Children of Men (2006)

Genre: Science-Fiction / Thriller

Directed by: Alfonso Cuaron

Cast: Clive Owen, Julianne Moore, Michael Caine

Running time: 109 minutes

In 2027, in a world on the edge of collapsing following 18 years of global human infertility, civil servant Theo Faron is recruited by a militant group led by his ex-wife to obtain transit papers for a young pregnant refugee who is looking to escape the dire situation. In this world where most people have hidden agendas, Theo soon becomes the only person the young lady can count on to keep her safe.

This 2006 film is based on the P.D. James novel of the same name, published in 1992.

Clive Owen is really solid as Theo Faron, a former activist who sort of gave up after losing his child. He sees the safety of the young refugee and her baby as a personal mission he will do everything to accomplish. It was also a treat to see Julianne Moore, albeit for a very short part of the movie, and Michael Caine, in a very different role for him.

Overall, Children of Men is a wonderfully directed film about hope and the importance of children in society. This movie beautifully combined the genres of Science-Fiction and Thrillers, with a storyline and action scenes that keep the viewer guessing. All things considered, I highly recommend this title.

Rating: ««««

Best Man Down (2012)

Genre: Drama / Comedy

Directed by: Ted Koland

Cast: Justin Long, Jess Weixler, Tyler Labine, Addison Timlin

Running time: 89 minutes

The night of Scott and Kristen’s wedding, in Phoenix, the best man Lumpy, a loud fellow known for his excesses in the partying department, suddenly dies. The newlyweds cancel their honeymoon and travel back to their home state of Minnesota to plan the funeral and to inform Lumpy’s friends and loved ones. On their trip, they meet Ramsey Anderson, a teenage girl with a complex family situation that the deceased had befriended a short while back. Through the eyes of this young girl, Scott and Kristen get a glimpse of another side of their departed friend’s personality and life.

While short and lacking in real action, this film is absolutely charming. It has been blasted by critics, but I, for one, loved it. I love it when a character you first see as one dimensional is fleshed out like that through flashbacks and various developments.

The acting is pretty good here. Young Addison Timlin is particularly touching as Ramsey Anderson.

I highly recommend this sweet little ditty. Give it a shot; if you don’t like it, at least, at 89 minutes, it will not take much of your time.

Rating: ««««

Wonderland (2003)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: James Cox

Cast: Val Kilmer, Kate Bosworth, Lisa Kudrow

Running time: 104 minutes

On July 1, 1981, four people were murdered in an apartment on Wonderland Avenue, in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, as retaliation for a robbery committed in gangster Eddie Nash’s house. Famous porn actor John Holmes, who was at that point a junky playing both parties involved in this tragic conflict to score some dope and money, was a suspected accomplice in these murders.

Val Kilmer offered a decent performance as John Holmes. He did not attain Jim Morrison-like levels here, but he was still good. Kate Bosworth was very good as Dawn Schiller, John Holmes’ underage girlfriend. She was very convincing as the young lost soul, looking for love in the wrong places and searching for something to hold on to.

As for the film itself, it is your generic dark crime drama that fails in telling a compelling story. It is very difficult, based on what is put on screen, to care for these characters in any way. By the end of the movie, it felt like nothing more than a lost opportunity. It could have been so much better.

Rating: ««

Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me (2014)

Genre: Documentary / Musical

Directed by: James Keach

Cast: Glen Campbell

Running time: 116 minutes

This 2014 musical documentary chronicles country singer Glen Campbell’s farewell tour after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

After officially announcing his health problems, in 2011, Glen Campbell, who is known for such hits and Rhinestone Cowboy and Gentle on my Mind, launched a new album, Ghost of the Canvas, and went on a farewell tour across America, with three of his kids in the band.

I’ll Be Me is a beautiful, yet heartbreaking, documentary film. To see such a talented man fade more and more each day because of that awful disease is so sad. Some might question why Campbell and his family lived these moments in such a public fashion, but I like to believe that it was a great way for them to get closure. He got to say goodbye to his fans by doing what he did best, even though it was more and more difficult for him to do it towards the end. The crowd seemed so appreciative and supportive.

I highly recommend this one, but make sure to keep a box of tissues handy, as tears are going to flow. There is still a good dose of humor, as Campbell himself comes off as a very witty man in these most difficult times from a health standpoint.

Rating: «««««

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Genre: Comedy / Action

Directed by: Ben Stiller

Cast: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise

Running time: 106 minutes

Tugg Speedman, Jeff Portnoy and Kirk Lazarus are three over-the-top prima donna actors on the decline who are hired to play in a Vietnam War movie based on the memoirs of a vet. When the trio’s antics on set start becoming an issue that threatens to ruin the movie, the director decides to drop his actors in the middle of the jungle and to film the whole things with hidden cameras. Unfortunately for the group, things do go as planned, and, soon enough, they have to really fight for their survival.

Tropic Thunder starts strong, with great faux trailers that gives us a glimpse of the characters we are dealing with. And then Ben Stiller serves us more of that dark humor he has accustomed us to as a director. It is a very entertaining, albeit scathing, look at Hollywood, egos and actors. I wonder if Eddie Murphy was offended again.

The cast is really good here. Stiller and Black are solid, but Robert Downey Jr. deserves much praise for his dedication to his role. He was fantastic here and he stole the show. Tom Cruise also offered a great performance. His transformation was amazing; he was almost impossible to recognize.

The humor in Tropic Thunder is over-the-top, but it is still funny. Some of the stuff has offended people, mostly because of the portrayal of mentally-handicapped people, but some people just need to get a grip and grow a sense of humor.

All things considered, this film is a very good comedy that has something to say, without taking itself too seriously. Very charming combination of elements.

 Rating: ««««

The Counselor (2013)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Cast: Michael Fassbender, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt

Running time: 118 minutes

A high-level lawyer, known only as The Counselor, gets in way over his head after getting involved in a deal prepared by a Mexican drug cartel. Soon, he and his soon-to-be-wife find themselves in grave danger.

Considering all the talent involved, both in the director’s chair and in the cast, I expected so much more out of this film. Unfortunately, what I got was a convoluted mess of a story and very unspectacular acting. Cameron Diaz was particularly unconvincing in her role. Javier Bardem, who is usually great, was bland here.

Overall, The Counselor felt to me like an absolute waste of time. I made it to the end, and I was happy when it ended.

Rating: «

Le Guide de la petite vengeance (2006)

Genre: Franco / Comedy

Réalisateur: Jean-François Pouliot

Distribution: Marc Béland, Gabriel Gascon, Michel Muller

Durée: 105 minutes

Bernard est comptable dans la bijouterie Vendôme. Avec sa vie de couple qui bat de l’aile et un patron tyrannique qui lui rend la vie abominable au travail, Bernard est au bord de la folie. Un jour, Robert, un ancien comptable à la même entreprise, revient dans le portrait et incite Bernard à se joindre à lui pour se venger contre le tyran. Bernard accepte, et les deux comparses se mettent au travail à l’élaboration d’un plan de vengeance.

Il est facile pour la plupart d’entre nous de s’identifier à ce genre d’histoire. Nous avons pratiquement tous, un jour ou l’autre, eu un patron qui nous rendait la vie plus difficile. Dans certains cas, c’est carrément pénible.

Le Guide de la petite vengeance traite de ce sujet particulier avec beaucoup d’humour. Le jeu des comédiens est très juste. Le hic, selon moi, se trouve au niveau du scénario, qui me semble incomplet, avec des raccourcis bien faciles. Cela dit, le film n’est pas sans charme. Le résultat aurait pu être bien meilleur, mais cette comédie demeure divertissante.

Rating: «««