I have been on a DVD rental kick in the past couple weeks, and I have taken some titles from Blockbuster's Critics Picks section.I have had some real success, having rented The Class and The Cove. I am a huge fan of foreign films, though unfortunately my interests rarely extend beyond French and Spanish films. This is probably due to the fact that I have studied both French and Spanish and have an understanding of both languages. I did see an Icelandic film called The Sea (2002), and though I had no understanding of the language I completely enjoyed the film. Departures is a 2008 Japanese film directed by Yojiro Tokita. It won a richly deserved Best Foreign Language Film at the 2009 Academy Awards. This film has redeemed Japan cinematically, after seeing the horrors of The Cove. It took Yojiro Tokita and Masahiro Motoki, the film's star, over a decade to bring the film to life. Departures is a beautiful film that lives and breathes in the quiet moments.
Daigo Kobayashi (Motoki) is a concert cellist whose orchestra has been disbanded. His devoted wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue) has agreed to move from Tokyo to Sakata, Daigo's hometown. He sees a classifieds ad for "assisting departures for an NK agency" and when he arrives for his interview he is told that there was a misprint. The job is for assisting in encoffinment ceremonies. The job pays extremely well, but as death is a very taboo subject in Japan, he is too embarrassed to reveal to Mika the details of his employment. Daigo has a very uneasy time with his job, finding it hard to even look at food when he returns home from work. He develops a bond with his boss (Tsutomu Yamakazi), and discovers that he quite enjoys his work. Mika, upon finding out the details of her husband's job, feels that Daigo must choose between her and his work. There is also a parallel story that involves Daigo's estranged father, who left and never returned when he was six.
Departures is the first Japanese film I have ever seen and while I often found myself stuck reading the subtitles instead of watching the action, there were many silent moments in the film that exist without dialogue. These scenes were some of the most beautiful that I have seen in recent memory. The film does this through the symbolism of the cello, which Daigo studied at a young age because of his father's wishes. My only complaint is that the music is sometimes too loud and overpowering, and it begins to compete with the events on screen. I also have issues with the film's poster, which I think wrongly shies away from the theme of death in the film. Overall it is an incredibly well made film and I am thankful that this type of film is accessible outside of Japan. The acting was superb and the pacing was excellent. Departures is a fantastic film that left me feeling hopeful.
I remember first seeing a preview for The Cove and thinking that it was going to be a frightening suspense film. I eventually realized it was a documentary, and after viewing the film I found it to be both frightening and suspenseful. The film follows Ric O'Barry (who originally trained the dolphins on television's Flipper) as he and his team try to uncover the truth about dolphin killings in a restricted cove in Taiji, Japan. The film is directed by Louie Psihoyos, a former photographer for National Geographic. The Cove won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009 and has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It is a must-see film that is provoking and disturbing. It left me with feelings of guilt, but it gives me tremendous hope that there are people in the world that are willing to fight against this injustice.
While the film is decidedly biased, it highlights some disturbing facts that the Japanese government refuses to acknowledge. The film states that 23 000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in Japan every year. In Taiji the fisherman lure the dolphins to the bay and set up nets to prevent them from escaping. In the morning there are buyers from aquariums across the world that come to purchase dolphins for as much as $150 000. The unsold dolphins are led to a secluded cove where they are killed and sold as meat. This cove is made inaccessible by gates and security guards. Ric O'Barry and his team devote an incredible amount of time and money to exposing Taiji's dolphin killings.
The Cove is a powerful film that acts like a spy thriller at times. It is engrossing from beginning to end, and while some of the scenes are difficult to watch, they are nonetheless crucial to the film's message. It is hard to believe that these fisherman are able to get away killing dolphins and that the town officials and Japanese government do nothing. The horror extends far beyond the dolphin killings because the dolphin meat that is sold contains a severely toxic amount of mercury. I have never been a huge fan of documentary films, and after watching The Cove I have decided that I need to explore this overlooked genre.
When I first heard about The Class I thought that it was a documentary about an inner city school in Paris. It turns out that the film is based on the real life accounts of François Bégaudeau, a language and literature teacher. The film premiered at Cannes in 2008 to critical acclaim, and became the first French film in 21 years to win the coveted Palme d'Or. It was then nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2009 Academy Awards - losing to Departures from Japan. On a side note, I think thatBest Foreign Language Film is a poor choice of words, and prefer the BAFTA's choice, Best Film Not in the English Language. The Class, based on Bégaudeau's 2006 novel, is directed by Laurent Cantet, whose work I had not seen before. The film looks at one teacher's interactions with his homeroom class, which include a diverse range of personalities and backgrounds. The film does not show the characters beyond the walls of the school and, although we know little about the characters, the film is engrossing and provoking.
François Bégaudeau is entering his fourth year at an inner city school in Paris. He knows most of his students from the previous year, and he appears to be a devoted teacher. His class includes many problem students, which include Esmerelda, Khoumba and Souleymane, but there are also hardworking students like Wei and Louise. The Class unfolds over the course of a school year and we witness the highs of lows of the class atmosphere. The major events of the film take place inside the four walls of the classroom, hence the original French title Entre les Murs (Between the Walls). It is also interesting to watch how François interacts with colleagues and how their views of the students differ. One of the most powerful scenes in the film for me was watching the parent-teacher conferences. It is a wonderful film that invites you into a brief moment in the students' lives and leaves you craving more.
As a new teacher I found the film fascinating and it made me feel hopeful. There are a considerable number of heartbreaking scenes that left me feeling devastated, but I know that a teacher only plays a small role in a student's life. The Class belongs to the young group of students, whose tremendous talent create a wonderfully vibrant and diverse classroom. I have always loved French films, but I was still amazed by how much I loved this film. I was engrossed from beginning to end and recommend it to anyone and everyone!
At first glance The Last Station may not appear to be the best film to see on Valentine's Day, especially with options like the overstuffed Valentine's Day being released into theatres. It is nonetheless a film about love, though it focuses on the tumultuous later states of Sofya and Leo Tolstoy's marriage. The film tells us that Leo Tolstoy is one of the most celebrated authors in history, and while his two most revered novels, War and Peace and Anna Karenina,are only referred to briefly in the film, it is quickly evident that the film is a story about a man and wife, and not a biography of Tolstoy himself. The film is directed by Michael Hoffman, whose most well known film may be 1995's disappointing One Fine Day, which starred Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney. Hoffman also adapted the screenplay from a 1990 novel by Jay Parini, and some of the dialogue appears too contrived, especially one line of dialogue uttered by Paul Giamatti in the first half of the film. The film stars Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer, with supporting performances by James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti and Anne-Marie Duff. The Last Station is dependent on the tremendous acting in the film, which thankfully overshadows the film's laboured pacing.
Set during the year leading up to Leo Tolstoy's (Plummer) November 1910 death,The Last Station depicts Sofya Tolstoy's (Mirren) efforts to prevent her husband from signing away the rights to his literary works. Tolstoy is heavily influenced by his close friend and confidant Vladimir Chertkov (Giamatti), the founder of the Tolstoyans (the followers of Tolstoy's religious and philosophical views). Chertkov believes that Tolstoy should sign his rights over to the people of Russia, which would leave his six children without an inheritance. Valentin Bulgakov (McAvoy) has been sent to the estate by Chertkov to act as Tolstoy's secretary, and report on the relationship between Sofya and her husband. Bulgakov meets a young Tolsyotan, Masha (Kerry Condon) and their blossoming love reminds Sofya of the relationship she and Leo once had. It causes her great pain that her daughter Sasha (Duff) works tirelessly against her in an effort to ally herself with Chertkov. The Last Station does not give any insight into who Tolstoy was, but the film is anchored by exceptional performances that keep the film from falling apart.
The Last Station is the last film I needed to see to be prepared to share my final decisions on the acting races for the Academy Awards. Helen Mirren is nominated for Best Actress, and while it is a fantastic performance, I would not rank her among the five best actresses of 2009. Christopher Plummer, on the other hand, is wonderful as Leo Tolstoy and deserving of his nomination for Supporting Actor. The cinematography of the film was superb, showcasing the outdoors with sun-drenched shots and the lush green colours of the trees. I find it very odd that so many foreign biopics are done with British actors, and I wonder why it is acceptable for Russians to be played with English accents. After watching The Last Station, how are viewers supposed to remember that Leo Tolstoy was one of Russia's most important authors? While it is certainly worth seeing for the performances, but I felt that the screenplay and direction were lacking.
My rating: 3 stars out of 4.
Now the only film I need to see before March 7 is District 9.
It was in 2008 that I first heard about AMC's Best Picture Showcase. I was interested because I had not seen Michael Clayton, and I would have welcomed the opportunity to see Juno and No Country for Old Men a second and third time, respectively. Sadly the event was not being held at any of AMC's theatres in Canada. Last year was the first time that it was available in Canada - at the AMC theatre at Yonge and Dundas in Toronto - but I had seen Slumdog Millionaire three times, and I had seen the rest once and had no real desire to see them a second time.
This year there are ten Best Picture nominees, which posed a problem for AMC and its Best Picture Showcase. The Best Picture Showcase has traditionally been presented the Saturday before the Academy Awards, so how did AMC handle the situation? Five films will be presented on February 27 and the second set of films will be shown on March 6. Anticipating that Avatar will be the heavy draw, AMC has decided to show it on February 27 and is giving viewers the opportunity to vote for the other four films to be shown with it.
Which films would I like to be included with Avatar? Obviously The Blind Side because I have no desire to see it a second time. The same goes for Up, which was hard enough to endure the first time! I just saw A Serious Man for the second time, so it easy for me to pass on. I would also have to choose District 9, because I would rather see the remaining films a second time.
That leaves me hoping that these films will be presented on Saturday, March 6: An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious and Up in the Air. I can only hope that the more financially successful films amongst the Best Picture nominees will be shown together, leaving my preferred group of five for me to enjoy!
EDIT It turns out that this is no longer being offered in Toronto. The only option is to go see all 10 films in a 24-hour period in Whitby. No thanks.
Ah, Veronica Mars. Is there a better reason to see a film than to see the enchanting Kristen Bell on screen? I am a die-hard fan of the television show Veronica Mars, and it is the reason I started watching Gossip Girl, and even my new favourite show, Big Love (which features two of Veronica Mars' best friends!). Granted, When in Rome is a romantic comedy and that is not exactly my favourite genre. But Kristen Bell is too adorable. The film is directed by Mark Steven Johnson, whose two previous directing efforts were overdone action films (Daredevil and Ghost Rider), though his first screenwriting credit was Grumpy Old Men. Starring alongside Veronica Mars (yes, that is her real name in my opinion) is Josh Duhamel, who is best known as being Fergie's husband (which is better than being that dude from Transformers). The film costars quite a few talented actors (Anjelica Huston, Danny DeVito and Will Arnett) whose considerable talents are unable to save When in Rome from relying too heavily on cliches.
Veronica Mars has matured, she is now Beth Harper, a young curator at New York's Guggenheim Museum. She has given up on love and her younger sister's (Alexis Dziena) impulsive wedding in Italy only adds to her frustration. In Rome she meets Nick (Josh Duhamel), the best man at the wedding, and while she is attracted to him she mistakenly believes that he is there with another woman. This leads Beth to climb into the fountain of love and rescue coins. It is a magic fountain and when Beth returns to New York all the men whose coins she took have fallen madly in love with her. She is harassed by a magician (Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder), a struggling artist (Will Arnett), a self-obsessed model (Dax Shepard, recently engaged to Kristen Bell). Her relationship with Nick grows but she finds reason to believe that he is also under a spell and struggles to juggle her job and the relationship.
The film is very straightforward with very few surprises. When in Rome is only saved from being complete trash by Kristen Bell's presence on screen. She is beautiful and charming, and while the film itself is not worth of her talent, she does her best to keep you entertained. The film is too long and much of the dialogue is contrived. The film is as formulaic as they come with a predictable script and weak direction. Kristen Bell has a bright future, but she will quickly become forgotten if she keeps picking this kind of film. I would love to see her go back to television and find a role on a quirky series (like Nurse Jackie) that would allow her to grow as an actress.
This morning at 8:37 the Academy Awards announced its nominees, with the help of former nominee Anne Hathaway. It was mostly very straightforward and had basically the exact same names that have been announced all season long for other awards and Top Tenlists. The AMPAS is trying to reach out and attract more viewers, so there are TEN nominees for Best Picture. It is mostly a joke because only five films really have a chance, and most are assuming it is a two film race between Avatar and The Hurt Locker.
Best Picture Avatar The Blind Side District 9 An Education The Hurt Locker Inglourious Basterds Precious A Serious Man Up Up in the Air I have seen all of these, except for District 9 (which I really have no desire to see). I think that The Blind Side is a total joke and voters must be dying to give Sandra Bullock an Oscar because the film does not deserve to be included. I really think that A Serious Man should have received more attention because it is a great film. But does it really matter if it is only going to be Avatar versus The Hurt Locker? Is the general public going to tune into the Oscars just because a few extra films were nominated?!
Best Actor Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) George Clooney (Up in the Air) Colin Firth (A Single Man) Morgan Freeman (Invictus) Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)
Not a bad selection. I wish Jeff Bridges, George Clooney and Colin Firth could all win. Morgan Freeman is a joke and only nominated because he is in a Clint Eastwood film. Jeremy Renner's nominated just seems to stem from all the love for The Hurt Locker. It seems like Jeff Bridges is going to win anyway, and I think he is a terrific actor and I am eager to hear his acceptance speech!
Best Actress Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) Helen Mirren (The Last Station) Carey Mulligan (An Education) Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)
I would really like to see Meryl Streep win in my lifetime! She is brilliant as Julia Child, and the only reason to see an otherwise disappointing film. I would also love it if Carey Mulligan won, she is wonderful in An Education. I do like Sandra Bullock as an actress, and even though she seems destined to win this year I wish it could be for a role that deserved the award. And I will see The Last Station before the Oscars, I swear!
Best Supporting Actor Matt Damon (Invictus) Woody Harrelson (The Messenger) Christopher Plummer (The Last Station) Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones) Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
There is something terribly wrong in Hollywood if Christoph Waltz does not win. Matt Damon was awful in Invictus and Stanley Tucci should have been nominated for Julie & Julia instead.
Best Supporting Actress Penélope Cruz (Nine) Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air) Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart) Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) Mo'Nique (Precious)
This was probably the hardest category to predict with only three women guaranteed nominations. Mo'Nique is brilliant in Precious, but I would love to see Anna Kendrick win! I love Penélope Cruz, but she does not deserve this nomination. The same goes for Maggie Gyllenhaal. I think that Juliane Moore (A Single Man) and Mélanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds) should have been nominated instead.
Best Director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) James Cameron (Avatar) Lee Daniels (Precious) Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
This race once seemed more wide open, but it now looks as if it is a duel between Kathryn Bigelow and her former husband James Cameron. Cameron won the Golden Globe, but Bigelow recently won the Directors Guild of America award, and the momentum seems to be on the side of The Hurt Locker.
Best Original Screenplay The Hurt Locker The Messenger A Serious Man Up Inglourious Basterds
I would love to see Quentin Tarantino win for Inglourious Basterds, he is a gifted screenwriter.
Best Adapted Screenplay In the Loop District 9 Precious An Education Up in the Air
I think Jason Reitman deserves to win for Up in the Air, but I am very biased because I am a huge fan of the film and the source material.
Best Animated Film Coraline Fantastic Mr. Fox The Princess and the Frog The Secret of Kells Up
I disliked Up. I loved Fantastic Mr. Fox. Enough said.
Best Foreign Language Film El Secreto de Sus Ojos (Argentina) Un Prophète (France) The White Ribbon (Germany) Ajami (Israel) The Milk of Sorrow (Peru)
I am still upset that Los Abrazos Rotos was not even selected by Spain as its entry for the Oscars!
I have been on a DVD rental kick in the past couple weeks, and I have taken some titles from Blockbuster's Critics Picks section. I have had some real success, having rented The Class and The Cove. I am a huge fan of foreign films, though unfortunately my interests rarely extend beyond French and Spanish films. This is probably due to the fact that I have studied both French and Spanish and have an understanding of both languages. I did see an Icelandic film called The Sea (2002), and though I had no understanding of the language I completely enjoyed the film. Departures is a 2008 Japanese film directed by Yojiro Tokita. It won a richly deserved Best Foreign Language Film at the 2009 Academy Awards. This film has redeemed Japan cinematically, after seeing the horrors of The Cove. It took Yojiro Tokita and Masahiro Motoki, the film's star, over a decade to bring the film to life. Departures is a beautiful film that lives and breathes in the quiet moments.
