I saw 4 films yesterday…among them was one big, special effects movie. I rarely go for the huge, Hollywood titles while in Toronto, but I decided that because Alfonso Cuaron directed GRAVITY, I’d give it a go…but let’s start at the beginning of the day.
First off, I saw MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS – a Swiss film (in English and French) based on the book MARY STUART. Though I certainly appreciated elements of this film, there were also numerous elements that made me cringe. The score was often overbearing, and a few devices (the narration at the beginning and end, the over-use of puppets) fell flat. The costumes and sets were marvelous, but overall, it didn’t work for me.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpHckcAsES8′]
WE ARE THE BEST! is the new film by Lukas Moodysson. Set in 1982 Stockholm, the movie is about 3 13-year old girls who start a punk band. It’s a sweet portrait of rebellion and bonding, and the performances and situations are really wonderful. That said, it’s not a film I’d revisit…there’s just something missing. It’s good…just not great.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfPytPjV1xc’]
GERONTOPHILIA is a film by Canadian filmmaker Bruce LaBruce. This is a movie about a young man who realizes he is infatuated and turned on by senior-aged men…so he gets a job at a nursing home where he forms a special relationship with one of the residents. Whereas I think this film might have some interesting things to say about age and aging, I felt that the shifts in tone (some of it feels like a farce, other parts seem very serious) made me less interested. Though some parts were genuinely funny…and some parts were genuinely touching…ultimately I’m not a fan. (Below is just a clip from the film…no trailer yet.)
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP7Dg1fvEm0′]
Lastly, I saw GRAVITY in IMAX 3-D. Starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney, I think this is biggest small film ever to come out of Hollywood. Set in space, there are only 3 on-screen characters (and 1 dies almost immediately – so it’s mostly Bullock and Clooney). After an accident (debris from a Russian satellite), an astronaut and a medical engineer are forced to figure out a way to survive . This film is simple and scary. And though there are a couple moments of on-the-nose monologue material (which kinda ruined the moment for me), I ultimately really enjoyed it.
[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiTiKOy59o4′]
Thanks for reading!
