The first film was It Might Get Loud, by Davis Guggenheim. This film follows Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), The Edge (U2), and Jack White (The White Stripes) around while finding out about their influences and experiences. Interspersed with the interviews are sequences where the three talk together and jam.
Where do I start? Listening to the three talk about why they started playing music is fascinating. Watching Jack White make a guitar from nails, wire and a coke bottle (in under 5 minutes) is amazing. Seeing Jimmy Page play air guitar to Link Wray's "Rumble" is illuminating. If I had any criticism of the film, I would have to say that the time the three spend together is too short. All in all, a wonderful film.
8.5/10
The last film of the festival (literally) was Chocolate, by Prachya Pinkaew. The film deals with the story of an ex-mob member's autistic daughter, who picks up a subconscious knowledge of martial arts from watching tv and playing video games. When her mother becomes ill, she and a friend track down old debts in order to pay for medicine.
Great fun, the film makes you ache in sympathy for all the people getting their butts kicked by the lead, especially since she is quite a petite woman (5'2'' or so). The set-piece fights have a great energy to them that never flags, even though some of them last over 10 minutes.
7.5/10
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
TIFF Day 8
First off was Hooked, by Adrian Sitaru. Hooked is the story of a couple's day in the country that is changed when they accidentally hit a prostitute. When they find out (while trying to dump the body!) that she is not dead, the situation becomes even more complicated than it already was.
The film has a good script, with some great dialogue and ideas. The actors do a good job as well, especially the actress playing the prostitute. However, the film's gimmick is that it is all shot on handicam from the POV of whoever isn't talking in the scene. This leads to some quick pans as "the camera" turns its head this way and that. While I'm not against using handicam-style shots, this time it got very annoying and tiresome, taking focus away from the film itself and concentrating it on the shaky and wildly swinging camera.
6/10
The second film was American Swing, by Matthew Kaufman and John Hart. A documentary about Plato's Retreat, the notorious sex club in NYC, the film features reminiscences by patrons and friends of the owner, Larry Levenson. The anecdotes are refreshingly frank, and along with period footage, tell and show just what went on in the club. Very well done, and very funny.
7.5/10
Tomorrow (last day!): It Might Get Loud and Chocolate
The film has a good script, with some great dialogue and ideas. The actors do a good job as well, especially the actress playing the prostitute. However, the film's gimmick is that it is all shot on handicam from the POV of whoever isn't talking in the scene. This leads to some quick pans as "the camera" turns its head this way and that. While I'm not against using handicam-style shots, this time it got very annoying and tiresome, taking focus away from the film itself and concentrating it on the shaky and wildly swinging camera.
6/10
The second film was American Swing, by Matthew Kaufman and John Hart. A documentary about Plato's Retreat, the notorious sex club in NYC, the film features reminiscences by patrons and friends of the owner, Larry Levenson. The anecdotes are refreshingly frank, and along with period footage, tell and show just what went on in the club. Very well done, and very funny.
7.5/10
Tomorrow (last day!): It Might Get Loud and Chocolate
Thursday, September 11, 2008
TIFF Day 7
Today's film: The Burrowers, by J T Petty. Set in the Dakota territories in 1879, this film follows the search for people who have been abducted, supposedly by Indians. As the group of searchers get farther along in their tracking, however, it becomes clear that it might not be Indians that have abducted the people.
This film mixes two usually separate genres-westerns and monster movies-and does a good job of it. The open expanses of the plains and foothills are a good backdrop for the creepy goings on. The sense of paranoia that builds as the hunters become the hunted is well-managed by some nice camera work.
7.5/10
Two films tomorrow: Hooked and American Swing
This film mixes two usually separate genres-westerns and monster movies-and does a good job of it. The open expanses of the plains and foothills are a good backdrop for the creepy goings on. The sense of paranoia that builds as the hunters become the hunted is well-managed by some nice camera work.
7.5/10
Two films tomorrow: Hooked and American Swing
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
TIFF Day 6
Today I saw Ashes of Time Redux, by Wong Kar Wai. The story concerns a mercenary and his unrequited love for his brother's wife.
This film was a cleaned up, recut, and remixed version of Wai's 1994 film. Having not seen the original, I can only say the following: the photography was beautiful, the score was stunning, and the story was needlessly complex. One of the highlights however, were the fight scenes. Choreographed by Sammo Hung, they had an almost abstract quality not usually seen in wuxia films.
5.5/10
Tomorrow: The Burrowers
This film was a cleaned up, recut, and remixed version of Wai's 1994 film. Having not seen the original, I can only say the following: the photography was beautiful, the score was stunning, and the story was needlessly complex. One of the highlights however, were the fight scenes. Choreographed by Sammo Hung, they had an almost abstract quality not usually seen in wuxia films.
5.5/10
Tomorrow: The Burrowers
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
TIFF Day 5
The first film for today was Not Quite Hollywood, by Mark Hartley. A documentary about the Australian "genre" film from the early 70's until the early 90's, the film intersperses film clips with current day interviews from the stars, directors, and producers. Critics and fans are also represented with comments by Australian film critics and contemporary directors.
A great romp through the "Ozploitation" flicks, the film never really takes itself too seriously (unlike some of the critics), and as such, is very entertaining to watch. It is fascinating to hear behind the scenes stories from such a wide variety of actors and filmmakers, as well as current filmmakers talking about the films and their effect on their own work.
7.5/10
The second film was The Dungeon Masters, by Keven McAlester. Another documentary, this one deals with three people from different parts of the USA who all have one thing in common: they all play Dungeons & Dragons.
The film follows the three subjects for approximately 18 months and is notable for the fact that it never makes fun of its subjects. To be sure, there is no small amount of tragedy among the three, but they are the ones who bring up their problems and the filmmaker is truly just an observer. Very satisfying.
8/10
Tomorrow: Ahes of Time Redux
A great romp through the "Ozploitation" flicks, the film never really takes itself too seriously (unlike some of the critics), and as such, is very entertaining to watch. It is fascinating to hear behind the scenes stories from such a wide variety of actors and filmmakers, as well as current filmmakers talking about the films and their effect on their own work.
7.5/10
The second film was The Dungeon Masters, by Keven McAlester. Another documentary, this one deals with three people from different parts of the USA who all have one thing in common: they all play Dungeons & Dragons.
The film follows the three subjects for approximately 18 months and is notable for the fact that it never makes fun of its subjects. To be sure, there is no small amount of tragedy among the three, but they are the ones who bring up their problems and the filmmaker is truly just an observer. Very satisfying.
8/10
Tomorrow: Ahes of Time Redux
TIFF Day 4
Today's film was Acolytes, by Jon Hewitt. Set in Brisbane, Australia, the film follows what happens when three teens find a body in the woods. After attempting to use the discovery to their advantage, they soon find themselves in far over their heads.
Shot in a gritty, grainy style, the film has some good stylistic moments. Good use of locations is also apparent, with many shots in a decidely creepy wooded area. Overall, an entertaining, scary, and satisfying film
7/10
Shot in a gritty, grainy style, the film has some good stylistic moments. Good use of locations is also apparent, with many shots in a decidely creepy wooded area. Overall, an entertaining, scary, and satisfying film
7/10
Sunday, September 7, 2008
TIFF Day 3
Today's film (just one!) was Real Time, by Randall Cole. This film deals with the last hour and a half of a ne'er do well gambler as he attempts to get everything in order before being killed because of outstanding debts.
While the film is shot in what is more or less real time, it never feels forced, when the time comes for the final confrontation with the hit man, you are almost surprised that that much time has gone by. Alternately funny and suspenseful, the film shows what can be done with a small budget (approx $1 million), and shows it well. Good performances from Jay Baruchel, Randy Quaid, and Jayne Eastwood make this a very entertaining film to watch.
7/10
Tomorrow: Acolytes
While the film is shot in what is more or less real time, it never feels forced, when the time comes for the final confrontation with the hit man, you are almost surprised that that much time has gone by. Alternately funny and suspenseful, the film shows what can be done with a small budget (approx $1 million), and shows it well. Good performances from Jay Baruchel, Randy Quaid, and Jayne Eastwood make this a very entertaining film to watch.
7/10
Tomorrow: Acolytes
TIFF Day2
Day 2 seemed to be "horror day"-all three films had a horror theme to them-although some were more explicit than others.
The first film was Sauna, by Antti-Jussi Annila. The film concerns a group of Finns and Russians establishing a new borderline after a particularly long and brutal war. The main characters are Eric and Knut, Finnish brothers working for the Swedes. As the group travels northward, demarcating the new border, they come upon a large swamp. The Russian leader suggests that they just bypass the swamp and continue northward, but the elder brother Eric, says that if they don't travel through the swamp, he'll just assume that Russia doesn't want the territory and the border can go along the eastern edge. Travelling through the swamp, the group comes upon a village in the exact middle of the swamp with a very sinister looking sauna on the outskirts. Then bad things start to happen.
Very atmospheric, with an oppressive sense of dread, this film is very unsettling. The landscape itself is bleak and depressing, and only seems to increase the unease that builds scene by scene. Highly recommended, but not for faint of heart
8/10
The next film was Pontypool, by Bruce McDonald. Pontypool is a small town some 90 km northeast of Toronto and Grant Mazzy is a DJ working the morning show of the town's radio station. Strange reports start to come in from around the town of large groups of people behaving very strangely. Mazzy and his production staff quickly realize that the situation is more serious than they thought.
Almost a one-room drama, this film is incredibly tight. Not a single shot is wasted, and the claustrophobia is only heightened by the many close ups of Mazzy as he broadcasts. When events begin to escalate, the tension is slowly but surely increased. An excellent zombie movie that never uses the "Z" word.
8.5/10
The final film was Deadgirl, by Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel. Rickie and JT, ditching class one day, break into an abandoned mental hospital. While having a few illicit beers and generally vandalizing the place, they come upon a sealed room with the body of a naked woman chained to a table. While deciding what to do, they suddenly realize that she is breathing. This only complicates things as Rickie wants to call the police while JT wants to "have some fun". Things rapidly begin to spin out of control, with far-reaching consequences.
For all its disturbing and graphic content, the film never strays into standard exploitation territory, instead focusing on the relationship between Rickie and JT. Definitely not for everyone, but certainly rewarding for those who can stomach the violence.
7.5/10
The first film was Sauna, by Antti-Jussi Annila. The film concerns a group of Finns and Russians establishing a new borderline after a particularly long and brutal war. The main characters are Eric and Knut, Finnish brothers working for the Swedes. As the group travels northward, demarcating the new border, they come upon a large swamp. The Russian leader suggests that they just bypass the swamp and continue northward, but the elder brother Eric, says that if they don't travel through the swamp, he'll just assume that Russia doesn't want the territory and the border can go along the eastern edge. Travelling through the swamp, the group comes upon a village in the exact middle of the swamp with a very sinister looking sauna on the outskirts. Then bad things start to happen.
Very atmospheric, with an oppressive sense of dread, this film is very unsettling. The landscape itself is bleak and depressing, and only seems to increase the unease that builds scene by scene. Highly recommended, but not for faint of heart
8/10
The next film was Pontypool, by Bruce McDonald. Pontypool is a small town some 90 km northeast of Toronto and Grant Mazzy is a DJ working the morning show of the town's radio station. Strange reports start to come in from around the town of large groups of people behaving very strangely. Mazzy and his production staff quickly realize that the situation is more serious than they thought.
Almost a one-room drama, this film is incredibly tight. Not a single shot is wasted, and the claustrophobia is only heightened by the many close ups of Mazzy as he broadcasts. When events begin to escalate, the tension is slowly but surely increased. An excellent zombie movie that never uses the "Z" word.
8.5/10
The final film was Deadgirl, by Marcel Sarmiento and Gadi Harel. Rickie and JT, ditching class one day, break into an abandoned mental hospital. While having a few illicit beers and generally vandalizing the place, they come upon a sealed room with the body of a naked woman chained to a table. While deciding what to do, they suddenly realize that she is breathing. This only complicates things as Rickie wants to call the police while JT wants to "have some fun". Things rapidly begin to spin out of control, with far-reaching consequences.
For all its disturbing and graphic content, the film never strays into standard exploitation territory, instead focusing on the relationship between Rickie and JT. Definitely not for everyone, but certainly rewarding for those who can stomach the violence.
7.5/10
Friday, September 5, 2008
TIFF, Day 1
Techincally, I guess its day 2, but this is my first day, and it's all about me.
My first film was Achilles and the Tortoise, by Takeshi Kitano. The film follows the life of a would-be artist, from childhood to late middle age. After having been told at a young age that he should become an artist because he paints a great deal, Machisu slavishly devotes the rest of his life to doing so. While he has the technical skills, his work lacks the emotion needed to transcend the ordinary. When the art dealer with whom he consistantly tries to get to represent his work suggests he try a certain style, he slavishly copies that style, producing second-rate copies. Along the way he gets married and has a child, which only seem to complicate the issue.
Kitano has produced a bittersweet sort of film here, with constant difficulties being thrown at Machisu (none of which slow him down) that he accepts with almost Keatonlike stoicism. While ultimately uplifting, things will assuredly get worse before they get better.
7.5/10
Next was The Sky Crawlers, by Mamoru Oshii. This animated film deals with a group of fighter pilots, employees of a company who fight other companies in a sort of war by proxy that has replaced full scale wars. The pilots are all "Kildren", genetically engineered to remain in their late teens forever. When a new pilot shows up to replace one who has died, things begin to take on a somewhat disturbing and familiar trend.
Oshii is dealing with his themes of humanityand the idea of the self again, although in a somewhat less dense way than in the Ghost in the Shell movies. Nonetheless, a very entertaining, engaging film with flawless anime from start to finish.
7.5/10
The day's final film was Me and Orson Welles, by Richard Linklater. This film tells the story of Welles' production of Julius Caesar in the fall of 1937 seen through the eyes of a high school student who manages to get himself a speaking role in the play almost by accident.
Based on actual events and people, the movie captures the flavour of the time quite well, and the performances are all quite good. Christian McKay is exceptional as Welles, and if you close your eyes its hard to tell that it isn't really him. Another solid film from Linklater.
7/10
On for Tomorrow: Sauna, Pontypool, and Deadgirl.
My first film was Achilles and the Tortoise, by Takeshi Kitano. The film follows the life of a would-be artist, from childhood to late middle age. After having been told at a young age that he should become an artist because he paints a great deal, Machisu slavishly devotes the rest of his life to doing so. While he has the technical skills, his work lacks the emotion needed to transcend the ordinary. When the art dealer with whom he consistantly tries to get to represent his work suggests he try a certain style, he slavishly copies that style, producing second-rate copies. Along the way he gets married and has a child, which only seem to complicate the issue.
Kitano has produced a bittersweet sort of film here, with constant difficulties being thrown at Machisu (none of which slow him down) that he accepts with almost Keatonlike stoicism. While ultimately uplifting, things will assuredly get worse before they get better.
7.5/10
Next was The Sky Crawlers, by Mamoru Oshii. This animated film deals with a group of fighter pilots, employees of a company who fight other companies in a sort of war by proxy that has replaced full scale wars. The pilots are all "Kildren", genetically engineered to remain in their late teens forever. When a new pilot shows up to replace one who has died, things begin to take on a somewhat disturbing and familiar trend.
Oshii is dealing with his themes of humanityand the idea of the self again, although in a somewhat less dense way than in the Ghost in the Shell movies. Nonetheless, a very entertaining, engaging film with flawless anime from start to finish.
7.5/10
The day's final film was Me and Orson Welles, by Richard Linklater. This film tells the story of Welles' production of Julius Caesar in the fall of 1937 seen through the eyes of a high school student who manages to get himself a speaking role in the play almost by accident.
Based on actual events and people, the movie captures the flavour of the time quite well, and the performances are all quite good. Christian McKay is exceptional as Welles, and if you close your eyes its hard to tell that it isn't really him. Another solid film from Linklater.
7/10
On for Tomorrow: Sauna, Pontypool, and Deadgirl.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Film Festival
There will be a short break from ranting about customers so that I can rant about films. I will be attending the Toronto International Film Festival again this year, so I'll pass on some short reviews of the films I will be seeing. Up for Friday: Achillies and the Tortoise, The Sky Crawlers, and Me and Orson Welles.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Freak Magnet
The other day, going to work, I got on the bus and proceeded to sit down in the back half of the bus. As I sat down, I heard strange "huffing" noises coming from across the aisle. Looking over, I noticed that the person sitting opposite me was doing some sort of "excercise" by holding on to the rail on the back of the seat in front of him and quickly pulling himself forward. He was doing this with some vigor, and seemed to be serious about his "workout" (Cheaper than a gym membership, I guess). This "workout" (with sound effects) went on for about 10 minutes until I heard the noises change. I had been looking out the window in the opposite direction in order not to laugh, but I slowly turned my head in his direction, looking out the corner of my eye at him to see what he was doing now. I almost lost it at this point, because he was throwing punches (at the air) and making sounds like you hear in poorly dubbed martial arts flicks. It was all I could do not to laugh out loud, because he was concentrating so intently on beating up the air in front of him. I expected him to make Bruce Lee noises, but thankfully he didn't, or I don't think I would have been able to keep the laughter inside.
I tend to attract people like this. This guy at least seemed harmless, but I don't know what would have happened if I had started laughing.
I tend to attract people like this. This guy at least seemed harmless, but I don't know what would have happened if I had started laughing.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Startup
So-here we go: This blog is where I intend to put my experiences (weird, wonderful, annoying, really annoying, and "keep that up and you'll lose a limb") that I have had whilst working in the retail world for the last 19 years (Holy crap! That long?). Here's an example of what to expect:
I work at a store that predominantly fixes shoes and cuts keys and a few days ago a woman came in and wanted a particular key cut. She explained that she had been to a couple of other places and had gotten keys cut that did not work, and would I be able to cut this key correctly the first time. She showed me the key and I realized what the problem had been for the other attempts, as the key was one that was often mistaken for another if the person doing the cutting is not paying attention, or doesn't know what they're doing (yet another reason not to go to Wal-Mart, kids!). I told her that we could cut the key and it often got confused and miscut pointing out the difference, but we would have no problem. I cut the key and she left.
The next day she came back complaining that the key did not work because she had gotten the wrong one cut. Because of this, she wanted the right key cut, but did not want to pay for it. The owner of the store was in and she was talking to him, as I was in the back working on some shoes (but still able to hear the conversation). Her position was that because she didn't need an extra for the one that she had had cut, we should cut her the "correct" one for free. Not once did she say that it was our fault that the wrong key had been cut-she freely admitted that she gave me the wrong one-but she still felt that she shouldn't have to pay for another key.
Where do people get ideas like this?
I work at a store that predominantly fixes shoes and cuts keys and a few days ago a woman came in and wanted a particular key cut. She explained that she had been to a couple of other places and had gotten keys cut that did not work, and would I be able to cut this key correctly the first time. She showed me the key and I realized what the problem had been for the other attempts, as the key was one that was often mistaken for another if the person doing the cutting is not paying attention, or doesn't know what they're doing (yet another reason not to go to Wal-Mart, kids!). I told her that we could cut the key and it often got confused and miscut pointing out the difference, but we would have no problem. I cut the key and she left.
The next day she came back complaining that the key did not work because she had gotten the wrong one cut. Because of this, she wanted the right key cut, but did not want to pay for it. The owner of the store was in and she was talking to him, as I was in the back working on some shoes (but still able to hear the conversation). Her position was that because she didn't need an extra for the one that she had had cut, we should cut her the "correct" one for free. Not once did she say that it was our fault that the wrong key had been cut-she freely admitted that she gave me the wrong one-but she still felt that she shouldn't have to pay for another key.
Where do people get ideas like this?
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