So, my list of movies to see in 2009 received quite a bit of traffic (and for some reason, continues to??), which took me by surprise.  I personally LOVE Top 10 lists, so it seemed only natural for me to continue with a list of not necessarily the biggest budget, highest grossing films of 2010, but some of the most interesting. Don’t get me wrong, I love the big budget, popcorn flicks as much as the next guy, but I can only take so much Harry Potter and Iron Man before I crave another Moon or Donnie Darko. (continue reading…)

Larry Gopnik is a loser.

Am I supposed to feel sorry for him?  Maybe.  Do I?  Not at all. This is the issue I had with A Serious Man, the latest ‘masterpiece’ from the infallible Coen Brothers.  It’s a story about a Jewish mathematician who has his life unravel in front of his eyes through a chain of events, ignited by his wife’s desire for a divorce.

Gopnik is bossed around by nearly everyone he encounters, and he does little, if anything, to try and stop them. Not only that, but he questions whether he’s supposed to complain or not. This is just not a character you can feel sorry for, nor one that you can cheer for. (continue reading…)

Yes, I know it’a LONG overdue for an update, but it’s been a busy month!

It’s become an annual tradition to attend the Toronto International Film Festival, and this year was no different. The long lines, the thousands of tourists, the amazing cars, the never-ending ‘Arrrrrr’ during the Piracy warning before EVERY movie… all make for a very interesting atmosphere.

I was only able to see 3 films this year, but I always love the chance to see a premiere, or perhaps even a film that would never normally see the light of day.  This year however, all 3 films are basically guaranteed release, at least in a few hundred theaters across North America. I have included reviews for all 3 films viewed at this years TIFF. (continue reading…)

Let me just begin by saying “No, I did not see this in 3D.” During its theatrical run (which lasted a pitiful 56 days), the film featured 3D visuals (with the purchase of 3D glasses of course) in an attempt to have the action ‘leap out’ at the audience and add to the scares. Whether or not this added anything to the film, I can’t say, however I’m quite certain it would have novelty, short lived or otherwise.

What I CAN say, is that this was a surprisingly well acted, well shot film, with an unfortunate plot. As the story goes… 10 years ago, a miner decided to go crazy and kill his co-workers while working deep in a mine. He was presumed dead, only to return a decade later to kill again. For what reason? I was never entirely sure, even though the film drags you back through the entire film putting together the pieces of the puzzle and showing why everything happened. Watching a horror film for the plot though is like eating taco bell because of the fibre. The gory death scenes are what shine here.

With the exception of the Final Destination films, the deaths in this film were some of the most creative I’ve ever seen. At one point (I’m not joking) you see a jaw FLY towards the screen as its pulled off the victim. This definitely isn’t for the squeamish, however Peter Jackson may get a kick out of it as Bad Taste and Dead Alive are two films that quickly come to mind regarding original death scenes.

The performances were surprisingly decent, especially with a relatively unknown cast working with such tongue-in-cheek material. The dialog helped to fill the gaps between the inevitable murders, of which there are plenty.

SYNOPSIS : If you are looking for a very basic horror film with some extra gruesome murder scenes and to have a laugh with your friends, give this a whirl. If you are looking for ANYTHING beyond that, don’t bother. The story is absurd and there will be the occasional groan as the plot holes start to show up.

After finally hitting wide release, this latest depiction of the Iraq “war” delivers one of the most exhilarating films of the year.

Led by an amazing performance by Jeremy Renner and sharp direction by Kathryn Bigelow, you aren’t so much shown a day in the life of a bomb defusal unit, as you are dragged through it whether you like it or not.  Speaking of which, after briefly looking around the theater, I can’t remember the last time I saw so many people lurched forward, eyes locked on the images on the screen, literally sitting on the edge of their seats.

It’s difficult to pinpoint a plot to the film as it’s more of a visual diary, showcasing the emotions of soldiers on the front lines, as well as the inner demons that come with the jarring imagery and choices they make every day.  Will (Brenner) is the new addition to a team and does things his way, which never really gels with Sanborn (played by Anthony Mackie).  He’s a wild man that gets the job done, but with a price as he feels like it’s the only thing that gives his life meaning.

Whenever he’s hovering over a bomb examining the components, the sequences are often tightly shot and you are brought as close to the action as possible.

It must be said that there is a degree of predictability during certain portions of the film, however it really didn’t take anything away from the package as a whole.  It was just a shame to see such obvious blemishes, as slight as they may have been, on an otherwise perfect slate.

SYNOPSIS : An incredibly intense and at times humorous look at the lives of a group of special team soldiers, one of which likes to live on the edge and shows you the repercussions of his actions.  There are predictable scenes from time to time, but you will be glued to the screen waiting to see how Will (Renner) gets himself out of his  current jam.