Tuesday, September 21, 2004

WIMBLEDON




Romantic comedy

BACKGROUND
The Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon have developed from the garden party atmosphere of the first meeting in 1877 (witnessed by a few hundred spectators) to a highly professional tournament attracting an attendance of over 500,000 people and through the press, radio, Internet and television a following of millions throughout the world.

The Tournament starts each year in June and lasts for a fortnight or for as long as necessary to complete all events. Players from over 60 nations regularly compete.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Paul Bettany: Peter Colt, a 30 something-year-old tennis pro
Kirsten Dunst: Lizzie Bradbury, a rising American tennis star
Sam Neill: Lizzie’s father and Manager
John McEnroe and Chris Everet playing themselves as commentators

REVIEW
A pleasant “feel good type movie” about two tennis pros, one near the end of his career and the other just beginning. Anyone who loves the game will be delighted with the fast paced action. The jokes are often delivered as asides so you have to pay attention to not miss them.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, sexuality and partial nudity.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
When Peter is in the kitchen talking with his mother, the collar of his shirt is not tucked inside his suit jacket. The camera shifts to his mother and when it’s back to Peter the collar is now properly put right.

After a brief shower the sun remains out during the remainder of the match but the shadows are all over the place: sometimes aligned with the length of the court, sometimes parallel with the ends or somewhere in between.

MR. 3000




Sports comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Bernie Mac: Stan Ross, aging baseball player nearing retirement
Angela Bassett: Mo Simmons, televison reporter for ESPN
Michael Rispoli: Boca, Stan’s buddy
Chris Noth: Schembri, General Manager of the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball club
Paul Sorvino: Gus Panas, Team Manager (a.k.a. Skip)
Brian White: T-Rex Pennebaker, home run champ (with an ego larger than his R.B.I.’s)

REVIEW
Not that it is essential (because the story is more universal than that) but the movie is easier to follow if you are a fan of the game.

Although somewhat predictable, it’s still nice to see someone having to deal with some of life’s setbacks and in so doing, actually change.

CLASSIFICATION
for vivid locker-room language and sexual situations.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
While talking with Mo in the bar the stud in Stan’s tie moves up and down between shots.

When Stan is on the Jay Leno show the coffee cup of the previous guest turns around by itself from one camera angle to the next.

When T-Rex comes to bat the scoreboard shows 0-4-0 (runs-hits-errors) but after he hits a home run it does not get updated to 1-5-0.

P.S.
Although the stadium announcer does a fine job of explaining the situation at different stages of the game, he assumes we all know that in major league baseball a hit is not simply the batter making contact with the ball; to be scored officially as a hit, the ball has to land within the playing surface and the batter has to reach base safely.

Friday, September 17, 2004

RIDING GIANTS




Documentary

REVIEW
Despite the real possibility of becoming boring and monotonous showing one wave after another, the film is actually quite interesting as it documents the sport of surfing and how it evolved.

Mind you, the first 1,000 years or so are dispensed with in less than 2 minutes, but the remainder of the film takes time to explore the recent advances in technique and newly found locations with even bigger waves than the others.

CLASSIFICATION
for General Audiences

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

CELLULAR




Thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Kim Basinger: Jessica Martin, high school science teacher
Richard Burgi: her husband Craig
Chris Evans: Ryan, a beach bum
Jessica Biel: Ryan’s ex-girlfriend Chole
Jason Statham: Ethan, leader of the bad guys
William H. Macy: Sgt. Bob Mooney, 27-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department
Noah Emmerich: Jack, LAPD detective

REVIEW
This is one of those films that can go either way. Some people will get a kick out of the action packed thrill of the two opposing forces coming together in a show-down. Others because of several gaping holes in the plot (which I won’t mention because that would spoil things) will find having to suspend disbelief to that extent just not worth it.

I’m somewhat in between so for me it was a good movie and one I’d recommend going to see.

CLASSIFICATION
for violence, terror situations, language and some sexual references.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
When Ryan is talking to Chloe he’s carrying his cellular in his left hand; the next shot with him claiming innocence holding both hands up in front of him now has the telephone in his right hand.

Monday, September 13, 2004

A SILENT LOVE




Original title: Un Amor Silencioso
Romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Noel Burton: Norman Green, a middle-aged college professor living in Montreal
Vanessa Bauche: Gladys, a young out-of-work teacher living in Mexico
Susana Salazar: Fernanda, her mother the owner of a beauty salon

REVIEW
This rather charming movie looks at the difficulties of a multi-cultural marriage complicated by the live-in mother-in-law. The acting is excellent, the story unfolds at a leisurely pace and the chuckles are frequent.

CLASSIFICATION
for some sexuality.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Although Norman lives in a walk-up apartment at 5819 Esplanade, they receive a package sent them to the wrong address (5819 Waverly Street).

WICKER PARK




Supposedly a romantic thriller

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Josh Hartnett: Matthew, (a.k.a. Matt) an investment banker living in Chicago
Matthew Lillard: Luke, shoe salesman and Matt’s best friend
Rose Byrne: Alex, a Shakespearean actress
Diane Kruger: Lisa, a professional dancer
Jessica Pare: Matt’s fianceĆ©

REVIEW
What a mess. This movie is so convoluted and confusing it’s beyond comprehension. And it is not just the flashbacks that are out of sync time-wise that are the problem but also the gaping holes in the plot and ridiculous situations that are totally unbelievable.

In addition the acting by Josh Hartnett is terrible since all he’s capable of doing is furrowing his brow to express a range of emotions. Some acting.

One last thing, this romantic thriller is neither romantic nor thrilling. It is simply a waste of time.

CLASSIFICATION
for sexuality and language

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
When Jessica gives Matt a bottle of sleeping pills to calm his nerves before his flight to Shanghai he pours two (maybe three? it happens so quickly) into his right hand then magically somehow with the other hand snaps the cover back on, puts the bottle in his pocket then gets ready to gulp down the pills. But now there is only one pill.

While sitting in his parked car outside Lisa’s apartment on the left hand side of the road and pondering his next move we see the headlights of a car passing by that light up the left side of his face; but on his left is the sidewalk so any passing car could only have been to his right.

When Alex and Matt decide to have a drink in her apartment we clearly see the label to be J&B Scotch. After the camera turns to Matt and back to Alex the bottle has swiveled around by itself and the label is hardly visible.

The next morning she makes coffee and serves it in champagne glasses. Both take a sip and put them back down on the tray. During the course of the next half dozen shots the glass in front moves by itself to the left then to the right of the sugar bowl and back again.

When Matt takes a cab to see Alex perform it is a Yellow taxi number 535. The next day he flags down a taxi in busy downtown Chicago and guess what? It’s good ol’ number 535 again. Chicago needs more taxis.

Friday, September 10, 2004

ADVENTURES IN ANIMATION 3D




Documentary and short animation film

REVIEW
The first part of the movie explains the manner of making virtual reality animated characters: using special optical cameras they can track the movement of reflective markers placed on the face of a live subject then compile a library of facial expressions. Similarly by tracking full body motion of the subject they can create more realistic computer images of humans and animals. This first part of the movie gets an excellent four star rating.

However the second part gets a zero star rating because it’s all about boxing (which is one of my favourite disinterests)coupled with a sound level that is far too loud. And the movie itself is very repetitive. From a technical point-of-view it’s outstanding, but the same can’t be said for the rest of it.

CLASSIFICATION
for General Audiences

P.S.
In 3D IMAX format.

TOUCH OF PINK




Romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Jimi Mistry: Alim, motion picture film set still photographer
Kyle MacLachlan: the spirit of Cary Grant (and Alim’s guardian angel)
Kristen Holden-Ried: Giles, Alim’s best friend
Liisa Repo-Martell: Delia, Gile’s sister
Suleka Mathew: Nuru, Alim’s mother
Raoul Bhaneja: Khaled, a young dentist about to get married

REVIEW
There is little romance since the principals really don’t have that much chemistry going for them. And the comedy part is virtually non-existent. So much for being a romantic comedy movie.

Unless you are into the colourful, gay, bouncy Bollywood-style movies you will probably want to give this one a pass.

CLASSIFICATION
for sexual content, brief language.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
While eating breakfast Giles speaks with some eggs stuck on his lips; the camera turns to Nuru and back to Giles and we see the eggs have now disappeared. After the next shot of Nuru, Giles responds to her question and once more the eggs are there.

While Giles and Nuru are out touring around London they go into a store with Giles holding a tan coat in his left hand; when they come out his coat has turned to black.

Thursday, September 9, 2004

MEAN CREEK




Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Josh Peck: George, the school bully with a bad temper
Rory Culkin: Sam, a small, shy teenager
Trevor Morgan: Rocky, Sam's older brother
Scott Mechlowicz: Marty, Rocky’s best friend
Ryan Kelley: Clyde, another of Rocky’s friends
Carly Schroeder: Millie, Sam’s girlfriend

REVIEW
Although the scheme they put in motion is simple enough, things don’t always go as planned. Along the way we get to see the other side of a bully and how people react to stressful situations. To that extent there’s something to be learned by all of us.

The acting for the most part is excellent and the pacing is right on.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, sexual references, teen drug and alcohol use.

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
Near the end of the movie when viewing one of Sam’s videos, the red REC light continues to blink. That only occurs during recording, not during playback.

Tuesday, September 7, 2004

VANITY FAIR




Drama

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Reese Witherspoon: Rebecca (Becky) Sharp, notorious social climber
Romolai Garai: Amelia Sedly, Becky’s former schoolmate and now best friend
Jonathan Rhys Meyers: George Osborne, handsome but elusive soldier
James Purefoy: Rawdon Crawley, dashing soldier and gambling man
Eileen Atkins: Miss Matilda, Rawdon’s wealthy spinster aunt

REVIEW
Adapted from a novel, it would be a lot easier to sort things out if you’ve read the book. There is a lot to take in: there are about a dozen principal characters, it covers at least 20 years of their lives and bounces around from England to India to France and back. It takes some figuring out to keep track of all this. And for more than 2 hours too.

Set during the Napoleonic era with lavish costumes, elaborate sets and some really good acting, the story is one about humble beginnings and the difficulty in reaching upper society. But it would be a much better movie if it only took in some of the story.

CLASSIFICATION
for some sensuality, partial nudity and a brief violent image.

VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP




Documentary

BACKGROUND
Currently there are over 5,000 active underwater volcanoes, some of which are larger than anything on the earth’s surface whereas others are just cones the size of an automobile. The net result of this action is thermal heating of the oceans which ultimately reaches the water surface and is then carried aloft into the atmosphere to become part of our weather system.

REVIEW
This movie goes beyond simply showing billowing black clouds of hydrothermal vents. It explores the life around these fissures that survive (in fact they thrive) in this brutal high-pressure, super-heated environment. Some of the scientific revelations are remarkable. The movie suffers somewhat from lack of crisp editing and becomes repetitious at times.


CLASSIFICATION
for General Audiences

P.S.
Presented in IMAX format, it took over 20 dives and 10 years of work to make the film possible.

THE CENTER




Original title: Die Mitte
Documentary with English subtitles

BACKGROUND
The geographical center of Europe lies somewhere between Norway, Greece, Portugal and Russia. Currently over a dozen towns all claim to be the "center" of Europe.

REVIEW
This is a rambling odyssey to “find” the true center of Europe. While travelling about and interviewing some of the locals we also get to see how these people live and what their hopes and aspirations are. Since most of the trek is through areas that were once part of the Communist world (Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine) there is a certain similar drabness about most of the places visited. Not an inspiring sight.

The tongue in cheek manner of the interviews keeps it light although the whole thing is a little too long.

CLASSIFICATION
for General Audiences

P.S.
This movie would probably have little appeal to anyone not into travelling.

Saturday, September 4, 2004

GARDEN STATE




Romantic comedy

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Zach Braff: Andrew Largeman, a 26-year old part-time Hollywood actor and waiter
Ian Holm: Gideon, his psychiatrist father
Peter Sarsgaard: Mark, Andrew’s old friend
Denis O’Hare: Albert, another friend
Ron Leibman: Dr. Cohen, Andrew’s physician
Natalie Portman: Samantha, another patient of Dr. Cohen

REVIEW
There are moments when the comedy aspect of this movie becomes apparent. But a lot of time is devoted to watching Andrew “hang out” with his friends in a somewhat aimless visit to his home town. Only when Samantha shows up does the movie perk up but overall it’s a little weird.

CLASSIFICATION
for language, drug use and a scene of sexuality

FOR NITPICKERS ONLY
When Andrew is talking with his dad in his office Gideon’s glasses are in the middle of the desk. He leans back and then stands up. Somehow the glasses moved themselves off on the side of the desk.

When Andrew is discussing his problem with Dr. Cohen, his glasses case is clipped to the outside of his shirt pocket; when Dr. Cohen gets up from his desk the clip is now inside the pocket.

P.S.
Zach Braff who stars in it also wrote and directed the movie. Once more the sum of the parts is not equal to the whole when one person takes on more than one significant role in the movie.

Friday, September 3, 2004

FESTIVAL EXPRESS




Concert

BACKGROUND
Following the great success of the three day 1969 Woodstock concert in upper New York state, Ken Walker a 22-year old commerce student and his friend Thor Eaton (of the department-store dynasty) decided to stage a series of concerts across Canada by a dozen artists or so. Travelling from Toronto, Winnipeg and Calgary in a chartered CN train the Festival Express also made one more unscheduled stop in Saskatoon.

PRINCIPAL CAST MEMBERS
Janis Joplin who performs “Cry Baby” and “Mama
Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead sings several songs
The Band performs “Slippin' and Slidin'
Buddy Guy croons “Money
Ian and Sylvia Tyson perform “CC Rider
along with The Flying Burrito Brothers and quite a few others

REVIEW
The film is 25% documentary (the occasional commentary by some of the principals) and 75% concert by some of the more popular artists back in the summer of 1970. Unlike documentaries about Woodstock where as much emphasis is on the crowd and their antics, this one pretty much sticks to what the artists were doing.

CLASSIFICATION
for some language and drug use.

P.S.
In Toronto, a local radical group of greedy, bullying fans rebelled against the $14 ticket price and threatened to shut down the show unless it was given 60 percent of the gate plus ''free food and free dope''. In Calgary, the mayor called Ken Walker ''a capitalist rip off son of a bitch'' and insisted that children be allowed to enter for free. Because of these setbacks and other unforeseen expenses, the show went into bankruptcy leaving 75 hours of film stored in garages and basements of various unpaid cameramen. It took the producers 10 years to get performance rights and conduct filmed interviews with some of the performers to put this movie together.