Exit Through The Gift Shop ***1/2 (rave)

The Academy Award nominations for "Best Documentary Feature" are in. Leading the pack out of the 5 contenders is a film by British born graffiti artist Banksy. This film captures the world of street art as it follows the artists that create at night and the community that later arises to define and own it.

The documentary begins with an interview with Banksy himself. His face is hidden and his voice distorted as he introduces the subject of the movie - Thierry Guetta. Thierry is a french filmmaker whose intention was to make a documentary film about Banksy but as Banksy explains, ended up being more interesting than himself.


Through extensive interviews with Thierry we meet his family, learn a little about his background and find out how he was introduced to (and then later entrenched in) the world of street art. Thierry is an interesting subject and his stories and mannerisms are humourous and entertaining. Other street artists and their works are showcased - some, like Shephard Fairey, are interviewed. And as the movie progresses Banksy and others try to determine if Thierry Guetta is really one of them, just plain crazy or both.


The movie explores many interesting facets about the art world - the age old question "what is art", the power of hype and the effects of commercialism. All of the artists are interesting in their own right. And I found this glimpse into their creative process and chosen medium really fascinating. Shephard Fairey, for instance, has plastered the same image over and over again on many different walls all over the world for over a decade. In doing so, he believes the power of repetition his given his work power. Each artist in Exit Through The Gift Shop has their own unique statement to make and I was interested to hear them all.

What makes this film all the more intriguing is that there's a very big possibility that it's all fake - a mockumentary, if you will. Many believe that Thierry's story is a creation of Banksy's -as is Thierry's creative evolution in the film. The conspiracy theorists that I've read are convinced that with the help of others, Banksy has managed to pull off a great hoax with Exit Through The Gift Shop. -Not only that but he has now garnered an Oscar nomination for it. If this is true and if Banksy wins the Academy Award for "Best Documentary Feature" I have to wonder if that's a good thing or bad. I have to wonder if I'll be rooting for 'truth' or for the artist. Like the movie; it's really got me thinking. And isn't that what a good documentary should do?

Black Swan **1/2 (rant)

Although Natalie Portman's performance in this film is great, I didn't like the movie.

Black Swan is a psychological thriller that delves into the madness of a prima ballerina as she strives for perfection. Natalie Portman stars as Nina Sayers, a dancer with the New York City Ballet who has just been cast as the lead in the company's production of Swan Lake. To successfully inhabit this dance role , Sayers must perform as both the vulnerable White Swan and the seductive Black Swan. Sayers' own meek personality naturally fits into the role of one but she struggles greatly with her attempts to portray the other. A newcomer (played by Mila Kunis) joins the company and rivals Sayers for the role. For the rival Lily, playing the provocative Black Swan comes all too naturally. Throughout the film Sayers endures rigorous rehearsals, bullying from her director and smothering support from her dance obsessed mother. In the end, Nina's desire to prove to everyone that she can perfect this role pushes her to a very extreme transformation.

I like psychological thrillers. And I've enjoyed some strange psychological thrillers in the past (like a Cronenberg film.) But there were several things about this strange thriller that didn't sit right with me. For starters, I'd read Nataile Portman did her own dancing in the movie and in the first scene I found her ballet abilities lacking. Even though her quality of dance improved as the film progressed, it took me awhile to accept Portman's character as a contender for prima ballerina.

Once the Swan Lake lead role was cast and we watched as Portman's character struggled to perfect it, everything about the movie then became weird. There was never any knowledge as to what was real or what was being projected from Nina Sayer's deepening twisted mind. Although I realised this was an important part of the film's narrative, it just started to get irritating. Instead of focusing on the intensifying dynamics between the characters, I found myself guessing which ones, if any, truly existed - which events, if any, truly occurred. And then eventually, I just stopped caring. - Cut to the scene where Nina pulls a piece of bird feather out of her scabbed shoulder blade and I can't wait for it to all be over.

Finally, the ending for me was just way too over the top. Some people liked the dramatic climax to the story (many have reviewed this film favourably) but I'm just not one of them. Bizarre, bizarre, bizarre is all I can say. And in the end, after a couple of hours of watching Nina Sayers trying to tend to her sexual frustrations, I was left wondering why I was watching a movie about an uptight young woman who wanted to be a bird.

Although this film is not one of my favourites, I cannot deny the acting was impressive. Natalie Portman is extremely convincing as the intensely driven ballerina who desperately wants to 'let herself go'. Mila Kunis is getting much acknowledgement for her role in the film as well and even though I do believe she's come a long way since That Seventies Show, I was more impressed with Barbara Hershey's performance as Portman's over-bearing mother and Winona Ryder's short but intense screen time as the ousted prima ballerina.

Perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for a movie like Black Swan when I watched it. Although I could appreciate the film, I just couldn't enjoy it. The film is getting critical acclaim and has received some Oscar nominations. And if you have an interest in dance or are curious about the bizarre nature of the movie, I say go and see it. Otherwise, I would suggest that instead of seeing Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan, you rent his 2008 film The Wrestler. In my opinion, it is a superior film about the dark world that can be inhabited by an entertainer.

The King's Speech **** (rave)

Last September during the Toronto Film Festival, the two movies that were getting a lot of buzz were Black Swan and The King's Speech. I've seen both now and although I do intend to write about Black Swan later, I wanted to start with my personal favourite of the two, Tom Hooper's The King's Speech.

If you haven't already seen it (or at least heard about it) this movie is based on the true story of King George VI and his attempts to overcome his debilitating speech impediment while ruling a country as it heads into another World War. Colin Firth stars as George "Bertie" VI and he encapsulates the frustration, fear and determination of this would-be-king. Geoffrey Rush plays the unconventional speech therapist that is enlisted by George's wife Elizabeth (played by Helena Bonham Carter) to help George gain the confidence he needs to find his voice.

The acting in this movie is superb. Firth is receiving much attention and awards for his performance and, in my opinion, it is rightly deserved. I've always been a fan of Colin Firth's (he had me at Mr. Darcy) and in the role of Bertie, he is vulnerable, witty and short -tempered. As the story progresses, he eventually forms a friendship with his wannabe actor speech therapist and as he opens up to him, Firth's character exposes some of the pressures and expectations placed upon a young boy growing up within the Monarchy. We instantly feel empathy for Bertie's plight and can't help but struggle with him as his stammers through the telling of his story.

The power of speech is the theme of the film and it is never lost on the viewers. The opening scene sets the tone in an instant - the microphone: ominous and powerful in nature. Watching the broadcaster prepare for it was not unlike watching a matador (albeit a small British man) preparing to conquer the bull.

The cinematography and sets in the movie are stunning. The walls (and in some instances the wallpaper covering them) seem to have a life of their own as they surround and frame the characters. Occasionally, it does feel as if you are looking onto a stage, as oppose to being enveloped in a room, but perhaps this is what Hooper intended - incorporating a theatre stage setting for Rush's character Lionel to work upon.

This movie is definitely going to receive some Oscar recognition. And if you're someone like me who likes to see all the "Best Picture" contenders, I suggest you go out and see what all the buzz is about. If you like a good drama, I can assure you you won't be disappointed.

True Grit ****1/2 (rave)

Well the Coen brothers have done it again! True Grit is a beautifully shot film with rich and funny characters that take us through a journey of retribution and test of character.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to see this movie. Westerns aren't my favourite genre. And I knew this latest installment from the Coen brothers was completely shut out of the Golden Globes. After watching it however, I was stunned at the Hollywood Foreign Press' huge oversight. I liked the movie Inception, but True Grit clearly should have replaced it as a top 5 contender. Or, out of desperation, they could have easily squeezed it into the comedy category. I can only hope that when the Oscar nominations come out, the Coen brothers and others will get some acknowledgement for this film.

True Grit stars Jeff Bridges as a one-eyed, 'tough guy' U.S Marshall who is hired by a 14 year old girl named Mattie Ross who wants to avenge her father's murder. She knows who the murderer is and she enlists Marshall Rooster Cogburn to help her hunt him done and bring him to justice. A Texas Ranger (played by Matt Damon) is also on the hunt for this particular bad guy and so the three eventually join forces and head out to find the elusive Tom Chaney (played by Josh Brolin). As with any 'journey film', the leads come across a cast of characters along the way. -In true western form, these characters all have bad teeth, craggy skin, poor grammar and are cloaked in animal pelts. As the Marshall, the Ranger and the determined young avenger seek out Tom Chaney, their biggest obstacle is the struggle to get along with each other. Each has their own agenda, and each person is determined to have their own way. Eventually, despite themselves the three manage to work together and face their common enemy as a unified force.

Jeff Bridges is absolutely hilarious in the role of Rooster Cogburn. He's described as a man who "likes to pull the cork" and he has some classic scenes while in an inebriated state. He talks fast, he talks a lot and he mumbles half the time. I'm looking forward to seeing the film again so I can catch the other half of what he was saying while taking a swig and riding his horse.

It was a delight to see Matt Damon in a western. Not since 1993's Geronimo has he been out in the Wild West. And after watching him as the self -toting saviour of the day I hope he dirties himself up and gets back on a horse again real soon. He held his own against Bridges' honed comedic timing and the quick banter between the two characters kept me engaged and laughing.

Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld was simply amazing as the sharp -tongued, headstrong instigator of this journey. She was tough and never gave an inch with her convictions. As she continued to bully and press the two lawmen, I had to keep reminding myself she was only 14 years old.

I have not seen the original 1969 version of this film starring John Wayne, and so I cannot draw any comparisons nor do I have any emotional attachment one way or the other about the story being retold. I can however, explicitly state that I fully enjoyed this version. It was well cast, well acted, well written and (as I can always expect from a Coen brother film) really beautiful to watch.

Although I can't claim True Grit is my favourite movie of the year, I can easily say it makes my top ten. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed when the nominations are announced that the Academy agrees with me.

Cool Runnings (1993) **** (rave)

I, like so many other people over these past few weeks, was absolutely addicted to watching the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. I couldn't get enough of it! I witnessed just about every medal Canada won and I got goosebumps every time I heard our National Anthem played. Generally, I'm not a big sports watcher. But there's something about watching competitive sports in a national arena that just thrills me to bits. Seeing the work, talent and determination that all of the athletes from all around the world bring to the Olympics makes me root for each and every one of them. (And if the Canadian athletes just happen to win more gold medals then anyone else , well all the better eh.)

A friend of mine, who knew I was going through Olympics withdrawal, brought in her copy of Cool Runnings for me to watch. I had told her a few days earlier that I'd never seen it before which shocked her. When I told her it was because I heard the movie was bad she almost kicked me (just kidding, she's not THAT violent). She insisted that whoever told me that had no idea what they were talking about. And she told me to go home, watch the movie and then write a review about it. Because I'm afraid of her and I always do what she tells me to...well here I am.

Cool Runnings is directed by John Turteltaub and it is inspired by the true events of the first Jamaican bobsled team that was ever formed and subsequently competed at the Calgary Olympic Games in 1988. Because the film is 'inspired by' true events (not 'based on'), all of the characters in the movie are fictional. In the film, the main character is Derice Bannock (played by Leon) a young Jamaican athlete who is tripped at an Olympic qualifying track meet. Although his dreams of running for gold are squashed in that instant, he does not give up his dream of going to the Olympics. Instead he enlists the help of an American bobsled coach (played by John Candy) and convinces three other Jamaicans to join his team and take part in Olympic history.

As the four-man team learn the ropes of the sport, friendships slowly form and personal obstacles are tackled. But the true challenge lays ahead for them in Calgary where they must, for the first time, familiarize themselves with ice and snow while the whole world watches their every move.

This film is a Walt Disney movie. It's goofy and funny and loaded with slap stick comedy. Some of the characters are pretty outrageous - especially Sanka Coffee (played by Doug E. Doug) who is constantly cold, sings silly songs and kisses an egg for good luck. John Candy has some funny moments in the movie but he's more of the inspirational backbone of the film. He's got a line in the film that I loved: "A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you're not enough without it, you'll never be enough with it" And it was a real pleasure just to see him on screen again. The Swiss bobsled team are the 'bad guys' of the movie (them and the Canadian -25 degree weather) and they are the team that the Jamaicans aspire to as they try to prove to the world that they too deserve to be there.

What I loved the most about this film was all the stuff that was true - basically what they accomplished at the Calgary games. Four guys who had never set foot on ice before came to the Winter Olympics and performed. The ending of the film (which I cannot tell you about- I don't know if you saw the 1988 Olympics or not) had me crying and cheering. And I felt like I was watching the Vancouver games all over again. I didn't care that I was shouting 'Go Jamaica!' instead of 'Go Canada!'. I didn't care that I was rooting for a bunch of sweet goofy guys that didn't really exist. I loved the spirit of the film. And if you like a good laugh while rooting for the underdog, you'll love it too!

After watching this movie, I did some research about the actual events that took place in 1988. I found out that the Jamaican team was welcomed with open arms by all the other bobsled competitors (no bad Swiss team to be found). In fact, many other countries donated sleds to the Jamaican team to use while in Calgary. I also found out that the bobsled runs depicted in the film are accurate and that one of the runs is the actual footage from the games. Finding out more about the 'true heroes' of the story made me love the movie even more.

Cool Runnings now officially goes right up there with other 'true story' favourites of mine. (Movies that include Rudy and Seabiscuit). And to my friend -who is not the least bit scary but loves to have a laugh- thanks so much for the recommendation. Wanna kiss my egg?

Valentine's Day * (rant)

As if Valentine's Day isn't bad enough, now there's a movie called Valentine's Day. And it's still playing in the theaters! This movie directed by Gary Marshall (Pretty Woman/ Runaway Bride) stars EVERYONE including 4 Academy Award winners ( Jamie Foxx, Shirley MacLaine, Julia Roberts and Kathy Bates) and 2 Academy Award nominees (Queen Latifah and Anne Hathaway) . With all that proven acting ability, I had hoped this movie would at least be some kind of fluffy fun. But it didn't even come close to delivering anything entertaining. Everything about this movie made me want to barf!

Valentine's Day takes place on Valentine's Day (surprise, surprise) and follows the intertwining stories of many characters. Some young, some old and some somewhere in the middle. Throughout the day of Feb. 14th, each character experiences their own trials and tribulations about the big four letter word: L-O-V-E! Some are trying to find it; others consummate it. Some are trying to define it while others are trying to hold onto it. While each character is struggling with their own "unique" love quest in glossy LA, many stories over-lap, some surprise connections are revealed and most find their own mushy happy ending. There really is no point in telling you the backgrounds of the characters or what these people do for a living because it's inconsequential. It's Valentine's Day and that's all that matters!

Where to begin with why I hated this movie...

I guess the starting point has to be that every single character (and thus story line associated with them) was fake. I didn't for a second believe that any character was genuine or any situation any of them were in was even remotely plausible. The entire script was as plastic as L.A.

Who in their right mind would buy Julia Roberts playing an American soldier on leave? -even the script had her change out of her uniform as quickly as possible so she could just be another "pretty woman" flirting with a guy on a plane (I kept expecting Richard Gere to make a cameo appearance as a flight attendant) And who could possibly believe that Ashton Kutcher could own and successfully run his own business? It was as close to watching him as the dude from Dude Where's My Car delivering flowers as you could get. (If you haven't seen Dude Where's My Car, I'm saying that he's stupid.) Throw in McDreamy and McSteamy from Grey's Anatomy, a copycat story line of a young boy finding his first love from Love Actually and a horrific (what the hell was the point of that?) appearance by Taylor Swift and you've got one really bad movie!

Even though this film is pitched as a romantic comedy, nothing about it was funny. Everything was so way out of the realm of reality. And yet instead of acknowledging that, the movie actually expected the audience to relate to it somehow. I'm assuming, because I'm a single gal, the character I was suppose to relate to was the only anti-Valentine's day female character in the film. She was a successful business woman who was completely neurotic (because she's single, of course) who liked to host an annual anti-Valentine's day dinner at an Indian restaurant, do a little Bollywood-type jig and then watch her friend smash a pinata like a crazed lunatic. Yeah, sure I like Indian food -BUT I'M NOT INSANE!. I can only assume the film makers were hoping that I would find some comfort that this prattling, chocolate popping, "I'm glad my blackberry vibrates", crazy female found love in the movie. But my immediate response was "I hope that guy who's fallen for her gets immediate psychiatric help" (there's no hope for her but he could possibly still be saved).

The only reason why I watched Valentine's Day until the end was because I was expecting Ashton Kutcher to look directly at the camera at some point and state "You've been punked". Sadly, that didn't happen. Instead, I had to watch the extras in the movie make out on park benches throughout the film and listen to Taylor Swift's God-awful song "Today Was A Fairy Tale". That is almost 2 hours of my life I will never get back!

Valentine's Day only made me happier that I'm single. It made me hate the commercially induced "love day" even more. I don't think this is what the movie intended. But that is how I felt as I fought against dry-heaving. I highly recommend you DO NOT see this movie.

For those of you who may be questioning whether or not I have a romantic bone in my body, I'll admit to this...I still think The Way We Were is one of the best love stories of all time (how's that? - surprised you, didn't I?)

If you're not one who embraces Barbra. but might want to see a quality love story, I have a few other films I could recommend... If you want to see a lovely film about a young girl finding her first love, rent Stealing Beauty. If you'd like to see a film about love standing the test of time, rent Iris. Something passionate yet heartbreaking - Brokeback Mountain. Something epic - Last of the Mohicans. Something funny - Bridget Jones' Diary. Something classic - Pride And Prejudice. Something original - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

There's some L-O-V-E for ya. And it's not even Feb. 14th!

Shutter Island **** (rave)

Shutter Island brings Martin Scorsese and Leonardo Di Caprio together again for the fourth time. This thriller, set in the early 1950s, is a tribute to the films produced in that time era, while still incorporating some visual effect tricks that are possible to create today. The two styles combined, plus a strong acting cast led by Di Caprio, made this movie quite enjoyable for me. And because I am a fan of "the look" of a Martin Scorsese film, I recommend that you go a see this one on the big screen.

In this film Di Caprio plays a US Marshall named Teddy Daniels who, with his new partner by his side (played by Mark Ruffalo), goes to an isolated institution for the criminally insane to investigate the disappearance of one of their patients. Through the course of his investigations Daniels believes there is much more going on on Shutter Island that any of the psychiatrists or patients are willing to talk about. As the story unfolds, we find out that not only is Daniels determined to uncover the institution's secrets (of which he believes there are many) but that he has his own personal agenda for wanting to be on the Island - namely, to find another patient that he believes also resides there. - Someone who had a tragic affect on Daniel's life in the past.

Although this thriller wasn't a real heart-stopper for me, I loved the feel of the film and fully appreciated it's "classic film" style. With the wind and rain and waves crashing against the cliffs (accompanied by single note booming music) I was immediately reminded of movies like the original Cape Fear film. In my opinion, any movie that Scorsese makes showcases his knowledge and love of past films. And as I have already mentioned, I really liked how he incorporated his passion for this classic genre of film with special affects that are available to him now. In the film, there are dream sequences that are both bizarre and beautiful to the eye. And I thought they played well off of the dismal dark look of the rest of the movie.

As you would expect with a thriller movie, there are some twists and turns and people jumping out from the dark. I didn't find Shutter Island to be particularly scary but I liked how it built up the suspense of the story. As the movie approached the end, I was a little concerned about how it would all play out - hoping it wouldn't have a lame revelation or cliche explanation of events. And although I of course won't tell you the ending, I can say that even though you'll probably figure some stuff out before the conclusion, you won't be left completely disappointed. I wasn't. And I was especially pleased to see that Scorsese did not end this film with a shot of a rat running across a banister as he did in The Departed (which made me groan.)

So go see Shutter Island. Jump in your seat a couple of times and enjoy "the look" of another visually impressive Martin Scorsese film.