Classic Film: Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
I prefer to overlook style and form in Robert Bresson’s Au hasard Balthazar to instead focus on its plot and message. Briefly, Bresson used non-professional actors and was known to do up to thirty takes per scene to deconstruct the lines until they became a natural part of the actor’s speech. All this was to … Continue reading
Film Review: The Tree of Life (2011)
The Tree of Life opened in the wrong venue: it doesn’t belong in the mega-plexes or even on our home televisions, but should instead be moving around modern art museums. As a film, Terrence Malick’s latest is a near dud. The premise and title sound ambitious, but the end result is 140 minutes of poetical … Continue reading
DVD Releases for the Week of Aug. 18, 2009
Hot off the heels of the Cassavetes retrospective at Cinema du Parc comes a new transfer of Husbands about three married men who go off on a personal journey together after the death of a friend. This is the first time Husbands will be available on DVD. Along with Peter Falk it also stars Cassavetes … Continue reading
The Silent Film Scene: Prologue
I am currently writing a series on film venues in Montreal as well as lamenting the lack of any exciting film scene in the city. Read the first part on Midnight Poutine.
Bicycles + Films = BFF
Literally coming out of nowhere (it’s only by sheer luck I happened to check out the NFB website recently), tonight begins the Montreal edition of the Bicycle Film Festival, which runs until Sunday, August 16th. Considering this is a premiere city in North America for the old two-wheel, it’s a perfect fit for film-starved August … Continue reading
DVD Releases for the Week of Aug. 11, 2009
What would the film Dangerous Minds be like if it were set in France, starred a real teacher based on real experiences, and wasn’t a centerpiece for the accompanying rap soundtrack? Laurent Cantet’s The Class (Entre les murs). While it feels like a documentary and stars a real teacher (also the novelist who wrote the screenplay) and … Continue reading
Ricardo Trogi’s 1981 to open MWFF’09
Just when you thought you couldn’t watch another movie about childhood experiences in Québec, the Montreal World Film Festival announced their opening film for the 33rd edition of the festival will be about a kid growing up in 1980s Québec. Hot off the heals of successes like C.R.A.Z.Y., C’est pas moi, je le jure!, Maman … Continue reading
DVD Releases for the Week of Aug. 4, 2009
Whoever said Canadians weren’t lucky when it came to getting early film releases on DVD? This month alone there are two high-profile festival circuit films exclusive for buyers in Canada. Strangely enough, they are only available to rent in the States through Blockbuster, who seem to have gained a exclusivity deal. The first of these … Continue reading
Fantasia Film Festival 2009 Wrap-Up
All great things must come to an end, and the 13th edition of the premiere genre film festival anywhere closed out with a bang last Wednesday with the North American premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds. Claiming over 40% of its screenings sold out, the festival organizers have claimed it to be a record success. … Continue reading
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