Le vendeur (2011)

Genre: Franco / Drama

Réalisation: Sébastien Pilote

Distribution: Gilbert Sicotte, Nathalie Cavezalli, Jeremy Tessier

Durée: 107 minutes

Marcel Lévesque est vendeur de voiture et il est un véritable expert dans ce domaine. Au concessionnaire où il travaille, il est le vendeur du mois depuis des années. Au bord de la retraite, il n’a dans sa vie, à part son boulot, que sa fille adulte, qui est coiffeuse, et son petit-fils, avec qui il passe souvent du temps. Une tragédie viendra tout chambarder dans la vie de Marcel.

Le vendeur est un film sobre qui défile à un très lent rythme, mais c’est ce qu’il faut pour raconter l’histoire de ce personnage qu’est Marcel Lévesque. Gilbert Sicotte est criant de vérité dans le rôle principal, et il est facile de reconnaître dans Marcel Lévesque une génération d’hommes qui nous a précédés.

Ce petit film est à voir, même s’il pourra paraître lourd et dépourvu d’action pour certain.

Note: ««««

Arrival (2016)

Genre: Science-Fiction

Directed by: Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker

Running time: 116 minutes

After 12 extraterrestrial spacecrafts appear at various locations on Earth, the U.S. Army recruits linguist Louise Banks and physicist Ian Donnelly and brings them to an army encampment in Montana to decipher these creatures’ language and find out why they came on earth.

The director and the actors did a great job here to convey a certain mood and various emotions, but, at some point, I just got completely lost in the whole thing. It is true that science-fiction is not really my thing, so maybe this film required more energy than I had to give this weekend. I should give this one another chance somewhere down the line.

Rating: «««

Deux super-flics (1977)

Genre: Franco / Comedy

Réalisation: E.B. Clucher

Distribution: Bud Spencer, Terence Hill, David Huddleston

Durée: 93 minutes

Matt et Wilbur se rencontrent par pur hasard après avoir, chacun leur tour, eu maille à partir avec les personnes responsables des embauches au port de Miami. Ils décident de faire équipe pour commettre un hold-up, mais ils se retrouvent par erreur au poste de police. Deux policiers qu’ils ont rencontrés plus tôt les prennent pour deux nouvelles recrues, alors les deux acolytes se voient dans l’obligation de s’enrôler.

Ce film demeure sans contredit mon préféré de toute la collection impliquant Bud Spencer et Terence Hill. L’histoire est tirée par les cheveux et les bagarres sont exagérées, mais j’éprouve un tel bonheur à retrouver ces films qui ont marqué mon enfance. Il y a encore au fond de moi cet enfant qui rêvait de devenir gros et fort comme Bud Spencer. Ne manque plus que la force.

Note: «««««

The Lenny Bruce Performance Film (1967)

Genre: Comedy / Documentary

Directed by: John Magnuson

Starring: Lenny Bruce

Running time: 72 minutes

Lenny Bruce did not only open doors for the comedians that would come after him: He blew them open. He did so with his determination to do things his way, constantly pushing the envelope way past what the powers-that-be were willing to take back then. He did it, and, in the end, he paid the price with multiple arrests for public obscenity and the trials that followed.

This film, shot in black-and-white, captures his next-to-last live performance, in San Fransisco, before his untimely death from a drug overdose. In front of a small crowd, Bruce mostly reads from the transcripts of his trials, trying to defend his act. As a person who has done stand-up and who likes to joke around, I found it sad to see such a great man having to explain himself in such a way. There is not much worse that having to explain humor to take all the fun out of it.

Lenny Bruce’s pace on stage is sometimes hard to follow, but this film remains a major part of history and it should be seen by fans of stand-up comedy. Many others were able to do what they did because Lenny Bruce led the way.

Rating: ««««

Rodney Carrington: Here Comes the Truth (2017)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Brandon Jones

Starring: Rodney Carrington

Running time: 66 minutes

When you watch Rodney Carrington on stage, you have to expect redneck humor. In his latest comedy special, titled Her Comes the Truth, Carrington discusses his divorce, his massive weight gain, his lack of motivation, sex, Viagra, crabs, Donald Trump, Mexicans and many other topics.

This Netflix special starts strong, with good material that made me laugh hard. Then, one thing the comic said became a little too true and apparent: He lacks motivation. As it went along, the material started to get weaker and weaker. By the end, I was curious to hear his country songs, which are usually funny. I was disappointed here. The new tunes were not that great, and then Carrington rehashed a few of his better known hits, but, in the process, he delivered inferior versions. As a singer, you can get away with coasting on the hits. As a comic, you have to keep it fresh.

So, while this show had its moments, it was a disappointment to me in the end.

Rating: ««

Lola Versus (2012)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Daryl Wein

Cast: Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman, Zoe Lister-Jones

Running time: 87 minutes

Just as she is hard at work preparing her wedding, Lola gets dumped by her boyfriend, who has developed a severe case of cold feet. Along with her two closest friends, she tries to enjoy life to the fullest, in an effort to get over the loss.

For some reason, I had a hard getting into this film. The story was uninteresting and the acting was bland. The whole thing felt pointless.

Rating: «

The Shack (2017)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Stuart Hazeldine

Cast: Sam Worthington, Octacia Spencer, Graham Greene

Running time: 132 minutes

Mackenzie (Mack) Phillips suffered abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father as a child. Now an adult, he lives with his wife and three kids in a house where religion holds a very important place. After his youngest daughter is kidnapped and killed by a serial killer during a camping trip, Mack’s life falls apart. One day, during the next winter, Mack finds in his mailbox a typewritten letter inviting him to the cabin where his daughter’s torn dress and blood were found.

Based on the William P. Young novel of the same name, The Shack is an overlong long sermon and a melodramatic mess. I was bored to tears shortly after the beginning, and the fact that it was over two hours long made it even worse. The story had potential, but it fell very short.

Rating: «

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991)

Genre: Foreign / Thriller

Directed by: Lam Nai-choi

Cast: Fan Siu-Wong, Fan Mei Sheng, Ho Ka-kui

Running time: 91 minutes

Ricky is sent to jail on a 10-year manslaughter sentence after killing the man who was indirectly responsible for the death of his girlfriend. Stuck in a corrupt fully privatized prison, Ricky will use his supernatural powers and his knowledge of martial arts to fight for justice.

This Hong Kong martial arts film would disgust many casual viewers I am sure. There is tons of violence and a lot of gory scenes. Blood, broken limbs, punches going through body parts, guts and bodies in meat grinders. That being said, the action and the violence are so campy and over-the-top that I found the whole thing to be funny.

The Story of Ricky is an entertaining slice of cheesy cinema.

Rating: «««

Gerald's Game (2017)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Mike Flanagan

Cast: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood

Running time: 103 minutes

Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, this film is the story of Gerald and Jessie Burlingame, a couple which have been together for many years. They travel to an isolated lake house in Alabama for a romantic getaway, with the hope of repairing their strained relationship. Soon after arrival, they move on to the bedroom, where Gerald handcuffs his wife to the bed after taking a Viagra tablet. But, things don’t go quite as planned.

Carla Gugino offers a career-defining performance as Jessie Burlingame, a woman with many burdening secrets buried inside her. Bruce Greenwood is also very solid as Gerald, and not only because of the Viagra.

Gerald’s Game is a really good psychological horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what is real and what is just the fruit of the captive woman’s distressed mind. When good filmmaking is paired with solid acting, it makes an entertaining flick. The story got a little weird for me in a few twists and turns, towards the end, but I still give it high praises.

Rating: ««««

Bill Hicks: Sane Man (1989)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Kevin Booth and David Johndrow

Cast: Bill Hicks

Running time: 81 minutes

Bill Hicks was not your typical comedian that alternates rapidly through setups and punchlines at a rapid pace through a nice little set. Hicks challenged the norms and did things his way. In this rare live show of his caught on tape, recorded on stage in Austin Texas, the late comic discusses drugs, tobacco, alcohol, music, pop culture and a multitude of other topics.

If you are a sensitive soul who gets easily offended, Bill Hicks is not for you. If you prefer clean cut comedy, again, Bill Hicks is not for you. Hicks took no prisoners. Some of his antics did annoy me a bit, but he made me laugh and think a whole lot, and I found myself agreeing with much of what he said. Sometimes, only the names will change, but the feelings remain the same.

Rating: ««««

Where Hope Grows (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Chris Dowling

Cast: David DeSanctis, Danica McKellar, Kerr Smith

Running time: 95 minutes

Calvin Campbell is a former baseball player whose promising career with the Detroit Tigers was cut short by personal issues. Now living alone with his teenage daughter, he spends his days and nights getting drunk with friends and avoiding real work. After striking an unlikely friendship with Produce, a kid with Down Syndrome who works at a local grocery store, the fallen hero starts to question his own life choices.

Like most faith-based movies, Where Hope Grows is not very high on the subtlety level. The characters are very one-dimensional and the story is very basic. The important thing is here to inspire. As far as that goes, this film offers a cute story that will probably resonate with lots of folks in search of answers.

Rating: «««

Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)

Genre: Comedy / Musical

Directed by: Mel Brooks

Cast: Cary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Dave Chapelle, Amy Yasbeck

Running time: 104 minutes

Upon coming back to England, Robin of Loxley finds out that his family is dead and that his home has been repossessed by Prince John, who has assumed control of the nation while King Richard has been away fighting in the Crusades. Robin assembles a group of men to help him fight Prince John and seduce Maid Marian.

This musical comedy is a parody or spoof, if you will, of the Robin Hood story. The acting is decent and there are a few truly funny moments here and there, but the majority of the material misses the mark and ends up being subpar for the stupid comedy genre.

Honorable mentions to Dave Chapelle for his performance and to Dom DeLuise for his Brando impersonation; the Godfather homage was cute. Overall, though, this was not really my cup of tea.

Rating: ««

Foo Fighters: Back and Forth (2011)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: James Moll

Cast: Dave Grohl, William Goldsmith, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel

Running time: 101 minutes

This rockumentary covers the history of the Foo Fighters, a band that Dave Grohl created after his previous band, Nirvana, was permanently terminated by Kurt Cobain’s death. Through personnel changes, egos clashing, substances abuse, personal conflicts and increasing success, Foo Fighters: Back and Forth offers a captivating view into a little piece of what I love to call rock n’ roll.

Dave Grohl is an artist that has grown on me over the last few years. At first, I did not care much for him, but, through time, he has gained a fan in me. And this film made a nice contribution to my appreciation of what he has to offer.

This documentary is very entertaining and compelling. There is some humor, and some tender moments. I highly recommend it for any fan of rock music.

Rating: «««««

Blame It on Rio (1984)

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Directed by: Stanley Donen

Cast: Michael Caine, Joseph Bologna, Michelle Johnson, Demi Moore

Running time: 100 minutes

Matthew Hollis is set to go on a trip to Rio, with his wife Karen, his teenage daughter Nikki, his best friend and colleague Victor and Victor’s 17 years old daughter Jennifer. At the last minute, Matthew’s wife announces that she’s going to a different location to spend some time alone and think. The trip to Rio goes ahead, and, over the course of the vacation, Jennifer seduces Matthew and has an affair with him.

This film was trying to bank on a risqué and taboo situation in an exotic location, while playing it all for laughs. The problem is that it was not that funny and the whole situation was unrealistic and, frankly, a little creepy. It is surprising, really, that an actor such as Michael Caine was willing to get involved in this.

Rating: «

The Beguiled (1971)

Genre: Thriller / Drama

Directed by: Don Siegel

Cast: Clint Eastwood, Geraldine Page

Running time: 105 minutes

During the American Civil War, John McBurney, a wounded Union soldier, is found by 12 year old Amy, just outside the gate of the Mississippi seminary school for girls where she is a student. McBurney is brought inside, where headmistress Martha Farmsworth decides to bring him back to health before reporting him to the Confederate troops. Being an isolated man in a house filled with women and girls might be more than the wounded soldier can take.

The action of this film feels a little too static and complacent for a Clint Eastwood movie. The pace is slow, and the story is melodramatic to the max. Some of the acting was okay, but, in other cases, it was over-the-top. There was also that very awkward scene towards the beginning where Eastwood’s character tells a 12 year old girl that she’s old enough to kiss and then plants a smooch on her lips.

Overall, though this film has gotten great reviews in the past, I just did not feel it.

Rating: ««

George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Olivia Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton

Running time: 208 minutes

This documentary, directed by Martin Scorsese, looks back on the life of rock guitarist, singer and songwriter, George Harrison. It starts with Harrison’s formative years, and then goes on through the Beatles era, the search for meaning in a material world and then onto the man’s solo career and early passing, at the age of 58.

In this film, we get to hear from family members, friends and a number of musicians who worked with George Harrison over the years. Scorsese has shown himself to be a great fan of music in his life and he seemed to have a genuine respect and appreciation for the former Beatle by the way he made this documentary. Some touchy situations were discussed, such as Harrison’s former wife leaving him for his friend Eric Clapton, but it was all done in a very delicate way.

I found it interesting to see a very thorough documentary film on George Harrison, a Beatles member that I always found to be so much underrated. It was great that some light could shine on all that he has accomplished in his career.

The only fault I found with this documentary was technical: The sound of the musical material was quite high, while the sound of the interviews was low, so I had to keep adjusting my set all the way through. Other than that small flaw, this is a must see.

Rating: ««««