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rlis2706
Reviews
Touching the Void (2003)
Awesome Documentary!
I saw Touching the Void at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. I have seen many documentaries, as they are one my favorite movie genres, and this is one of the best I have seen. The film recounts the disastrous mountaineering expedition of two men, Joe Simpson (the film is based on his book) and Simon Yates up a Peruvian Andes mountain. The film is actually a docu-drama, allowing the climbers to give firsthand recounts of what happened and blending that with actors who reenact the events. The scenery is breathtaking and the film is wonderfully made. It was well received at the screening I saw, with a standing ovation given to Joe Simpson after the film. I highly recommend this film.
S21, la machine de mort khmère rouge (2003)
Marginal Documentary
I saw this film on the opening night of the Toronto International Film Festival. What starts out as an interesting and powerful documentary about the Khymer Rouge and the horrible events that unfolded in Cambodia quickly turns into a documentary of testimonials. The testimonials are initially powerful and moving, as both former prisoners and guards are able to confront each other about the events in the past. However, after the first few subjects give their stories, there is a sense of repetitiveness that echoes more and more with each following testimonial. It probably would have helped if there were some more historical information provided about Cambodia and how the Khymer Rouge came about. Overall, S21 covers an interesting subject, but it did not flow very well.
Jeux d'enfants (2003)
A Dark Yet Playful Comedy
I saw Jeux D'enfants at a screening during the Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows a boy and a girl who engage in a game involving a tin box. The box is traded back and forth between the two and the keeper of the box must complete a dare proposed by the other. This leads to some very funny moments, but the film also touches on some serious ones too. This film definitely had the same tone of fantasy that Amelie contained. As the children grow older, their dares become more cynical towards each other and I think that is the one detraction from the film, however it also kept Jeux D'enfants with a fresh quality as well. It is definitely an interesting film that is worth seeing.
Elephant (2003)
Tough to watch drama
I saw Elephant at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. This new film by Gus Van Sant is a polarizing one, telling the events that culminate with a school shooting spree. The cast consists of nonprofessional actors who improvise their scenes and the result is a documentary-like quality. The editing is excellent, following several students as they cross paths in a not-so-ordinary day at high school. The final stage of the movie is very violent, bloody and disturbing to watch. This film is not meant to give insight to other real-life high school shootings; if it does, then it fails. It does manage to create a film about horrible events that sometimes happen and gives the viewer plenty to think about after the film is over. I highly recommend Elephant, but it is definitely not a film for everyone.
Zatôichi (2003)
Good old school samurai!
Zatoichi was one of the best films at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. In fact, it was the People's Choice Winner. The film follows an aging and blind samurai/masseuse who comes out of retirement to help avenge the murders of two geishas' parents. The swordplay in this movie is phenomenal and it is beautifully shot. Zatoichi contains a constant level of playful humor throughout the film, which is also laced with some fairly intense samurai gore. There is only one detraction from the film. Some of the gore in the film is obviously computer generated and this fact is magnified on the big screen. Hopefully now that the film has secured a distributor, these minor faults can be fixed. Other than that, Zatoichi is an excellent film that is highly recommended.
I Love Your Work (2003)
Good acting in an OK movie
I saw I Love Your Work at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. The film has a great cast and each one does some solid acting. The plot follows an actor who slowly spirals into madness because he cannot deal with his celebrity status. Ribisi and Pontente are especially good as a Hollywood couple, but the film drags on a bit too long and we never get a good understanding of the main characters and the motivation behind their decisions. Judging by the the discussions I heard at the end of the film, I was not the only person who felt this way. Aside from the acting of the two main stars, I Love Your Work is not that noteworthy.
Cypher (2002)
Good movie with bad ending!
I saw Cypher at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. It stars Jeremy Northam as a regular guy who is bored with his ordinary life and is not-so-reluctantly whisked into the world of corporate espionage. Along the way he meets Rita, played by Lucy Liu, who may or may not be an ally. The performances are well done and the story is interesting, but the final few scenes are hurried and flawed leading up to an improbable ending. Cypher is worth seeing but that ending will probably make you cringe.
A Little Bit of Lipstick (2000)
Sub-standard romantic comedy
I was able to see this film on a special screening night in the town which it was filmed. I think that of the entire sold out crowd, I may have been the only one who did not star in this film. The crowd seemed to enjoy it, but I think they were having more fun seeing themselves and their properties on the big screen. The story revolves around a Hollywood celebrity who must rebuild his credibility and a playhouse that is on the verge of shutting down. The two are able to help each other, as the once admission-deprived theater is recharged with the arrival of a Hollywood star. Throw in a little love story and you get A Little Bit of Lipstick. Mia Tyler, to her credit, does a fine job as the young woman unwillingly appointed to babysit the spoiled Hollywood brat. It has a few redeeming qualities, but it's a pretty sub-standard romantic comedy.
Gerry (2002)
An interesting idea that doesn't fully work on the screen
This week I saw the film Gerry, starring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. I can honestly say that I never have seen a film like this. The two play friends lost in the desert after a botched hike attempt. Then they walk...and they walk...and they walk. Oh, and they carry on three short conversations before they do some more walking. For the first thirty minutes, I was captivated by the beauty of the desert landscape, but that can only take you so far. I think I understand what Gus Van Sant was trying to do, and I admit that it is an interesting idea, but not every idea works well on the screen and this is a good example.
The Safety of Objects (2001)
Very entertaining ensemble film
The Safety of Objects tells the story of four suburban families of neighbors and how they are impacted by a tragic car accident. Glenn Close is perfectly cast as a grieving mother. The cast of this film is so wonderful that The Safety of Objects has a type of Robert Altman feel to it. If you get the chance to see it I would very much recommend overlooking the silly title and watching this engaging film.