Review: "The Last Station"

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.

Best Picture Showcase at AMC Theatres

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.

Review: "When in Rome"

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.

My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4.

Oscar! Oscar!

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 Ten lists. 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!

Au revoir 2009!

It is already the middle of January and I thought that it was about time that I look back at my favourite films of 2009. Crazy Heart is the only film from 2009 that I have not seen that will be nominated for an Academy Award, as most experts are predicting Jeff Bridges to win Best Actor. My list of the top ten films is extremely personal, of course, and does not include Avatar, Star Trek, or District 9 (which I have not seen). I am disappointed that Woody Allen's Whatever Works was one of his more mediocre efforts, but I have hope for his upcoming effort, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, which stars Naomi Watts, Anthony Hopkins and Josh Brolin. I feel that it was a very good year for films in general, and I was lucky to see many great films.

These may not be the ten best films of 2009, but they are my favourite:

10. L'Heure d'été (Summer Hours)
Starring Juliette Binoche and produced by the Musée d'Orsay, l'Heure d'été tells the story of three siblings brought back together by the death of their mother. The film is quietly beautiful, and like many of my favourite films the most breathtaking scenes exist in silence. I love French cinema and wish that more films were screened in Toronto. I agree with Roger Ebert, who said that the film "[refuses] to be a tearjerker, always realistic." Juliette Binoche is a talented actress and it is wonderful to watch her in French.



9. The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker has won more critics awards this season than any other film, and while it is a brilliant film I cannot say that it is the absolute best. Is its success due to its unique take on the war in Iraq? It is a film that gained a lot of film festival attention but failed to connect with audiences, as it only earned $16 million in theatres. I was originally put off by the shaky cam in the film, and it made me quite nauseous. Seeing it a second time at home made it much easier to watch. The acting is terrific, as is Kathryn Bigelow's direction. One of the more interesting Oscar races this season may be former spouses Bigelow and James Cameron facing off against one another.

8. In the Loop
In the Loop is the funniest film that I saw this past year (even if that was only a few days ago). This political satire features a brilliant cast, but the true star of the film is its screenplay. It is easy to want to compare the film to Jason Reitman's satire Thank You For Smoking, but the two films are quite different. In the Loop is a must-see film this year and to catch all the brilliant jokes it will probably have to be seen multiple times!





7. A Single Man
Tom Ford's directorial debut is an incredibly fascinating film that left me astounded and amazed. A Single Man is a beautiful work of art, with mesmerizing performances by Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Tom Ford has a true gift for filmmaking and his use of colour on screen is absolutely remarkable. It is an art film and it will not please everyone, but I was captivated from beginning to end by Colin Firth and I can only hope that Tom Ford makes a second film.




6. Where the Wild Things Are
Other than maybe Wes Anderson there is probably not another director who could have made Where the Wild Things Are into a more fascinating film. Spike Jonze, whose film Being John Malkovich is disturbingly brilliant, took one of my favourite books from my childhood and made it into a visually amazing film. It was bound to alienate some viewers who would not want to see the book made into a film and its use of life size puppets rather than CGI made the film a lot darker. This is a film for adults who were children when they read the book, and not for children who have no bond with Maurice Sendak's story.


5. Fantastic Mr. Fox
Spreaking of Wes Anderson, who is one of my top three film directors, Fantastic Mr. Fox is an absolute treasure. While I did not grow up reading Roald Dahl's story, I have read and loved James and the Giant Peach since I was young. I have never been a true fan of animated films and have grown tired of Pixar's monopoly (which may be why I hated Up), but Fantastic Mr. Fox is a real accomplishment. The characters are so brilliantly created and voiced. This may be more of a kids film than Where the Wild Things Are, but it is still a Wes Anderson film at heart. Mr. Fox (George Clooney) is crazy and neurotic, and there is tons of family drama, but the film is so beautifully conceived and a joy to watch.

4. A Serious Man
It seems unfair that the Coen brothers' newest film has been absent from late-season awards discussion. A Single Man is a great film, much different from the Oscar-winning No Country for Old Men and the exceptional Fargo. It is wonderfully funny and expertly crafted, but the Coens success at the Academy Awards two years ago is probably the film's downfall. The main reason to see the film is Michael Stuhlbarg's performance, the real winner of the film.




3. Inglourious Basterds
Admittedly, I am a huge fan of Quentin Tarantino. Two of his films are in my personal top ten. The dialogue he writes is perfect, and one of the greatest experiences of his films is listening to the dialogue. Inglourious Basterds is not his best film (I would rank it fourth), but it is still an exceptional one. I have seen the film multiple times, and each time it gets better. Christoph Waltz is incredible as Colonel Landa, and should deservedly win an Oscar. But the real star of the film, for me at least, is Mélanie Laurent, who is the heart and soul of Inglourious Basterds.



2. Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces)
Pedro Almodóvar's Los Abrazos Rotos has been described as his version of Hollywood noir. It is a wonderful film that is beautifully drenched in vibrant colours. It features a superb performance by Lluís Homar, and a very strong performance from one of my favourite actresses, Penélope Cruz. Though she is not as dynamic as in Volver or Vicky Cristina Barcelona, she is beautiful and mesmerizing. As a noir it is very different from one of the most successful noirs in recent years, L.A. Confidential, but its story is compelling and the acting is incredible.



1.Up In The Air
Are you really that surprised? This is above and beyond my favourite film of 2009. The acting, directing, screenplay are superb.






Other films worth seeing from the past year:
(500) Days of Summer - a surprisingly enjoyable anti-romantic-comedy, with a lovely Zooey Deschanel.
An Education - Carey Mulligan owns the screen in this film about a young girl's sexual enlightenment.
The Brothers Bloom - a fun and enjoyable con film starring Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo and Rachel Weisz.
Crazy Heart - Jeff Bridges in a career-best performance that showcases his immense talent.
Julia - Tilda Swinton takes the role of a pathetic alcoholic and helps make Julia a thrilling film.
The Messenger - Woody Harrelson in one of his best performances.
Moon - Sam Rockwell stars in this sci-fi film that is engrossing from beginning to end.
Precious - While Mo'Nique's performance may seem less impressive to me because of her attitude about promoting the film, it is nonetheless a provoking film and worthy of being seen.

Biggest disappointments of the year:
1. Nine - the star-stuffed film is poorly directed and edited, unworthy of the talents of the actors that fill the screen.
2. It's Complicated - it is unfortunate that a film with three great actors can be so incomplete, but Nancy Meyers' film is lacking in so many areas.
3. Julie & Julia - Meryl Streep is perfect as Julia Child and I hope she wins an Oscar, but the film is ruined by the uninspiring story of modern day Julie (Amy Adams).

Let's hope that 2010 has just as many exciting moments to experience on screen!

Review: "Crazy Heart"

As a film, Crazy Heart is eerily reminiscent of 2008's The Wrestler. Both films are about aging men struggling to resurrect their careers, both men are substance abusers, both men have a child they have not seen in a number of years, and both men find themselves involved with a much younger woman. Another link between the two films is that Jeff Bridges has been getting awards recognition (and a potential Oscar nomination) for his role as Bad Blake. The Wrestler was a great film, and what makes Crazy Heart a great film is it feels like a unique experience. Crazy Heart is the first film directed by Scott Cooper, using his own screenplay (based off a 1987 novel by Thomas Cobb). It is produced by Robert Duvall (who has a supporting role) and has music by acclaimed songwriter and producer T Bone Burnett. The film may feature a familiar story, but Jeff Bridges performance is so tremendous that the film's weaknesses go mostly unnoticed.

Bad Blake was once a country music star, but now he is a has-been playing in dirty bars and bowling alleys in the southwest. He is a heavy drinker and can barely afford to buy a bottle of whiskey. He has a lot of fans who come to hear his old songs, and lots of women offering to keep him company at night. While in Santa Fe he agrees to do an interview for a young reporter for a local paper. She, Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal), is a divorced mother with a four year-old son. Jean knows that Bad Blake is wrong for her, yet she is drawn to him. Bad Blake is offered a considerable amount of money to open for Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell) in Driving back to Santa Fe Bad Blake drives off the road and breaks his ankle, and stays with Jean for a few weeks. Bad Blake becomes an important male influence in her son's life, but Jean does not want him drinking around her son. The film deals with Bad Blake and his relationship with Jean, and whether or not he can become the dependable man that Jean needs him to be. Robert Duvall stars as Bad Blake's bartender and only friend.

Crazy Heart first opened in December, but it took until the middle of January for it to open in Toronto. It is a small budget film that did not anticipate its own success, and the awards success of its star, Jeff Bridges. Roger Ebert says, of Jeff Bridges performance, that "we've seen this story before. The difference is that Bad Blake makes us believe it happened to him." Jeff Bridges is an incredible actor, with an impressive body of work. His most well-known role is The Dude in the Coen brothers The Big Lebowski, but he has had amazing performances in The Contender, The Fantastic Baker Boys and The Last Picture Show. Crazy Heart is a great film with great music, but it is Jeff Bridges' amazing performance that makes it worth seeing. He has some competition for the Best Actor trophy at the Academy Awards, but if he wins it will be because he deserved it.

My rating: 3.5 stars out of 4.

Review: "The Princess and the Frog"

Disney's newest film, The Princess and the Frog, is a blast from the past. It is a reminder of how animated films used to be made: hand-drawn (traditional) instead of computer-animated, like Up and Finding Nemo. The success of computer-animated films has been helped by both HD and 3D screens. Up was definitely not one of my favourite films this year, and Fantastic Mr. Fox made me yearn for more traditional animation. It is Disney's first 2D film since Home on the Range (2004), and the studio's promotion of the film rivals that of 2002's Lilo and Stitch. I have not enjoyed one of Disney's 2D films since The Lion King (1994), when I was 10. This may have a lot to do with my maturing taste in films, or just because Disney has run out of good ideas. Pixar has become the leader in modern animation, and most animated films produced lately are created with adult interests in mind (such as Shrek). The Princess and the Frog is based on the young adult novel The Frog Princess, and stars Dreamgirls' Anika Noni Rose as the voice of Tiana.

Set in New Orleans in 1912, Tiana is a young waitress struggling to earn enough money to open her own restaurant, fulfilling her father's dream. Her friend Charlotte's father, the king of Mardi Gras, is hosting a masquerade party and Tiana attends dressed as a princess. She is alarmed to find a talking frog, who claims to be Prince Naveen from Maldonia. He has been turned into a frog by the Shadow Man. Prince Naveen made a deal with the Shadow Man because he has lost his inheritance and he must find a wealthy woman to support him. The Shadow Man, with the help of Prince Naveen's valet, has used his powers to turn the prince into a frog so he may gain Charlotte's wealth. Tiana kisses the frog and is turned into a frog herself, leading to the main events of the film. It takes a long twenty minutes for the backstory to develop. The rest of the film has Tiana and Naveen in the bayou looking for Mama Odie, a voodoo priestess, with the help of Louis the alligator and a Cajun firefly named Ray. Other notable voice actors in the film include Terrence Howard and Oprah Winfrey as Tiana's parents, and John Goodman as Charlotte's father.

I did not enjoy The Princess and the Frog. I felt that the film took too long (20 of its 95 minutes) to set up the story. The Shadow Man was so obviously evil (similar to The Little Mermaid's Ursula) that it was too easy to empathize with Tiana. Did it feel realistic for Tiana and Prince Naveen to fall in love? Not at all. The film seemed very inconsistent and did not flow very easily. Comparing The Princess and the Frog to two of Disney's more successful films, The Little Mermaid and The Lion King, it felt very flat and poorly constructed. The songs used throughout the film were not memorable, and I had forgotten them by the next scene. Like the poorly-made Nine, this is a film that would have done better without the forced musical numbers. There are a lot of other areas of the film that could be discussed, but on the surface it is not that enjoyable of a film.

My rating: 1.5 stars out of 4.