Thankfully, I Didn't Spend $10

Although I may be behind the times when it comes to catching up on the latest Hollywood Blockbusters, but in this situation, I was very happy to be about 6 months behind.

Well, I finally saw Sherlock Holmes. It was a tragedy. When, what some would call a film, came to theatres, my mother was very intrigued (understandably so, generally Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law are quite entertaining) but I was hesitant and therefore we never made it to the cineplex to catch the 'epic'. Fast forward six months and my mother and I are renting a film for the evening. I didn't feel much like using my brain that evening so we did the unthinkable. We rented Sherlock Holmes.

Needless to say, I was disappointed. However, I cannot tell you exactly what it was that disappointed me. The film was so awful, that to be truthful, the entire thing was just a plain old mess. Perhaps the last 15-minutes were enjoyable but I think this was so because I knew the thing must be almost over.

Well a few days passed and I finally felt ready to go back to video store and attempt renting another film. This time, I chose a Korean film called Mother. I remember seeing that it had won many awards in South Korea so I was intrigued.

The IMDB plot summary describes it as:

A mother lives quietly with her twenty-eight-year-old son, Do-joon, providing herbs and acupuncture to neighbors. One day, a girl is brutally murdered, and Do-joon is charged with the killing. Now, it's his mother's call whether to prove him innocent or to leave him imprisoned.

The film was absolutely phenomenal. It was shocking, exciting and I was literally on the edge of my seat. It was a thriller at its best. I would suggest checking out this film. Especially if you would like to see filmmaking at its finest unlike, ahem, the disaster that was Sherlock Holmes.

Local Film Critic Hates Canadian Film

I will be the first to admit that my knowledge of Canadian film is lacking but for some time I have done my best to update myself on Canadian films. However it would seem that not all Canadians believe in promoting our cinema. Mike Sage, the film reviewer for Peterborough This Week wrote a review of Splice in which he knocked the Canadian film industry.

"I have a confession to make. I'm Canadian but I kind of hate Canadian film. When you finally see something made by Canucks, it's typically boring and pretentious if it isn't weird, nonsensical and artsy. The genre stuff most of us crave is extremely rare and it unfortunately usually stars Paul Gross. "

Just a feminists hate hearing women saying "I'm not a feminist but..." frankly, I am tired of hearing "I'm a Canadian but I hate Canadian film"

Yes, sometimes Canadian films can be trying. However, if you are not willing to watch these films you will never experience great projects created by extremely talented Canadians. I don't understand why the "greatest" films come from Hollywood when you often see the same story lines, plots and Hollywood Endings. Hollywood is so predictable that they have their own classification for endings!

However, I understand that not everyone can catch a Canadian film seeing as they are often left out of our Cineplexes. In fact, in order to catch The Trotsky, I had to venture to Toronto where it was playing at only several of the many theatres in the GTA.

To counter argue Mike Sage's eloquently stated hatred for Canadian film, I suggest taking a look at your local video store (if you are in Peterborough, check out Have You Seen) and see for yourself what is available in the way of Canadian film.

My suggestions would include Away From Her, C.R.A.Z.Y, Defendor, The Trotsky, Canadian Bacon and One Week. If you feel like checking out some classic Canadian directors, check out something by David Cronenberg, Atom Egoyan or Guy Maddin.

Personally, there are so many films I can't wait to see, including Cooking with Stella, Passenger Side, The Wild Hunt, J'ai tué ma mère and Because I am a Girl.

Finally, if you want to learn more about Canadian film check out the National Film Board of Canada and the Toronto International Film Festival. Each year TIFF showcases many great Canadian films and in January, they have their Canada's Top Ten showcase which is a series not to be missed!

One Week is a Love Letter to Canada

People say that Canadians are apathetic. We are apathetic about politics and we are not overly patriotic. Unlike the United States, where it seems that is a mandatory to have a flag hanging proudly overtop your porch, we rarely see houses with giant Canadian flags swaying on a windy day. One Week shows us Canada through the eyes of one of our very own, Joshua Jackson playing Ben Tyler, a man who is faced with his own mortality who decides to travel from Toronto, Ontario to Tofino, British Columbia on his vintage motorcycle.

Cinematically, this film is beautfiul. Canada has one of the most amazing landscapes, with so much diversity. From the mountains of the west coast to the plains of the praries even to the cliffs and gorgeous forest-views of Northern Ontario. This film beautifully portrays all that Canda has to offer.

Another thing about this film is that it is trully Candian- but not in the typical Canadian way. Featuring Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, a Tim Hortons Roll-Up the Rim cup and many different Canadian landmarks that a Canadian is sure to recongnize. With an amazing soundtrack, featuring Canadian artists inclduing my favourite song by Wintersleep Weighty Ghost this film is bound to make you a true patriotic.

This film surely helped me in my search for patriotism in Canada and looking for the Canadian identity- a concept that has intrigued me for quite some time. This film shows us that its not all maple syrup and hockey- but that there is so much more to Canada.

Elliott Brood Knows How to Put on a Great Show

It's been two-weeks since I caught the Elliott Brood show in Peterborough but my toes are still tapping from their upbeat and catchy tunes.

Elliott Brood (made up of three amazing musicians; Casey Laforet, Stephen Pitkin and Mark Sasso) are an excellent band to catch on a Friday night. The catchy lyrics and fast drum beats are bound to have you jumping around and it leaves you wanting more. Getting up and dancing seems to be a requirement when catching this band live- I don't know if its possible to stay seated through one of their shows.

As with any great audience-attentative band, the members of Elliott Brood handed out some musical instruments including tamborines and some make-shift drums. It really go the audience excited about the song and about the show in general.

After a long two-hours of waiting for the first band to set up, play and Elliot Brood made it up to thier impatient audience by playing one hell of a show!

They will be playing another show late October at the Opera House so if you get the chance you should definitely check it out!

Freedom

Just a quick post today becasuse I really should be heading off to school. But due to procrastination and YouTube, I got stuck watching Woodstock clips.

This is by far my favourite Woodstock clip and I just wanted to share it with all of you.

Richie Havens singing Freedom. This is absoulutely unbelievable- so passionate and emotional. Even since watching Taking Woodstock (this song was played during the credits) I've had it stuck in my head. So I am passing it along....enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-d5x-CiTUs

Taking Woodstock
shows us that it was about more than just the music

Despite the critics opinions, I actually enjoyed Taking Woodstock.

Its a cinema rarity to find many well-known, superb actors assembled together in one film but Ang Lee manages to bring them all together, just like music brought together the hippies in 1969.

Leading the cast is notable, stand-up comedian, Demetri martin, who plays Elliot Tiber, the author who wrote the book that they based the film off of (that was a mouth-full) and also, the man behind the festival- who brought Woodstock to Bethel, NY.

Imelda Staunton and Henry Goodman play Jake and Soina Teichberg, Elliots parents and the owners of El monaco Resort, which is the headquarters for the organizers of the festival.

Cinema newcomer and thatre veteran Jonathan Groff plays michael Lang, festival organizer and well-known hippie. With his kind-eyes, and friendly-smile, its hard not to fall in love with Groff as soon as you his eyes sparkle in his first scene.

The film also features Emile Hirsch, Paul Dano, Liev Schreiber, Eugene Levy, Jefferey Dean morgan and Kelli Garner.

Although it may be full of hippie-cliches and does not feature much of that actual music festival, this film is full of wit and shows us how Woodstock changed many people, hippies and resort owners alike. The novel is greatly about Elliot Tibers own coming-of-age story and sexual awakening, therefore it seems that the music might not have had the same influence on him.

I think crtics were expecting this film to be THE Woodstock film, but its not the case. This is Elliot Tibers story. It just happens that most of his growing up took place during his weeks of helping to organize one of the greatest music festivals of all time.

Although the film may be a little slow at times, it is, in true Ang Lee format cinematically beautiful. It is funny, cute and worth a watch. Taking Woodstock captures one of the most influential and important moments in music history and focuses on the people that the concert and moment influenced the most, especially Elliot Tiber.

Even Michael Moore
Can't Make a Political Film this Good

I was only twelve when the Bush/Gore Election took place in 2000, so I never knew exactly what had happened during the election and what all the drama was about. All I knew at that time was that the election was too close to call therefore a recount was necessary.

Well, needless to say, there was much more behind this close election than just a simple recount.

Recount exposes the mystery behind the 2000 US Presidential Election (Of course, it may have just been a mystery to me due to my age).

"Beginning on Election Day 2000 and culminating with the Supreme Court decision in Bush vs. Gore, Recount follows the bizarre 36-day struggle to determine which candidate won Florida...and the presidency."

Starring Kevin Spacey, Dennis Leary, Ed Begley Jr. and John Hurt (who form the Democratic side of the debate), Bob Balaban, Laura Dern, Tom Wilkinson and Bruce McGill (who form the Republican side of the debate) . The phenomenal cast was only one of the great aspects of this intense political film.

Of course, I knew what the outcome of the film would be but I still found myself thinking that "the Democrats could definitely win this!" I was so caught up in the intensity of the film I forgot about reality for a moment.

My favourite performances in this film were Kevin Spacey, Dennis Leary, Ed Begley Jr. and Laura Dern (She made me truly hate Katherine Harris) .

This was by far, one of the best Political thrillers that I have ever watched. Even though the audience knows the outcome, the film itself is still thrilling. It's a great debate between the ever-arguing Democrats and Republicans and for someone studying Public Relations, it was interesting to watch them pull excuses, arguments and problems out of thin air. 'The Hanging Chad' is an on-going debate throughout the movie, that starts off seeming irrelevant but turns into the major problem for both sides.

HBO Films have done it once again. They've created a phenomenal film that anyone, who is even slightly interested in politics should see. This is definitely one of the best films I've watched all year.