Maltese Falcon

It's kind of cool..  the Cineplex chain of movie theaters for the next year is hosting a program called the "Classic Film Series" where once a month they show classic movies from film history.  Yesterday they screened "The Maltese Falcon", which, believe it or not, I hadn't seen yet.    Yeah I know.. hard to believe.  Going in, I KNEW it was going to be an excellent movie.  I mean, for a movie to be around as long as it's been, it HAS to be great.  I wasn't dissapointed that is for sure.   Bogart is such a classy act.   He plays Sam Spade to a T.  The film-noir atmosphere is perfect for this type of movie.   The dark shadows and rich blacks make for a gritty and intense scene.  A EXCELLENT movie, worthy of the term classic.  (6.0/6.0)

T.F.S. Edge Of The City

The Toronto Film Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and enjoyment of film and movies.

In 'Edge Of The City' we are introduced to Axle, a guy seemingly at the end of his rope.  He can't go home and is in trouble enough that he needs to stay out of the public radar.  Taking a job at the docks as a stevedore he only wants to be left alone.  His life changes though when he meets and is befriended by Tommy Tyler a gregarious and fun loving black man, who sees the good in Axle.   Through 'T' Axle learns to live and love again...   but how long can it last before Axle's past catches up with him and what will he do when it does.   

This movie had a good story line and I enjoyed the interaction between Axle and Tommy...  I am not sure about the ending though.  Not saying it was bad.. .but I found it a bit abrupt.   Everything was resolved but I felt that more could have been said.   I REALLY liked Sydney Poitier in this film.  Man he was young.  I didn't realize though how old Poitier is currently.  He doesn't look as old as he really is... which is a compliment I assure you.  He's aged very well.   (3.5/6.0)

T.F.S. Thieves' Highway

The Toronto Film Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and enjoyment of film and movies.

Thieves' Highway tells the story of a veteran returning from war only to find that his father has been injured and has lost his legs to an unscrupulous produce marketer.   Seeking revenge, the son travels to San Francisco, looking for the man and to extract payment for what was done to his father.   During his journey, he learns that friendship and loyalty are more valuable than money and that money does strange things to people.  

I liked this movie, in spite of its edginess.   It's dark atmosphere did not subtract from it's feel good ending, which   I appreciated.   It's alway nice to see a movie where justice prevails and the good guy wins.  (4.0/6.0)

Megamind

Okay for a year of plenty of FANTASTIC animated movies; "How To Train Your Dragon", "Despicable Me", etc... "Megamind" lands somewhere in the middle of the pack.  The animation was decent and the story line was entertaining.   I would say the best part of the movie was the voice work by Will Ferrell and Tina Fey.   Although it was fun to watch I think this one could wait for DVD.  (3.5/6.0)

RED

Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malcovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA's top agents—but the secrets they know just made them the Agency's top targets. Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive. The team, along with civilian Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker) in tow, embarks on an impossible cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.


Man... what a fantastic action movie with humor and mayhem to boot.  I LOVED this movie from start to finish.  Seeing all of these older actors in a movie together acting like tough as nails secret agents was hilarious.  Definitely see this movie if you can.  (5.5/6.0)

Secretariat

The story of one of the most amazing horses in the horse racing scene. Secretariat who had a magical combination of endurance and speed went on to win the triple crown and capture the hearts of the nation.   A great movie with a lot of heart and a up lifting story.  Definitely worth checking out.  (4.0/6.0)

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

Soren is a young owl enthralled by his father's epic stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones.
While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father's favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd's jealousy has terrible consequences—causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones. Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians—Soren's only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.

Okay... This movie is definitely visually stunning and I can't fault it on its cinematography, 3D effects or story line.   That being said.. I just can't find much love for this movie.  That could be just me though.  The character's just didn't grab me and so I never found much sympathy for them.  (3.5/6.0)

Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage

As many of you know I have a bit a picky outlook to 3D movies.  I like 3D but it needs to be done correctly and can't be done as an after thought.  My point was proven with Sammy's Adventure, which in my mind, has just surpassed Avatar as the BEST 3D movie ever.   I got to see this movie as one of the screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and man am I glad I went to see it.   I went in not expecting much, except an enjoyable animated movie and left totally floored.   The 3D in this movie was totally immersive, transporting the viewer into the world of Sammy as he grows from a baby sea turtle to adulthood.   What was cool was that because this was a TIFF event, following the movie there was a QA session with the film's director/producer.   Ben Stassen has been making 3D and IMAX movies for the last 20 years.  His company leads the world in IMAX movies, having produced 9 of the currently available films.   So he has a boat load of experience with the 3D medium.  What was interesting was to learn that there are actually two techniques to producing a 3D film.  The more common (especially today) method is to use a special camera (convergent camera) to film the 3D action.  The other method, used by this movie, is the dual camera method.  In essence filming the action with 2 cameras shot from different perspectives, like the human eye works.  Stassen states that this latter method is superior BUT harder to do correctly, without experience.   Without experience a 3D film shot with the dual camera method can become unwatcheable.. (making the audience motion sick) so most directors opt for the convergent camera method.   Let me tell you...  though.. you can DEFINITELY tell the difference..   the quality of the 3D in Sammy's Adventures was SUPERIOR to anything I have seen to date.  I  would recommend anyone who can get to see the final showings (Sat, Sun) at TIFF should do so.  It's definitely worth the price of admission.  The sad thing is that the distribution of this film is somewhat in doubt..  the chances of it going mainstream are small, which is a shame.  

As for the other aspects of the film, they too are extremely good.  The voice acting, plot line, and likeability of the film were high.  I left the theater with that feeling I so love when watching movies.   Leaving with the.. WOW.. that was AWESOME, feeling.   You can always tell a GREAT film from a GOOD film when that feeling still persists days after, and that is true with this movie for me.    (6.0/6.0)

Casablanca

Some of you maybe surprised but I had never seen this movie before last night.  I know, I know...  Casablanca is a CLASSIC film if ever their was one.   Some of the best lines ever have come from this movie.  "Here's looking at you kid", "Louis, this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship", and "Of all the gin joint's in the world, she had to come walking into this one."  I guess I just never got the chance to see it...  some many good movies and so little time.  Last night, that changed as TIFF played it on its last open air summer movie behind the Light House center... in Metro park.   I must say I wasn't disappointed.... and I can definitely see I was missing out.   What a fantastic movie.  Romantic and full of drama.   I wish I had seen it earlier.   So this is the second Bogart I have seen this year... the other being The African Queen....  I think I will need to make a point of catching The Maltese Falcon now... another movie I have yet to see.   Can't wait.   (6.0/6.0)

The Expendables

Okay, now this has got to be the most EPIC action movie I have seen in years.  Definitely a  "man" movie, Stallone set out to make one last 80's style action movie.  Getting together all of the old school action stars, (Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren) mixing in some of the newer action stars (Jason Statham, Jet Li, and then making the ultimate action movie.  One of the best scenes in the whole movie is a three way conversation with Stallone, Willis and Schwarzenegger, who after all these years finally agreed to share screen time with Stallone.   Man was that ever satisfying... let me tell you.  I have been wanting those two to be in the same movie forever.  I am a firm believer that the 80's was the decade of the action movie.  Today's action movies just don't hold up to the ones of the past and The Expendables proves it.

So as I alluded to...  the action scenes MAKE this movie.   Stallone's skill in capturing the action can be seen throughout the movie.  The scenes are well choreographed and shot to give the watcher the maximum thrill.   That being said the story line is definitely pretty shallow.   Basically there is enough there to get the characters from one action sequence to the next.. and that is about it.   Of course I wasn't expecting Shakespeare going in...  :-)   Where the movie excels is in the acting.   Stallone was able to recruit the BEST action stars from both the past and present and you can definitely see it.   These actors are COMFORTABLE in their roles.   My only complaint, if you can call it that.. is that there is SO many cool stars that sometimes I felt that they each didn't get enough screen time for themselves.

I definitely recommend going to see this movie at the theaters...  just to see history in the making...  Stallone and Schwarzenegger together was worth the price of admission.  (5.0/6.0)

T.F.S. Androcles And The Lion

The Toronto Film Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and enjoyment of film and movies.

Androcles And The Lion (1952) tells the story of Androcles a bumbling tailor living during the Roman persecution of the Christian's.  Androcles, a Christian, hasn't met an animal he doesn't love and that includes lions.  It's not long before Androcles is captured by the Romans and sent to Rome, with other fellow Christians, to be martyred in the Coliseum.  Will Androcles and the rest of his faithful friends be able to keep their faith or will they bend and sacrifice to the Roman gods to spare their lives and keep them from being fed to the lions, that he loves so much.   (4.0/6.0)  

T.F.S. One Touch Of Venus

The Toronto Film Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and enjoyment of film and movies

One Touch Of Venus (1948) tells the story of a statue of Venus (Goddess Of Love) that comes to life when a hapless store clerk gives it a kiss one night.  The beautiful Ava Gardner who plays Venus falls in love with the clerk and the comedy ensues as she turns his life upside down as she pursues him.  In the end everyone finds their true love, although they aren't who they originally intended.  I LOVED this movie.  I would have to say this is the best of the T.F.S. movies I have seen this season.   It is a definite feel good movie and it brings a smile to my face just remembering.  Definitely a must see if you can find a copy.  (5.0/6.0)

Step Up 3D

Okay so this is definitely not Shakespeare or anything close but in the end it was an enjoyable, feel good movie with a somewhat interesting story line.  It didn't have much depth, I will admit, but that is not what it's purpose was.  It being a dance movie... the plot was only strong enough to carry the story from one dance routine to the next.   It's these routines, though, are what we the audience were wanting to see and they are impressive.   The choreography and cinematography of the movie were excellent.  I didn't end up seeing this movie in 3D but that wasn't necessary in my opinion... actually I truly don't think that 3D would have added much to my enjoyment... as I was already impressed enough with the 2D version.  Definitely a fun movie.  (3.5/6.0)

Eat Pray Love

After all the hype surrounding this movie, it was a surprise to be so disappointed in the end.  I truly did not like this movie, for reason's discussed below, and I left the theater feeling let down for what could have been a great up lifting story.  Some will say that maybe that was not what the film maker was intending but I don't think so.  That being said, the movie did have some redeeming qualities in its filming.   The cinematography was pretty impressive showing scenes from Italy, India and Bali...  it could have almost been a better travelogue movie as opposed to a drama.   Julia Roberts is, as always, a phenomenal actress and she does bring her professionalism and presence to her part.  (2.5/6.0)

**** SPOILER ALERT ****

Julia Roberts plays Liz Gilbert...  whom we discover is feeling "unbalanced" in her current life and is extremely unhappy about this.   The movie tells the story of her taking "control" or her life by divorcing her husband and going on a quest of self-discovery over the course of a year... spending 4 months each in Italy, India and Bali.  Where the likability fails in my opinion is my emotional attachment to Liz's character.  In order for us to care for Liz's plight, I think we need to feel some emotional attachment, that I just couldn't bring myself to feel.  In the beginning I found myself feeling that she was spoiled and self centered as opposed to being a person to feel sorry for.   The film didn't go into any detail of what was wrong with her marriage, only that she was unhappy.   Her poor husband begs her to stay with him... stating he is willing to do pretty well anything to work things out and she refuses.  Because we don't have anything to dislike her husband for, I ended up feeling MORE sorry for him than her.    Through out the rest of the movie this keeps happening over and over, so we watch as she goes on a journey of self discovery that has hurt people in her life, for her to take.   So in the end I truly did not feel sorry for her.

Cairo Time

Last night the people from the TIFF aired a free outdoor viewing of Cairo Time in Metro Square.  For those of you who don't know Toronto hosts quite an extensive list of free outdoor movies during the summer.  The movies range from popular main stream movies to more artistic/independent fair.  If you love movies and want a fun night out, I highly recommend that you check some of these out. Google, as always, is your friend for finding out times and locations of these events.

I found Cairo Time to be a complicated movie with, in my opinion, two faces.  At face value, its a movie about a women, Juliette, who arrives in Cairo to visit her husband who works for the U.N. in the region.  We are told early on that her husband will be delayed, due to a crisis, and so she is left to her own devices in this strange (to her) city.  It's during his absence that Juliette befriends and falls in love with Tariq, her guide in the city.  Many people will say that this is the main purpose of the movie.. but.. I would suggest that on the other side of the coin the movie is an expose to the area and culture of the region and that the plot line is just a means of knitting that together.   Throughout this visually stunning movie we are shown all the beautiful areas and regions of Cairo, its culture and unrests.   We are shown it's people and there differing attitudes about women, marriage, poverty, and religion.  In the end I enjoyed the movie for this latter aspect.. but found the story line, a bit sad, and distracting.  (3.5/6.0)

T.F.S. That Uncertain Feeling

The Toronto Film Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and enjoyment of film and movies

That Uncertain Feeling (1941) is a hilarious comedy about a shaky marriage and a women's infatuation with a crazy musician.  Jill and Larry Baker have been married for 6 years... but Jill is starting to feel that MAYBE she picked the wrong man.  When a "tell it how it is" musician comes into her life she is entranced by the difference in life styles.  The comedy ensues as the wife is swayed by the new life style but then realizes that the grass is NOT always greener on the other side of the fence.   (4.5/6.0)

T.F.S. Separate Tables

The Toronto Film Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and enjoyment of film and movies.

Okay this is one of the best movies I have yet to see at the T.F.S. I must say.  It stars Rita Hayworth, Burt Lancaster and David Niven in a drama around a group of broken people living in a Hotel in England.  Each of the characters has a serious fault or faults as the case may be.. and all are seeking refuge in what they think is an anonymous hotel where no one will see.  The hotel owner cares for her lodgers and makes them feel safe.  What the characters don't realize at first is that they aren't alone in their brokenness.. that although they are strangers sitting at separate tables... they have become closer than family.  Personally I liked how all the stories played out...  coming together at the end for a satisfying ending.  The acting was extremely strong... with each of the characters seeming to be fully developed.  For instance one of the characters a timid and brow beaten women was played excellently by Deborah Kerr.   (5.0/6.0)

Eat Drink Man Woman

So I went to see this film down at the Harbour Front Centre in Toronto.  All during the summer they are having a series of free outdoor movies that the public can come and enjoy.  Eat Drink Man Woman is a Taiwanese foreign film directed by Ang Lee.  So yes its subtitled.  LOL.  Senior Master Chef Chu lives in a large house in Taipei with his three unmarried daughters, Jia-Jen, a chemistry teacher converted to Christianity, Jia-Chien, an airline executive, and Jia-Ning, a student who also works in a fast food restaurant. Life in the house revolves around the ritual of an elaborate dinner each Sunday, and the love lives of all the family members.  You can definitely tell that this is a foreign film... I very much doubt that many North American movie goers, in general, would find this movie appealing.   Not that the story line is bad.. but just the pacing and atmosphere is a bit off from what I think most people are used to.  That being said.. I DID like this movie.  I found the family dynamics portrayed here to be heart warming and at time funny.  The difference in culture is obvious.. but at the same time there are similarities.. that you can pick up on.   (4.0/6.0)

Salt

So I was kind of curious going into this movie about how it was going to be.  I had read that original main character of Salt was meant to be male and that it was modified to be female at the start of shooting in order to accommodate Angelina Jolie.  Knowing Angelina's penchant for action movies I had no doubt that she could pull it off... but I was wondering how the dynamics of the movie would be changed with the switch.  In the end though I wasn't disappointed.  Salt is a extremely entertaining action summer block buster.  With plot twists and chase scenes abounding.  The audience is constantly flipping...  is she a russian spy or not.. and you don't REALLY know till the end... which I won't spoil for you.   Angelina Jolie does a commendable job keeping the character believable and plays well of Liev Schreiber.  The action sequences are tight and well choreographed, flowing nicely from scene to scene.   On the whole this movie is well worth seeing at the theaters.  (4.0/6.0)

T.F.S. Bitter Sweet

The Toronto Film Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and enjoyment of film and movies.

The second movie this week was Bitter Sweet (1940) starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy pictured above.  This Oscar nominated musical begins when we find out that a well to do daughter of an aristocrat has secretly fallen in love with her music teacher.  Already engaged through an arranged marriage the two are desperate to be together so they elope to Vienna..  The story continues as the couple try to make a go of a life there in Vienna.  A good story line and some great singing acts make this a wonderful film to watch. (3.5/6.0)