J'm'en va r'Viendre (2011)

 

Genre: Franco / Documentary
Réalisateur: Sarah Fortin
Distribution: Stephen Faulkner 

 Running time: 72 minutes

 

Dans ce documentaire, la réalisatrice Sarah Fortin nous amène dans l’univers de l’auteur-compositeur-interprète country québécois Stephen Faulkner. Celui que nous avons mieux connu sous le surnom de Cassonade revient sur sa vie et regarde aussi vers l’avant, vers un avenir pas très évident où il roule sa bosse musicale tant bien que mal, au gré du vent.

J’ai beaucoup aimé le choix du noir et blanc pour ce film sans artifice, comme l’artiste dont il est question ici. J’ai également apprécié le respect avec lequel la réalisatrice a traité son sujet. On ne sent jamais de mépris par rapport à un artiste qui n’a pas mené sa vie et sa carrière de la façon la plus efficace possible.

Un petit film très touchant et drôle à la fois. J’ai adoré.

Rating: «««««

The Social Dilemma (2020)

 Genre: Documentary / Drama
Directed by: Jeff Orlowski
Starring: Tristan Harris, Jeff Seibert, Bailey Richardson 

Running time: 94 minutes

 

Half documentary and half drama, The Social Dilemma looks at the human impact of social networking. Tech experts, many of whom worked in the past for such companies as Google and Facebook, sound the alarm about what they perceive as a dangerous impact on humans. Through fiction characters playing various scenes, we also see examples of what is being said.

While it does sound a tad alarmist, this documentary is definitely eye opening and is sure to raise some questions among viewers. It already has since its release. I know that I have myself looked at my own usage of social networks since.

Rating: ««««

I Spit on Your Grave III: Vengeance Is Mine (2015)

 

Genre: Horror
Directed by: R.D. Braunstein
Starring: Sarah Butler, Jennifer Landon, Doug McKeon 

Running time: 91 minutes

 

After surviving her terrible ordeal, Jennifer Hills stopped writing and started working for an assault hotline. She also spends a lot of her time in group therapy with other victims. In group, Jennifer forms a bond with Marla, with whom she becomes friend. When Marla is killed, likely by her ex-boyfriend, Jennifer decides to turn to vigilantism and serve justice in the cases involving various people in group therapy.

This is the follow-up to the original remake, with Sarah Butler reprising her role as Jennifer Hills. The acting sure took a drop in quality here, and the direction clearly lacked focus. In the end, this film really was not necessary.

Rating: «

Enemy at the Gates (2001)

 Genre: Action
Directed by: Jean-Jacques Arnaud
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Ed Harris 

Running time: 128 minutes

As the Battle of Stalingrad rages on, during World War II, sniper Vasily Zaitsev becomes a hero of the Russian people. He starts a snipers war to the death with Nazi Major Erwin König.

I always find it kind of weird when a movie has a group of American and British actors playing German and Russian characters, but it is what it is I guess. The acting was pretty good and the story felt realistic enough. The war and fighting aspect of it was well done, the love story part just felt forced and unnecessary.

Rating: «««

Love & Mercy (2014)

 

Genre: Biographical / Drama
Directed by: Bill Pohlad
Starring: John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Giamatti 

Running time: 121 minutes

 

This biographical film goes over two periods of the life of co-creator and leader of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson. The focus is on the late 60’s, around the creation of the Pet Sounds album, and on the late 80’s, when Wilson was in the controversial 24-hour therapy program of Dr. Eugene Landy. We also see how Wilson would meet Melinda Ledbetter, the woman he is still married to today.

I find the story of Brian Wilson fascinating. In some ways, I can relate to some of it. Thankfully, I did not suffer the abuse he did in my own family. Sadly, I don’t have his musical genius. But, I can understand the alienation from the world around me too.

This was a solid film. While he was not involved, Wilson himself was pleased. So was his wife. It seems the filmmakers did not embellish much, which is good. The flow through the 60’s and 80’s was pretty seamless, back and forth. The story was compelling and it was beautifully told.

My only issue with the film is the choice of Cusack to play Wilson in the 80’s. I did not feel much of a transformational effort to sink into the role. It felt like I was seeing John Cusack asking us to pretend he is Brian Wilson. Dano, on the other hand, was a great choice to play Wilson in the 60’s. Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti were really good in their respective roles.

Overall, a great film with less-than-perfect casting.

Rating: ««««

ReMastered: Who Shot the Sheriff? (2018)

 Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Kief Davidson
Starring: Arnold Bertram, Cindy Breakspeare, Nancy Burke 

Running time: 57 minutes

 

This documentary looks at the 1976 assassination attempt on reggae music star and cultural icon Bob Marley and tries to answer the question as to whom was behind it. The film also looks at the political situation in Jamaica at the time.

This is a very concise and informative documentary on a situation I did not know much of at the outset. I found it very interesting and well done.

Rating: ««««

I Spit on Your Grave 2 (2013)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Steven R. Monroe
Starring: Jemma Dallender, Yavor Baharov, Joe Absolom 

Running time: 106 minutes

 

Katie Carter is an aspiring model working in a New York restaurant. Looking to improve her portfolio, she finds a posting offering free modeling pictures. After dealing with a trio of shady men, she ends up raped, drugged, taken to Bulgaria, raped again and tortured. After escaping, she seeks revenge on the perpetrators.

This is a sequel to the 2010 remake of a 1978 cult classic, with new characters. While the previous modern film had its merit, being beautifully shot and having a story one could get emotionally involved in, this one just turns the dial to 11, becoming a complete mess in the process. Some stuff made no sense, the acting was bad and the little bits of good were just a rehash from the previous film. It is as if it all became about shock value.

As this one stands on its own, it can easily be skipped.

Rating: «

xXx (2002)

Genre: Action
Directed by: Rob Cohen
Starring: Vin Diesel, Asia Argento, Samuel L. Jackson

Running time: 124 minutes

 

The National Security Agency hires Xander Cage, a thrill-seeking extreme sports enthusiast and stuntman, for a dangerous mission that involves a group of Russian terrorists in Central Europe.

This is a fast-paced action flick that is a little entertaining at times, but the wooden delivery by Diesel of very cheesy lines make it hard to enjoy all the way through.

Rating: ««

 

 

ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (2019)

Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Kelly Duane
Starring: Smokey Robinson, Lou Adler, Dionne Warwick 

Running time: 74 minutes

 

This documentary looks at the life and career of singer and black activist Sam Cooke. It also delves into the man’s impact of culture and his fight for the cause of the treatment of black people in America. Finally, it deals with Cooke’s tragic death, at age 33, shot by a hotel manager in Los Angeles, California.

This is a very informative, albeit succinct, documentary about a very talented artist that left us way too soon. Just like with Cooke’s music, I would have taken more from this film.

Rating: ««««

I Spit on Your Grave (2010)

 

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Steven R. Monroe
Starring: Sarah Butler, Jeff Branson, Daniel Franzese 

 Running time: 108 minutes

 

Jennifer Hills is a young novelist traveling from New York to rural Louisiana to rent a small cabin and write for a short period of time. After arriving there, she is savagely beaten and raped by a group of men. She escapes and comes back for a violent revenge on all of the perpetrators.

This is a remake of the 1978 exploitation cult classic of the same name. While it was being given a more modern look, it was still raw and dirty. It is a very violent rape and revenge film, and it is not for the weak of heart. For that genre, it was well done. The acting was decent, and it was easy enough to get emotionally invested.

All of that being said, exploitation films are a usually very one dimensional, and this one is no exception. It gets your blood boiling, looking for retribution, and then you move on with nothing gained and nothing lost. Basic entertainment while it lasts.

Rating: «««

Apollo 13 (1995)

 

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton

Running time: 140 minutes

 

This film tells the true story of the voyage in space made by astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise as part of the failed lunar mission Apollo 13 and of the complex rescue mission to bring the team back to safety.

Director Ron Howard really made a strong effort to make this film as legit and close to the real events of 1970, and it showed. It must be noted that Howard could count on a group of talented actors to carry the load on screen.

In spite of the fact that these are historical events that we all know about, the storytelling and the acting were so good here that I was on the edge of my seat all the way through. I cared for the outcome, as I was emotionally invested in the fate of these people. I was touched, I was entertained. I love this movie.

Rating: «««««

Brockmire (2017-2020)

 
Genre: TV / Comedy
Starring: Hank Azaria, Amanda Peet, Tyrel Jackson
Number of seasons: 4

 

Jim Brockmire was a Major League Baseball play-by-play man when, upset by his then-wife’s infidelities, he has a very public meltdown on the air that ruins his career. After a decade of traveling the world, sinking deeper and deeper in alcoholism, Brockmire gets another chance at redemption, by becoming the play-by-play man for a minor league team in the little town of Morristown, hoping that this gig will lead him to bigger and better things.

I found the Brockmire character, which was created by the man who portrayed him, Hank Azaria, easy to like. Sure, he is deeply flawed. He is a brash, raging drunk who gets himself in trouble over and over, at least at first. But, deep down, he is a good guy. Good work by Azaria creating and bringing that complex, multi-layered character to life. The supporting cast was also very good.

I really loved the first three seasons of that show. It was laugh-out-loud funny, with some sweet moments here and there. Then, with the fourth and last season, they took a sharp turn that kind of lost me. Sure, there was still some good there, but it felt like a totally different show.

 

Rating: «««

No Direction Home (2005)

 
Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Bob Dylan, Joan Baez 

Running time: 208 minutes

 

This documentary, directed by master director Martin Scorsese goes over the career of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, from his beginnings to his controversial move from acoustic folk to electric rock music. Scorsese sheds some light on those who influenced Dylan’s work, those who were his contemporaries and then focuses on the man’s lasting impact on our musical culture.

Martin Scorsese’s love for the work of his Dylan is plain to see in this documentary. The director even managed to get a lot of information out of the man himself, which can be hard work in itself. This was a really informative documentary about Bob Dylan and the great work of his I still enjoy today. It was also great to learn about all of his influences.

I love this film.

Rating: «««««

The Lighthouse (2019)

 Genre: Thriller
Directed by: Robert Eggers
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson 

Running time: 109 minutes

 

Inspired by the work of such people as Carl Jung and Edgar Allen Poe, the story of this film is set in the New England of the late 19^th century. A man calling himself Ephrem Winslow takes a month long contract on an isolated island as a wickie in a lighthouse, under the supervision of an irritable older man named Thomas Wake.

If ever a film has the ability to make one feel claustrophobic, it is The Lighthouse. The black and white, the parse dialogues, the isolated setting, the ever-present horn sound in the distance and the spoken and unspoken tension between the two main characters; all the elements are there to feel the tightness and keep you wondering what will happen next.

Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson both offered excellent performances. The story itself was riveting, though some twists and turns had me scratching my head a bit. I will definitely be revisiting this one somewhere down the line.

Rating: ««««

Doctor Strange (2016)

 
Genre: Superhero
Directed by: Scott Derrickson
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams 

Running time: 115 minutes

 

Dr. Stephen Strange is masterful but very arrogant neurosurgeon very fixated on his own vast knowledge and his prestige. After a severe car accident leaves him unable to use his hands for any precise work, Strange travels to a temple in Katmandu to find help from a sorcerer, hoping that he can gain his life back. What he finds is a battle for the ages.

A superhero film with sorcerers and traveling through time and dimensions is not really in my regular regimen. That being said, the music and the humor in Doctor Strange made this cinematic meal much more pleasing to me than I ever hoped it could be. Many lines made me laugh out loud throughout the movie. It compensated for what I see as a lot of nerdy sci-fi stuff.

Rating: «««

Sophie's Choice (1982)

 

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
Starring: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol 

Running time: 151 minutes

 

Based on the novel of the same name written by William Styron, this film is the story of Polish immigrant Zofia “Sophie” Zawistowski, who hides a dark wartime secret as she shares a boarding house in Brooklyn with her on-and-off aggressive boyfriend Nathan and Stingo, an aspiring actor who moved from the South to the big city to write.

Honestly, this movie bored me to sleep over and over. I really tried to get into it, as I am a fan of Meryl Streep and this is supposed to be a classic of hers, but it was to no use. The story evolved so slowly and dragged on for so long, and I never could care about the characters. I don’t know if it was the acting or the script, but I tuned out after a while.

Rating: «

Walk. Ride. Rodeo (2019)

Genre: Biographical
Directed by: Conor Allyn
Starring: Missi Pyle, Spencer Locke, Bailey Chase 

Running time: 99 minutes

 

This film tells the true story of Amberley Snyder, a 19 year-old girl from Utah who was nationally-ranked as a rodeo barrel racer. After a severe spine injury suffered in a motor vehicle accident left her paralyzed, she had extreme odds to overcome if she ever wanted to practice her sport again.

Quite often, inspirational films are plagued by cheesy screenplays and bad acting. Also, it can easily become loaded with bible thumping. That is not the case here. What we get is an inspiring story beautifully told of screen, with pretty good acting. Overall, this offers a pretty good 99 minutes of movie-watching.

Rating: ««««