On Teachers, a very simple little film I have just watched over the weekend from Quebec, Monsieur Lazhar (a nominee for best foreign language film Oscars 2012), It is about grief, when Bashir Lazhar volunteers to step in and become the substitute teacher for a class of elementary students whose teacher has committed suicide in the class room, he becomes the most effective ear for the students to express their grief. He himself if getting over the grief of losing his family at the hands of terrorists in Algeria. The film deals with the craziness of the PC driven world of today's classroom. Teachers are faced with the dilemma of comforting students when they absolutely cannot touch a student, let alone the problems of reprimanding unruly classroom antics.
Next up, a trip to latest in series "Books on Film" at TIFF with the fantastic host Eleanor Wachtel (sp?). The Book to film this time was "Jane Eyre" one of my all time favourite books, which I reread every few years and always get something new from it. This was the latest film adaptation from 2010 and stars Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender as Jane and Mrs Rochester respectively. This is the third time I have seen this adaptation and it is by far my favourite. Eleanor's guest was Molly Haskell an American Feminist writer who talked at length after the film about Jane's character and the very forward feminist writing of Charlotte Bronte. I am not a huge fan of people spouting on about feminism usually but Molly Haskell is mostly interested in women and their roles in film so that does interest me. Her latest book, is "Frankly, my dear" and of deals with Scarlett O'Hara and GWTW. I am going to put that on my list to get to!
A trip to the McMichael gallery in Kleinberg was fun. There is an interesting exhibition on at the moment (Until April 22) called The Tree:Form and substance. It goes beautifully with the setting which of course is in the lovely wooded area around the property surrounded by lovely walking trails through the trees. The exhibition has a collection of all forms of media devoted to the tree, my favourite were of course the photographs.
The final film I saw at the weekend, was "Melancholia" by Lars Von Trier, starring Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsburgh and Kiefer Sutherland. I really loved this film, but, I started out hating it and did not think I would get through it. It is in two parts, from the vantage point of two sisters. It has a dark, ominous feel to it, because of course everyone is aware that a huge undiscovered planet, Melancholia is encroaching on earth on its collision course to end life here. However, this is not a film about panic or avoidance, there is just the feeling of acceptance and sadness. This film is about a family that has obviously had issues to deal with, but we are never let in on any of the facts, we just make do with what we have right now and each of the characters has to come to terms with their own mortality in their own manner. This is one of those films that stays with me for some days after and I find myself thinking about it from time to time, and that is something I always like from a film.
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Saturday, 24 March 2012
The Hunger Games
THG - In the interests of research for this blog, I decided to be one of the first to see this film at the cinema in Canada. I went to the 11:45am screening and was not surprised to see the theatre already half full. When I left there was already a line forming for the next screening. I had not read the books by Suzanne Collins, but vaguely knew the plot, and I was a little uneasy with the idea of children killing each other as a contest..
I must say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the film. Right from the beginning I was invested in the main character Katniss Everdene, played by the very natural Jennifer Lawrence (she is fantastic in Winter's Bone if you have not seen it). The story is sent in a futuristic state, Panem and to titilate the affluent citizens, the poorest of the 12 districts are forced to send off a pair of tributes (picked by a lottery system) yearly to compete to the death. In Katniss's home village she has two possible love interests (sounding like that other teen blockbuster, the twilight series?). There is the very hunky Gale who is her hunting buddy, and they often practice their hunting skills with the bow to get a squirrel supper, Yum! Then there is the very sensitive, also hunky, lusting from a distance, other guy, Peeta. He is the baker's son and in the past had been kind enough to throw Katniss a hunk of bread when she was starving. Katniss does the unthinkable and volunteers to take her younger sisters place when the lottery picks her name. Peeta, is her fellow male tribute. There are many things in this film that draw on the popular forms of entertainment in our culture right now, making it a sure bet at the box office. It is an example of an extreme reality series were the audience are watching in comfort to pitch these teens against each other and see what happens. I loved the design and fashion of the wealthy Panem, the people have very colourful, flamboyant makeup and hairstyles, the women look like Cup Cakes in high heels. It also very much reminded me of an earlier example of reality televison in its most absurd extreme form, the film starring Jim Carey, "The Truman Show". Carey plays Truman, and his whole life he has been the subject of a reality show watched by the rest of the world with only him being unaware of that fact. Very worthy of another viewing. If you are still unsettled about the kid on kid violence, reminicent of Goldings, Lord of the Flies, I would say that, this film depicts pure fantasy, so you do not come out of the theatre thinking OMG will there be copy cat killings. It is a tale, pure fairytale style fantasy, so do not be alarmed! One useful anecdote is that quoted in The Globe and Mail, from Mark Lisanti who ponders if you should see it? He says, it could provide the perfect comback to a snarky teen. "If a government lottery selected you to fight to the death on TV, I'd be OK with that. You are being a right bastard right now. Maybe you would win, and we'd all get to live in Malibu!"
Another interesting snippet of information, Panem comes from the latin phrase "Panem et Circenses (Bread and Circuses) which refers to the famous method of keeping the masses pacified.
For something completely different, "The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant", made as a joint UK/Australian film for TV. It is available to borrow from the Oakville Public Library. It stars the lovely young British actress Romola Garai (from one of my recent favourites, Glorious 39). It is about the fate of a group of English convicts who are sent to Australia in the 18th century. In particular if follows the very courageous Mary Bryant and is based on a truish story I believe. She is another very bold, strong female character not unlike Katniss in her detimination to succeed in staying alive against the odds. She also has two dishy males lusting after her, do you see a pattern?
Happy viewing!
I must say I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the film. Right from the beginning I was invested in the main character Katniss Everdene, played by the very natural Jennifer Lawrence (she is fantastic in Winter's Bone if you have not seen it). The story is sent in a futuristic state, Panem and to titilate the affluent citizens, the poorest of the 12 districts are forced to send off a pair of tributes (picked by a lottery system) yearly to compete to the death. In Katniss's home village she has two possible love interests (sounding like that other teen blockbuster, the twilight series?). There is the very hunky Gale who is her hunting buddy, and they often practice their hunting skills with the bow to get a squirrel supper, Yum! Then there is the very sensitive, also hunky, lusting from a distance, other guy, Peeta. He is the baker's son and in the past had been kind enough to throw Katniss a hunk of bread when she was starving. Katniss does the unthinkable and volunteers to take her younger sisters place when the lottery picks her name. Peeta, is her fellow male tribute. There are many things in this film that draw on the popular forms of entertainment in our culture right now, making it a sure bet at the box office. It is an example of an extreme reality series were the audience are watching in comfort to pitch these teens against each other and see what happens. I loved the design and fashion of the wealthy Panem, the people have very colourful, flamboyant makeup and hairstyles, the women look like Cup Cakes in high heels. It also very much reminded me of an earlier example of reality televison in its most absurd extreme form, the film starring Jim Carey, "The Truman Show". Carey plays Truman, and his whole life he has been the subject of a reality show watched by the rest of the world with only him being unaware of that fact. Very worthy of another viewing. If you are still unsettled about the kid on kid violence, reminicent of Goldings, Lord of the Flies, I would say that, this film depicts pure fantasy, so you do not come out of the theatre thinking OMG will there be copy cat killings. It is a tale, pure fairytale style fantasy, so do not be alarmed! One useful anecdote is that quoted in The Globe and Mail, from Mark Lisanti who ponders if you should see it? He says, it could provide the perfect comback to a snarky teen. "If a government lottery selected you to fight to the death on TV, I'd be OK with that. You are being a right bastard right now. Maybe you would win, and we'd all get to live in Malibu!"
Another interesting snippet of information, Panem comes from the latin phrase "Panem et Circenses (Bread and Circuses) which refers to the famous method of keeping the masses pacified.
For something completely different, "The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant", made as a joint UK/Australian film for TV. It is available to borrow from the Oakville Public Library. It stars the lovely young British actress Romola Garai (from one of my recent favourites, Glorious 39). It is about the fate of a group of English convicts who are sent to Australia in the 18th century. In particular if follows the very courageous Mary Bryant and is based on a truish story I believe. She is another very bold, strong female character not unlike Katniss in her detimination to succeed in staying alive against the odds. She also has two dishy males lusting after her, do you see a pattern?
Happy viewing!
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Foodies -- March 21 2012
I guess there is a common theme in the last three movies I have watched. Food. Firstly, I went to see "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", which is playing in the theatres now. (does this sound like a trailer??)It stars Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, and Kristin Scott Thomas. I took my friends to celebrate a birthday and it was a great fun movie with a preposterous plot. If you put aside the idea that a rich Sheik is willing to spend fifty million POUNDS on building and then importing Salmon into a artificially constructed river in the middle of the desert, you can move on with the main story. Ewan, who is adorable, plays a geeky, straightlaced marine biologist who is in a very neglectful marriage and is crying out for someone to introduce him to fun. Emily, the consultant who is overseeing the whole project is the person to provide that romantic distraction that he needs, but there is the little problem of her boyfriend... Kristin Scott Thomas has a hilarious role as the government advisor who is trying to find a story to float to the British press to put a positive spin on middle east catastrophes. Where does food come into it? OK that is a bit of a stretch, but I suppose the sheik would eat the Salmon?
Next up, I watched a movie I downloaded on iTunes last year and just got around to watching. I downloaded it when I was in one of my "eat less meat" phases. It is a documentary called "Forks over Knives". It is about the research done by a couple of doctors in the US who have studies that show that there is a direct correlation with western diseases and the modern western diet. This film is not as compelling at convincing me to give up my steak this weekend as others that I have watched in the past, such as Food Inc., and Fast Food nation. Nevertheless, I do believe that it has merit and I have stored it in my brain that getting protein from animal products alone is probably not the healthiest way to eat.
Then last night it was the next in the series I go to at TIFF called "Food on Film", I have a subscription to this but you can go to single shows. Last night we watched "Julie and Julia", which I have watched many times and previously read the book. The movie holds up to multiple viewings very well. I laughed heartily all the way through. I love watching cooking in films, it makes me want to go home and cook. I will not bother going into the details of the film because I am sure everyone (is anyone reading this?) has seen it. But, having just started to blog, I was very interested in Julie and her blogging. HOW on earth did she have the time. In the story she is working full time in NY, commuting and then getting home to cook all those time consuming receipes and THEN she finds time to blog (maybe she found that part easy, but writing takes time). One interesting fact, at the end of the movie there is a note to inform as that Julia Child and her husband Paul both passed away within a couple of years of each other, both in their 90s. That is after a life of enjoying a diet very rich in animal fats with many delicious buttery, creamy sauces! Make of that what you will!
Next up, I watched a movie I downloaded on iTunes last year and just got around to watching. I downloaded it when I was in one of my "eat less meat" phases. It is a documentary called "Forks over Knives". It is about the research done by a couple of doctors in the US who have studies that show that there is a direct correlation with western diseases and the modern western diet. This film is not as compelling at convincing me to give up my steak this weekend as others that I have watched in the past, such as Food Inc., and Fast Food nation. Nevertheless, I do believe that it has merit and I have stored it in my brain that getting protein from animal products alone is probably not the healthiest way to eat.
Then last night it was the next in the series I go to at TIFF called "Food on Film", I have a subscription to this but you can go to single shows. Last night we watched "Julie and Julia", which I have watched many times and previously read the book. The movie holds up to multiple viewings very well. I laughed heartily all the way through. I love watching cooking in films, it makes me want to go home and cook. I will not bother going into the details of the film because I am sure everyone (is anyone reading this?) has seen it. But, having just started to blog, I was very interested in Julie and her blogging. HOW on earth did she have the time. In the story she is working full time in NY, commuting and then getting home to cook all those time consuming receipes and THEN she finds time to blog (maybe she found that part easy, but writing takes time). One interesting fact, at the end of the movie there is a note to inform as that Julia Child and her husband Paul both passed away within a couple of years of each other, both in their 90s. That is after a life of enjoying a diet very rich in animal fats with many delicious buttery, creamy sauces! Make of that what you will!
Monday, 19 March 2012
Just Arrived!
My passion is movies, but there are other great things that I find time for. Art, Photography, Theatre, Gardening, my pets. If you want to follow along with my movie choices keep checking in. I see movies in all venues, at the theatre, at home downloaded from on demand, DVD's that I borrow from my local library (has a great selection of movies otherwise hard to get now), and of course I buy DVD's for my own library at home. I have been a TIFF devotee for about 13 years and proudly support this organization by subscribing to different cinema series that they offer throughout the year. During the winter months I go to the screenings on a Sunday morning of Reel Talk (both Contemporary World Cinema and Sneak Peaks), this way I get to enjoy new movies with other like minded people and engage in some good discussion about the movies we have just seen.
Yesterday, I watched an Australian film called "Face to Face", which is based on a programme that they have in Australia to find a resolution to societal conflicts, without going into the court system. It works when you have a somewhat minor infringement, in the case in this movie, a young guy has assaulted a superior from work and caused injury and damage to his bosses car, all because he has been the subject of bullying in the work place. The film works through this drama and strives to find a solution. It all seems to work a little too at, but the idea is a good one and one that maybe should be adopted in more places. My second movie of the day, was a very light romantic tale, available on Apple TV, "Like Crazy", it is like a rom com (without the comedy!). It is about a Young British girl who falls in love with a sweet furniture designing American boy while she is studying in LA. Over the next few years they have to work out, how and where they can be together and will their love survive. It is all about that heady young love which would be really nice if it could last forever. My last movie yesterday, was a huge leap away from the other two, an Italian movie, a few years old called Gomorra. A real gritty film about the crime families in Naples and their struggles for supremacy. Very, very violent and not for everyone, but if you enjoy this kind of thing it is a very well done film.
Today, I will probably only see one film, planning to go with girlfriends to see "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", may comment on it later, if you are interested check back.
Yesterday, I watched an Australian film called "Face to Face", which is based on a programme that they have in Australia to find a resolution to societal conflicts, without going into the court system. It works when you have a somewhat minor infringement, in the case in this movie, a young guy has assaulted a superior from work and caused injury and damage to his bosses car, all because he has been the subject of bullying in the work place. The film works through this drama and strives to find a solution. It all seems to work a little too at, but the idea is a good one and one that maybe should be adopted in more places. My second movie of the day, was a very light romantic tale, available on Apple TV, "Like Crazy", it is like a rom com (without the comedy!). It is about a Young British girl who falls in love with a sweet furniture designing American boy while she is studying in LA. Over the next few years they have to work out, how and where they can be together and will their love survive. It is all about that heady young love which would be really nice if it could last forever. My last movie yesterday, was a huge leap away from the other two, an Italian movie, a few years old called Gomorra. A real gritty film about the crime families in Naples and their struggles for supremacy. Very, very violent and not for everyone, but if you enjoy this kind of thing it is a very well done film.
Today, I will probably only see one film, planning to go with girlfriends to see "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen", may comment on it later, if you are interested check back.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)