Movie Box Review

Vloggin' goodness, even though I've not attended a festival for a bit that doens't mean no vloggin! Here is a combo My Week in Film and 101 Films update. Enjoy!

Films discussed: The Class / Entre les murs, The Apartment and If...

Writer/Dir: Rodrigue Jean (Yellowknife, Full Blast)
Cast: Suzie LeBlanc, Patrick Goyette, Marilou Longpré Pilon, Ginette Morin
Canada, 2009

Seen: Feb 1, 2009 at Cinematheque Ontario

Reason to see: One of the films selected for Canada's Top Ten 2008

A quiet and contemplative film, Lost Song is an interesting reprieve of horror and comedy that appear in the theatres during these early months of the year. The film follows a couple who have become new parents and retreat to cottage surroundings while the infant is still very young.

I wrote recently about how the stories on faith can divide audiences and sprout opinions. The only thing I can think of that creates more opinions than faith is the subject of how to raise children. What do they need, not need, what environment should they be in, what is okay and what is not. Opinions, judgements and actions are adeptly depicted throughout Lost Song which is quite a feat considering there are very few characters. The film also walks the line of looking at identity, and how it can change and morph depending on the circumstances or company. The beauty of the film is in the truth of its characters and their actions and reactions be they subtle or blunt.

Shannon's Overall View:
I found it engaging
I'd watch it again
I'd recommend it as an artistic drama and for those interested in motherhood, parenting and relationships

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© Shannon Ridler, 2009

The first post Oscar weekend of the Slumdog Millionaire sweep has the film topping the charts in Canada and the UK. Top spot for North America goes to Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail, which didn't even place in the top 20 in Canada. The two wide releases on February 27, 2009 were Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li which grace the top 5 and top 10 respectfully in Canada and North America. Surprize of the week: Taken bumps up from No. 4 to No. 2 in Canada in its fifth week running.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the February 27, 2009 weekend
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. Taken
3. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience *
4. He's Just Not That Into You
5. Confessions of a Shopaholic
6. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
7. Coraline
8. Fired Up
9. The International
10. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li *
11. The Pink Panther
12. Friday the 13th
13. The Reader
14. Hotel For Dogs
15. Push
16. Gran Torino
17. The Wrestler
18. Milk
19. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
20. Jag Jeondeyan De Mele

Top 20 Movies in North America for the February 27, 2009 weekend
1. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail
2. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience *
3. Slumdog Millionaire
4. Taken
5. He's Just Not That Into You
6. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
7. Coraline
8. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li *
9. Confessions of a Shopaholic
10. Fired Up
11. Friday the 13th
12. Gran Torino
13. The Reader
14. The International
15. The Pink Panther 2
16. Push
17. Hotel For Dogs
18. Milk
19. The Wrestler
20. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the February 27, 2009 weekend
1. Slumdog Millionaire
2. Gran Torino
3. The Unborn *
4. Bolt
5. Confessions of a Shopaholic
6. The International *
7. Hotel for Dogs
8. He's Just Not That Into You
9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
10. New in Town *

* indicates opening weekend in noted location

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Trade in that fleece lining for sunblock & sunglasses, the Toronto After Dark Film Festival is shifting from brisk October to sunny August. The 2009 festival dates have been announced so get your calendars out to ink them in: August 14 - August 21, 2009. That gives us a whole week of festival madness running from Friday to Friday again at the Bloor Cinema.

Excited yet? You should be! After attending the festival in both 2007 and 2008 I can tell you it certainly is the funnest festival in town with crowds you just can't beat. Get your fill of horror, action, sci-fi, cult films and so much more. Previous years have shown the extreme treats such as Swedish vampire festival favourite Let the Right One In / Låt den rätte komma in, musical/cult fandom of Repo! The Genetic Opera, as well as films from the infamous Uwe Boll (In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale) and Lloyd Kaufman (Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead). Plus, who can forget the Chilean martial arts flick Mirageman? The scary as hell Home Movie? Not me!

Are you a filmmaker that wants to get in on the action? Check out the call for submissions (final deadline is May 15, 2009). Every year the festival is loaded with special guests, making it all the more fun.

Festival passes are set to go on sale this month and single tickets will go on sale in July. For more infomation on ticketing and venues check here.

Get ready for it because it will be one hell of a ride. I know I'll be there. 164 days and counting.

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2009 runs from August 14-21/09 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Dir: William Shatner
Regular Cast: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, Walter Koenig
Additional Cast: Laurence Luckinbill, Todd Bryant, Spice Williams, Cynthia Gouw, Charles Cooper, David Warner
USA, 1989

Originally Seen: Although I don't have a strong memory of first time viewing, it must have been in the theatre

Revisited: February 23, 2009

Reason to Revisit: For the Countdown to Star Trek Movie Marathon

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier is one of the films I was most looking forward to during the Star Trek Countdown. Not because it's one of my faves, but for the direct opposite reason: I've always insisted I didn't like it very much which is the general sense I get from people with this lone Shatner directed instalment of the Star Trek Films. But like fans of Timothy Dalton as Bond, there are some diehard fans out there for The Final Frontier.

After seeing it again I enjoyed it much more than I did the first time, although I could see flaws as well. I enjoyed the camaraderie of the crew which continues strongly from Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, with jests, jokes and just enough goofiness to temper the seriousness of the overall plot. This leads me to realize and understand why the film has such a split vote of fans as the themes that were chosen to highlight are that of faith. Not faith in ourselves, the universe or fate but actual religious faith. That is a crowd splitter, first to believers and non-believers, and then split again with the believers if they believe what you are preaching. Although I don’t think you have to believe to enjoy the film, but it can build barriers and rustle feathers. It also poses many questions not only about belief but also empathy, leadership and how far people will go to achieve their goals. Even taking that with a grain of salt and enjoying the philosophical questions as well as the adventure there are some here and there moments left unresolved which I find surprizing for any Trek tale.

The film does intensify the ever highlighted relationship trio between Kirk, Spock and McCoy as well as introduces a fantastic new character, Sybok who definitely shakes things up. We don't see a heck of a lot of Sulu, Chekov and Uhura or Scotty but they do have some beautiful moments.

Overall, upon re-watching I've changed my opinion from this being a 'I've seen it enough' to a 'I'd watch it again' which is good news.

Fun Trek Trivia:
First Trek film to be released after the 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' TV Series
IMDb lists the languages of the film as such: English / Klingon. That rocks.

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it more than the first time
I'd watch it again
I'd recommend it as nostalgic Trek

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© Shannon Ridler, 2009

Dir: Charles Martin Smith (The Snow Walker)
Cast: Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Stephen McCole, Billy Boyd, Ciaron Kelly, Robert Carlyle, Peter Mullan
Canada/UK, 2009

Seen: February 24, 2009 at the AMC Yonge & Dundas

Reason to see: Canadian! Hard to resist a historical heist film based on Scottish National pride

Being a fan of Canadian film, I've been asked what makes a Canadian film Canadian. It's a tricky question, but then along comes a film like Stone of Destiny (a Canada/UK co-production) and I go "This is a Canadian Film", which may seem odd considering it is set in 1950 Scotland and a heist film. But, it brims of national pride, history and a certain underdog flair that is quite easily translatable to Canadians. The fact that it isn’t set in Canada doesn’t matter – most of us are from somewhere else anyway.

The film is a touching and brave story of a group of students who are willing to go against the odds to restore Scottish pride by attempting to retrieve the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey. The main character Ian Hamilton played by Charlie Cox (Stardust) did a great job of portraying ambition and drive but refreshingly without any meanness. The rag tag group is filled out by Kate Mara, Stephen McCole, Billy Boyd and Ciaron Kelly whom all show class in the strength of their characters. It is the characters who really brought the film to life and what touched me so much, so many times you see heist films where it's all about the goal and who cares who you cheat or trample on to get there. This film isn't like that at all, it's all about spirit, cleverness and of course a little bit of luck.

Well worth watching, it even brought tears to my eyes.

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I'd watch it again, numerous times
I'd widely recommend it

7 minutes of preshow including 3 commercial and 3 previews: Fireflies in the Garden, Adoration, and Crossing Over

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© Shannon Ridler, 2009