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• July, 2008

• The Howling 3/5

  2008-07-05 01:08

  I’m somewhat of a Joe Dante fan, but when he’s off, it is kind of hard to stomach. The Howling is actually pretty boring for about an hour. Though the final 25 or so is pretty fun and neat “John Landis” type of effects. - ANDREW

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• The Occult History of the Third Reich 2.5/5

  2008-07-05 01:04

  Not quite as interesting as I had hoped. According to this documentary, the Nazis weren’t quite as crazy about the occult as I was hoping (for entertainment purposes). No UFO stuff, no aliens, no demon forces. Mostly just a history lesson of where they got their beliefs. However, the footage dug up that plays pretty much through the entire thing seems pretty rare and is a bit spooky. Almost 3 hours straight of footage of Germany circa 1930-40’s. Unlike most of the stuff we see on the history channel. - ANDREW

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• June, 2008

• The Guatemalan Handshake (2006) 3.5/5

  2008-06-27 22:41

  If David Gordon Green’s All The Real Girls had a lovechild with Napoleon Dynamite you’d get slice-of-life ensemble film with stylized touches that is Todd Rohal’s debut film about lonely souls looking for something they’ve lost. The gorgeous colours pop off the screen on this one, and it is optimistic and funny as it is strange. - KURT

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• Viagem ao Princípio do Mundo (1997) 4.5/5

  2008-06-24 15:24

  Dedicated to Marcello Mastroianni and featuring the master actor’s last performance, “Voyage” encapsulates memories, perceptions, history and emotion into a quiet, deliberately paced story of a trope of actors and a director (said to be partly biographic of Oliveira himself) on a quest. One actor is in search of an aunt he’s never met and along the way, the Portuguese director reminisces about his past, sharing memories of what was in parallel to what is and along the way, the group discuss everything from the importance and relevance of memories to mortality.
  
  The triumph of this film comes in the last twenty minutes when we meet the old aunt and learn of the hardships of life in the Portuguese countryside. It’s emotional and poignant. - MARINA

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• Aniki Bóbó (1942) 4/5

  2008-06-24 15:18

  Manoel de Oliveira’s first full length feature is a charming cautionary tale of what happens when you don’t do the right thing. It’s also a gorgeous film documenting a time, place and way of life, in this case early 40’s Porto, of the past. The film’s message is wonderfully displayed with little exposition and the result is a story in which the actions speak louder than any words. A little seen classic. - MARINA

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• Duel (1971) 4.5/5

  2008-06-22 00:19

  Spielberg’s first feature film shows exactly why he became the genius that he did. With probably no budget, Spielberg put together this terrific psychological thriller on wheels. Sort of “Two-Lane Blacktop” meets “Falling Down” meets “Psycho.” Shot completely on location in 12 days with kick-ass angles and stylistic shots is awesome. If you took away all the CGI from Spielberg so that this is the kind of thing you get, I want more! Oh yes, and the special edition DVD has the closest thing you’ll find to a Spielberg commentary. - ANDREW

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• Ghosts of Mars (2001) 1.5/5

  2008-06-19 23:18

  Even by John Carpenter’s semi-campy, b-movie-esque standards, this movie is pretty awful. I actually wasn’t able to watch it all in one sitting. No joke it took me 4 nights of viewings to get through it. Pretty poor acting, HORRIBLE fight choreography and laughable set design. Hell, the storyline itself was basically a futuristic rip-off of “Assault on Precinct 13.” The villains look kind of cool and Natasha Henstridge is hot, but otherwise I recommend Dave skip this one in his John Carpenter series on the site. It’s not worth the pain. - ANDREW

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• The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) 3/5

  2008-06-19 23:14

  I’ve come to notice that I don’t care for a movie without at least one character with redeeming qualities. “Virginia Woolfe” and “Margot at the Wedding” spring to mind. I can now include “The Other Boleyn Girl” to that list. Despite some nice acting, lovely sets, amazing costuming and some pretty exceptional cinematography, every character in the story is completely despicable. I can understand why some people would be fine with that and still love the movie, but for me, it just makes the already slightly bumpy (although dramatic) storyline nearly intolerable. - ANDREW

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• The Signal (2007) 2.5/5

  2008-06-16 10:46

  Broken into three parts by three different directors, to say the film’s transitions are jarring is an understatement. To be swept up within each segment is easy, to be ripped from the experience and thrust into something unwanted is even easier and an unwelcome experience. By the end I just didn’t care. The first and second segments do have potential if they were to each stand on their own as a feature film however. - ANDREW

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• Sense and Sensibility (1995) 3/5

  2008-06-14 20:31

  Perhaps Ang Lee’s most lightweight film. It nonetheless boasts an all-star cast chock-a-block with great character actors, each and every one of them approaching the material with workmanlike enthusiasm. The ending of the film is curiously flaccid, and overall Sense and Sensibility feels like it could have used another hour to do justice to its convoluted character interactions. Nothing wrong with this one, it is a pleasant enough diversion on a rainy night, but it lacks the weight and gravitas Lee brings to his other English language films. -KURT

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• Bottle Rocket (1996) 4/5

  2008-06-13 19:35

  While Wes Anderson has shown significant improvements with all of his subsequent efforts, there is a joy at play in the interaction of the Wilson brothers and Bob (whose skill is that he has a car and a nice kitchen). I’ve watched this one more than all of his later films, strictly because it is the most quotable and breezy. All of Owen Wilson’s characters are pale shadows of the loopy Dignan with is 70 year plan. And Luke Wilson’s ‘exhaustion’-ailed Anthony is also the best performance of his career. I once heard the phrase ‘Reservoir Geeks’ applied to this film. It is an apt description, because the three well off young-adults in Bottle Rocket seem to want to live the dream of being criminals with the safety net of someone who has learned everything from watching movies. -KURT

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• Genius Party Beyond (2008) 3.5/5

  2008-06-12 22:14

  Supposedly the shorts that did not quite ‘make the grade’ for 2007s Genius Party, and two of the five are indeed a bit dodgy in terms of holding interest. But that is more than made up for by the overall ‘even more baffling’ aspect of these stories compared to its predecessor which at least sprinkled in two fathomable entries. Highlights of Beyond are easily the intense and extraordinarily crafted “Dimension Bomb” and the cliche yet catchy and delightful “Gala” which features an ode to creativity and confusion and wonder of life with music (reminiscent of the prologue in 2001: A Space Odyssey without the violence)

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• Genius Party (2007) 4/5

  2008-06-12 19:01

  The Anthology film is always a tricky proposition. But cutting edge Japanese Animation house 4°C delivers a visceral and engaging collection on abstract Only one (Directed by Cowboy Bebop’s Shinichiro Watanabe) of the seven shorts here is even remotely concerned with narrative coherence, and that one leaves the most lasting impression, likely due to its quiet and bitter-sweet tone amongst the rest of the bombast. The dream-logic stream of consciousness aspects of many of the other parts do succeed, when processed ‘in the moment.’

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• Impostor 3.5/5

  2008-06-09 18:16

  Just slightly better production values than a made-for-TV special, this little sci-fi story really surprised the hell out of me. 70 years from now, Earth is at war with an alien race. Sinise plays a weapons scientist accused of being a clone/robot mole from the aliens armed with an internal explosive to kill the Earth chancelleor. He goes on the run to prove he’s innocent. While this sounds like a boring plot (aka another version of “The Fugitive”), what makes this one interesting is we don’t actually know if he is innocent or is in fact the clone assasin (even he doesn’t know for sure). This is sort of Fugitive meets Blade Runner meets Starship Troopers meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Quite the trip actually - and not as cheesy as it might appear upon first glance. Based on the short story by Phillip K. Dick, it’s a pretty interesting story with an ending you won’t see coming. If you think you do, guess again. - ANDREW

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• Fury (1936) 4.5/5

  2008-06-09 07:54

  Best known for his early films in Germany (Metropolis, M), Fritz Lang also built up quite a Hollywood filmography as well. Fury is one of his earliest, a social commentary on both vigilante justice and revenge. Spencer Tracy is predictably superb, and Lang keeps things hopping at a brisk, engaging pace.

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• The Air I Breathe 3/5

  2008-06-07 20:33

  Takes some actors that are known for being less than stellar actors (Gellar, Frasier) and makes them feel sincere and believable. The story itself starts off well enough (a multiple story thread of three acts in which several troubled souls’ stories are shown to be somehow linked). The movie gets a bit far fetched after a while before going totally off the rails. Garcia, Bacon, Delpy, Whitaker et. al. really make a go of it, but in the end I understand why I don’t remember a theatrical release for this. Not horrible, just plenty of other things to occupy your time. - ANDREW

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• The Cell 4/5

  2008-06-07 20:29

  The cast here feels a bit jagged. Jennifer Lopez works (this is back when she could act) well enough and it’s nice to see Dylan Baker in here. Vince Vaughn feels completely miscast, but in the acting department, Vincent D’Onofrio takes the cake with a pretty amazing performance. But let’s be honest, this movie is worth the watch for the terrifically creepy and surreal, dreamlike/nightmare visuals unlike pretty much any film I’ve ever seen. The story is a bit too simplistic and hand-holding, but it matters little with the great visual vibe. - ANDREW

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• Casa de Areia (2005) 4.5/5

  2008-06-07 19:32

  This is in part of a story of resilience and adaptation but it’s also the story of a woman’s growth and the way one changes with time. The film is gorgeously shot on sand dunes that seem to eat everything, including the people that live on the edge of nowhere. Wonderfully performed and beautifully captured on film, this film is nothing short of brilliant. - MARINA

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• Teeth (2007/I) 3.5/5

  2008-06-07 11:46

  The reason Mitchell Lichtenstein’s film is so good is that it is, for the most part, a genuinely honest romantic teen flick - with a twist. On the one hand I’m happy to see this was played out for laughs and on the other, I wish Lichtenstein had stayed more with the dark tone because the rest of the film does play seriously. Though it’s a tad heavy handed at times, I still thoroughly enjoyed this. - MARINA

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• Cité des enfants perdus, La (1995) 4/5

  2008-06-07 11:43

  I have, for one reason or another, been avoiding seeing this film but once I started it, it was hard to look away. Partly gorgeous and partly so ugly it’s beautiful, this is one of the quirkiest and funniest films I’ve seen recently. It’s easy to see how Jeunet grew from this to Amelie. Funny, beautiful and very entertaining. - MARINA

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• Southland Tales (2006) 3.5/5

  2008-06-06 00:12

  This film is a disaster. But it’s a gloriously entertaining disaster which I couldn’t really look away from. Loaded with more information than anyone can process in one sitting and with a narrative so convoluted I lost track of it 20 minutes in, it’s impressive that swimming blindly through this film is wildly entertaining. Definitely one deserving of multiple viewings, if only to see Dwayne Johnson charm his way through the scenes. - MARINA

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• War Dance (2007) 4/5

  2008-06-06 00:07

  I knew going in that this was not going to be an easy film to watch but I didn’t expect this much heartache. The film intertwines the tragic stories of children living in war torn northern Uganda with their struggle to make a name for themselves and their tribe at the national music and dance festival. The filmmakers repeatedly jump between tragic story and heartwarming moment, the roller coaster ride does pay off and in a way, I’m thankful all of the depressing bits weren’t crammed together. Overall, this is a heartwarming film which not only displays the power of music but also the resilience of these children. - MARINA

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• Permanent Record (1988) 3.5/5

  2008-06-06 00:02

  Keanu Reeves wasn’t always just a pretty face. In this late 80’s film, Reeves is given the job of carrying a film about suicide and he does so believably. “Permanent Record” may look a little dated but it handles the subject matter much better than some contemporary films and cinematographer Frederick Elmes brings a beauty to the film which raises the bar that little extra which makes this film stand out from the trope of highschool 80’s dramas. - MARINA

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• Stellet licht (2007) 4/5

  2008-06-05 23:55

  Bookended by a sunrise and sunset, Carlos Reygadas’ film gorgeously captures the beauty and peace of life in the countryside and particularly, in the Chihuahua region of Mexico. The film is deliberately quiet and Reygadas plays with the progression of time but the struggle of a married man in love with two women carries the film quietly forward. Yet, while the filmmaker takes pains to show us a realistic world with real and raw reactions, the film unexpectedly ends with a strangely supernatural event. Requires a bit of patience but it certainly pays off. - MARINA

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• ABC Africa (2001) 3/5

  2008-06-03 20:25

  Abbas Kiarostami’s documentary on the plight of 1.5 million orphans in Uganda, shot digitally with two handheld cameras, does contain a handful of powerful scenes (in a hospital, a woman constructs a makeshift stretcher out of a cardboard box to remove a recently deceased child, whose remains are then strapped to the front of a bicycle for transport), but unfortunately such moments are few and far between. At times, the movie plays like a home video, with little or no attention paid to the subject at hand (there’s one lengthy sequence in which Kiarostami and a few of his crew stumble around their hotel in the dark, after the electricity is cut off). As I said, it’s not without it’s moments…just not enough to really drive the point home. (DAVE)

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• Lady Vengeance (2005) 5/5

  2008-06-02 14:44

  Wow. Just…wow. I believe I was one of the few on Row Three who hadn’t yet seen this movie, so I had to sit down with it at some point. Not only is this revenge tale a stylish film, but it also runs the gamut on emotional output. There’s violence, obviously, but many times with humor thrown in as well. There’s also a gut-wrenching, emotional sequence involving parents, all of whom have lost their children to a murderous kidnapper. As mentioned, Lady Vengeance offers up the full spectrum of emotions, and never once underplays a single one of them. A terrific, terrific film. (DAVE)

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• Sawdust and Tinsel (1953) 5/5

  2008-06-02 10:07

  Early Bergman, but unmistakenly Bergman all the same. This time, the great auteur takes a look behind the scenes of carnival life, and the men and women who make a living under the big top. Excellent character development, wonderful performances (especially by Ake Gronberg and Bergman regular Harriet Andersson), and plenty of food for thought. A must for Bergman fans, but equally recommended for anyone who loves great films. (DAVE)

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• Romulus, My Father (2007) 3/5

  2008-06-01 22:51

  Wow. This exceeded my already high expectations. A fantastic true story enriched by some beautiful imagery and flawless performances by Eric Bana (who with each role convinces me more and more that he is just on a whole other level when it comes to acting), Franka Potente, Marton Csokas, and the young Kodi Smit-McPhee who gives one of the best child performances that I can think of, right up there with Christian Bale in Empire of the Sun. It’s just a great, unforgivingly depressing, heart-wrenching film. -JONATHAN (4.5/5)
  
  
  Gorgeously shot, but relentlessly depressing. Romulus is a shot of cough medicine for high-school students in Australia. A feel bad childhood memoir for the ages, it is guilty of wasting fine performances from Franka Potente and Eric Bana to offer little insight into the human spirit. Somehow Marton Csokas shines through the misery -KURT (1.5/5)

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• Youth Without Youth (2007) 3/5

  2008-06-01 14:09

  I don’t know why I was so convinced that the critics were wrong in bashing this before I ever saw it. They were pretty justified. I liked it, but it’s a confused, muddled mess of a movie. At least it is pretty to look at, showing that Coppola definitely is not lacking in his technical skills nowadays - just storytelling. -Jonathan

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• Less Than Zero (1987) 3/5

  2008-06-01 14:06

  Easily the darkest of the 80s “brat pack” movies, here we get to see a barely over 20 year old Robert Downey Jr. give a really special, really brilliant performance as Andrew McCarthy’s unreliable best friend with an out of control drug problem. Full of typical 80s cheese, it’s well worth the watch for RDJ. -Jonathan

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• Starship Troopers (1997) 4.5/5

  2008-06-01 00:41

  Paul Verhoeven’s biggest film in terms of budget and scope continues the territory mined with Robocop: brutal violence, satirical tone, expositional elements handled with inter-stitched news-casts (here in internet form). The film is framed with a riff on the “Why We Fight” newsreels and takes the satire of warfare to new heights even to the point where (I think) he elicited intentionally goofy performances from his actors. Michael Ironside uttering “They sucked his Brains Out!” being a classic. Much maligned at the time of its release, Starship Troopers has over the last decade been slowly getting the recognition it deserves. Also noteworthy the truly kick-ass score provided by Basil Pouledoris and the quality integration of CGI and models which haven’t aged a day. Starship Troopers is a classic mash-up of pulp science fiction and social commentary that should only rise in stature as time marches forward, it has already turned into a brilliant precognition of the 9/11 and Iraq mistakes. Lesson: Don’t stir a up a bug-nest unless you wish to reap the consequences. -KURT

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• May, 2008

• Navajo Joe (1966) 3/5

  2008-05-30 20:41

  A Spaghetti Western starring Burt Reynolds as a renegade Native American, on the warpath against a band of outlaws. Director Sergio Corbucci had fashioned better westerns throughout his career (including one of my favorites, the original Django), but Navao Joe will hold some interest for fans of the genre.

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• Fast, Cheap & Out of Control (1997) 4.5/5

  2008-05-28 19:37

  Errol Morris’ unusual juggling/balancing act that is this film throws down the gauntlet concerning documentary form and construction, but it does so not in an in-your-face-way. The film is an absolute marvel of intense curiosity (note also Morris’ lengthy inquisitive blog entries on specific photographs over at the NYTimes) and meticulous anarchy. Four separate men are scrutinized under his camera: A topiary gardener, a robotics academic, a biologist studying the habitats of hairless African mole-rats and a career circus lion tamer are interviewed and the audio, talking heads, stylized cinematography and stock footage of an old jungle serial are all mashed together to yield some startling connections on men who attempt to conquer the chaotic by an organic sense of going with the flow. I can’t remember the last documentary that my jaw was on the floor simply for the audacity of the construction of the piece. It sure doesn’t hurt that all four subjects are compelling on their own, but thrown together in such a strange an organic fashion is raw pleasure. -KURT

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• Cleaner (2007) 3/5

  2008-05-28 17:33

  I’m not quite sure what happened with this film but I’m a bit surprised a movie starring Samuel L. Jackson and directed by Renny Harlin didn’t get a big release. Jackson plays a cleaner who goes in to clean up after folks die - be it natural deaths or crime scenes. He takes on a job that goes wrong, ends up mixed up with a confused widow and hunted by the police.
  
  It really sounds much more involved than it is and that’s not a bad thing. To boot, Jackson actually acts rather than yell his lines, Eva Mendes’ boobs are given 4th billing rather than first and Ed Harris steals the show. Overall story is a bit convoluted by side-stories but “Cleaner” still manages to entertain. - MARINA

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• Day of the Outlaw (1959) 4.5/5

  2008-05-27 18:22

  Here’s an amazing movie that very few people will have heard of: a western with characters as tough as nails. Robert Ryan stars as the cattle man who has a beef (no pun intended) with the local farmers, who want to close off sections of the open range with picket fences. However, this little conflict quickly takes a back seat when a renegade Army Captain, played to perfection by Burl Ives, shows up with his men and takes over the town. Now, the cattle men have to team up with the farmers if they’re to have any hope at all of surviving. An excellent film that deserves a much wider audience. (DAVE)

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• For a Few Dollars More (1965) 4.5/5

  2008-05-26 22:28

  “Thought I was having trouble with my adding. It’s all right now.” A strange enough line of dialogue to end a straight-up gunfighter film. But everything is strange in Sergio Leone’s westerns; that is what makes them wonderful. Here Lee Van Cleef gets the front and center portion of screen time, with Eastwood often being a sidekick, even though his character occasionally carries the narrative. An excellent score which sometimes takes to the background in favour of the chimes on a pocketwatch which choreographs much of the standoffs. The opening scene is sublime because it uses your own expectations as a weapon against you (a Hitchcock staple) and oddly, look for Klaus Kinski in a minor roll as Thug #6. For a straight up genre picture, this film should get more credit than it does. -KURT

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• À l'intérieur (2007) 3.5/5

  2008-05-26 14:40

  So you want blood, killing, gore, blood and all sorts of things creepy and make-you-look-away reactionary? This is the movie for you. Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury’s film is easily the bloodiest film I’ve seen in the last year. To boot, there’s nearly no dialog and the film is 90% action which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. And just when you start to wonder “But WHY??” the filmmakers give you the answer. I’ll certainly not be returning to it any time in the next few weeks but definitely one I’m happy to have added to my collection of twisted visions. - MARINA

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• The Steel Helmet (1951) 4/5

  2008-05-26 11:33

  Another early Sam Fuller film, this was his first venture into the genre of war. Himself a decorated soldier during WWII, Fuller borrowed several of his own experiences for this film, and as a result The Steel Helmet feels 100enuine. A brisk, entertaining entry into a genre that Fuller would explore numerous times over the course of his career.

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• The Last of the Mohicans (1992) 4/5

  2008-05-26 11:23

  Over the last few weeks I have inadvertently picked up a number of Daniel Day-Lewis classics with tiny price tags and yesterday, I finally took in the greatness that is one of Michael Mann’s early greats. I remember seeing this a few years after its release but at 15, I didn’t have much appreciation for it but re-watching it now I can’t imagine how I could ever have found this film “boring”. Action packed from beginning to end, touching with moments that would be cheesy at the hands of any other director work under Mann’s hand - particularly the ending. Great acting from DDL, Madeleine Stowe, Steven Waddington and everyone involved, throw in a timeless and haunting score and you have a modern classic. - MARINA

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• Bloody Mama (1970) 3.5/5

  2008-05-24 08:42

  I haven’t seen this movie for about 20 years, and back then I must have seen it a dozen times. Shelley Winters stars as the infamous depression-era gangster, Ma Barker, who, along with her four sons, tears across the South. Notable because it contains one of Robert DeNiro’s earliest performances. (DAVE)

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• Straightheads (2007) 3.5/5

  2008-05-22 16:29

  This film is scary as hell - even if is a thriller more than a horror movie. Anderson and Danny Dyer play a couple who get attacked in the woods and set out to get revenge on their attackers but I’m not sure what’s worse, the act of the attack or the act of the revenge.
  
  Excellent performances by all involved particularly Anderson who makes the entire film in a short 2 minute scene. A visceral, sometimes difficult watch but much better than I could have guessed. - MARINA

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• Boksuneun naui geot (2002) 3.5/5

  2008-05-20 12:11

  The first of Chan-wook Park’s “Vengeance Trilogy”, the film tells the story of a def-mute man who, in trying to save his sister’s life, ends up ruining his own and of those around him. I was particularly impressed by Park’s handling of the mute man (which in turn reminded me of a few scenes in “Babel”) but what I love most about this is the gorgeous cinematography (the scene of Ryu making his way up the stairs of the abandoned building occupied by the organ buying mob is breathtaking). Overall, a great film though I still like “Lady Vengeance” and “Oldboy” better. - MARINA

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• Freaked (1993) 3/5

  2008-05-20 12:04

  Alex Winter’s career didn’t exactly explode after the “Bill & Ted” films but his directorial debut is as messed up as anything Tom Green could have put together. Winter plays an actor who ends up at a freak show where get gets sucked into a scientist’s evil plan.
  
  I didn’t really laugh at a lot of the jokes here but I can appreciate the crazy level of wackiness in this film. And those effects….from the opening credits you know you’re in for off the wall strangeness and the MTV-like animation which was novel at the time is now cool-retro and a little creepy. Overall, I didn’t laugh a whole lot but the film did impress me. - MARINA

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• Zodiac (2007/I) 4.5/5

  2008-05-20 11:58

  I realize I’m behind the times here with my praise but “Zodiac” IS indeed the great film everyone makes it out to be. Fincher leaves no stone unturned and the sheer amount of information to cover is wonderfully included in the film. The constant time jumps are never confusing and though there’s a massive cast of characters at play here, they’re all given their fair share of time. I was particularly impressed by Fincher’s use of some great actors you just don’t see often enough (Elias Koteas and John Carroll Lynch stand out) but above all this is a carefully constructed crime drama that manages to tie up all of the lose ends. I look forward to curling up with the 2 disc edition to take in even more of Fincher’s 1970’s. - MARINA

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• I Really Hate My Job (2007) 1.5/5

  2008-05-20 11:51

  Oliver Parker’s foray into the present day is a relatively uninteresting attempt at comedy about four women and their night at work at a local restaurant. The fabulous Shirley Henderson is great as the intellectual cook’s assistant and Alexandra Maria Lara is equally good as the ever optimistic art student but the reason this caught my attention was that it stars Neve Campbell who I haven’t seen in film for a while and though she’s OK here, nothing really to pay attention to since she’s out-shined by everyone else. Even the good performances aren’t enough to save this meditation on life and goals. - MARINA

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• Youth Without Youth (2007) 2.5/5

  2008-05-20 11:43

  I really wanted to love Francis Ford Coppola’s film and visually, it’s as gorgeous as one would expect, but as a whole, the package is a confusing mess of ideas. Tim Roth is fantastic as Dominic, a 70 year old man who is struck by lightning and finds himself alive and well and 30 years younger. The Nazis pick up on the weird side effect and begin to experiment, trying to replicate the outcome and to avoid being captured and turned into a guinea pig, Dominic goes into hiding. While avoiding the Nazis, he’s also trying to finish his life’s work - a book on the beginning of language and consciousness - and it’s from the moment he goes into hiding that the film falls apart.
  
  There are simply too many ideas floating around here and none of them are adequately explained. Throw in the strange sci-fi -ish twists and it *really* leaves you scratching your head. I may still come to love this with repeat viewings but as it stands, it’s simply too much of a mess to wrap my head around. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that the film is gorgeously shot and wonderfully performed by both Roth and the fantastic Alexandra Maria Lara. - MARINA

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• Novecento (1976) 4/5

  2008-05-20 11:32

  Bernardo Bertolucci’s grand epic is one of those stories that, if made today, would make for a fascinating 3 part miniseries but as it stands, it’s a grand, over reaching work. Surprisingly, the film never loses the audience but at 315 minutes, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart.
  
  It tells the story of two men born in the late 1900’s and their struggles, one as the son of a wealthy land owner and the other as the bastard son of a farm hand, leading up to the revolution of 1945. What stands out most, aside from the gorgeous cinematography and the scope of the film, are the great performances. Robert De Niro is great as the son of a wealthy land owner and Gérard Depardieu is excellent as his labour hand socialist friend but it’s Donald Sutherland who steals the show with every scene.
  
  Overall, the films reaches a bit too far and tries to cover too many bases, not to mention it often comes off as socialist propaganda, but it does contain some amazing vignettes and transitions that left me in awe. Certainly one to watch, this is the type of epic historical drama that filmmakers no longer make. - MARINA

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• Cidade de Deus (2002) 5/5

  2008-05-17 15:00

  Some of the most hard-hitting, thought provoking films of the young 21st century were not produced in Hollywood, or even Europe for that matter. They’ve come from Brazil, and Fernando Meirelles’ City of God is aruably the finest. Based on a true story, recounting the exploits of criminals and drug lords who ruled the slums of Rio de Janeiro for the better part of two decades, City of God is brutal, unflinching, and intense. It is a rare motion picture in that it keeps our eyes glued firmly to the screen, even as our sensibilities are telling us it would be much better to look the other way. DAVE

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• The Baron of Arizona (1950) 4/5

  2008-05-15 20:53

  An early Samuel Fuller film, The Baron of Arizona tells the story of a forger who convinces everyone that he and his wife are the rightful heirs to the entire state of Arizona. Vincent Price is predictably superb as the swindler, turning in a performance that causes the audience to swing back and forth between sympathy and outrage for his actions. DAVE

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• Chungking Express (1994) 5/5

  2008-05-15 19:20

  The perfect intersection of music, performance, cinematography and powerhouse filmmaking. A movie that works on both full emotional level, charms with sweet melancholy and is kinetic enough to function as a kick in the teeth. The magic of director wkw is how gorgeous he captures his actors faces and body language. And underscores this with music and glowing evening light. You will not forget either the perfect application of “California Dreamin’” or actress Faye Wong crooning “Dreams” by the Cranberries. The image of Brigitte Lin in a raincoat, sunglasses and a blonde wig, is as iconic as anything in cinema, from where I’m coming from -KURT.

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• The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) 4/5

  2008-05-14 19:30

  This is one of the originators of the modern big city cat-and-mouse heist film (Diehard, Quick Change, The Inside Man), except instead of an office tower or bank, it is a subway hijacking. There are joys aplenty to be had in this film, which for the most part is pretty straight-up affair. Nevertheless it goes about itself with a pretty bad-ass musical score, and plethora of wise-ass remarks from just about everyone (New Yorkers being a tough bunch in the crime laden 1970s), but in particular the New York Transit authority who’ve seen it all (At one point a supervisor tells the hijackers to go grab a plane instead, just like everyone else does!). Walther Matthau give a commanding (and hilariously politically incorrect) performance throughout, particularly the closing shot, which is quite simply perfect. As always, do yourself a favour and catch the original before either of the two remakes (1998 TV version with Edward James Olmos, and upcoming 2009 Tony Scott version with Denzel Washington). The original’s memorable sense of humour sets it apart. - KURT

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• Cassandra's Dream (2007) 3/5

  2008-05-13 11:45

  Allen is hit and miss with me but curious about Colin Farrell’s performance, I checked this out and though I found it a bit slow at times, it’s a perfectly solid and entertaining film. - MARINA

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• Jimmy Carter Man from Plains (2007) 2.5/5

  2008-05-13 11:41

  “Jimmy Carter Man from Plains” stars off well enough with a look at Carter, where he came from and his life outside the public eye but partway through, the films switches gears and turns into a road show which follows Carter on the road with his most recent book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid”. This is outlined in the synopsis of the film but frankly, when it turned into the road show, I lost interest in the film because it stopped focusing on Carter and took focus primarily on the drama surrounding the book which didn’t make for particularly interesting or entertaining drama. - MARINA

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• Devil's Playground (2002) 4/5

  2008-05-12 10:08

  Lucy Walker’s documentary looks at a number of teenagers going through “Rumspringa”, the Amish coming of age ritual in which teens experience the world before deciding if they want to join the Amish church. Not sure how I first heard about this documentary but I can honestly say it was enlightening. I didn’t know much about Amish traditions going in but I feel a little more educated having seen this little film. Though it looks like a made for TV special, the stories is tells are HBO rather than NBC ready but the subject matter is so captivating, the aesthetics of the film are quickly overlooked. Fascinating, informative and critical, “Devil’s Playground” is a great first film. - MARINA

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• Don't Come Knocking (2005) 3.5/5

  2008-05-12 10:01

  This may have been directed by Wim Wenders but “Don’t Come Knocking” is Sam Shepard’s film all around. Shephard wrote the story and script about an aging western actor who runs off the set of his latest film. He ends up at his mother’s home at which point he discovers some news that outlines the next few life changing days. Great performances from a loaded supporting cast are out-shined by Shepard’s quiet performance. Part modern western and part road trip, this was a surprisingly good little gem. - MARINA

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• Feeling Minnesota (1996) 1.5/5

  2008-05-12 09:58

  It’s little surprise that Steven Baigelman’s first film is also, essentially, his last. The director’s film about two troubled brothers who fall in love for the same wacky woman starts off well enough and has trappings that suggest something good is coming but the good performances from Reeves and D’Onofrio are wasted in a common denominator, poorly executed film. - MARINA

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• McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) 5/5

  2008-05-10 10:46

  One of my all-time favorite films. Warren Beatty is John McCabe, a self-proclaimed businessman in the Northwestern town of Presbyterian Church, and Julie Christie is Mrs. Miller, a prostitute who offers to help McCabe run his brothel. Everything about the film is perfect, from Leonard Cohen’s music to the perfectly realized setting of Presbyterian Chruch. While most films take a while to sink in before I can fully appreciate their qualities, McCabe & Mrs. Miller was so impressive that it made my top-10 list almost immediately. After a dozen viewings, my feelings haven’t changed in the least. DAVE

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• Deception (2008) 2.5/5

  2008-05-07 12:00

  It’s no surprise this came and went from theaters with little fan fare - it’s not very good. It’s a story we’re familiar with complete with characters we’re familiar with and aside from the acting there’s very little of interest here. Hugh Jackman is excellent as the bad guy and Ewan McGregor isn’t bad as the goody-two-shoes but the stand out in the film is Michelle Williams who takes her little side role and owns it, stealing every scene she’s in. I give Marcel Langenegger a little credit for managing to capture the subtlety in her facial features during a few key scenes but beyond that, this is trashy cinema. And not trashy in a good way. - MARINA

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• Dog Soldiers (2002) 4/5

  2008-05-06 20:34

  Neil Marshall wrote and directed this action/horror film that pits an unsuspecting army platoon against a family of werewolves. Equal parts frightening and fun, Dog Soldiers is an entertaining first film from a director who I believe is just getting warmed up. (DAVE)

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• Melvin and Howard (1980) 3.5/5

  2008-05-06 20:25

  The story of Melvin Dummar (Paul LeMat), a loser whose luck finally changes when a hand-written will, supposedly signed by Howard Hughes, appears out of nowhere. It seems that Melvin came to the eccentric billionaire’s aid one night in the desert, and Hughes, to show his gratitude, named Dummar as one of his heirs. An early Jonathan Demme film, Melvin and Howard is entertaining enough. However, with Jason Robards making a quick, albeit incredibly effective, appearance as Hughes, I would have liked the film to be a little less Melvin, and a lot more Howard. (DAVE)

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• Everything You Always Wanted to Know About… 1.5/5

  2008-05-05 15:27

  Call it a classic all you want but this Woody Allen is not one I like. I’ve never been a huge fan of the funny man but have been trying to make my way through his films, hoping for a gem. I haven’t seen many and no gems yet but this is easily one of the worse. Maybe I just don’t get it, just like I don’t get Monty Python, but there were very few laughs for me here. Disappointing. - Marina

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• Dan in Real Life (2007) 3/5

  2008-05-04 14:22

  It may have just been my mood, but I found myself liking this movie. Steve Carrell, Juliette Binoche, and a catchy soundtrack by Sondre Lerche made this an unpredictably enjoyable little movie. -Jonathan

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• Joshua (2007) 2.5/5

  2008-05-04 14:20

  Yikes. I went into this simply for Sam Rockwell and hoping for a pleasant surprise… but that pleasant surprise never came. A weak, boring script, it doesn’t work as horror or character study. I love Rockwell and Vera Farmiga doing the best with what they’re given, but I’d stick to The Omen with Gregory Peck if you’re looking for an evil child movie. -Jonathan

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• Gerry (2002) 3.5/5

  2008-05-04 14:18

  I’m not sure if I’ve seen a movie quite like this before. Casey Affleck and Matt Damon are both superb with what they’re given, and the movie raises some interesting debate, but even for me, some of the shots were a little long and tedious. -Jonathan

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• Death at a Funeral (2007) 4/5

  2008-05-04 14:15

  Can Peter Dinklage please be in every movie ever created from now on? This is a gut-busting funny movie, a perfect blend of ‘highbrow meets lowbrow’ as I’ve heard it best described. It’s a very refreshing comedy in this day and age. -Jonathan

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• In the Valley of Elah (2007) 3.5/5

  2008-05-04 14:10

  It’s Paul Haggis. Take that as you will. With that said, it’s pulled together with a wonderful performance by Tommy Lee Jones as a father obsessed with uncovering the truth surrounding his son’s death. -Jonathan

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• The Machine Girl (2008) 3/5

  2008-05-04 02:36

  Goofy, gory and always having a laugh at itself, Machine Girl is not as subversive or exotically weird as Takashi Miike, nor as exact in its pacing as early the Sam Raimi or Peter Jackson splatter comedies, but it is the winking comedy moments that sell the silliness. -KURT

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• Sunrise (1927) 4.5/5

  2008-05-03 20:28

  Both a film-history film, one of the last great silent pictures, and the state-of-the-art for moving camera-work and a dreamy miasma of comedy, expressionistic photography and melodrama. This is F.W. Murnau at the height of ambition and ability and is often referred to as one of the first truly modern films. Certainly Guy Maddin and David Lynch likely saw this film as a signpost for their own art and even Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences did back at the first Oscar Ceremony. A classic in every sense of the word, and a major starting point before Citizen Kane came along. For admirers of form, this is a treasure trove of technical virtuouso. -KURT

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• The Girl Next Door (2004) 2/5

  2008-05-02 12:14

  No, this isn’t the Elisha Cuthbert teenie-bop movie. This is a particularly nasty, true story about two girls who are forced to live with an evil “aunt” after their parents die in a car accident. The girls are unfairly disciplined before being brutally tortured for days in a basement dungeon by the aunt, her sons and other neighborhood children. It made me physically ill and extremely upset. The ending is far from satisfying. - ANDREW

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