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Posts from the ‘Movies’ Category

May 4

Hitler’s rage

One scene in the film Downfall, in which Hitler launches into a furious tirade upon finally realizing that the war is truly lost, has become an Internet staple. In these videos, the original audio of actor Bruno Ganz’s voice is retained, but new subtitles are added so that he now seems to be reacting instead to some setback in present-day politics, sports, popular culture, or more recently, Glenn Close not winning an Oscar. Other scenes from various portions of the film have been parodied in the same manner.

But few people have viewed the actual scene with the proper English subtitles, and it’s chilling. Perhaps that’s why people have parodied it so much, the intensity warrants levity. The actor does a superb job, and I’m sorry I have yet to watch this movie, but I’ll rectify that soon. Anyway, I’ve added the appropriate clip for your viewing pleasure, if you dare.

May 1

Bastille, le trench rouge

One of my favourite scenes from Paris, Je t’aime. Sometimes you realize how much you love your partner, when it’s too late.

May 1

4 Comments

My top 5 Canadian movies

Lilies changed my life. That’s all I can say about it. It just did. It led me to stop lying, and be who I am, innately.

The Sweet Hereafter tackles difficult subject matter, such as incest, but that shouldn’t stop you from watching it. Adapted from the novel of the same name, the movie tells the story of a small town who must grapple with a school bus accident that took the lives of young children.

Julie Christie gives the performance of her career in Sarah Polley’s feature film debut based on Alison Munro’s short-story, The Bear Came Over the Mountain. Keep the tissues near.

The world is going to end. How will you spend your last hours? Party like there’s no tomorrow.

C.R.A.Z.Y. tells the story of Zac, a young gay man dealing with homophobia and heterosexism while growing up with four brothers and a conservative father in 1960s and 1970s Quebec.

May 1

2 Comments

Cate Blanchett, where are you?

For the past four years Cate Blanchett has served as the artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company in Australia with her husband Andrew Upton. She is currently touring the play Big and Small in Europe, playing the lead to rave reviews, but that’s no surprise.

I read recently that Woody Allen offered her the lead in his next movie, to be filmed in San Francisco, but she has yet to accept. Celluloid needs her, she has to return to make me happy.

Here are my top ten Cate Blanchett films, in no particular order.

1. Elizabeth
2. The Aviator
3. The Gift
4. Heaven
5. Babel
6. Paradise Road
7. Notes on a Scandal
8. Veronica Guerin (A must see!)
9. Little Fish (Another must see!)
10. Oscar and Lucinda

Apr 22

How could this woman lie dead and undiscovered for almost three years?

Hot Docs, the Canadian International Documentary Festival, begins April 26 and runs until May 6. I just read this article about one of the films that’s making quite a buzz, called Dreams of a Life. It’s about a 38-year-old woman who lied dead in her apartment for three years. It’s a fascinating look at how in the age of über communication, someone can go completely unnoticed.

Dreams of a Life runs Wednesday, May 2 at 9:45 p.m. at The Royal Cinema and Friday, May 4 at 9:15 p.m. at the Isabel Baser Theatre.

Apr 20

The Broken Tower trailer

Hart Crane was a gay-American poet who killed himself when he was 32.  James Franco starred, wrote and directed the film, The Broken Tower, chronicling Crane’s destructive life. Watch it for the blow job scene alone! Sex sells baby!

Apr 12

Madonna of the Mills

Apr 9

Hollywood North

Toronto filming

Filming outside of George Street Diner in Toronto

Toronto is known as Hollywood North because a number of American films have been made here. It usually plays the role of New York City or Chicago because the cost of filming in Canada is cheaper. In fact, the musical Chicago was filmed at Casa Loma and the Distillery District here in Toronto.

George Street Diner is a little breakfast place located in front of my condo building that is often used for location shooting. Inside it has a 1950s quality that is popular for period pieces. They also make a mean fruit salad that you have to try if you’re ever in town.

On another note, my site is taking a long time to load because my photos are too large. I’m trying to correct the problem. I apologize if it’s tested your patience. I did notice it last week but thought it was in part due to slow Buenos Aires Internet connection, but Lisa emailed me this morning and said that the powerful macs she uses at work are also having difficulty loading the pages. Apparently each photo is 5MB. Whoops!

I’ll have to resize the images going forward.

Apr 4

2 Comments

Paris is Burning

I watched a 1990 documentary called Paris is Burning last night. Filmed in the late 1980s it chronicles the ball culture of New York City and the African-American, Latino, gay and transgendered community that fueled it. I was disheartened to find the the majority of these individuals have since died of AIDS related complications. I’m generally attracted to stories about the 80s. There was a sense of purity with regards to art in those days, where fame and money was the objective, but didn’t compromise the integrity of the work. Today it’s too much about image, and being overly concerned with how one is perceived. What the hell do I know though?

If you get a chance pick up a copy of the DVD and watch it.

Apr 2

Take This Waltz trailer

Sarah Polley directed one of my favourite films, Away From Her, based on Alice Munro‘s short-story, The Bear Came Over the Mountain. Her follow-up effort, Take This Waltz, looks equally impressive though it didn’t receive as much attention on the film festival circuit as her feature-length directorial debut. Again she’s assembled a fantastic cast including Sarah Silverman and Michelle Willaims, to tell the story of a married woman who falls in love with the artist from across the street.

Of course it doesn’t hurt any that it’s entirely filmed in my hometown Toronto. It opens on June 29.

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