Parabola's Films Watched in 2014
List activity
1.2K views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
189 titles
- DirectorJames L. BrooksStarsShirley MacLaineDebra WingerJack NicholsonFollows hard-to-please Aurora looking for love and her daughter's family problems.I didn't realize there would be so much humor in this -- I always had the impression it was pure melodrama. Of course there's plenty of sappiness to go around, but it's done pretty well. While Shirley MacLaine was definitely good as the overbearing, unhinged mother I really thought that Debra Winger gave the standout performance in the film -- she should have been the one to win all those awards! And I don't know if Jack Nicholson truly deserved his wins -- it's hardly "acting" to play his sleazy, womanizing self. 7/10 (1-Jan)
- DirectorMichael DowseStarsDaniel RadcliffeZoe KazanMegan ParkWallace, who is burned out from a string of failed relationships, forms an instant bond with Chantry, who lives with her longtime boyfriend. Together, they puzzle out what it means if your best friend is also the love of your life.A very good romantic comedy in the awkward/adorkable mold. It's somewhat predictable overall, but in getting there it has a fresh storyline and great chemistry in the cast -- and lots of laughs. Some of the ab libbed scenes are obvious and not as polished comically, but they feel genuine and fun for the actors to riff off each other. Really nice to see Toronto showcased as a romantic city. 7/10 (4-Jan)
- DirectorAlan ZweigStarsMarc MaronGilbert GottfriedRodney DangerfieldSurveys the history of Jewish comedy.The interviewees they got were funny -- and some quite insightful -- but there were many big celebs that they obviously couldn't get. While certainly funny, there's no way this should have won Best Canadian film at TIFF. It was entertaining, but not overly enlightening. 6/10 (4-Jan)
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsJake GyllenhaalMélanie LaurentSarah GadonA man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.Of this year's Canada Top Ten that I already saw at TIFF, this is the only one I went to see again during CTT. It's one of those films whose atmosphere really sticks with you (especially making Toronto feel so bleak and lonely, quite a contrast to The F Word) and also because it's so ambiguous. On second viewing I noticed a lot more of the thematic imagery, but I've learned that none of that is in the source novel -- so reading it won't necessarily help me understand what the heck is going on here! The actors are all fantastic -- doubly so for Jake Gyllenhaal. 8/10 (4-Jan)
- DirectorChris LandrethStarsDon McKellarRon PardoPatrice GoodmanForgetting somebody's name is the starting point for a mind-bending romp through the unconscious.Very surreal and lots of imaginative visuals, including the use of 3D. The story and themes don't really all come together, though, so it's a bit of a head-scratcher. 5/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorClaire BlanchetStarsMarc-André GrondinHeather O'NeillThree people meet in a seedy part of Montreal.Nice moody atmosphere in this animated noir with a distinct style. Not much of a payoff, story-wise, unfortunately. 6/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorFraser MundenStarsRalph WhimsStefan CzernatowiczFraser MundenThe Chaperone tells the true, previously untold story of a lone school teacher who fought off an entire motorcycle gang while chaperoning a middle school dance in a church basement in 1970s Montreal, Canada. Told from the first person unscripted perspective of the school teacher and DJ who were there that night, The Chaperone recreates the whole scene using hand drawn animation, miniature sets, puppets, live action Kung Fu and explosions all done in stereoscopic 3D. With over 10,000 hand drawings (many of which were colored in crayon by hand), an original blaxploitation score and featuring a cast of over 200 people, The Chaperone is an unconventional approach to documentary shorts.An amusing animation of the narrated story, using lots of different styles. Seems kind of haphazard in how it's all mixed together, but it certainly keeps keeps things interesting -- as does the seemingly unbelievable story that goes along with it. 7/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorJohnny MaStarsXiao Min duJohnny MaZhan MeiA Greek tragedy told in Chinese pop music. The tragic events of a boat captain trying to collect a debt to save his fleet of boats, as remembered by his ten year old son.The main story is a little slow, but there's a satisfying shift of perspective at the end that adds a nice emotional connection. 6/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorKevan FunkStarsMichael KopsaPaul McGillionKurt Max RunteAn industrial safety inspector descends forebodingly into a deepening state of willful ignorance and denial.There's not much plot to speak of -- just scenes of a lonely guy going about his days, which I guess is supposed to speak to ... something more profound?? 5/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorStéphane MoukarzelStarsLiridon RashitiMinoo GundeviaDeena AzizMontreal, 1999. Like every sunday, a modest Pakistani immigrant family picnics in a dead-end next to the Airport, closely watching planes land. On this special day where the Legendary Concord is expected - a rare treat in town- Akram (17 years old), the eldest son of 3 kids, deeply in his teenage crisis, decides to take off to live his own life, creating a commotion in the family.A nice little story of family and the gap between generations (tradition vs. teenage restlessness). 6/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorGraham FoyStarsUri Livne-BarAlistair BallDaiva JohnstonTwo adventurous youths explore a haunted mansion and fall in love with it's ghost, deep in the heart of suburban hell.I'm bumping this up a grade from when I first saw it at TIFF ... I like the surreal and whimsical style of it all. A good, offbeat coming of age story. 8/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorPatrick CederbergWalter WoodmanStarsSam KantorCaitlin McConkey-PirieNina IordanovaNoah's relationship takes a rapid turn for the worse.A well deserved win for best Canadian short film at TIFF. Here's my original reivew: A pretty funny, but incisive, story about modern communication and relationships. The concept of using only shots of the computer or phone screen, with panning to convey the character's attention, worked really well. 8/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorNicolas LévesqueStarsRobert JonesIn Kennesaw, a small American town in the state of Georgia, a good citizen is an armed citizen. By law, since 1982, each head of household must own at least one working firearm with ammunition.More of a photo essay (but some neat effects at times) with interviews, the townspeople/gun owners speak for themselves and the documentary is pretty non-judgmental in portraying them. 6/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorMonia ChokriStarsMagalie Lépine BlondeauAnne DorvalSophie CadieuxA 30 year-old scholar, intelligent and beautiful yet socially crippled, is forced to attend a bachelorette party where her quest for authenticity leads to an unavoidable confrontation with old acquaintances.Being friends with and starring in movies by Xavier Dolan, you can definitely tell from this that there's an influence or common sensibilities. The epic blowup between the women is really hilarious and the performances were well done. 7/10 (7-Jan)
- DirectorDenis CôtéStarsPierrette RobitailleRomane BohringerMarc-André GrondinTwo lesbian ex-cons, Victoria and Florence, are trying to make a new life in the backwoods of Quebec. Seeking peace and quiet, the couple slowly begin to feel under siege as Vic's probation office keeps unexpectedly popping up and a strange woman in the neighborhood soon turns out to be an increasingly menacing shadow from Flo's past.Painfully boring for most of the film, but takes a dark & menacing turn towards the end. 5/10 (10-Jan)
- DirectorJennifer BaichwalEdward BurtynskyStarsInocencia González SainzMarcus SchubertBill NanceA documentary on how water shapes humanity.An intriguing look at how water shapes our lives and vice versa. There isn't much of a narrative, just some brief interviews to give context to what we're seeing. It is really a visual experience, and the filmmakers aren't explicitly making judgement -- the scenes just speak for themselves, and are often stunning to look at. 7/10 (10-Jan)
- DirectorShayne EhmanSeth ScriverStarsMarc BellMike ConstableShayne EhmanThis hilarious, grotesque, and unique adult animated feature chronicles visual artists Seth Scriver and Shayne Ehmans trans-Canadian road trip as they encounter dull violence, rampant consumerism and unbridled eccentricity in small towns all over this wide, weird country.The animation is primitive (but gets better as it goes along), but really they must have been high on something while making it ... and you probably need to be high for it to possibly make much sense at times. So strange and so random. 5/10 (10-Jan)
- DirectorJeff BarnabyStarsDevery JacobsGlen GouldBrandon OakesRed Crow Mi'kmaq reservation, 1976: By government decree, every Indian child under the age of 16 must attend residential school. In the kingdom of the Crow, that means imprisonment at St. Dymphna's. That means being at the mercy of "Popper", the sadistic Indian agent who runs the school.This was much better than I expected, since often stories set on Native reserves or dealing with the Residential School travesty or bleak and heavy-handed. But this was a lighter, but still very serious, story with some humor and some excellent performances. The directing was also very good from a first-timer. 7/10 (11-Jan)
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsChristian BaleAmy AdamsBradley CooperA con man, Irving Rosenfeld, along with his seductive partner Sydney Prosser, is forced to work for a wild F.B.I. Agent, Richie DiMaso, who pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and the Mafia.The acting was definitely top-notch, although I'm not sure any of the individual performances are better than their fellow Oscar nominees in this competitive year -- except maybe Jennifer Lawrence. The plot of the movie was alright and kept me entertained, but it's the great ensemble cast (probably the best of the year) that warrants the high rating. 8/10 (17-Jan)
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.On it's own it doesn't hold up as well as the first two (suffers from a fair amount of "mindless blockbuster plot holes"), but it does tie up things and has some nice callbacks. But above all it looks fabulous and is fun (yet dark), and I thought Anne Hathaway was a great Catwoman. 8/10 (19-Jan)
- DirectorRodney AscherStarsBill BlakemoreGeoffrey CocksJuli KearnsAn exploration of various interpretations of Stanley Kubrick's horror film, The Shining (1980).Been meaning to re-watch The Shining lately, so I thought I'd revisit this great doc from TIFF 2012 beforehand to brush up on the crazy & ridiculous theories. I realized that while the one guy was talking about "ROOM No" and the capital letters can be used to spell MOON and ROOM ... you can also use them all for MORON. :p 8/10 (20-Jan)
- DirectorBaz LuhrmannStarsLeonardo DiCaprioCarey MulliganJoel EdgertonA writer and wall street trader, Nick Carraway, finds himself drawn to the past and lifestyle of his mysterious millionaire neighbor, Jay Gatsby, amid the riotous parties of the Jazz Age.Stylish, for sure, but a little over the top for my tastes. It also didn't help my enjoyment that none of the characters were sympathetic. I suppose Tobey Maguire was supposed to be the nice guy we connect with, but he seemed rather useless (and he usually annoys me anyway). There were a lot of shots that were obviously meant to take advantage of 3D, but they were somewhat distracting in 2D. 6/10 (20-Jan)
- DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsJean-Luc GodardIn a time before the New Wave, when aspiring French filmmakers could only hope to make shorts, due to restrictions on career advancement, Godard, working in Switzerland, funded, wrote, and directed a look at the construction of a dam there.Notable as Jean-Luc Godard's first film, the historical footage is somewhat interesting. But otherwise this is just dry, straightforward documentary footage. 5/10 (23-Jan)
- DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsMaria LysandreRoland TolmatchoffCarmen MirandoA young woman is tempted to flirt with a stranger.Again something notable mainly because of how rare original prints are, the story had a couple of parts that made me chuckle but not much else going on. 6/10 (23-Jan)
- DirectorJean-Luc GodardStarsJean-Paul BelmondoJean SebergVan DoudeA small-time crook, hunted by the authorities for a car theft and the murder a police officer, attempts to persuade a hip American journalism student to run away with him to Italy.This is one of those "classics" that shook up cinema style and is important in French New Wave ... so if film history is your thing, then this is probably important to watch. But while it may have been fresh and daring in its day, watching it from a modern point of view doesn't do it many favors and it can feel unremarkable. The main character is a bit of a doofus jerk (complete with sexism from that time), but Jean Seberg is pretty charming. Some scenes are way too slow, but other times it's an effective crime drama -- too bad it feels too uneven by today's standards. 6/10 (23-Jan)