tonyw-21 Reviews

Room 514 (2012)

Sharon Bar Ziv's first feature film is excellent

[9/10 · 7 May 2012]

I screened Bar Ziv's film at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, and it is excellent!

The female lead, Anna, is played by Asia Naifeld, and her performance is amazing. She plays opposite Guy Kapulnik, who is also great. Anna conducts the investigation in a 3x3 metre room, where she interrogates those accused of abuse while contending with personal calls from her ageing mother (hilarious).

Anna is under pressure from her superiors to close the investigation and exonerate the soldiers, but she is relentless. The camera work is masterful, using long fixed shots which capture every emotion. The room is a microcosm of contemporary Israeli society. The ending - dramatic and unexpected - is open to debate.

Where Heaven Meets Hell (2013)

Where Heaven Meets Hell lacks narrative, & dramatic tension

[3/10 · 5 May 2012]

I saw Friedlander's film @ Hot Docs. The best I can say is the cinematography is delightful. The film is shot in a national park, and the stunning natural beauty contrasts sharply with the poisonous yellow sulphur rocks and acrid smoke.

The problem is there is no story line! Does Anton escape the excruciating physical labour and pursue higher education? Or, is this his destiny? We never do find out! The culprit, or so it seems, is the mine owner (whom we meet) who employs these young independent miners performing perilous work. But Fridlander's film steers clear of dramatic tension by focusing on their prayers and unmet aspirations.

Indonesia is a populous, complex country with abundant natural resources waiting to be exploited. Where Heaven Meets Hell introduces audiences to its beauty, but fails to deliver on the resolution of its many contradictions.

Rabbit Hole (2010)

Rabbit Hole

[6/10 · 20 April 2011]

I was attracted to see this film because of the subject matter. The angst parents face on the sudden loss of a child is unfathomable, & I liked Nicole Kidman's previous work. Yet I had difficulty connecting with this film at an emotional level. Kidman's performance is stellar, as we have come to expect. But why cast Aaron Eckhart? I found his performance missed the mark. In particular, the scenes where he explodes in anger at Becca (Kidman)aren't convincing nor predictable. The rest of the cast delivered convincing roles, particularly Sandra Oh. I also found the cinematography granular and many of the outdoor scenes looked like they were shot on set. The film was, in fact, shot in Yonkers, but some of these scenes may have been added in post-production? I also found Kidman's wardrobe problematic. Ultimately, Rabbit Hole offers a strong acting performance by Kidman yet doesn't deliver on a number of levels.

Disco and Atomic War (2009)

promises more, delivers less

[5/10 · 28 November 2010]

Disco & Atomic War screened last night at the European Union Film Festival. The film came highly recommended by Canadian Film Institute Executive Director Tom McSorley. While I found the story board fascinating, the film failed to deliver. The story is told like a documentary (which it is not) in roughly chronological sequence (1950's to the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989). The principal cast do not stand out, and yet much of the history is left to be told (non-dramatically) via interviews with various academic historians. The English subtitles on the version screened by EUFF were virtually non-decipherable! This was no doubt an interesting period of Cold War history, but this dramatization did not work for me.

Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! (2009)

Oy Vey My Son is Gay

[9/10 · 30 August 2009]

I saw the world premiere at the World Film Festival(FFM) in Montreal. The film is hilarious, and will appeal to a wide range of communities - gays, Jews (of course!), Italians (a surprise), mothers who lay awake at night worrying about their unmarried sons, etc. The film explores a sensitive issue with humour and passion. The acting is quite good, and the cinematography is colourful. I liked the pace of this film - it definitely does not plod along! Filmed in Seattle (of all places), the setting is quintessential NYC. I found the ending a bit strange and perhaps out of sync with the rest of the film. I definitely recommend this film, and hope it gets a commercial release.

Sweet Mud (2006)

Sweet Mud (Adama Meshuga'at) - hilarious & dark @ same time!

[10/10 · 1 December 2006]

This is the second feature film by Dror Shaul. Set on an Israeli kibbutz Bet-Gvurot in 1974, this provocative film explores life on the kibbutzim in its most hilarious and dark forms. Dvir (Tom Steinhof) is an adventurous 12-year old who protects his mother Miri (Roni Yudkevitch), a single parent who is emotionally unstable. Miri forms a long-distance romance with an older man in Switzerland Stephan (Henri Garcin). When Stephan comes to visit, Miri emerges from her darkness and for an instant, her life shines. When Stephan's actions bring him into conflict with the leadership of the kibbutz, he is banished and Miri regresses. Dvir's brother Eyal (Pini Tabger) goes off to fight in the Yom Kippur War and Dvir is on his own and restless as he approaches his Bar Mitzvah. The film paints an unflattering image of life on the kibbutz, raising issues such as alcoholism, promiscuity, and acute isolation. When Shaul offered an advance screening at a kibbutz in Israel, they were reportedly shocked and offended. A poignant and funny film with a bitter-sweet ending.

2:37 (2006)

2:37 - A remarkable 1st feature film

[9/10 · 1 December 2006]

I saw 2:37 at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and was blown away by it! A scene of panic opens this film, at 2:37 pm set in an Adelaide high school. This scene is left unresolved as we revert to the beginning of the day, and are introduced to the teenagers getting ready to go to school. The audience becomes intimate with each of the main characters, and explores the day-to-day issues facing teenagers - including drugs, promiscuity, being gay, bullying and violence. Each scene is played again and again from different teens' perspectives, and is reminiscent of Gus Van Sant's Elephant. This is a remarkable film by first-time director Murali K. Thalluri. It was made with non-professional student actors, and work-shopped through an unprecedented 76 drafts of a script. It features stunning performances by a number of the student actors, particularly Teresa Palmer in the role of Melody. This coming-of-age film is both intimate and thought-provoking with a surprising and disturbing ending.

The Page Turner (2006)

La Tournese de Pages - merveilleux!

[8/10 · 29 November 2006]

Director Denis Dercourt's film is a compelling drama set in contemporary France. Mélanie (Julie Richalet) is an aspiring 10-year old pianist, preparing for her conservatory exam. Her audition goes badly when her concentration is broken by a commotion involving the head of the jury Ariane Fouchécourt (Catherine Frot), a renowned concert performer who behaves badly towards the aspiring pianist. Ten years pass, and Mélanie (now played by Déborah François) lands a coveted job at a law firm working for Monsieur Fouchécourt (Pascal Greggory). Mélanie makes a big impression on her patron, and she is recruited as an au-pair at his estate. She quickly becomes an indispensable member of the family, and intimate with Pascal's wife, who by now is struggling to maintain her illustrious career. Melanie is recruited to turn the pages of music during the make-or-break performance by Ariane and revenge appears to be the order of the day. An absolutely stunning performance by Belgian actress Déborah François, who was the lead in the award-winning L'Infant last year. Dercourt's use of silence to convey meaning and intention is remarkable, and has led to comparisons with the legendary Claude Chabrol (who directed L'Enfer with Emmanuelle Béart.)

Shut Up & Sing (2006)

Dixie Chicks - Shut Up & Sing rocks!

[9/10 · 29 November 2006]

This remarkable documentary by Barbara Kopple follows the highs and lows of this 3-women band from 2003 to 2006. In 2003, the lead singer Natalie Maines made a critical comment about George Bush while on tour in the UK. The fallout reached around the globe, and resulted in a boycott of their music by US country and western radio stations. Unrepentant, The Chicks stage a comeback tour in 2006 and in so doing, re-position their music and their audience away from Country & Western. The film takes you backstage with the singers and their families as they overcome this challenge and launch a new CD and tour with the lead song "Not Ready to Make Nice." This story has a uniquely Canadian connection, which is why it was so important to Kopple and that the film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival!

Snow Cake (2006)

Snow Cake sparkles!

[29 November 2006]

Sigourney Weaver stars as Linda, an autistic mother, in this British/Canadian co-production. Early in the film, her daughter Vivienne (Emily Hampshire) is killed in a car accident enroute to her hometown of Wawa, Ontario. Ex-con Alex (Alan Rickman) survives the crash and reluctantly visits Wawa only to find himself become an intimate part of this quirky community. The film takes its name from the crystals of snow which dazzle and amuse Linda in her imaginative world. Not since Rain Man has autism been so lovingly portrayed in a feature film! The music is an original score by Broken Social Scene! Snow Cake was selected to open the Berlin Film Festival! Why this film ended up as a British co-production is a mystery, and this may say a lot about the (lack of) funding for Canadian feature films!

Griffin & Phoenix (2006)

Griffin & Phoenix - a delight!

[9/10 · 20 November 2006]

Ed Stone's directorial debut is a charming and poignant love story. Griffin (Dermot Mulroney) is a NY insurance broker, diagnosed with cancer and given less than two years to live. Griffin is estranged from his ex and two sons who he doesn't really know as he buries himself in work. Griffin changes when he meets Phoenix (Amanda Peet) during a university lecture She is a professor who is also obsessed with work. They carry on an enchanting courtship and discover mutual interests, fantasies and indulgences. The film ends when Phoenix reveals her life's secret which binds them together forever. Amanda Peet (Syriana) shows her versatility and logs a solid performance! Most intriguing is the title, which Stone chose from historical/mythical origins!