Movie Box Review

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As we jump with glee on days where the temperature nudges about freezing, we know we are heading into festival season here in Toronto. But by the time Hot Docs hits in late April / early May it should be gorgeous out on the Toronto streets. Today we had a taste of what is to come with announcements of films including the Opening Night selection and select films from the Special Presentations Program.

Act of God from director Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes) will open the festival on Thursday, April 30, at the Winter Garden Theatre, 189 Yonge Street.

Festival Passes and Opening Night Gala tickets are currently available for purchase.
For more information on ticketing and box office check here on the Hot Docs website.

Opening Night Selection

Act of God
Dir: Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes)
Canada
The film explores stories and the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning.

Special Presentations Program

Afghan Star
Dir: Havana Marking
UK

American Idol-like singing comp set in Afghanistan.

Burma VJ - Reporting From a Closed Country
Dir: Anders Høgsbro Østergaard
Denmark

Video journalists in Burma circa 2007. Wow.

El Olivido / Oblivion
Dir: D: Heddy Honigmann (Emoticons)
The Netherlands

Portrait on the people of Lima, Peru.

René
Dir: Helena Třetíková
Czech Republic

A 20 year study of René's ranging from jail to the politics in the Czech Republic.

Rough Aunties
Dir: Kim Longinotto
UK

Women in Durban, South Africa bravely care for children left forgotten.

We Live in Public
Dir: Ondi Timoner
USA

Imagine living in an underground bunker for 30 days? With this film you can see the 1999 experiment that did just that.

The Yes Men Fix the World
Dir: Andy Bichlbaum, Mike Bonanno and Kurt Engfehr
France/UK/USA

Hot Docs runs from April 30- May 10, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

I'm excited to share that I'll be joining Andrew, Douglas and Damion of gmanReviews on the Unnamed Movie Podcast tonight at 10pm EST. We will be reviewing John Carpenters 1982 horror film The Thing as well as discussing film and film related news.

Swing by to listen live & join the chat at 10pm EST tonight - Wednesday March 11, 2009.

Fan of The Thing? Check out pictures and selections from the Q&A with Thomas Waites from the Thing-Fest 2008 screening at the Bloor. More info on Thing-Fest over at Outpost 31 who hosts annual screenings of The Thing and has a return to Stewart trip planned to visit Stewart, BC which was the shooting location of the film.

No big surprize that the highest anticipated film of the year so far, Watchmen, is number 1 films at the box office in Canada, North America and the UK. It is also the highest grossing weekend for 2009 in Canada and North America (but didn't beat out Bolt from Feb 13/09 in the UK). I'm impressed to see One Week debuts at #10 at the Box Office this weekend, which is the highest Canadian debut this year.

Across the pond, The Young Victoria hits the UK charts at #4. It is a UK/USA co-production based on the first years of Queen Victoria's rule, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y.) starring Emily Blunt as Young Victoria and Rupert Friend as Prince Albert. Further casting includes Miranda Richardson, Jim Broadbent and Paul Bettany. No word on a Canadian release date yet, but I'll be keep you posted.

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

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

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the March 6, 2009 weekend
1. Watchmen *
2. Slumdog Millionaire
3. Gran Torino
4. The Young Victoria *
5. Bolt
6. Confessions of a Shopaholic
7. The Unborn
8. Hotel for Dogs
9. The International
10. He's Just Not That Into You

* indicates opening weekend in noted location

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Dir: Zack Snyder (300)
Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Carla Gugino, Patrick Wilson, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley, Matthew Goode, Stephen McHattie
USA/UK/Canada, 2009

Seen: March 8, 2009 at Scotiabank

Reason to see: Honestly, the hype was what made me feel obligated to see it. I did want to see it before reading/seeing/hearing all the reviews.

Coming from the perspective of not reading the graphic novel and only seeing the original trailer, I have to say that Watchmen was not what I was expecting. It is not like other comic book adaptations or superheroes films with glossy effects, mile a minute action and strong focus on plot.

It's a rare day when I would consider criticizing a film based on not having enough plot. I anticipated it being the opposite, that there would be so much content that it would be hard to follow. But it isn't hard to follow, it's easy to follow so much so that I found myself left with time to wonder "What am I even following?". Nothing actually seemed to be happening, which can be fine but if that is the case it better at least look awesome, or great sound, or transcend to something or somewhere. I didn't find any of these things. We are set up with a mystery to be solved (there is that plot trying to nudge its way back in) but are entrenched in speculative world history, the dark 'current' world, the looming future and then numerous characters all with lengthy back stories. When the dust settles after establishing thsi world, it feels like not much happens. As time went on it became clear that there is a focus and a point, but it takes a fair amount of time to bring you there.

It did please the fans, I could sense that in the packed house at the weekend matinee screening. You could even feel it watching the film with nostalgic touches, notable character entrances and many other moments I'm sure that as a non fan I missed. I'm a big believer in visual storytelling especially when creating an alternate or speculative universe. That history and stories can be shown in such a way that you instinctively understand without being told through dialogue or voice overs. I did leave with a feeling of what it could have been, that somehow it could have transcended and captured the wider audience of fan and non fan alike. But then again, maybe it is best left for its fans to enjoy.

Warnings: The film strongly embraces its 18A rating. Violence, blood, nudity are rampant throughout. Sexual violence.

Shannon's Overall View:
It was not what I expected
I'll watch it again, after reading the graphic novel
I'd recommend it fans of the graphic - although I'm sure they've seen it already

20 minutes of preshow including 4 commercial, 2 minutes of darkness while they handled a tech issue (1/2 the screen was blue) and 6 previews: Up, Public Enemies, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, Observe & Report and Terminator Salvation

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009

Results are in and I'm not surprized to see the must anticipated Watchmen take the cake as the film people are most looking forward too. Happy to report that Bruce McDonald's Pontypool comes in second, followed by I Love You, Man in third.

44% - Watchmen
22% - Pontypool
16% - I Love You, Man
5%- Knowing, Monsters vs. Aliens, Race to Witch Mountain
0% - Duplicity, The Last House on the Left, One Week

Thanks for voting!

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!