Hot Docs Reaction: COOKING UP DREAMS

Watching all manner of cooks – from peasant fishermen to top chef – preparing Peruvian food is rather fascinating. Many of the ingredients and flavours start out the same, but the manner in which they are brought together in COOKING UP DREAMS couldn’t be more varied. Seeing executive chefs work in gourmet kitchens isn’t anything original…but watching full dinners being cooked on hot stones buried in soil is a sight to behold.

The food of Peru is on the rise in the culinary world, with competitions being won with increasing regularity and new fusions being presented at every turn. What this doc points out though, is that while the rest of the world is discovering many of these combinations for the first time, the chefs themselves are using techniques and recipes handed down in Peru for generations. Cooking in Peru is a talent that grandparents teach parents…who teach children…who will later teach their own children.

The film isn’t exactly flawless unfortunately. As the food conversation hops its way through so many different people, it gives the overall story a slight lack of focus. Likewise, from a sensory perspective, I would have wanted a bit more attention paid to the photography where the visuals of the food are concerned. Hearing what’s going into these dishes made my mouth water – slightly improved video would easily make my stomach rumble in response.

These details hold a good doc back from being a great doc, especially in its final act where food brings people together under truly trying circumstances. In this moment alone, it’s amazing to see how food can define people as a culture, and re-enforce the nature of family and community.

COOKING UP DREAMS plays tonight - 6:30 pm at Cumberland 3, again on Saturday May 1st - 1:30pm at Cumberland 3, and finally on Sunday May 9th, 9:30pm at Cumberland 2.

Food Glorious Food: DISH - WOMEN, WAITRESSING & THE ART OF SERVICE Plays Hot Docs

DISH begins with the sort of tracking shot that would make Martin Scorsese proud.

It follows a waitress in Paris - tray filled with entrees held aloft. She leaves the kitchens, winds through all the way through crowded dining room, serves her patrons and returns. In an ant-like manner she seems to be carrying more than her body weight in food, and the room she ferries it through is positively buzzing with activity. Yet without much of a glimpse of her facial expression, we sense nothing but poise and professionalism.

This moment alone is a wonderful totem for this doc. It epitomizes how demanding this job truly is. These women are waitresses, but popular to the wide misconception, none of them are "just a waitress". Many of the women in this movie have true mettle to their character, and far more patience than we - their customers - ever seem capable of. It doesn't matter whether they are working in the finest bistros in Paris or a truck stop in small town Ontario, the job is always demanding.

When I asked director Maya Gallus about it, she explained that a good waitress understands that what she is doing is so much more than bringing a hungry person their order. "The female server has a special role in the customer-server dynamic" she explains, "whether it be surrogate mother, wife, girlfriend, or best pal." She explains that no matter what type of restaurant it is, sexuality does enter into the equation and an age-old power dynamic is in play.

What DISH points out, is that things get interesting when a waitress is serving a couple, or another woman. Then it's not enough to just make the woman feel special - she'll be more particular about how and what they are being served. As one Parisian waitress puts it "I attend to the woman first and foremost. If she is happy, the man will follow her lead."

These women's stories are told with an amazing sense of pace. An informative doc could have been created simply by talking to these women in the restaurants they command. But DISH takes an extra step and follows them back and forth while they work their tables. It's a masterstroke since it shows just how lively these pros are on their feet, and makes for a tempo that might well make audiences feel their exhaustion.

Gallus herself is a former waitress. When I asked her about her most memorable waitressing moment, she told me about her first day on the job, when she managed to overturn a tray of 100 shrimp cocktails. After a beautiful crash scattering glass, metal, and an immense body-count of crustaceans, she received a standing ovation from the would-be diners.

One hell of a first day.

That said, it wasn't her last day, which would lead me to believe that our director might know a thing or two about what makes a good waitress. "A good waitress, is fast, friendly (but not too friendly) and attentive, with the ability to anticipate a customer's needs. And it helps to have a sense of humour." No shrimp were harmed in the acquisition of that quote.

Listening to these women in their element could well change the way you treat your server. Further, it will make you appreciate the art of service. The doc combines grace and wit, and might make you wonder how they put up with you as a patron. It's one of the highlights of this year's festival and should (rightfully) score your next server an extra few dollars in the next tip you leave.

DISH screens tonight, 9:15pm at The Bloor Cinema, Saturday May 8th, 1:45pm at The Royal, and Sunday May 9th, 6:30pm at The Bloor

Shop Around: SMALL WONDERS Plays Hot Docs

My parents still live in the same house I grew up in, so I often find myself back in "the old neighbourhood". During one recent trip, I noticed that a sporting goods shop had closed. This was the shop where I got my first baseball bat, half a dozen hockey sticks, and more hats and jerseys than I care to count. But in an ever growing world of chain brand identification, such mom and pop operations are having a tough time keeping up. Such is the story of SMALL WONDERS.

Filmed over a span of ten years by Tally Abecassis, SMALL WONDERS makes us pay attention to the sorts of business we might not notice anymore. It tells the tale of true working class - a watchmaker, a photographer, and a hardware store owner. Their businesses don't issue flyers. They don't have light-up signs that have been carefully designed by a marketing firm. And if you think you'll find a computer anywhere near their operation, forget it. In a way, they are relics of a bygone time...doing what they can to hold their places in communities that are ready to move on without them.

For director Abecassis, this is a very personal story. Her father ran a small kitchen renovation business for many years until one day a Reno Depot opened across the street. Her father wasn't terribly worried about a little competition, until he looked at Reno Depot's pricing - which was in many cases lower than his suppliers. It doesn't take a marketing genius to figure out that such aggressive selling means trouble.

It's a story of a dying breed - people who take pride in their work. Take Norman the portrait photographer for instance. The bulk of his business these days comes from taking passport photos. Yet he isn't satisfied for you to simply sit and look at the birdie. He'll adjust your posture just-so, and even fix a loose strand of hair or two, ultimately resulting in a passport photo worthy of Glamour Shots. "He treats models like the Dead Sea Scrolls" jokes Abecassis. Try getting that level of service at Wal Mart.

When I wondered aloud if Norman had thought about going digital, Abecassis pointed out that he's satisfied with his Polaroid camera.
"It's a fast camera" he'd say "The picture is ready in six minutes. How much faster do you want it?". Argue with that.

Most intriguingly, all of the people we meet in SMALL WONDERS have a slight bit of disappointment tangible in their conversations. They are all proud people; especially as immigrants who have become successful professionals. Really, they have every right to be proud, given that their businesses have supported them for so long and fed their families. Disappointment takes over however, when these entrepreneurs consider that they weren't able to pass the business down to children. In the end, even a sizable run of successful years in the black isn't a comfort when a businessman is forced to close their doors.

These small wonders will continue to disappear thanks to a lack of relève tradespeople (I hear you scratching your head: relève is a french word meaning fresh/new/young talent). There aren't a whole lot of eighteen-year-olds out there who consider their future and believe it's their calling to be a watchmaker. Even if they did, it's possible that we've become such a disposable culture that we wouldn't hire them to fix an item anyway. Far too often these days, rather than get a pin replaced, or a gear lubed, we discard the old model and buy ourselves the latest and greatest.

The film is entertaining and moving. The three business-people are both unique and familiar, which makes their stories all the more touching. Hopefully, it will stick with its audiences, and they will think about what they're losing the next time they wander aisles of a chain store aimlessly looking for someone to help them...and getting ambivalent shrugs at every turn.

SMALL WONDERS plays tomorrow - 9:30pm at Cumberland 2, and again on Sunday May 2nd - 5:00pm at Innis Town Hall.

Closer to the Heart (RUSH: BEYOND THE LIGHTED STAGE Trailer)

I've said it before, I'll say it again - I'm glad the pub night for Toronto Movie Bloggers is on a Tuesday. With Wednesday being the post that I put up a trailer, makes it much easier to "phone one in" as the hangover fades.

Here's another flick that's playing Hot Docs this year - and this post is for Bob. They might not be my favorite band in the world, but I'd be lyin' if I said this doesn't look like a fun night at the movies...

Midnight Radio: Life in Technicolor part i

We now interrupt this regularly scheduled blog to talk documentaries...

Today begins a special series of my regular Matineecast, talking about all thing festival related. The format will be a little different than usual, namely episodes will be a bit shorter (though this one is normal length), and slightly more raw as I won't be finessing them through editing the way I do my usual podcasts.

Hopefully though, you fine folks will find them entertaining and informative, and perhaps they will serve to give you a small taste of the festival.

We begin today with the festival preview conversation...



Here's what's in store in part one...

Runtime
41 minutes, 43 seconds

Up for Discussion

1. My brief introduction
2. KNOW YOUR ENEMY - Q & A with this episode's guest, Bob Turnbull from Eternal Sunshine of The Logical Mind. (1:48)
3. COME TALK TO ME - Listener feedback on Matineecast Episode 12's documentary question (8:41)
4. Bob & I look ahead and mention some docs we're looking forward to seeing (16:41)
5. Bob & I make suggestions of docs we've seen that are worth checking out at this year's festival (23:06)

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

The Real Thing pt. V (Hot Docs Preview)

Gotta love it when your podcast server site doesn't want to co-operate just as you intend to bombard it with new material. Here's hoping mypodcast.com gets things sorted out soon!

However, on with the show, and on with my final look forward at one of my top five most anticipated films of this year's Hot Docs festival. If you were paying attention, you might have noticed the trailer for this selection get posted last week. It is, once again, THE STORY OF FURIOUS PETE, and it tells the story of Pete Czerwinski.

Pete is a competitive eater - he can mow down 20 sausages in 150 seconds...and that's not even his most impressive display of eating! This good Canadian boy works the competitive eating circuit, and actually uses his skills to keep a firm grip on his life. That might sound strange, but it makes a lot more sense when one considers that Pete is a former anorexic.

Given that I posted the trailer last week, and will be talking about it more in the podcast tomorrow (hopefully), I won't say too much more except to say that this film is a very cool one. Check it out!

THE STORY OF FURIOUS PETE will screen on Friday April 30th, 7:30pm at The Royal Cinema, and Sunday May 9th, 1:30pm at Cumberland 3

Review: THE LOSERS * *

Hatter: "I saw THE LOSERS last night"
Bob: "What'd you think?"
Hatter: "Two out of four"
Bob: "Didn't like it huh?"
Hatter: "I didn't say that"

The Losers are an elite US Special Forces team on assignment in the Bolivian jungle. They are led by Lt. Col Frank Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). The team includes a first officer named Roque (Idris Elba), a systems hacker named Jensen (Chris Evans), a sniper named Cougar (Oscar Jaenada), and a pilot/driver named Pooch (Columbus Short). In the midst of their mission, they make a decision that takes them completely away from where they are supposed to be. It's a lucky break, since where they are supposed to be gets destroyed by an American strike. Someone on their own side wanted them dead, and in a split-second decision, they are ready to toss their dog tags into the fire and play along.

While in hiding in Mexico, Clay is approached by a pretty young thing named Aisha. After a slight seduction, she proves to be more than just eye candy. She knows who The Losers are, and that indeed they are supposed to be dead. For reasons that she doesn't explain, she wants to contract them for a job. She'll smuggle them back into the country, and point them towards the brains behind their attempted killing, Max (Jason Patric). What's in it for her? Not entirely sure. Can she be trusted? Not entirely sure of that either.


Forgetting the fact that this film feels like an advance peek at THE A TEAM, I had trouble with a lot of the casting. Robert Patrick starts out having fun with his villainous role, but on several occasions sails right past hammy and into silly. I'll give him points for chewing all of the scenery on his plate, but he had no business getting up for a second helping. Likewise perplexing was Zoe Saldana. She worked the role of Aisha for every bit of allure the character has, however she wasn't able to cut that with the right amount of toughness.

THE LOSERS is a rather obvious and formulaic action movie. On more than one occasion it defies the laws of physics, and presents amazingly obvious treasons and double crossings. Its pacing is way off, so much so that it feels like it's ending ten minutes after it started. It's yet another poor adaptation of a Vertigo (DC) graphic novel - though it should be noted, that I don't believe the source material is any sort of sacred text.

Speaking of that source material, I'm perplexed with the attempt to turn the comic series into a movie franchise. There are many markers in place that point towards hopes of this spawning a trilogy, which now is unlikely at best. I can't help but wonder how much better this film would have been if it was given another thirty minutes runtime, and an attempt was made at mining the entire comic run (a svelte sixty issues) to create one stand-alone screenplay.

...but...

Getting back to what I said off the top; for what I wanted it to be, THE LOSERS was a lot of fun. I walked into the film needing a palette cleanser, something to offset the intelligence of all the docs I've been watching lately. Essentially, I was looking for good stupid fun. Where the latter two elements are concerned, THE LOSERS delivered. Chris Evans is especially amusing, and probably the best thing about this flick besides its use of "Don't Stop Believin' ". I laughed out loud on more than one occasion, got one or two great stunt sequences, and left happy. I can't really recommend it to anyone - it's crap. But it's my kind of crap.

What did you think? Feel free to leave comments with any thoughts or reactions on THE LOSERS.

A Right to Be Wrong

Today, I Feel Like This...

(That'd be me on the right)

Everybody's Talkin' 4 - 23 (Chatter From Other Bloggers)

I hope you'll pardon the absence of the usual end-of-week witty repartee, but it's creepin' up on 2am and I had no clue finding a halfway decent candid photo of myself was gonna take so long (guess it should come with the territory of usually being the guy behind the camera).

So as I gear up for the final sprint towards Hot Docs, try to get the sounds of 80's hair metal out of my head, and see just how little sleep I can operate on these days, I take a look around...and see other bloggers doing their usual awesome things.

For your reading fulfillment, I give you...

As I'm busy covering Hot Docs, Getafilm will be sending news from MSPIFF (Minneapolis Saint Paul International Film Festival). Here's his thoughts on some entries worth looking for.

Speaking of festivals, elgringo has some tips and tricks on how one can cover a film festival for a blog.

I'm suddenly quite antsy to see THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES. Black Sheep saw it - here's what he thought.

Let's do two reviews this time, shall we? Another flick I'm looking forward to is the new one by Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant, CEMETERY JUNCTION. Number Six has seen that, and here's his take.

Just started following The Audient, a blog out of LA. His post on A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE interests me, primarily becasue as the guy who usually advises people to take a good movie they weren't nuts about and "watch it again"...I'm impressed to see that he's doing just that!

Enjoy!

Review: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO * * * 1/2

In the grand scheme of things, it's a strange title. Sure she has some wild artwork on her skin, but the overall story is about so much more than just a Sweedish riot grrrl. However, as the story unfolds it becomes perfectly clear. You might have heard a dark mystery like this before, but it's unlikely you've ever met someone like Lisbeth Salander in your life.

Our story begins with Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist). He's a journalist for a national Swedish magazine, and has seemingly falsely accused an industrialist of being a gun runner. He claims he's being set-up, and that he's telling the truth. unfortunately, he's found guilty of libel and will have to report to prison in a few weeks to serve a three month sentence. Before he begins his sentence, he's hired for some independent investigation.

Henrik Vanger (Peter Haber) is the head of a powerful and wealthy dynasty. Thirty-seven years ago, his great-niece disappeared, but strangely somebody still sends him dried flowers every year on his birthday - a custom his great niece once kept. Vanger is convinced she is dead, and that her killer does it to mock him. He wants Blomkvist to get to the bottom of things once and for all.

Blomkvist's investigation stalls until he is a approached by an unlikely source - Lisbeth Salander (Noomi Rapace). She's a hacker, a private investigator, and a young woman who seems to attract the worst kinds of problems. She reaches out to Blomkvist almost in a mocking way, but soon enough finds herself offering her help in this stone cold case.


This is a very chilling movie that works so well thanks to its construct. For starters, it's in no hurry so it has no problem exposing us to lengthy exposition. That said, I'd be remiss if I didn't say that some moments of the exposition involving a sexual assault are rather difficult to endure. Once we get past that though, the story elevates itself in the way it begins as two rather unrelated stories, and then unsuspectingly overlaps. However, even with more manpower on the case, this mystery isn't getting solved any faster than it wants to be. The secret in this family tree is buried very deep amongst the roots, so its only fitting that it will take a lot of digging to unearth the lies.

Thankfully, we care a lot about who is doing the digging. Mikael and Lisbeth have a wonderful delicate chemistry, and a knack for uncovering the truth...like a middle aged Hardy Boy and a suicide girl Nancy Drew. Mikael can barely contain his desire to prove his worth. As a journalist, he has lost what's most valuable - his reputation. He can't avoid prison, but a sucessful quest for the truth might give him the fortitude he'll need to endure such a smear on his character.

Lisbeth on the other hand is a woman impossible to get a handle on. At a glance, you can tell that she isn't looking for company or conversation. This, in a way, makes her so good at what she does. She is able to detach emotion, and use all means - legal and illegal alike to get to the bottom of things. Rapace plays her as a complete enigma; she's as calculating as a scorpion, and stone cold in public, but fragile when she's all alone. It takes a deep emotional detachment to do what Lisbeth does, and Rapace never falters on selling that detachment.

While some might find this movie emotionally cold, I was haunted by its disturbing mystery and don't think I'll be able to get it out of my head anytime soon. Even if I do lose the details of the plot, there is no way I could forget a character like Lisbeth Salander. She's as calculating as a scorpion, I'm grateful for the long running time of this movie, if for no other reason than the time it gives me to better understand her. Not that I'm any closer to understanding her mind you.

What did you think? Feel free to leave comments with any thoughts or reactions on THE GIRL WITH DRAGON TATTOO.

I Want It All (THE STORY OF FURIOUS PETE Trailer)

Last night I watched an advance-screener copy of this film which is playing at Hot Docs next week. Suffice it to say, it was a bad idea to watch and try to eat dinner at the same time...

The Real Thing pt. IV (Hot Docs Preview)

In case you haven't been following, my posts in "The Real Thing" series have been snapshot previews of the films I'm most looking forward to seeing at the Hot Docs festival. With the previous three, I was going on brief synopsis and reputation. But for this fourth entry, for DISH: WOMEN, WAITRESSING, & THE ART OF SERVICE there's a little switch - I've actually seen it.

How is it? Well, I could tell you...but then what reason would you have to come back here the day it premieres and read my reaction piece? What I will tell you is this: DISH will make you look at the women who serve your food in a whole different light.

I've often said that everybody in the world should have to wait tables for another week. It's a tough job, often a thankless job, and one that gets taken for granted. Worse yet, it's often the best waitresses that especially get taken for granted. Their like baseball umpires - on their best nights, you don't even notice that they're there.

This is the sort of real life story that draws me to this festival and to documentary film in general. On the surface, I hope it's successful so that at the very least the audience members it affects leave a slightly bigger tip the next time they get great service.

DISH will screen on Friday April 30th, 9:15pm at The Bloor Cinema, Saturday May 8th, 1:45pm at The Royal, and Sunday May 9th, 6:30pm at The Bloor

Midnight Radio: The Matineecast Episode 12

When you listen to this episode (note "when"...not "if"), you might notice my energy level being a little bit lower than usual. For that, I must blame a few pints of Fosters, coupled with an early morning call. I think it's a sure sign you're getting older when it only takes a bit of beer and an early morning to throw you off.

Still, the results are solid. This one runs a little bit long...but when you get me talking comic books and movies, it's a little tricky to shut me up. It all works nicely though, as evidenced in the Roberto Alomar episode.



Here's what's in store in episode twelve...

Runtime
58 minutes, 27 seconds

Up for Discussion

1. My brief introduction
2. KNOW YOUR ENEMY - Q & A with this episode's guest, Heather Roddy of Movie Mobsters. (1:32)
3. COME TALK TO ME - Listener feedback on Episode 11's summer movies question (5:05)
4. WHAT'S GOIN' ON - The Avengers assemble for Joss and Robert's drinking Pennyroyal Tea? (8:44)
5. THE NEW SLANG - Review and reaction of KICK-ASS (14:45)
6. BEST OF YOU - Heather and Hatter count down their top five comic book movies. (29:27)

Note - As mentioned at the end of the podcast, this incarnation of my podcast is taking a bit of a hiatus. In its stead, look for podcasts over the next few weeks providing coverage of my experience at Hot Docs. Matineecast Classic should return in mid-May

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

Review: KICK-ASS * * * 1/2

"What the fuck have you done lately?"

That line comes from Mark Millar's comic book series "Wanted". In a nifty self-aware way, it's at the centre of the film KICK-ASS which is also adapted from a Millar comic series. It's the mantra of a group of kids who know they are capable of more. It's a shot to the chest for any of us who stand on the sidelines and don't have the guts to stand up for what's right. And it's what gives a shockingly violent movie a lot of heart.

We begin by meeting Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson); an unspectacular teenager yearning to be something more. Inspired by the comic books he surrounds himself with, he decides to go vigilante and fight crime as a superhero. Small problem - he has no powers, and no training. During his first act of justice, he gets pummelled within an inch of his life. The upside, is that to save him, doctors had to graft a lot of steel plates into his skeleton, leaving him rather impervious to pain.

His next time out goes much better: not only does he win the fight, but he gets massive You Tube exposure thanks to gawkers with their camera phones. Dave is now much more than a mere mortal, he's Kick-Ass, here to save the day...or your cat...whatever you need.

Meanwhile, we are introduced to Damon Macready and his daughter Mindy (Nicolas Cage and Chloe Grace Moretz). After being framed and sent to prison during his daughter's infancy, Damon has grown a tad overprotective...and angry. He wants vengeance on Frank D'Amico (Mark Strong), the mob boss who set him up. He reaps his vengeance by becoming "Big Daddy", loading up on weapons - lots of them, legal and wildly illegal alike - and thwarting Frank's business at every turn. Oh, he trains his daughter to help him.

Know those girls that would rather play hockey than play with dolls? Mindy is like that; but replace the hockey stick with a butterfly knife. She becomes Hit Girl, and with Big Daddy reaches out to Kick-Ass to make him a better hero.

The three of them start taking on Frank's goons, leaving him with precious little ideas. In a Hail-Mary-pass manner, he turns to his son Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), who suggests the only way to find a hero is to become a hero. He follows the Kick-Ass formula of grassroots heroism and becomes Red Mist, an internet phenomenon in his own right...hoping that Kick-Ass, Hit Girl, and Big Daddy will take the bait and reach out to him. maybe then he can crawl out from under his father's massive shadow.


Aaron Johnson draws us in as the titular character. His body language perfectly captures a kid whose guts have decided to do something extraordinary, but whose brain still isn't convinced. He's that guy you see on the high dive at the pool...arms wrapped around his torso...taking ages to decide whether to jump or take the climb of shame back down the ladder.

Great as Johnson is, he is damned near upstaged by Moretz and Cage. It's their relationship that makes the film a winner. They kick ass better than Kick-Ass kicks ass, but behind the cowls and capes, they are a father and daughter whose relationship is very loving and very real. Cage hams it up appropriately (often doing his best Adam West meets William Shatner), but there is never a moment where we doubt his devotion to his daughter. He isn't putting her through this to follow in his footsteps...he only wants her to be able to protect herself. You can see in her eyes that she knows this isn't completely normal...but she loves her dad, and he hasn't let her down yet, so she follows his lead.

These characters are all reason to see the movie alone, but it's watching them come out and play that makes this an intense experience. Despite being less than two hours, the film is loaded with action sequences, all of which are expertly crafted. Hit Girl is at the centre of the best ones, which is what makes them slightly more unique. Not since Gogo Yubari swung her mace in KILL BILL has a schoolgirl amassed such a bodycount.

Much has been made of how the film earns its R rating. It might seem strange that a film with three young actors in the lead scores such a harsh rating, but you can't expect anything less when the film includes a scene of the villain kicking the crap out of an eleven-year-old. The skirmish between Frank and Hit Girl aside, the violence is pretty intense; bodies cook, limbs are lost, bullets fly, and none of it has artistic merit. I don't believe that makes the film overly exploitive - it is based on a violent comic book after all - I just believe that it means that it isn't for young kids. All of this goes beyond the fact that Hit Girl uses language that would make a sailor blush.

Intensity aside, what KICK-ASS does best is get the human element right. Kick-Ass' ambition, Hit Girl's devotion, Red Mist's isolation. These kids are not caricatures, they are very human and very relatable. You look at their faces and you can see the unrest and desire. Deep down in all of them, they know they'd rather be the one in the middle of the fray...than standing on the sidelines with a camera.

What did you think? Feel free to leave comments with any thoughts or reactions on HOW TO KICK-ASS.

These Are the Days Of Our Lives

Today, I Feel Like This...

Everybody's Talkin' 4 - 16 (Chatter From Other Bloggers)

So the good news is that thanks to fandango's little blogging kumbaya, I'm following more spaces by the day. The bad news is that by following so many spaces, I'm starting to short-change many of you by not actually reading your posts too closely. For that I must apologize, and promise to try harder.

Another weekend is upon us, another podcast is on deck, and we've taken another big step closer to Hot Docs. Y'all tired of hearing me talk about it yet? i sure hope not, because I have a lot of material planned to post when the festival arrives, and it'd be a shame if it didn't live up to the hype. Y'know, sorta like the return of Glee this week.

Oh, before I forget, one little favour. I realized this week, I had been slacking on some housekeeping. So if you're a blogger who has a link to my page posted in your blogroll, and I don't have you in mine, please let me know so I can fix that. On with the show...

For your reading fulfillment, I give you...

If you're tired of me mentioning Hot Docs, maybe you'd like to see what Bob thinks of Hot Docs.

Flixchatter takes a moment to re-consider her most anticipated movies of this year.

The Kid in The Front Row ponders the conundrum of needing to pee mid-film. Seriously.

Ross n' Ross want to know what films you've abandoned ship on.

I meant to watch 2001 for the 1001 Film Club this week - the week just got away from me though. Thankfully, Simon over at Screen Insight watched it. Here's his take on the Kubrick classic.

Go, See, Talk wonders about the effectiveness of viral marketing.

Enjoy!

Listen

Alright folks...just how nuts am I?

Some nights to help me fall asleep, I'll turn on my iPod and put my earbuds in. (Fletch - Take a note, I don't always have to use big "doufy" headphones). That's not the nutty part, since I'd wager at least a handful of you listen to something to help you nod off. The slightly loopy bit is what I listen to: movies.

Yes indeed, to help me drift off to never-never-land, I close my eyes and listen to the audio of some of my favorite movies. I don't watch a frame of them, in fact the iPod gets put face-down to avoid the LED lighting up the whole darned boudoir. Every movie I'm listening to I've seen before, a few dozen times usually, so in my head I can fill in the visual. Essentially, I'm just listening to someone tell me a bedtime story.

Now that alone might seem a little strange, if it isn't consider that I'm usually out within fifteen minutes of turning this little trick. However the oddity of the situation might well be enhanced when you consider what movies are loaded on to my iPod: THE DARK KNIGHT, THE HURT LOCKER, STAR TREK, IRON MAN, OUT OF SIGHT, FIGHT CLUB, and THE DEPARTED. Yeah I know - who needs "Goodnight Moon" when you can listen to jack Foley break out of prison.

So - how nuts am I? Please folks, tell me I'm not the only one who practices such nerdiness.

Fortunate Son (CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY Trailer)

While this weekend will be all about KICK-ASS and the fun that comic book movies can bring, the shadow of Hot Docs is looming larger and larger by the day. have I hyped it up enough yet? One of the movies that are playing this year is CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY, a movie that looks like it will entertain, and probably make me shake my head more than once.

We're all still trying to put the surreal shit show of the last eight years behind us folks...here's hoping a film like this can help us all move on.

The Real Thing pt. III (Hot Docs Preview)

There's something to be said for a person telling their own life story post-humously, even if I'm not deeply interested in the person's life in the first place. It's this haunting technique that originally drew me to KURT COBAIN: ABOUT A SON, and TUPAC RESURRECTION...and it's what draws me to AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE.

This doc gives actor Spalding Gray a chance to do something he does best - monologue - about the events of his own life, but it affords him an opportunity to sum it all up for us. This in its own right would have my attention, but when you take that notion and put it in the hands of Steven Soderbergh I'm all in. Soderbergh and Gray previously collaborated on a rather memorable monologue doc called GRAY'S ANATOMY. No...it has nothing to do with the ABC hospital drama.

Whether I love them or I hate them, I am always drawn to Soderbergh's experimental work. So when you take a director I admire, have him presenting the truly sad and moving story of a one-time collaborator, and offer out the cinematic carrot of a man telling his life story in full, I guess it's suffice to say that I'm there.

AND EVERYTHING IS GOING FINE will screen on Friday April 30th, 6:30pm at The Bloor Cinema, and Saturday May 1st, 1:45pm at Isabel Bader Theatre

Midnight Radio: The Matineecast Episode 11

"Guess who's back...back again... "

Stepping up the usual two-wek podcasting window to double time for a little while, mostly in the interest of getting to a few more fun titles before Hot Docs begins and throws my whole schedule for a wicked loop.

Indeed, if I had to hand the ball to an ace on short rest, there are few more fitting candidates than today's guest. He made for a lot of laughs, coaxed Lady Hatter to grab hold of the mic, and made for a great episode despite my domination of the conversation this time. Getcha popcorn ready - Here's the Jimmy Rollins episode



Here's what's in store in episode eleven

Runtime
57 minutes, 41 seconds

Up for Discussion

1. My brief introduction
2. KNOW YOUR ENEMY - Q & A with this episode's guest, Fletch of Blog Cabins (2:17)
3. COME TALK TO ME - Listener feedback on Episode 10's young Hollywood Question (6:56)
4. WHAT'S GOIN' ON - Spike plays with Fire, PHILLIP MORRIS is stalled, TRON 3 gets going. (10:02)
5. THE NEW SLANG - Review and reaction of HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (16:40)
6. BEST OF YOU - Fletch and Hatter count down their desert island dvd's. (32:46)

Note - We mentioned a lot of other blogs and podcasts this week, so I thought I should list them. If you're interested, check out The Simon & Jo Show, /Filmcast, Fandango's blog, and Big Mike's podcast.

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

Review: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON * * * *

I didn't run to see Dreamworks' latest animated feature right away like I usually do for new releases I want to see. As such, I actually heard a lot about it here and there, and how a lot of people really loved it. The unfortunate side effect of such ravings, is that it sets by expectation bar way up into the clouds. Funny thing though, when I finally did see HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON two days ago, it didn't just meet that lofty bar...it soared far above it.

We begin in the town of Berk, a town that routinely gets raided for sheep and other food by various species of dragons. The viking population of the town prides themselves on being dragon slayers and defending their home turf, especially their leader Stoick (Gerrard Butler). However, every chain must have a weak link, and in Berk it's Hiccup (Jay Baruchel). Hiccup is Stoick's son, and desperately wants to join the fray - but is just far too small and far too clumsy in most people's eyes. He's reduced to working in the blacksmith's shop with Gobber (Craig Ferguson).

During one raid, Hiccup steals away and sets up a bola-firing contraption. He actually manages to snare a Night Fury - the most feared dragon of them all, but when he tracks it down, he can't bring himself to kill it. He frees it and watches it fly away into a canyon. When he gets back, Stoick reluctantly enrolls him in dragon training - where Hiccup's crush on a real slayer-in-waiting, Astrid (America Ferrera) goes into overdrive while watching her prowess. It's here that he is told that dragons will go for the kill in battle. Every time. This leads him to wonder why the Night Fury let him walk.

Hiccup returns to the canyon, and discovers that the Night Fury's tail has been injured, thus handicapping its ability to fly. He also discovers that with patience and respect, a Dragon will befriend a human. Thus he gets into the Night Fury's good graces...a dragon he eventually names Toothless. Once the two have bonded, Hiccup engineers an artificial fin for its tail, letting it fly again - and letting Hiccup fly with him.


It's a little difficult to decide where to begin with a movie I loved this much. Almost two years ago, I posted about Dreamworks' lack of great animation, and what they could do to fix it. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON actually employs some of my suggestions - namely bringing in proven talent, and seeking out better source material.

In Toothless and Hiccup, Dreamworks have added characters to their stable that are instantly relateable and loveable No small feat, since they've been trying to do that since Shrek first stepped from his outhouse. For this, I give full credit to directors Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. These gents were the creators of LILO & STITCH, one of Disney's last great 2-D animated films, which obviously can't be mentioned in the marketing.

Amusingly, this film made me take a step back on my crusade against 3-D. By now, my stance is well-known...it's a gimmick, a cash-grab that I really don't want to encourage. How-ev-errrr....HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON has been specifically rendered in 3-D from the get-go, and thus it feels intentional and actually rather thrilling, especially during the flying sequences. During such moments, there are daring sweeping camera moves, and exciting POV shots that took me up out of me seat, and momentarily gave me the rush of what it could be like to ride a dragon. It almost pains me to say this, but indeed, if you don't see this in 3-D, you aren't getting the full experience.

Along with the thrilling action, and the two scoops of laughs, HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON got me because of an overall sweetness that isn't manipulative. Every dragon is given a lot of character, especially Toothless (who incidentally, reminded me a lot of my own black cat in many of his mannerisms). Hiccup's relationship with his father is something we've seen before, but for some reason it feels truly genuine here. Likewise the budding bond between Hiccup and Astrid is sweet to watch, since they have a delicate chemistry with each other, which is really sweet to watch unfold.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON reminds me of being young and finding the guts to go on the highest fastest roller coaster with your hands held up in the air. It's brave, it's exciting, and it's the sort of experience movies so seldom deliver. I can't recommend it highly enough, and do myself hope to see it at least one more time in a theatre.....maybe twice.

What did you think? Feel free to leave comments with any thoughts or reactions on HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.

D'You Know What I Mean?

Today, I Feel Like This...

Everybody's Talkin' 4 - 9 (Chatter From Other Bloggers)

I'm pretty stoked today gang. Not only is there a lot of cinematic goodness surrounding me these days, but there are just three more sleeps to go until one of my very favorite days of the year. the day where hope springs eternal and the feeling of spring is truly in the air. Yes indeed folks, this coming Monday is the home opener for my Toronto Blue Jays.

2010 will be a tough year to be a fan of my hometown team, but if I jumped off the bandwagon when times got tough, what sort of poser would that make me when their young bats and arms really start to tear it up in a few years. This might well be one long restless summer...but at least I'll be able to say I was there when it all began.

Oh yeah...movies...that's right, this is a movie blog! Well while I dust off my scorebook, take a look at these fine bloggers. If any of y'all are baseball fans, accept my wishes of good luck for the 2010 season of whatever team you pull for.

Unless you're a Yankee fan.

For your movie reading fulfillment, I give you...

CS is getting hitched! Being a mere six months into my own life as a married man, I can very much relate to the excitement he's feeling this weekend. As I did, he has just put together a top five of his favorite wedding movies. Give it a look and wish him well, won't you?

Univarn philosophically ponders the difference between excellence and expectation. No sign of an excellent of expected podcast from him yet though.

Poor Marshall didn't heed my warning about THE BOX. Just had to see it for himself.

I'm trying really hard to refrain from making jokes about THE BOX, but if there's an anti-BOX, it's 1995's HEAT, and Heather at Movie Mobsters wrote about it.

Finally, Kai at The List has been awful supportive of my podcasting antics lately. Give his blog a look, especially his post about casting choices that could have been.

Enjoy!

Island In The Sun (My Top Five "Desert Island" DVD's)

So Number Six over at Fandango Groovers Movie Blog is hosting a bit of a blogging event this weekend. I'm taking part, but have to be "that guy" who does things a little differently and gets a head start. Fandango is a good guy...he'll understand...I hope.

My all-time top five has remained rather unchanged for the last seven or eight years, which I find a little bit strange. Perhaps equally strange is the fact that two of the films in my five come from the same year! This little collection of movies gives me everything I could ever want to watch on my coconut TV: adventure, violence, intrigue, heroism, drama, comedy, history, and of course music.

Admittedly, when I see these movies now I'm taken back to the time I first saw them on a big screen - so while this list is about dvd's, you'll hear me mention the big screen experience more than once.

Edit: I need to learn to read. Fandango asked we come up with eight titles, not five. So pardon me as I start over and add in three more. - MH

So before my own Oceanic 815 crash lands, these would be the five eight dvd's I'd be grabbing to have with me on that island...

My All Time Desert Island Top Five Eight

#8. FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)... Somewhat appropriate given that baseball season just started. While it isn't my favorite baseball movie of all time (that honour goes to BULL DURHAM), it's the one that speaks most about the romanticism of the game. Add in the themes of redemption, faith, and family and I'm sold - usually a weepy mess, but sold.

#7. THE DARK KNIGHT (2008)... I'll give you a moment to pick yourself up off the floor. The funny thing is that given the slight comic book nerd I am, no other comic book movie cracks my top fifty. So why this one? Perhaps it comes down to the fact that it taps into themes of what it takes to keep a society civil, and just how delicate that civility is. Or maybe I'm just a geek for psychotic clowns dressed as nurses. Regardless, this is bad-ass, one of the handful of movies loaded on to my iPod, and one I'd never want to be without.

#6. SE7EN (1995)... If my recent post for the 1001 Series didn't tip you off to how much I dig this pitch black movie, then this ought to cement its status. Yes, it's violent. Yes, it's depressing. But yes, I would always want to have it handy so I could watch it for the zillionth time. Movies like this actually cheer me up sometimes - no, really. I look at situations as grim as Mills and Somerset trying to catch a serial killer, and think to myself "Well, at least my life ain't that bad". I know, that's kinda twisted, but what can I say?

#5. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)... Y'know, it's a funny thing - Indie doesn't really do a whole heck of a lot to actually save the day in this instalment. Regardless, it still remains my favorite of the series. It makes me feel like a kid at a Saturday matinee every time I watch Jones scramble away from that boulder, and who can possibly hear that music without visualizing Indy scrambling away from certain doom. If there was ever a film that insists on being watched with a bucket of popcorn, this is it. (Then again, I likely wouldn't have any popcorn on this island. Dammit).

#4. TRAFFIC (2000)... Sort of a serious and sombre choice, wouldn't you say? But that's the way I roll. The technical craft that went into this movie amazes me every time, especially the way it's shot and the way it's cut. It really brings out the futility of The War on Drugs. When Stephen Soderbergh won an Academy Award for TRAFFIC as best director, instead of rambling off a bunch of names, he got up to the mic and dedicated it to "painters, dancers, writers, and anyone else who spends their day being creative". That really made an impression on me, and raised my opinion of the movie and the man a whole lot higher.

#3. THE GODFATHER (1972)... While I have two films above it as my favorites, this is my usual answer for "What is the greatest film of all time". As a painter and a photographer, I've always loved how so much of this movie's shots pull small splashes of light out of pitch black. And while it is incredibly violent, all of the violence has a lyrical quality to it that has seldom been matched in the 38 years since its release. For me, THE GODFATHER is all about family. Along with the story and themes that play out in the film, I have about half a dozen family memories that stem back to this film. It's losing a bit of its lustre with its endless playings on Spike TV, and the video games based on it. Still, anytime I hear that undertaker say how he believes in America, I forget about my grumpiness with how commercial it has become and settle in.

#2. SAVING PRIVATE RYAN (1998)... I worked in a shop that required I wear a name tag when this film was released. A few days before it opened, an older gentleman saw my tag and said "There's a movie coming out with your name in it" I smiled and replied "I know...I want to see it". He nodded and answered "You should see it". He planted a thought in my head that day - that some movies made are ones you should see. They'll be upsetting, and you may never want to watch them again, but you should expose yourself to them nonetheless. As it happens, few films have rattled me as much as this one, and I credit the fact that I saw it in the theatre. Y'know, while I firmly believe that most movies deserve to be seen on a big screen to get the full effect, when it comes to RAIDERS, GODFATHER, and PRIVATE RYAN, I think that it's essential. The battle sequences that bookend this movie really shook me up, since the video and sound is done in a way that makes you feel like you're right in the middle of the fight. While it's true that some syrupy aspects of the story give the movie a bit less teeth than it could have had, it still hit the mark when it came to trying to depict the horrors of war.

#1. ALMOST FAMOUS (2000)... Elvis Costello once said that writing about music was about as useful as dancing about architecture. He may have a point there, but there are many writers out there who choose to scribble about another art form just to convey their passion for that art form to the masses (*Guilty Your Honour*). There are moments in this film that make me laugh every time ("Was it that difficult to make us look cool?"). There's one of the best cuts in film history ("How do you know if the acid has kicked in? / "I am a golden God!"). There is some of the best writing ("If you ever get lonely, you can just go to the record store and visit all your friends"). And there is one amazing soundtrack, which I'd love to highlight but would likely ramble on for days. Cameron Crowe has called this movie his love letter to rock & roll. That's a rather appropriate handle, since for me, this movie is a love story. Love of music, love of writing, love for your friends, love for your family. These are four of the things that mean the world to me, so it's no surprise that when they're brought together in one film, I go head-over-heels for it.

What about you - any of you who aren't participating in this blog event, do tell...what are your all time top five desert island movies?

Dinner at Eight (DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS Trailer)

I get help but get the feeling that this will either be really funny...or really suck.

The Real Thing pt. II (Hot Docs Preview)

We've evolved into a society that is seemingly obsessed with celebrity culture. When I think of the transition from gossip columns, to compromising photos, to salacious videos, to websites that collect all of it in damned-near real time...I'm reminded of the 'Evolution of Man' illustration. So if we think about the paparazzi in evolutionary terms, then only the strong should survive. Perhaps it's no small wonder then, that the pack is getting younger - much younger.

Adrian Grenier, he of "Entourage" fame, will be bringing his second feature documentary to Hot Docs. It's called TEENAGE PAPARAZZO, and it's about a celeb-stalking photographer who is making his bones at the tender age of thirteen. His name is Austin Visschedyk, and he's using gear that's pretty darned expensive, and using it well after what should be his bedtime. At an age where I was collecting baseball cards - he's collecting images of the biggest stars in the world. And collecting a pretty decent pay for them too.

Between his own celebrity status, and the character he plays on TV, I have to believe that Grenier could give us an interesting perspective on our obsession with gossip. Whether he can or he can't, I'll be all over this doc to get a better look at this kid and his camera. More precisely, I'll be looking for his parents...and eagerly listening to hear their take on responsible parenting.

TEENAGE PAPARAZZO will screen on Thursday May 6th, 9:30pm at Koerner Hall, and Saturday May 8th, 9pm at The Bloor Cinema.

Midnight Radio: The Matineecast Episode 10

It's strange the way things happen.

There was more than one moment when I thought episode ten might not happen. There were problems with my podcast server site, some musical chairs where my guest was concerned, and then a slight bit of technical difficulties that resulted in some spotty sound at times.

Honestly - I thought about just trashing this episode and putting double effort into the next episode.

However, the conversation with this episode's guest was just far too much fun to unceremoniously ditch. So if you'll excuse a little bit of echo, and a moment or two of quiet audio, I give you the Andre Dawson episode



Here's what's in store in episode ten

Runtime
55 minutes, 31 seconds

Up for Discussion

1. My brief introduction
2. KNOW YOUR ENEMY - Q & A with this episode's guest, Megan Carr of The Rest is Cream Cheese (1:40)
3. COME TALK TO ME - Listener feedback on Episode 9's HURT LOCKER Question (7:13)
4. WHAT'S GOIN' ON - ROBIN HOOD will open Cannes, and At The Movies gets cancelled. (9:34)
5. THE NEW SLANG - Review and reaction of THE RUNAWAYS (15:24)
6. BEST OF YOU - Megan and Hatter count down their favorite bio-pics. (31:15)

Comments and feedback are welcome, and thank-you very much for listening.

Enjoy!

Review: HOT TUB TIME MACHINE * *

Yeah - I saw it.

After their friend Lou (Rob Corddry) nearly kills himself, his friends Nick (Craig Robinson) and Adam (John Cusdack) decide to take him back to the scene of some of their wildest teenage times, Kodiak Valley. Just for kicks, Adam's nephew Jacob (Clark Duke) comes along. When they arrive in their run-down inn, and get to their suite - they decide a dip in the hot tub would make for a great start to a guys' weekend.

The next morning, after seemingly much debauchery, they wake up to discover that they are back in 1986. They see each other as adults, everyone else sees the 1986 versions of them.

You didn't really think I was going to waste any more words on the plot of this film, did you? You're lucky this part of my review didn't say "For plot summary, read film title"


Go figure - I can write endless posts about the existentialism of THE LAST STATION, or the mis-firing meta of NINE...but when it comes to something as lowbrow as HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, I don't know where to begin. I can say that it just missed my low expectations. That's not to say that I was bored; I wasn't. That's also not to say that I didn'y laugh out loud more than a few times; I did, but that doesn't take much. And truthfully, as a wink at comedies of the 1980's, the movie works.

But when I think about it in comparison to many of the other comedies we've been given in recent years, I find that it doesn't measure up. Don't get me wrong, I love a good cocksucking joke as much as the next guy, matter of fact i think the problem with the movie was that they didn't go far enough down the shock value path.

The film starts us out with some pitch black humour, and mixes it nicely with some 80's movies touchstones...but rather than build on those principles, it becomes an ugly cousin to BACK TO THE FUTURE. Speaking of everyone's favorite film about a time-travelling DeLorean, I must readily admit that the running joke involving Crispin Glover (George McFly if you must know) did have me laughing every time it came up.

Of all the four leads, Rob Corddry seems to having the most fun, but it's hard not to have fun when you're essentially playing an unwitting douche.Right behind him is Craig Robinson, who gets to self-loathingly say the film's title out loud. Robinson, has a delivery that lands somewhere between deadpan and badass. Unfortunately, John Cusack sticks out, since he doesn't really seem to know what he's doing in this movie (lose a lot of money in the market crash John?).

It's entirely possible that I'm being a bit hard on this movie. After all, with a name like HOT TUB TIME MACHINE, how existential a comedy should I have expected? In the interest of fairness, let me leave it at this - the movie is good for a laugh or two, but instantly forgettable.

What did you think? Feel free to leave comments with any thoughts or reactions on HOT TUB TIME MACHINE.

The Man in Me

Today, I Feel Like This...

Everybody's Talkin' 4 - 2 (Chatter From Other Bloggers)

Ain't nothin' like a long weekend to help recharge a weary movie geek. Of course you all know that whatever time I'm not spending with family this Easter weekend, will likely be spent...watching more movies. (It's a sickness).

I promise you this though dear friends, with the amazing weather that is headed my way - there is no way I will spend this entire weekend cooped up watching dvd's and typing away on my iMac. Nosiree...I intend to get out there and enjoy this fine spring weather! For at least...let's say...two hours total anyway.

There is much work to be done though, so as usual, i am happy to be turning the mic over to my compatriots for a day - even if some of them are total shit at foreign accents. So have a good long weekend if you live somewhere that gets one, get out and see something good, and take a moment to skim these fine selections of movie nerdiness.

For your reading fulfillment, I give you...

Remember my review of CHLOE last weekend? Well three of my fellow canadian bloggers saw it too - to varying reactions. Take a look at what Joel, Norma, and Black Sheep all thought of this newest Egoyan film.

Aiden at Cut the Crap knows how to train a dragon.

I think Fletch is going through march madness withdrawal. These days he's playing brackets on foxy ladies of the 80's. Help him out, won't you? but please - no wagering.

Reel Fanatic has news of what Roger Ebert has plans for next.

For Cinephiles by a Cinephile is rhyming off their favorite 007 themes in honor of the news that Lady Gaga might be writing the next theme. I think they might have missed one or two.

And finally, the decade hasn't even been over for five months yet, and Mike at You Talkin' is already feeling nostelgic. take a gander at his favorites from the last ten years.

Enjoy!

Review: FISH TANK * * * 1/2

You have to respect people who aren't content with being dealt a crap hand. There are lots of people living and working below their station, and fully aware of it. Some of them dig in and work as hard as they can to move up and move out. Others, unfortunately, kick just as hard at the gloominess their life has become...but do so without thinking it through.

Such impulsive behaviour is the driving force of FISH TANK - one surprisingly good Brit movie from 2009.

FISH TANK is the story of 15 year-old Mia (played by newcomer Katie Jarvis). She lives in a 'fish tank' apartment in Essex - the sort of building where one whole wall is windows. She is being raised by a single mum, who doesn't look like she was much older than fifteen when she had Mia, and is constantly bickering with her younger sister. Like many kids her age, Mia is antsy, and unfortunately it doesn't take long for this feeling of antsiness to start getting her into trouble.

When she's not getting into shoving matches with other girls in her neighbourhood, she's trying to free a horse chained up in a vacant lot nearby (a stunt that inevitably gets her jumped). She's the sort of girl who has starry-eyed dreams of being a dancer, but she can't even seem to chase down her dreams in an honest manner.

The bulk of her problems come from the home though, where her mother has a new boyfriend named Connor (Michael Fassbender). Mia's mother isn't exactly discreet about her relationship, so Mia and her sister have this man dropped into their lives quite suddenly. Mia, never one to miss a trick, greets him to the household by stealing money from his coat. After she gets to know him however, the two actually get along quite nicely. That lasts for about an hour until their association takes a rather bad turn.


What amazes me about FISH TANK is how unconcerned it is with explaining itself. We are quite literally dropped into the middle of Mia's life one day, seeing that she is isolated in restless - we aren't told why she is, we just know that she is. The film isn't concerned with spelling anything out, it instead points us towards the necessary information and lets us figure things out for ourselves.

What amazes me about the film is the overall unsettling tone. I couldn't help but feel for much of the film that I was somewhere I wasn't supposed to be. It felt like I'd wandered into the wrong part of town and started hanging around people who were minutes away from lighting one fuse or another. Not to say that such feelings of unease comes with crossing a class line - more that Mia's actions, and her relationship with Cameron kept me in a constant state of dread. Something always felt....."off".

For the second review in a row, it's a young actress who has my attention. This time the feat is even more impressive, given the lack of experience Katie Jarvis brings to the film. She has the sand of a lower class teen; the sort of girl whose mom isn't all that much older than she is, and has never known a home life that doesn't have neighbours densely wrapped on all sides. She's in absolutely every moment of this film and never loses our attention - impressive for a novice. Perhaps the reason why we're so enraptured with her, is because she never seems completely sure what she's going to do next.

It's one thing to watch a car wreck - it's something altogether different to watch a car do a few swerves and donuts before it hits the brick wall.

Perhaps this is what makes Mia's story in FISH TANK such a sad one. At fifteen years old, she's old enough to make some truly bad decisions, but not old enough to truly understand their implications. She didn't learn her lesson the first time, and continues on through her life as the girl with a hammer looking for a horse to free.

What did you think? Feel free to leave comments with any thoughts or reactions on FISH TANK.

Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Is there hope for the manatee in Kings Spring? Possibly!

The noble water mammal might find warm water refuge if the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have anything to say about it (And I think after what they pulled off last time, we've all learned never to count out the P.E.E.R.). The environmental watchdog group wants to close a popular warm water source for manatees to swimmers and divers, and filed a notice indicating so last Monday.

An estimated 100,000 tourists swim annually with manatees in and around the spring.

But I mean come on people!!! Swimmers drive manatees out of the warm water the marine mammals need when temperatures fall. Are we butchers?

PEER has previously attempted to end the "swim with manatees" activities sanctioned only in Citrus County, but federal officials declined to make any changes. You can make a difference - make your voice heard to help save the manatee!

(Happy April 1st - Pretty sure I'm going to hell for this one)