June 6, 2009
Adoration (2009) **
Directed by Atom Egoyan, it's a complex film about terrorism, racism and finding the truth. Far from Egoyan's best, but very typical of his oeuvre.
Love And Savagery (2009) *
Hopelessly dated film set in Ireland about a young man who falls in love with a girl who is about to become a nun.
Secret Of Kells (2009) **
Animated film about Irish monks facing devastating Viking raids in the early Middle Ages. The graphics are outstanding, but the story is surprisingly unexciting.
In The Loop (2009) *
Frantic and confusing English political satire about the behind-the-scenes schemings leading to the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The film foolishly tries to have it both ways (neither too "pro-war" nor "anti-war") and fails to score any points whatsoever (even easy ones, completely ignoring Saddam's quite numerous admirers at the time, especially in England). At the end, "the doves" come across as bumbling and incompetent fools, while "the hawks", though clearly mean-spirited, at least look competent and bright.
May 5, 2009
La Donation (2009) **
A portrait of a remote village in northern Canada, seen through the eyes of a physician.
5150 rue des Ormes (2009) **
A horror film about a young student held captive by a strange suburban family.
Before Tomorrow (2009) *
Very tedious film about a smallpox epidemic destroying a small Inuit community in northern Canada in the 1840's. Told from the point of view of the only survivors, an old woman and her young grandson.
RIP: A Remix Manifesto (2009) **
Canadian documentary film about the shocking abuses of the copyright protection laws.
Silence on vaccine (2009) *
Controversial documentary about the dangers of vaccination policies in Canada, United States and France. Politically right-wing, the film mostly promotes the views of vaccination skeptics such as conservative Republican Congressman Dan Burton of Indiana (who believes that his own grandson became autistic after being vaccinated). English title: "Shots In The Dark".
3 saisons (2009) *
Canadian film about two couples facing unexpected pregnancies and a man seeking revenge.
Une Tente sur Mars (2009) *
Bizarre, extremely pretentious documentary about an abandoned mining town in northern Canada and its Native inhabitants. Another predictable "white people are awful" diatribe, though its representation of Natives as hopeless drunks is hardly politically-correct.
Le Bonheur de Pierre (2009) *
Imagine "Jean de Florette" as a comedy, and you'll get "Le Bonheur de Pierre", a story of a gentle Frenchman (Pierre Richard) who inherits a small bed-and-breakfast in a little Canadian town, but finds himself hated and persecuted by his new neighbors. Amusing at times, but in a sadistic sort of way.
Je me souviens (2009) *
Atrocious, Communist-propaganda movie about labor struggles in a small mining town in Canada. Initially coherent, the film suddenly abandons its main political story mid-stream, and turns into a convoluted, incomprehensible mess. It's as bad as the worst films of Ed Wood Jr.
Les Grandes chaleurs (2009) *
A widow in her 50s has an intense love affair with a 20-year-old juvenile delinquent.
April 4, 2009
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La Monstre (2009) ***
Disturbing Canadian short film about a young girl sexually abused by her father.
The Delian Mode (2009) *
Short Canadian documentary about a British music composer Delia Derbyshire, who wrote the score for the TV series "Dr. Who".
La Chute (2009) *
A young teacher suspects that one of her students is physically abused by his father.
You Belong With Me (2009) *
As Maltratadas (2009) *
A truly atrocious, badly made, Portugeuse short film about a ruthless pimp forcing young girls into prostitution and abusing his own family. Crude, manipulative trash.
Never Drive A Car When You're Dead (2009) ****
An animated film from Germany. Wacky, surrealistic and quite innovative.
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Vive la rose (2009) ***
Animated illustration of a French folk song from Newfoundland, sung by Emile Benoit. Nominated for a Genie Award as Best Animated Short.
A Matter Of Loaf And Death (2009) **
Less impressive than previous Wallace & Gromit cartoons, but nominated for an Oscar.
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