, Michael Richards, David Bowe, Fran Drescher
Time: 97 minutes

 

George Newman lives life constantly dreaming, going from job to job. When his uncle Harvey wins a UHF television station in a poker game, he hires George to manage it. Surprisingly, in large part thanks to a janitor turned television host, George finds success in this new venture, but he must contend with a rival television station owner trying to put him out of business.

I had seen this one many years ago and I decided to revisit it. It is a fun little movie filled with “Weird Al” Yankovic’s usual antics. I am a fan. In this case, it is a bit much sometimes, and a little silly at some point, but it is quite entertaining, nonetheless.

Rating: «««

Bridesmaids (2011)

Genre: Comedy
Directed by: Paul Feig
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy
Time: 125 minutes

 

Annie Walker’s life is a mess. Her savings have been engulfed in her failed bakery business and her boyfriend left her. She is stuck in a toxic relationship with a friend-with-benefits that is not good for her. When Annie’s childhood friend, Lillian, announces that she is getting married and asks her to be her maid-of-honor, it sends the penniless and lovelorn woman into a tailspin, especially considering Lillian now has a new friend, Helen, a rich woman whose life seems so perfect.

This film starts strong, with a sex scene that shocked a few people in my entourage. From there, Bridesmaids sure contains a good dose of silliness, but the whole package is made so much better by a solid script and some good acting performances by Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy. Beyond the humor, they brought some humanity to their roles and made you care about these characters.

Rating: ««««

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Genre: Comedy / Action
Directed by: Peter Fairman
Cast: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, Mark Blum
Time: 104 minutes

 

Newsday journalist, Sue Charlton, travels to rural Australia to interview Mick Dundee, a bushman who became famous for surviving a crocodile attack. After traveling with him through his home land, she invites him to come to New York City with her, where he truly is a fish-out-of-water.

While this movie contains many a cliché, all the pieces are put in the right place, and the whole thing is a fun and entertaining experience. Paul Hogan plays the role he was born to play, and Linda Kozlowski bring the right amount of spunk, brains and good looks to the co-lead role.

Rating: ««««

The Big Chill (1983)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Lawrence Kazdan
Cast: Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline
Time: 141 minutes

 

A group of friends who attended the University of Michigan together reunite 15 years later for the funeral of one of them who died by suicide. They spend the days following the funeral together, reflecting on their lives, on love, on sex and on many other topics.

This is very smart film with a loaded cast of talented actors and actresses and a good director bringing the whole thing together. Though it is a bit dated, and I am part of the generation that followed these characters, it made me reflect on my own life. The soundtrack is also very strong. The ending was a little weak here, as it did not lead to much, but maybe that was the point.

Rating: ««««

Armand Plourde: une idée qui fait son chemin (1980)

 
Genre: Franco / Documentary
Réalisation: Denis Godin
Distribution: Armand Plourde
Durée: 57 minutes

 

Aux élections provinciales néo-brunswickoises de 1978, le Parti acadien faisait son entrée dans la course, prônant la création d’une province acadienne. Le curé de la paroisse de Kedgwick, dans le nord-est de la province, avait alors décidé d’être candidat, décision qui avait fait couler beaucoup d’encre.

Ce documentaire, qui a clairement été réalisé avec un petit budget, montre clairement son âge lorsqu’on le regarde aujourd’hui. Tout de même, c’est une part marquante de l’histoire de ma province natale. En plus, cela s’est produit dans les environs de mon patelin, alors c’était doublement intéressant.

Rating: ««««

Are You Here

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Matthew Weiner
Cast: Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Poehler
Time: 114 minutes

 

Ben Baker is a cannabis-smoking hippy lounging through life doing nothing but hanging out with his childhood friend Steve Dallas, a womanizing weather man. When Ben’s estranged father dies, Ben and Steve travel to the funeral together, where they find out that Ben inherited a large part of his father’s estate.

This film is not without charm, but there is something missing here to make it totally gel in the end. The actors gave decent performances, but the characters are a little one-dimensional and the story does not lead to much.

Rating: «««

Scream 3 (2000)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Wes Craven
Cast: David Arquette, Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox
Time: 117 minutes

 

Following the murders of the first two films, Sidney Prescott has gone into seclusion, in a remote area. Hoping to draw her out, another masked killer is going on a rampage killing people involved in a series of slasher movies on the previous murders.

At this point, the franchise was gasping for air. Anyway, a movie with the lead role played by David Arquette is as hard to explain as the hairdo Courteney Cox chose for this film. Other than a few interesting twists, this third installment did not have much to offer. The Jay and Silent Bob cameo was cool though.

Rating: ««

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)

Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
Cast: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Time: 141 minutes

 

Between 2001 and 2003, the metal band known around the world as Metallica was at a crossroads. Bassist Jason Newsted left the band, tensions were running high, and the remaining members were working on the album that would become St. Anger with producer Bob Rock. Then, there would be the task of finding a new bassist. During all of this, lead singer James Hetfield went for rehab and left the fold for close to a year. The band hired a therapist to help them get to the bottom of their issues.

This is a solid documentary. It shows the toll egos and the rock n’ roll lifestyle can take on human lives. As a Metallica fan, I found this film very compelling. But, beyond the music, there is the human issue that shines through.

Rating: «««««

Bloodsport (1988)

Genre: Action
Directed by: Newt Arnold
Cast: Jean Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres
Time: 92 minutes

 

Frank Dux, an US Army Captain and nunjitsu practitioner, travels to Hong Kong to take part in the Kumite, a secret full-contact fighting competition to honor the man who taught him the martial art he has come to master.

This film is loosely based on alleged true events that are said to have happened in the life of the real man called Frank Dux. Other than the well choreographed fight scenes and a few entertaining interactions involving Donald Gibb’s character, this movie is bad. It has gained cult status over the years, but the acting is horrible and the story is clichéd and silly. It nonetheless did launch Jean Claude Van Damme’s career. So I guess it deserves to be blamed for a lot.

Rating: ««