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Fish Tank was not released in North America until February 2010, though there was much mention of the film during the fall Oscar campaigning season. The film is directed by Andrea Arnold, who won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short in 2005 for her film Wasp. Her first feature length film, Red Road (2006) is the first of a planned trilogy by first-time directors, conceived by Danish experimental director Lars von Trier. Fish Tank premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009, where it won the Jury Prize. While it was not in contention for any awards in North American, Fish Tank won the 2010 BAFTA award for Outstanding British Film, beating such highly regarded films as An Education and In The Loop. The film's trailer and promotion make the film seem like a British Step Up, when in reality it has more similarities to London to Brighton. The film's star, Katie Jarvis, was reportedly asked to audition for the film after one of the film's casting agents saw her having a heater argument with a boyfriend at a train station. The film belongs to Katie Jarvis, and Fish Tank is her highly emotional roller coaster ride. In her very first acting role it is amazing that this young girl acts with so much humility and maturity.
Mia Williams (Jarvis) is a fifteen year-old girl who lives in a public housing apartment with her single-mother Joanne (Kierston Wareing) and her young sister Tyler (Rebecca Griffiths) in Essex. Her mother is often drunk, and Mia spends time fighting with girls in town and has a verbally abusive relationship with her sister. We see Mia make several attempts to rescue a malnourished horse, eventually angering its owners. She is saved by a boy named Billy (Harry Treadaway) and the two become friends. At home her mother brings home her newest boyfriend, Connor (Michael Fassbender). He becomes a real father figure to the two girls, and Mia's mood is heightened by his presence. He encourages her dancing and helps her with the necessary preparations for an audition. The sexual tension between Mia and Connor builds because Mia is often walking around the house in her underwear and caught her mother having sex with him. One night Mia and Connor go too far and this leads to some unpleasant truths, leading Mia to question her future and make a life changing decision.
Unfortunately, Fish Tank is similar to a lot of British films that I have seen. The bleak cinematography and lower-class characters seems to be a staple of British cinema. works because it focuses so tightly on Mia. As viewers we are emotionally invested in her future and Katie Jarvis plays the part so well that we remain affected long after the film ends. The film does not give away its secrets easily, and many questions remain unanswered. I love when a film leaves you guessing and speculating. Fish Tank is not as remarkable as I had expected, but it features a convincing performance by Katie Jarvis. After reading about the film I found that Katie Jarvis, at only 18 years of age, lived an impoverished life much like her character and left home at a young age. She has given birth to a child and it seems that escaping this life will be even harder for it. It is reminiscent of the film Precious, and how many wrongly assumed that Gabourey Sidibe had a childhood like her character.
My rating: 3 stars out of 4.
Even before I was a teenager and way before I became a film snob there was an actress that appeared in a few of my favourite films. Dianne Wiest has won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress, has appeared in a handful of Woody Allen films, and has recently had a successful turn on one of HBO's most critically successful series.
Dianne Wiest is a wonderful actress and has played a wide range of characters, though she may be most well known for playing the best friend (like in Woody Allen's September) or the mother (like in Edward Scissorhands).
While those are definitely two performances that I love, they are not amongst my favourites. Here, without much deliberation, are my top five favourite Dianne Wiest performances.
5. Gina, In Treatment (2008 - present)
While she may be most well known for her film r
oles, Dianne Wiest has had a successful stage career and is no stranger to television. In 1997 she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress on a Dramatic Series for her role on Road to Avonlea. On In Treatment she plays Gina, former mentor and therapist to main character Paul, played by Gabriel Byrne. She is the reason I started watching the series and it is her episodes that are my favourite. For a series that depends so much on character and dialogue, Dianne Wiest is captivating and thankfully Gabriel Byrne is a worthy adversary on screen.
4. Louise Keeley, The Birdcage
(1996)The Birdcage is a great film to watch because of Dianne Wiest. It may be remembered for Robin Williams' performance, but the highlight of the time is watching Dianne Wiest act against one of the best comedic actors (Robin Williams) and one of the best dramatic actors (Gene Hackman). In a film where most of the performances are over the top, Dianne Wiest balances the cast with her role as the conservative Republican wife wanting to break away from her husband's ideals.
3. Helen Buckman, Parenthood (1988)
Released during the heyday of Steve Martin's film career, Parenthood is a terrific film with a wonderful ensemble cast. Helen is a divorced mother of two whose children seem to despise her. She is very insecure at
the beginning of the film, and this comes across very well. Her daughter Julie (Martha Plimpton) is still a teenager and her boyfriend (Keanu Reeves) eventually moves into their home. Some of the most touching and hilarious scenes in the whole film involve Helen and her two kids. She plays the role of an overwhelmed mother with a beautiful mix of intensity and ease. Dianne Wiest was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1989 for the film, losing to Brenda Fricker (My Left Foot).
2. Helen Sinclar, Bullets over Broadway (1994)
Dianne Wiest completely stole the film away from John Cusack. Her performance as the aging actress Helen Sinclair is brilliant in its controlled intensity. Her character is a diva 
and an alcoholic, too old to play the temptress and too vain to play the mother, and Dianne Wiest made her into a three-dimensional character. Helen Sinclair, as a character, is over-the-top and dramatic, but Dianne Wiest is such a wonderful actress that Helen becomes a fully realized character so that we are able to see her insecurities and her fears. Bullets over Broadway also features great performances by Chazz Palminteri and Jennifer Tilly (who were also nominated for Academy Awards), but the film is definitely anchored by Dianne Wiest's inspired performance.
1. Holly, Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)
Yes, Hannah and Her Sist
ers is my favourite film, and Woody Allen is my favourite director, so it should be expected that Dianne Wiest's Oscar-winning performance as Hannah's (Mia Farrow) sister Holly would be my favourite! In a film that also features Michael Caine, Max von Sydow, and Barbara Hershey, you must credit Dianne Wiest for being able to stand out amongst such talented actors. Holly undergoes a significant transformation through the course of the film and Dianne Wiest makes her storyline believable. There is no vanity in her performance and I found myself drawn to her performance the very first time I saw the film. It is a special role in a special film.
A few other performances worth watching:
Radio Days (1987)
Practical Magic (1998)
Synecdoche, New York (2008)
Film directors are known for using the same actors in multiple films. Diane Keaton appeared in many of Woody Allen's early films, and Mia Farrow appeared in almost every single one of his films during the 1980s. I do not think that any director has the list of frequent actors as Tim Burton. When one thinks of Tim Burton, one must also think of Johnny Depp, who has been in seven films, and the past three in a row. But he is not Tim Burton's only favourite, he has also worked with Helena Bonham Carter for each of his past six films since 2001. Both actors star in this reincarnation of Alice in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland is a terrific story that has been adapted multiple times, though the most well-known may be the 1951 Disney animated film that remains of my favourite Disney films. The studio began its marketing campaign in June 2009, when images of the main characters were released. There were also Facebook groups created for members to gain early access to the film's trailer. Alice in Wonderland is a re-imagining of Lewis Carroll's story, and as excited as I was for the film's release, I was incredibly disappointed by the final product. The film started slowly and had a terribly weak ending that left me wanting to go back and watch a different version.
Alice (Mia Wasikowska, of HBO's In Treatment) is a nineteen year-old girl who has a vivid imagination and talks about strange creatures. Her father has just died and she is attending a party at a wealthy estate. It turns out that the party is for her engagement and, after hearing Hamish Ascot's proposal, she ends up chasing after the White Rabbit and falls down the rabbit hole. She has no memories of Underland, but the inhabitants are awaiting the return of a girl named Alice who once visited as a small child. Underland is ruled by the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), who stole the crown from her sister, the White Queen (Anne Hathaway). It is believed that Alice will slay the Red Queen's Jabberwocky and reclaim Underland for the White Queen. With the help of the Hatter (Johnny Depp), Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Matt Lucas), Absolem the Caterpillar (Alan Rickman), the bloodhound Bayard (Timothy Spall) and Mallymkun (Dormouse) (Barbara Windsor) Alice must find the courage to fight against the Red Queen and defeat the Jabberwocky.
I saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D, and even though the 3D animations were not as amazing as Avatar, I feel that the film would have been better in 2D. I was incredibly disappointed by the story and felt that the film pushed too hard to force the symbolism of Alice's struggle in Underland with her pending engagement. I had a lot of trouble during the first act of the film and found myself losing focus. I was able to get past that, but when the film approached the climactic battle scene I felt like Alice in Wonderland lost itself as a film. Roger Ebert mentioned this in his review, and questioned why the battle sequence was necessary. I found Helena Bonham Carter to be the most enjoyable part of the film. She was as enjoyable as her head was large. I was even able to cope with Johnny Depp, until the end of the film when I was worried one moment would ruin the entire film for me. Another site mentioned this, and I did not read the article until I had seen the film, but the author and I have similar feelings. At the end of the day I am left to wonder if Tim Burton was pressured by Disney to make a family film or if he is just running out of creative ideas?
My rating: 2 stars out of 4.
Both The Cove and Food, Inc. are recent documentaries that I have seen that have frightened me. I can now add Maxed Out to that list. The most alarming similarity is that these three films present disturbing realities that government agencies allow to happen. The film's director, James Scurlock, said that his reason for making the film "was to paint the story of our debt-fueled culture in broad strokes. The more people I met, the more I realized this is an emotional issue as well as an academic topic." Maxed Out does an effective job by presenting a wide range of viewpoints. It does not only showcase victims of credit card debt, but there are interviews with many individuals who profit from the incredible amount of debt in the United States. As a negative, The Wall Street Journal addressed the trustworthiness of the film by highlighting the fact that the film's main persuasive argument comes from Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard Law School professor who is widely known for making these unsubstantiated arguments. Regardless of the accuracy of the film's facts, Maxed Out is a powerful and frightening film that has made me more aware of how I use my credit cards.
The film opens with a woman named Beth Naef, a successful real estate broker in Las Vegas. She is giving a hour of a $5.5M home and talking about the conveniences that her clients want: elevators and wine cellars. She goes as far as to say that she will not be able to afford her own home if interest rates go up. We also meet two mothers whose children went off to college and amassed thousands of dollars of credit card debt. Their story is heartbreaking and the women continue to fight credit card companies and the legality of college students having their own credit cards. Maxed Out also features interviews with credit collectors and we see firsthand how they mistreat those individuals with credit card debt. Personally, the most shocking story belonged to Doris Gohman. In 2004 three credit card companies mistakenly reported that she was dead, when in fact it was her daughter who was deceased. For three years she has gone to and from court with no protection.
Maxed Out is a well conceived film, though at times I feel that some of the more serious elements are made less powerful because of the lighthearted feel of other scenes. Three people featured in the film committed suicide. It is shocking and appalling that American banks and the American government stand idly by while lives are ruined. I have become more aware of credit card ads and have realized that almost all of the pop-up advertisements on the internet that I encounter are from Capital One. It is far too easy for someone to get a credit card, but it can be a long and painful road to learn how to use one.
My rating: 3 stars out of 4.
Also, an interesting site referenced in the film: Debt Clock.
You may have seen Roman Polanski's name in the news lately and his most recent film, The Ghost Writer, has opened in major cities without much press. It is not without talent, the film stars Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan, with Kim Cattrall and Tom Wilkinson in supporting roles. Most people may know Roman Polanski for his personal struggles, but his early films include Rosemary's Baby (the 1968 horror film that helped launch Mia Farrow's career) and Chinatown (the 1974 film that is widely considered a standard in the film noir genre). More recently he directed The Pianist (2002), which won Adrien Brody an Academy Award for Best Actor. The Ghost Writer is based off a 2007 novel written by Robert Harris and was adapted by Harris and Polasnki. The film premiered in February 2010 at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival where Roman Polanski was awarded the Silver Bear award for Best Director. The Ghost Writer is a thriller that unfolds itself very deliberately, almost painfully slow. It is an interesting film that is almost ruined by the slow pacing during the first act.
Ewan McGregor stars as an English ghostwriter who has been hired to finish ghostwriting the memoirs of former British Primer Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnon). The original ghostwriter has died and the manuscript may only be viewed at Lang's home, on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. Lang's personal assistant, Amelia (Kim Cattrall) controls access to the manuscript and it is apparent her relationship with her boss is more intimate. Their relationship does not go unnoticed by his wife Ruth (Olivia Williams), who often appears cold and hostile. Soon after arriving on the island it is revealed that the International Criminal Court in The Hague has began investigating Lang for war crimes. The new controversy surrounding Lang leads the new ghostwriter to some startling revelations which put Lang's entire career into question.
The Ghost Writer is a film worth seeing, though it is probably best viewed from the comfort of one's home. I really enjoyed the style of the film, and I feel that the bleak colours on screen added to the tension. The acting was mostly very good, although I do not understand why Kim Cattrall was cast in a dramatic role. She seemed very out of place and her accent was frustrating (is it fair for her Wikipedia to consider her an English actress when she moved to Canada at a young age?). Roger Ebert raised an interesting point in his four-star review of the film. He said: "The Ghost Writer is handsome, smooth, persuasive. [...] Polanski at 76 provides a reminder of directors of the past who were raised on craft, not gimmicks, and depended on a deliberate rhythm of editing rather than mindless cutting." I completely agree, and if the beginning of the film had been crisper and more succinct I would have loved The Ghost Writer, instead it is only a film that I enjoyed.
My rating: 3 stars out of 4.
I just saw Fantastic Mr. Fox for the second time today. Thank you $2 March Break matinees at Empire Theatres. It was even more enjoyable the second time. I found it funnier, more touching and instead of focusing so much on the animation I was able to concentrate on the story. It is a wonderful film!
And I really loved Kristofferson this second time. He was my absolute favourite character.
Matt Damon's talent as an actor has always been in question, in my opinion. He seems to play the same roles with the same emotional range. Invictus was his chance to show the world his true acting talent. He came away with a Best Supporting Actor nomination, which I found undeserving. Green Zone reunites Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass, director of The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum. Both films were enjoyable and well made, and both financially and critically successful. Green Zone is advertised as companion to the Bourne franchise and this affects the film negatively. Jason Bourne was a spy and the film was about uncovering his true identity, but Green Zone is a film about the war in Iraq and has few similarities beyond the use of a hand-held camera and the disconnected acting of Matt Damon. The film does co-star two wonderful actors, Brendan Gleeson and Amy Ryan (from The Wire). The film is said to be inspired by the book Imperial Life in the Emerald City by Rajiv Chandrasekaran. Green Zone was exactly the film I expected it to be: an average thriller with choppy editing that, at times, made me feel nauseous (and not just due to Matt Damon's attempt at acting).
The film is set in 2003 in post-invasion Iraq and stars Matt Damon as Chief Warrant Officer Roy Miller. Miller and his squad investigate a warehouse reported to be concealing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and find nothing. He begins to doubt the intelligence reports. Meanwhile Clark Poundstone (Greg Kinnear), a member of Pentagon Special Intelligence, is welcoming Ahmed Zubadi (Raad Rawi) to Baghdad, in hopes of instilling Zubadi as the head of Iraq's new democracy. Poundstone is interrogated by Lawrie Dawes, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, and she begins asking questions about Magellan, the source of information for the WMD locations in Iraq. Later, while investigating another suspect location, Miller meets an Iraqi civilian named Freddie (Khalid Abdalla) who informs him that General Al-Rawi (Yigal Naor) is meeting with his allies nearby. Al-Rawi is one of the many power players of the Iraqi army that have gone into hiding. Miller and his team are unable to apprehend Al-Rawi, but they do come into possession of a notebook that contains the locations of all Al-Rawi's safe houses. During a debriefing Miller voices his concerns about the existence of WMDs in Iraq and is approached by Martin Brown (Brendan Gleeson), a member of the CIA that believes the search for WMD is just a cover-up for a bigger issue. Miller begins following leads and finds himself going down a path that leads to some incredible revelations.
Green Zone is a film that, like Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island, has the right elements to make a decent thriller but gets lost in itself. The characters on the periphery (Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan, Brendann Gleeson) are seriously underused. The film depends too much on Matt Damon and suffers because he is unable the carry the emotion of the film himself. I understand why Paul Greengrass chooses to use a hand-held camera. It gives the film a more intense and gritty quality. I just feel that it would work better if wide shots were included and it was not always necessary to zoom in and out during a single conversation. Roger Ebert said that the often distracting QuesyCam style of Paul Greengrass did not bother him during Green Zone because he became so involved in the story. I disagree. I lost focus because the camera moves too quickly and angles changed too drastically.
My rating: 2 stars out of 4.
Fish Tank was not released in North America until February 2010, though there was much mention of the film during the fall Oscar campaigning season. The film is directed by Andrea Arnold, who won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short in 2005 for her film Wasp. Her first feature length film, Red Road (2006) is the first of a planned trilogy by first-time directors, conceived by Danish experimental director Lars von Trier. Fish Tank premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival in May 2009, where it won the Jury Prize. While it was not in contention for any awards in North American, Fish Tank won the 2010 BAFTA award for Outstanding British Film, beating such highly regarded films as An Education and In The Loop. The film's trailer and promotion make the film seem like a British Step Up, when in reality it has more similarities to London to Brighton. The film's star, Katie Jarvis, was reportedly asked to audition for the film after one of the film's casting agents saw her having a heater argument with a boyfriend at a train station. The film belongs to Katie Jarvis, and Fish Tank is her highly emotional roller coaster ride. In her very first acting role it is amazing that this young girl acts with so much humility and maturity.
