The Haunting in Connecticut

Dir: Peter Cornwell
Cast: Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Amanda Crew, Elias Koteas, Erik J. Berg, Martin Donovan
USA, 2009

Seen: March 30, 2009 at Scotiabank

Reason to see: Horror film! Poster and preview looked freaking scary so I was hooked.

I was really looking forward to The Haunting in Connecticut. Truth is, I've made it out to almost every horror film released in 2009 and it's been a voluminous but not great group of films. I really thought this pattern would be broken with this based on true events/supernatural/haunted house story. Comparatively it shines brighter than other horror films of the year, but not by too much.

At this point I must point out that the screening I went to, the image quality of the film was completely inconsistent. For example, if two people were talking face to face, they would show one person spot on and image looked great. Then, it would switch to the other person and it was grainy image and the darks areas were no where near black. This would happen with interiors and exterior shots, so I can't imagine it was an intentional effect. Every time it happened it was jarring and confusing, and that did effect my impression of the film. Horror films and so reliant on tone, that when this happened it took me right out of the flow.

But, even putting the technical issues aside, the film did not meet expectations. Sure, there were scares and I even at one point had to cover my eyes but all in all there were too many obvious scares and convenient explanations to push the plot forward. I find this to be a real shame because it is an awesome story, has the whole based on true events for the extra creepy factor and very capable cast. Unfortunately the majority of the scares are either jump out moments or lose the surprize effect due to non subtle foreshadowing and creepy but revealing poster & trailer. Why oh why we keep seeing such pivotal content in advertising I just don't understand.

The big plus to the film was the strong performance by Kyle Gallner, whom I continue to be impressed with. I last saw him in Red at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival in 2008 and he has yet again delivered believable, varied performance in a challenging role.

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it/loved it/didn't love it
I'll watch it again
I'd recommend it for horror completists

17 minutes of preshow including 6 commercials and 5 previews: Pandorum, Drag Me to Hell, Orphan, Battle for Terra and Crank 2: High Voltage

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009

Monsters, Aliens and Ghosts, Oh My! : Canadian, North American & UK Box Office March 27, 2009 Weekend

Monsters vs. Aliens landed with a bang at the box office on the March 27, 2009 weekend. Not only did the film top both the Canada and North America charts, it also have the biggest opening weekend of 2009 so far bumping out Watchmen from just a few weeks ago. The Haunting in Connecticut also had a successful debut landing in the top 5 films for all three charts.

Top 20 Movies in the Canada for the March 27, 2009 weekend
1. Monsters vs. Aliens *
2. I Love You, Man
3. Knowing
4. The Haunting in Connecticut *
5. Duplicity
6. Race to Witch Mountain
7. 12 Rounds *
8. Watchmen
9. Slumdog Millionaire
10. The Last House on the Left
11. Taken
12. Dédé, à travers les brumes
13. Grande ourse : la clé des possibles *
14. Coraline
15. He's Just Not That Into You
16. One Week
17. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
18. Sunshine Cleaning *
19. Confessions of a Shopaholic
20. Gran Torino

Top 20 Movies in the North America for the March 27, 2009 weekend
1. Monsters vs. Aliens *
2. The Haunting in Connecticut *
3. Knowing
4. I Love You, Man
5. Duplicity
6. Race to Witch Mountain
7. 12 Rounds *
8. Watchmen
9. Taken
10. The Last House on the Left
11. Sunshine Cleaning
12. Slumdog Millionaire
13. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail
14. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
15. He's Just Not That Into You
16. Gran Torino
17. Hotel For Dogs
18. The Cross: The Arthur Blessit Story *
19. The Reader
20. Coraline

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the March 27, 2009 weekend
1. Knowing *
2. Marley & Me
3. The Haunting in Connecticut *
4. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
5. The Damned United *
6. Duplicity
7. Gran Torino
8. Lesbian Vampire Killers
9. Watchmen
10. The Young Victoria

* indicates opening weekend in noted location

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Monthly Wallpaper - April 2009: Funny Guys

This month's Movie Dearest calendar wallpaper is all about the April fool's, otherwise known as Funny Guys.

From international men of mystery to 40-year-old virgins, these city slickers and jerks will do anything for a laugh, whether it's donning old lady drag or a nutty fat suit or getting up close and personal with an aluminum foil-wrapped cucumber. As a certain cultural emissary from Kazakhstan would say, "Very nice!"

Just click on the picture above to enlarge it to its 1024 x 768 size, then right click your mouse and select "Set as Background", and you're all set. If you want, you can also save it to your computer and set it up from there, or modify the size in your own photo-editing program if needed.

The Latest on TV: Pedro

Pedro, the feature film biopic of the late Real World cast member and AIDS activist Pedro Zamora, will be broadcast on MTV and several of its affiliates tomorrow night. Click here for Chris' full review of Pedro, which features a script by Milk Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black.

Andy Hallett: 1975-2009

Andy Hallett, best known for his portrayal of the green-skinned, karaoke-singing demon Lorne (a.k.a. "the Host") on Angel, has died. The 33-year-old actor/singer passed away Sunday night after a five year battle with heart disease.

Star Trek: Generations

Dir: David Carson
The Next Generation Cast: Patrick Stuart, Jonathan Frakes, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Whoopi Goldberg
The Original Series Cast: William Shatner, James Doohan, Walter Koenig
Additional Cast: Malcolm McDowell, Alan Ruck, Barbara March, Gwynyth Walsh
USA, 1994

Originally Seen: At the legendary Uptown in Toronto, on Opening Night 1994 with a gaggle of friends.

Revisited: March 28, 2009

Reason to Revisit: For the Countdown to Star Trek Movie Marathon

Oddly, this instalment of Star Trek is one of the few films that is injected with a fair amount of sad memories. I went on opening night at the glorious uptown theatre and convinced all of my friends to go. I picked up the tickets on my lunch and swore to them that we *had* to see it there. I didn't even think to go early for seats so we ended up in the 2nd last row because we needed something like 13 seats - they were not impressed with me. Also, someone used their cell phone during the film! This was 1994 - back when cell phones were only often seen in the hands of Doctors and other high paying jobs but certainly not for regular theatre goers. I can still hear them shouting on the phone "I'm watching Star Trek at the moment".

My second set of memories for this film were from when I was going through a very strong bout of insomnia. Sadly, Star Trek: Generations was the cure. I was out like a light within minutes. Possibly before any dialogue was spoken.

Third set of memories begins now with this countdown. After revisiting Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country I became acutely aware of the fact it must have known it was the last film with the original full cast & crew. This realization led to some embarrassing sniffling moments and being on the brink of tears. Funny, few films get to me like this but the thought of not hearing Chekov's one liners, Scotty's feats against the clock or the camaraderie between the Trek trio of Kirk, Bones and Spock got me all emotional.

I think it was pretty clear the intention of the film was a way to ease the fans from the Original Cast to that of The Next Generation. I am a fan of The Next Generation series. Initially a reluctant fan, but it wormed its way to my heart and I've seen every episode and can identify them in seconds. They often have nick names like "The Bags of Mostly Water One", "The Binars" or "The One Where They Run" and of course it brought us the fabulous conversation starter question of "If you were to de-evolve, what creature would you become?".

Is Star Trek: Generations successful in bridging the two series? Yes, but you can feel that it's more of a set up for The Next Generation cast than a stand alone film. Add to the fact that it was released only months after the series ended, we didn't have enough time to miss the crew yet. The sections dedicated to The Next Generation cast felt a lot like a regular episode but punched up with things that you can't get away with on TV like huge special effects and 'bad' language. Those moments did get cheers in the theatre, but over time it feels pretty gimmicky.

Sidenote: Worf ROCKS. Everything should have more Worf. Even things that have nothing to do with Star Trek, should have more Worf.

Funny insight: Use of the handheld flashlights of TNG folks made me realize on The Original Series they never landed anywhere dark.

Shannon's Overall View:
I didn't love it, but it has its moments
I own it and it is an insomnia cure
I'd recommend it for Next Generation fans (although you've all seen it!)

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009

Vlog Archive

Every Vlog I've done is here for your enjoyment.

Marathons Wrap Ups
Harry Potter
Star Trek
Vampathon: A Vampire Film Marathon
Sword & Sandals Marathon
Wolfathon: A Werewolf Film Marathon

Week in Film - 2010
July 18, 2010 - Inception, Despicable Me, Predators, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The / Flickan som lekte med elden, Coco & Igor, The Karate Kid (2010), Knight & Day and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
June 21, 2010 - Black Field, The A-Team, Agora, Winter's Bone, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Sex and the City 2, Ladyhawke, The Fury of the Wolfman / La furia del Hombre Lobo & The Howling
May 25, 2010 - Harry Brown, Robin Hood (2010), Letters to Juliet, The Trotsky, A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), Gunless, She-Wolf of London, Bad Moon, Wolfen
April 26, 2010 - How to Train Your Dragon, The Losers, Kick-Ass, The Expendables trailer, Werewolf of London, House of Wax and the Pusher Trilogy
April 19, 2010 - The Square, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo / Män som hatar kvinnor, The Eclipse and The Wolf Man (1941)
April 12, 2010 - The Wild Hunt, The Misfortunates / De helaasheid der dingen, Love at the Twilight Motel, La Danse: The Paris Opera, Date Night, Layer Cake, L'Avventura, 6ixtynin9 & Penelope
April 5, 2010 - Clash of the Titans (2010), A Simple Heart, In Your Arms, The Barons, Swimming Pool, Summer Hours, Darkon and Julie & Julia
March 29, 2010 - Le Divan du Monde, Le Coach, Eden a L'Ouest, 3 Saisons, Mother, Chloe, Cooking with Stella, Somersault & Pathfinder
March 22, 2010 - The Runaways, Repo Men, Ghost Writer, The Twilight Saga: New Moon (DVD), There Will Be Blood, Domino, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End, Balls of Fury and Troy
March 15, 2010 - Cactus, The Red Baron, Green Zone, Remember Me, A Prophet, Cool Hand Luke, Giant, Flickering Lights, For Your Consideration, You Got Served, Hercules (1983) and upcoming trailers for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse & I Love You Philip Morris
March 8, 2010 - Academy Awards Winners & Ceremony Discussion, Alice in Wonderland (2010), Fish Tank, Avatar, Julius Caesar (1953), Cleopatra (1963) & Double Dare
March 1, 2010 - The Crazies, Edge of Darkness, Shutter Island, Dear John, Reel Injun, Coraline, Outlander and Upcoming Trailers for A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) & MacGruber
February 15, 2010 - The Wolfman (2010), Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Alexander, Roman Holiday, The Last Waltz*, Chopper and Upcoming Trailers: The Karate Kid (trailer), The Last Airbender & Repo Men
February 8, 2010 - 82nd Academy Awards Nominations, Grown Up Movie Star, Frozen, J'ai tué ma mère / I Killed My Mother, Daytime Drinking / Naj sul, Gladiator, The Passion of Joan of Arc, Joshua, IP Man, The Strangers and Sars Wars: Bangkok Zombie Crisis
February 2, 2010 - The Last Station, Creation, The White Ribbon, Conan the Barbarian, Conan the Destroyer, The Bad & The Beautiful, Into Great Silence, Monsters vs Aliens, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, I've Loved You So Long and 2010 Book to Film Challenge
January 25, 2010 - Cairo Time, Passenger Side, High Life, Legion, The Warriors, Eraserhead, Happy Together, Brides of Dracula, Jason in the Argonauts (1963), Curse of the Werewolf and The Proposal
January 18, 2010 - Golden Globes Awards, The Wild Hunt, J'ai tué ma mère, The Trotsky, Crazy Heart, The Book of Eli, A Prophet trailer here, Mon oncle Antoine, Spartacus
January 11, 2010 - Daybreakers, A-Team Trailer, Blow-Up, Duck Soup, Clash of the Titans (1981), Horror of Dracula, Dracula (1979 version with Frank Langella), Synecdoche, New York and I Love You, Man and The Soloist
January 4, 2010 - An Education, Nine, The Princess and the Frog, Precious Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire, It's Complicated, Someone Like You, Silk, Game of Death, Game of Death II, Blue Velvet, Election / Hak se wui, Knowing, Sunshine Cleaning & 17 Again

Week in Film - 2009
December 27, 2009 - Sherlock Holmes, The Hustler, Yi Yi, The New World,Brødre and Court Jester
December 21, 2009 - Golden Globe Nominations, Up in the Air, The Young Victoria, Bright Star, A Single Man, The Man with the Golden Arm, David Copperfield, Herbie Full Loaded, Speed Racer, Garden State, The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Oceans 13 & Prancer
December 14, 2009 - Invictus, Me and Orson Wells, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, No Country for Old Men,
Decade-Ness, Oceans Twelve, Inkheart, Speak, Fulltime Killer / Chuen jik sat sau, White Christmas and Holiday Inn
December 6, 2009 - Brothers, Red Cliff / Chi bi, Crazy Heart trailer, Public Enemies, Safe, Idlewild, Marie Antoinette, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, D.O.A. (1950), Journey to the Far Side of the Sun and The Order
November 30, 2009 - Ninja Assassin, Big Fan, Parking / Ting Che, The Road, Little Robbers, Out of Africa, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1945), 27 Dresses, The International and The Orphanage
November 21, 2009 - The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Blade Trilogy: Blade, Blade II & Blade: Trinity, Into the Wild, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl, My Bloody Valentine (2009), My Beautiful Laundrette, Connected (Bo chi tung wah), Australia and Street Kings
November 10, 2009 - The Fourth Kind, Zombieland, Antichrist, Léolo, Martin, Jarhead, Happy-Go-Lucky, Chinango, Prom Night IV: Deliver Us From Evil, Village of the Damned (1995)
November 4, 2009 - Bronson, Brideshead Revisited, Barton Fink, Iron Maiden: Flight 666, The Machinist, Hello Mary Lou, Prom Night 2 and Prom Night III: The Last Kiss.
October 29, 2009 - Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, New Avatar Trailer, Frozen River, Jet Li's Fearless, Exiled, "V" (1983). Interview with the Vampire and Queen of the Damned
October 19, 2009- Where the Wild Things Are, Whip It, Paranormal Activity, Amarcord, Belle et la Bete, Black Sabbath, The Hanging Garden, The Grudge (US version), Bolt, Prom Night (Original), The Bride and The Stuff
October 12, 2009 - Fame (2009), Coco Avant Chanel, Haeundae, The Sting, Nosferatu Phantom Der Nacht, Lust, Caution, Rogue and C.H.U.D.
September 28, 2009 - Whiteout, Pandorum, Black Sunday, Macbeth (2006)
September 7, 2009 - Gamer, The Things We Lost in the Fire, The Haunting of Molly Hartley, Angels of the Night, The Night Flier and Blood & Donuts
August 31, 2009 - Orphan, District 9, In the Loop, The 400 Blows, Vampyr, Rabid, Dracula 2000, A Scanner Darkly and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Empero
August 9, 2009 - G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Thirst, Séance, Ballet Shoes, Near Dark and A Star is Born
August 4, 2009 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The Hurt Locker, Pusher, Sudden Death, High School Music 3: Senior Year and Kiltro
July 13, 2009 - Kambahkht Ishq, I Love You, Beth Cooper and Valentino: The Last Emperor
July 6, 2009 - Up, Drag Me to Hell, Moon, The Man from Laramie, Laura, Persona, Terminator 1-3
May 26, 2009 -X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Star Trek, Terminator Salvation, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, Day For Night, Harvey, McCabe & Mrs. Miller and Aguirre Wrath of God
April 27,2009 - Sunset Blvd., The Thing From Another World, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), Onibaba and Clash of the Titans
April 20, 2009 - Two Lovers, Chunghyang, In A Lonely Place, American Psycho, Sleuth (1972), Dracula (1931) and Wolf Creek
April 14, 2009 - Fanboys, Before Tomorrow, The Necessities of Life / Ce qu'il faut pour vivre, Nosferatu (1922) and The Brood
April 5, 2009 - The Haunting in Connecticut, Adventureland, Dawn of the Dead (1978 and 2004), Bob le Flambeur and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir
March 29, 2009 - Polytechnique, U2 3D, Amores Perros, Twilight DVD Release
March 22, 2009 - Race to Witch Mountain, Southland Tales, Red River, Bride of Frankenstien & Come Drink with Me
March 14, 2009 - Who Does She Think She Is?, Push, Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, The Conversation, Zatoichi and The Virgin Suicides
March 5, 2009 - The Class / Entre les murs, The Apartment and If...
September 22, 2008 - [REC], I Think We're Alone Now, La Crème, Rojo Red, Kingz and Treevenge

Film Festivals

Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2010
Day 1 - The Necronomicon, The Last Lovecraft
Day 2 - Shorts program: Thomas Beale Cipher, Frank DanCoolo: Paranormal Drug Dealer, Pumzi, Off Season, Deus Irea & The Library and Features: Doghouse & Evil in the Time of Heroes.
Day 3 - Cargo, Robogeisha and High School
Day 4 - The Last Exorcism and Alien vs Ninja
Day 5 - Phobia 2 and All About Evil
Day 6 - Centurion and Heartless
Day 7 - Black Death and I Spit on Your Grave (2010)
Day 8 - Rubber, The Human Centipede

Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2009
Day 1 - Captain Coulier (Space Explorer), Black Dynamite
Day 2 - The Dark Hour, Hirsute, Franklyn, Becoming, Black, The Killer Bra and Embodiment of Evil
Day 3 - When it Will Be Silent, Practical Guide for the Imaginary Friend (Abridged), Zombie Zombie, King of Power 4 Billion %, The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon, Zero/0, The Warlords, Dead Snow and The Revenant
Day 4 - Blackheads, Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl, Fallow and Strigoi
Day 5 - The Children and Someone's Knocking at the Door
Day 6 - Must Love Death and Rough Cut
Day 7 - Danse Macabre, The Forbidden Door and Trick 'r Treat
Day 8 - Danse Macabre, Next Floor and Grace.

Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2008
Pre-Fest Vlog
Day 1 - The Facts in the Case of Mister Hallow and Let the Right One In.
Day 2 - The Flower, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Donkey Punch and Mirageman
Day 3 - Zombie Day! Bring out your brains. The Attack of the Robots from Nebula-5, Doxology, The Queen, Transrexia, The Goblin Man of Norway, Deadspiel, Kevin Tenney's Brain Dead and Trailer Park of Terror
Day 4 - Vengence, Red, Lucky 10 and 4BIA/Phobia
Day 5 - Netherbeast, Incorporated and Who is KK Downey?
Day 6 - Lazer Ghosts 2: Return to the Laser Cove, Mutant Chronicles and South of Heaven
Day 7 - Tokyo Gore Police and Home Movie
Day 8 - Closing Night: Treevenge and I Sell the Dead

Toronto International Film Festival 2009
Pre-Festival Vlog - Looking Forward To...
Pre-Festival Vlog 2 - Short Film Preview & Parnassus
Day 1 - Nymph
Day 2 - Like You Know It All, Face, The Wild Hunt, Beautiful Kate and Daybreakers
Day 3 - The Year of the Carnivore, Samson & Delilah and La Soga
Day 4 - Last Ride, Valhalla Rising, Applause and Air Doll
Day 5 - George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead and The Road
Day 6 - The Warrior and the Wolf, The Loved Ones, Every Day is a Holiday and La Donation / The Legacy
Day 7 - Mao's Last Dancer, Defendor, Toad's Oil, The Ape and Castaway on the Moon
Day 8 - The Damned United, Kamui, Solomon Kane and Deliver Us From Evil
Day 9 - She, A Chinese, Whip It, Phantom Pain, Timetrip: The Curse of the Viking Witch and The Good Heart
Day 10 - The Unloved, Symbol, Sawasdee Bangkok, The Waiting City, The Disappearance of Alice Creed and Ong Bak 2: The Beginning

Toronto International Film Festival 2008
Pre-Fest Vlog 1 - TIFF pick up, ticket and schedule process
Pre-Fest Vlog 2 - Advance order process, pick up, exchanges and single ticket purchases
Pre-Fest Vlog 3 - Picking up advance orders, "The Board", Offsale and Rush
Pre-Fest Vlog 4 - What to Expect / Film Preview
Day 1 - Ocean Flame and JCVD
Day 2 - Dernier Maquis and C'est pas moi, je le jure / It's not me, I Swear!
Day 3 - The Sky Crawlers, Detroit Metal City, Un été sans point ni coup sûr and Patrik 1,5
Day 4 - It Might Get Loud, Derrière moi, The Real Shaolin, White Night Wedding and Vacation
Day 5 - Still Walking, Every Little Step and Fear Me Not
Day 6 - Kisses, 24 City, Toronto Stories and A Film with Me In It
Day 7 - Ashes of Time Redux, Tale 52, One Week and Radio Love
Day 8 - Sauna, Winds of September, The Dungeon Masters and Tokyo Sonata
Day 9 - Empty Nest, Martyrs, Universalove, Pontypool and Achilles and the Tortoise
Day 10 - The Biggest Chinese Restaurant in the World, Chocolate, Eden Log, The Secret of Moonacre and All Around Us

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2009
Day 1 - Live Long and Prosper, Overheard
Day 2 - Fruit Fly and Yanggaw
Day 3 -White Boy From the East and Red Heroine
Day 4 - Unlocked, White on Rice, Yang Yang, The Animated Heavy Metal Parking Lot and Fish Story
Day 5 - Chosun Forever, A Schoolgirl's Diary, Blind Pig Who Wants to Fly and Breathless

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008
Day 1 - Opening Night! The Others & The Drummer
Day 2 - Confessions of a Salesman, Full Boat Program, Hansel & Gretel
Day 3 - Twelve, Everybody's Children, Wonderful Town, The Playgrounded, Summer Afternoon, What You Eat
Day 4 & 5 - Long Story Short, Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D, Tiger Spirit, Flower in the Pocket, Oh Saigon, West 32nd and Adrift in Tokyo

Hot Docs 2010
Day 2 - Women with the 5 Elephants
Day 3 - Talhotblond, His & Hers, the People vs George Lucas and 1991: The Year Punk Broke
Day 4 - Bought a Rainforest, The World According to Ion B., A Small Act and Soundtracker
Day 5 - Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work, Steam of Life / Miesten vuoro
Day 6 - This Way of Life, Tankograd, David Wants to Fly
Day 7 - B1 & Freetime Machos
Day 8 - Space Tourists & Nénette
Day 9 - Into Eternity
Day 10 - Gaea Girls & Leave Them Laughing

Hot Docs 2009
Day 2 - From Burger it Came, Zombie Girl: The Movie and Best Worst Movie
Day 3 - Nobody Waved Good-bye, Presidio Modelo and Audition
Day 4 - Ma Bar, Big John, My Greatest Escape, Art & Copy and Objectified
Day 5 - Action Boys and Farmers Song
Day 6 - Plane Days, Ascension and Old Partner
Day 7 - We Live in Public and Hunting Down Memory
Day 8 & 9 - Big River Man, pereSTROKIA: The reCONSTRUCTION of a Flat and Another Perfect World
Day 10 & 11 - Ali Shan,65_REDROSES *, Statistics,Cat Ladies and Rise Up

Cinéfranco 2010
Part 1: Le Divan du Monde, Le Coach, Eden a L'Ouest and 3 Saisons
Part 2: Un couer simple / A Simple Heart, Dans tes bras / In Your Arms and Les Barons/ The Barons

Cinematic Crush: Dmitry Chaplin

This is the fourth in an eight-part look at the Hunks of Reality TV:

Crush object: Dmitry Chaplin, dancer/choreographer.

- This rising star of dance hails from Russia.

- He came to fame as a top ten finalist during the second season of So You Think You Can Dance, where he became known for his masculine style, often performing shirtless.

- Currently one of the new professional dancers on Dancing with the Stars, he was originally partnered with singer Jewel this season. However, following a pre-season injury, she had to leave the show and was replaced by Girls Next Door star Holly Madison.

- In addition to SYTYCD and DWTS, he has performed on the American Idol special "Idol Gives Back".

- Off-screen, he has placed in several International Latin dance competitions.

Vlog - Week in Film & 101 Films

Films Discussed: Polytechnique, U2 3D, Amores Perros (101 Films), Twilight DVD release/extras

References:
- Check out Trista's review of U2 3D and thoughts on 3D over at 10 Movies to See Before You Die
- Avatar is the upcoming James Cameron 3D SciFi film reported to be using new technology for the special effects. Current release date for Avatar is Dec 18, 2009.

What do you think?
- If you've seen Amores Perros please let me know what you think of the film
- 3D Films - Wave of the future? Do you want to see them? For genre films? All films?

Maurice Jarre: 1924-2009

Maurice Jarre, the Academy Award-winning composer of such iconic film scores as Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, passed away yesterday at the age of 84.

Jarre won three Oscars for his collaborations with director David Lean (Lawrence, Zhivago and A Passage to India), and was nominated another six times. He also won four Golden Globes, two BAFTA Awards and a Grammy during his illustrious career, which included scores for over 150 films.

Jarre's other notable scores include the films The Longest Day, Sundays and Cybele, Grand Prix, Topaz, Ryan's Daughter, The Man Who Would Be King, The Year of Living Dangerously, Witness, Fatal Attraction, Gorillas in the Mist, Dead Poets Society and Ghost, and the television mini-series Jesus of Nazareth and Shogun.

UPDATE: Here's a video montage of Jarre's most memorable scores.

Awards Watch: GLAAD Media Awards New York

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation handed out their first batch of GLAAD Media Awards last night in New York. Among the winners were the films A Jihad for Love for Outstanding Documentary and Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom and Shelter, which tied for Outstanding Film – Limited Release. Tarell Alvin McCraney's Wig Out! and Joey Arias and Basil Twist's Arias with a Twist won in the New York theater categories.

Other winners included TV hosts Tyra Banks, Phil Donahue and Suze Orman, journalist Keith Olbermann and singer k.d. lang, as well as the soap opera As the World Turns, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book and the special radio broadcast The Laramie Project, 10 Years Later - The Lasting Legacy of Matthew Shepard.

Additional awards will be presented in Los Angeles on April 18 and in San Francisco on May 9.

Reel Thoughts: Fore!

Who knew Charlie David had it in him? The gorgeous star of Dante’s Cove and A Four Letter Word has written Mulligans (coming to DVDApril 21), a sweet and poignant film about a summer that changes a family’s life forever.

"Mulligans" are second chances in golf, and when handsome Chase (David) accompanies his studly jock roommate Tyler (Derek Baynham) home during school break, he has no way of knowing that he’ll be the catalyst for Tyler’s father Nathan (the gorgeous Dan Payne) to take his second chance at life. Nathan and Stacey (Thea Gill, also of Dante's Cove as well as Queer as Folk fame) seem to have a perfect marriage, but Nathan has buried his true sexuality so deeply, it’s never surfaced before.


The golf references come from the fact that Tyler and Chase go to work at the golf course where Nathan spends a lot of his time, perhaps escaping the nagging feeling that something’s not right in his life. Of course, when you put handsome studs like David and Payne together in a movie like this and add liquor, you have the makings of a hot, only-in-gay-films hook-up that puts a damper on the family’s vacation, to say the least.

First-time feature screenwriter David (along with first-time director Chip Hale) should be commended for leaving the aftermath messy but truer to life, even if you’re not sure what you should be feeling about what happens to the characters. For a first film, Mulligans isn’t quite a hole-in-one, but it’s definitely a birdie.

Review by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Out in Film: Sarah Paulson

Idol worship: Sarah Paulson, actress.

- Her first notable role was in the cult TV series American Gothic, followed by such other short-lived programs as Jack & Jill, Leap of Faith and The D.A.

- In addition to memorable guest performances on Deadwood and Nip/Tuck, she is best known for her Golden Globe nominated role as Harriet Hayes on Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.

- On film, she has appeared in such movies as The Other Sister, What Women Want, Down with Love, Serenity and The Notorious Bettie Page.

- She played Laura Wingfield in an acclaimed Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie. Other stage roles include Killer Joe, Talking Pictures and Colder Than Here.

- Most recently, she was seen on the big screen in The Spirit (coming to DVDApril 14) and will star opposite Bobby Cannavale in the revised romantic comedy Cupid, premiering this Tuesday on ABC.

Film Fan Fridays for Friday March 27, 2009

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday March 29, 2009! With todays releases we are one third of the way into 2009. How does the time go so quickly?

Speaking of time going quickly, our limited release this week three films total, 2 of which are Canadian: Before Tomorrow / Le jour avant le lendemain a selection at Canada's Top Ten 2008 and Hank and Mike a dark comedy of two Easter Bunnies that find themselves with no more eggs to deliver. Our third limited release is the creepy and colourful South Korean horror film Hansel & Gretel.

In wide release this week we have more scares with The Haunting in Connecticut, based on true events and has the creepiest poster for this year by far. Slightly furrier creepiness comes with the latest 3D animated film Monsters vs. Aliens which looks quite charming. Sunshine Cleaning starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt opens this week in more theatres than I'd expect. Perhaps being 'from the producers of' Little Miss Sunshine and the casting pushed it to a wide release - I know I'll be seeing it! Last up is the cop/thriller 12 Rounds starring John Cena.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Banff Mountain Film Festival
March 27 - 29, 2009 at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Cinéfranco
12th Annual Celebration of International Francophone Cinema
March 27 - April 5, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Female Eye Film Festival
7th annual festival showcasing women directors
Continues until March 29, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Images Festival
Festival of independent film, video and other time-based media
April 2 - 11, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mpenzi Black Women's International Film & Video Festival
March 27, 2009 at University of Toronto Medical Sciences Building in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday March 27, 2009 Releases

12 Rounds
Dir: Renny Harlin (Deep Blue Sea)
Cast: John Cena, Ashley Scott, Aiden Gillen, Steve Harris
USA
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Before Tomorrow / Le jour avant le lendemain
Writer/Directors: Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu - feature film directorial debuts
Cast: Peter-Henry Arnatsiaq, Madeline Ivalu, Paul-Dylan Ivalu, Mary Qulitalik, Tumasie Sivuarapik
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailere, IMDb Page

Hank and Mike
Dir: Matthiew Klinck (Greg & Gentillon)
Cast: Thomas Michael, Paolo Mancini, Chris Klein, Joe Mantegna
Canada/USA
Limited Release
Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

Hansel & Gretel
Dir: Yim Pil-sung (Namgeuk-ilgi / Antarctic Journal)
Cast: Chun Jeong-myoung, Eun Won-jae, Shim Eun-kyoung, Jin Ji-hee
South Korea
Limited Release
More info at: Evokative Films, IMDb Page

The Haunting in Connecticut
Dir: Peter Cornwell - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Virginia Madsen, Elias Koteas, Martin Donovan, Kyle Gallner
USA
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Monsters vs Aliens
Dir: Rob Letterman and Conrad Verson (Shrek 2)
Voices: Reese Witherspoon, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Keifer Sutherland
USA
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Sunshine Cleaning
Dir: Christine Jeffs (Sylvia)
Cast: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zhan
USA
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of March 27, 2009**

Reverend’s Reviews: Sex Without Borders

There’s no film subject more controversial than sex (well, ok, maybe violence). Two films opening this Friday in NYC and expanding to LA and other cities in April — Shall We Kiss? and American Swing — revel in discussions and depictions of sex. Although most of the sex shown is of the heterosexual variety, GLBT viewers can certainly glean wisdom from the lessons learned by these films’ protagonists.

Shall We Kiss?, from France, is the least potentially-offensive as well as the less successful of the two. Written and directed by Emmanuel Mouret (Change of Address), it starts out as a one-joke comedy that is indulged for far too long and, in the end, becomes a pat morality tale.

When Gabriel (the dreamy Michaël Cohen, no relation to Movie Dearest’s beloved Neil) meets the transportation-deprived Émilie (the beautiful Julie Gayet, who GLBT viewers might recognize from the 1999 film Confusion of Genders), he offers her a ride but not without ulterior motives. Gabriel hopes to gain a sexual tryst out of his generosity but will settle for a single kiss.


This provides Émilie the opportunity to enlighten Gabriel with a fact-based story detailing the destructive repercussions of even a relatively chaste and non-committal act as a kiss. She recounts the saga of Nicolas (played by Mouret) and Judith (acclaimed actress Virginie Ledoyen, largely wasted here), best friends who begin to have sex despite their involvement with other partners and eventually fall in love themselves.

Shall We Kiss? is too talky by far, and is directed and photographed (by Laurent Desmet) with no particular style. Mouret also utilizes canned classical music selections to repetitive, irritating effect. Despite an effective twist at the end between Émilie and Gabriel, the film is often a slog to get through.


American Swing, on the other hand, is a far more interesting and concise documentary about the positive and destructive effects of casual sex. It unveils the players behind the legendary NYC swingers’ club, Plato’s Retreat.

Established in 1977 by the sexually-insatiable (from all reports) Larry Levenson, the nightclub — originally a gay bathhouse, the Ansonia, where Bette Midler and Barry Manilow got their starts — was nationally renowned until the double-whammy of AIDS and tax evasion on Levenson’s part forced its closure in 1985. (As the film notes, the venue was the first non-gay sex club closed during the initial years of the AIDS crisis.)


Utilizing vintage home movie footage and contemporary interviews with such Plato’s Retreat regulars as feminist Helen Gurley Brown, comedian Buck Henry, filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles and porn actor Ron Jeremy, co-producers/directors Mathew Kaufman and Jon Hart reveal the good (previously-repressed women, especially, and men discovering their sexual selves), the bad (self-indulgence run amok and a frightful lack of social responsibility) and the ugly (drug abuse and STD’s of all genuses) of the sexual-liberation movement.

While the sexual freedom graphically shown in American Swing continues to have its appeal, Kaufman and Hart refuse — to their credit — to sugarcoat it. I encourage GLBT moviegoers to see the film and post your own reactions to it.

UPDATE: American Swing and Shall We Kiss? are now available on DVD from Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.

Reel Thoughts Interview: Keach/Nixon

To borrow from my favorite VH1 show, Richard Nixon is having the best year ever! Not only is he alive and well and enjoying his fifth term in the film Watchmen, but no less than two fine actors have brought him to life on stage and screen. First, Frank Langella brought his immensely engrossing portrayal of Nixon from Broadway to Ron Howard’s film adaptation of Frost/Nixon, earning an Oscar nomination in the process. Now, Stacy Keach, an esteemed actor that even other actors revere, has stepped into the role and made it his own in the current touring production of Frost/Nixon.

Keach is well known for playing Mike Hammer on television, but he has a long and distinguished theater career, as well as his film work (The Long Riders, American History X). I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Keach, who I had just been admiring for his performance in Oliver Stone’s W., and I found him extremely gracious and friendly.


NC: How did you approach playing such a famous and much-parodied person after playing a fictionalized version of George Bush’s spiritual advisor?
SK: Well the first thing I did after accepting the role was to go back and revisit the actual interviews between David Frost and Nixon. I remember when they actually happened and I was struck when I read Peter Morgan’s play ... I loved the way he, well, he took poetic license with the interviews. And he did some transpositions, and even though he’s faithful to the original interviews, he puts his own spin on it. And in doing so, he makes it very dramatic and very accessible to a modern audience. A lot of people, we’re discovering (especially young people), don’t really know what Watergate was all about. In some respects, because the movie is out now, it’s very good for people coming to see the play, the (film) ads act as an advertisement for the play Frost/Nixon.

I wanted to go back and say something about W. The wonderful thing about playing the character — I had the luxury of playing a non-historical role in W. He was an amalgamation, a compilation of various evangelical figures (James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Billy Graham). He was a combination of people, Earle Hudd was, he wasn’t a real person. But when I went down to Shreveport, Louisiana, to film W., Oliver Stone had arranged for me to meet with a couple of evangelical ministers, one of whom was this very aggressive, fire and brimstone sort of guy. And then I had another meeting with a very mild, very meek, very quiet, soft-spoken, professorial academic intellectual type of minister, and he had a sweetness about him. What I did was combine those two guys, and that was Earle Hudd.


When it comes to playing a historical role, all the obligations change because you are obligated to reflect the nature of the character in some fashion. Nixon, as written by Peter Morgan and as played by yours truly, is not an impersonation of an impression, and yet I have to talk a certain way that is Nixonian in order to convey the character. But the measure of success is not how well you emulate Nixon so much as how well you reveal what’s going on in his soul.

NC: Does the stage production resemble the film of Frost/Nixon?
SK: The stage production was the seed for the film. It was originally produced at the Donmar Warehouse in London in front of 250 people, and it was so successful, it moved to the West End, where it was also very successful. Then, it moved to Broadway, where Frank (Langella) won a Tony for it. Peter Morgan wrote the screenplay, so it is very faithful in terms of the dialogue. What the movie cannot do that the play does is give you the live image and the televised image simultaneously. So it’s like being at a sporting event or a rock concert.

NC: Having lived through Nixon, did you have any preconceptions about him?
SK: That’s a very good question. Having lived, as you say, through that whole era, Nixon was Mr. Bad Guy — he was satanic — he was destroying our nation. Watergate was probably the beginning of reality television. We were glued to our sets during these hearings. We got to know members of government. It was the first time something of that nature had really happened. Yes, the Kennedy assassinations were covered, but cable didn’t exist. You only had three networks. CNN wasn’t around.

Television is a very dominant theme in Frost/Nixon, the use of television, the use of image, how to project image on television. Those are the tactics and strategies that are discussed in the play. How best for David Frost, for example, to approach Nixon’s long-winded diatribes, because he goes on and on, in an effort to rehabilitate himself, which he never did.

Whereas David Frost did (get what he wanted from the interviews). David Frost got to throw off the shackles of being considered a talk show host/entertainer and became a serious journalist. It raised his stock considerably. He made the cover of Time and Newsweek, he’s written many books. He’s still around and he loves the fact that this play is out there. It keeps him alive.

NC: Who is your David Frost?
SK: Alan Cox. He’s wonderful, he’s just great. I’ve known Alan since he was born. His father, Brian Cox (L.I.E., X2: X-Men United), and I went to drama school together. We went to the London Academy of Dramatic Art together long before you were born (laughing). I was shooting a picture in London in 1971 and Brian and I were talking and he said (in a perfect Brian Cox voice), “I’ve just had a son! I’m going to call him Alan.” And now I’m working with him. I worked with him six years ago. We did a BBC Radio Broadcast of Booth Tarkington’s play The Plutocrat with Leslie Caron. Talk about esoteric! He’s great. I love playing together. We enjoy working together. It’s very important when you have a long tour that the two main guys not only like each other, but that they love working together.

NC: It would be very difficult if you didn’t!
SK: Oh, very, very. I would not want to be Laurence Olivier and Anthony Quinn doing Beckett years ago on the road! (laughing).


NC: Where does your heart lie, as far as performing? I know that you started out in theater (before doing films and television like Mike Hammer, Private Eye).
SK: I’ve said it before, it feels like millions of times, if you put a gun to my head and I could only choose one, it would be the theater.

Keach went on to explain that with rapidly changing technology, actors are having to adapt to new types of entertainment and how to get compensated for it, which is why there’s a threat of a Screen Actors Guild strike.

“That’s another reason why theater is a very good thing!” he said, laughing.

Editor's note: Since this interview was conducted, Stacy Keach suffered a mild stroke, but will return to the stage in Frost/Nixon this week. We here at Movie Dearest wish him the speediest of recoveries.

Review by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Ab Fab + ABBA

French & Saunders & Lumley take on Walters & Streep & Baranski in Mamma Mia! (part one, part two).

Gidget

Dir: Paul Wendkos (Gidget Goes Hawaiian, Angel Baby)
Cast: Sandra Dee, James Darren, Cliff Robertson
USA, 1959

Seen: A zillion times, usually with a bowl of popcorn. Before I even saw it I knew about it from my friend Danette who would call me Gidget in art school when I wore my hair long, blonde and in a high ponytail. But I finally saw it for first time around 2000 when my sister Jamie called me and said with excitement "Gidget is on TV!". I've been hooked ever since.

Reason to Review: For The Underrated Blog-a-thon over at Chicago Ex-Patriate

"The Day, the Hour and the moment has arrived"

When I mention to people that Gidget is one of my favourite films of all time, I usually get one of two reactions: a suprized and confused look or a giggle. But I'm not joking. Gidget is planted firmly in my top 5 films, right after Star Wars and before The Professional.

Why, do you ask? I'll tell you why! On the surface, the film starts off feeling like a standard beach movie. A girl with her friends, it's the beginning of summer and time to look out for some boys! It could all go predictably along but it doesn't because Gidget plays by her own rules - something that is pretty freaking awesome for a film with a female protagonist that came out in 1959! There is a lot we can learn from Gidget!

Gidget does not give in. Peer pressure and expectations be damned. They aren't going to nudge out Gidget to do something she doesn't want to. Of course she's perfectly polite about this, and everything else she does which is something we can all keep in mind.

Gidget does not give up! Persistence pays off. I'll quote directly from the film for this one.
Kahuna "Don't you ever give up?"
Gidget "Not when I want something. If you want something bad enough you work for it"
And boy, she does!

Gidget has her own interests and excels at them. Sure they may not always fit along the lines of what girls are 'suppose' to do but she doesn't let that get in her way! Go surfer girl go.

Gidget believes. In herself, in her friends, even in people that others have given up on. Sure, at times it is slanted at a bit of naiveté, but it's also comes from the heart. This in turn inspires those around her.

Along with all these awesome positive traits, the movie is just plain fun. Or, better yet "It's the absolute ultimate!"

Shannon's Overall View:
I love it
I watch it again and again
I recommend it

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© Shannon Ridler, 2009

Women We Love: Rue McClanahan

This is the third in a four-part Women We Love salute to The Golden Girls, now airing daily on the Hallmark Channel:

Object of our affection: Rue McClanahan, actress.

- Glamorous star of stage and screen, she made her Broadway debut in the musical Jimmy Shine opposite Dustin Hoffman. Since, she has performed in such productions as California Suite, Nunsense, The Women and Wicked.

- Her breakout role was as the killer nanny Caroline Johnson on Another World, known for kidnapping her charges and poisoning her mistress. She would go on to star in another daytime soap, Where the Heart Is.

- On film, she has appeared in Walk the Angry Beach, They Might Be Giants, Starship Troopers, The Fighting Temptations and as bitter "fag hag" Lita Joyce in the infamous Some of My Best Friends Are ...

- But she is best known for her Emmy Award-winning performance as the man crazy Southern belle Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls, a role she reprised in the series' spin-off The Golden Palace. Prior to Girls, she co-starred with Beatrice Arthur in Maude and Betty White in Mama's Family.

- In addition to various guest spots and made for TV movies, she can currently be seen co-starring as Peggy Ingram on Sordid Lives: The Series.

Knowing is More Than Half the Battle: Canadian, North American & UK Box Office March 20, 2009 Weekend

The word is, folks want to know. Knowing picked up top spot on both the Canadian and North American box office charts for the March 20, 2009 weekend beating out both Duplicity and bromance I Love You, Man. Watchmen sits at a #5 on all three charts in its third week and Sunshine Cleaning starring Amy Adams and Emily Blunt sits at 16 in North America but won't be released here in Toronto this Friday March 27, 2009.

Over the pond dogs are still taking top honours with Marley & Me reigning supreme for a second week running. The buzz around Lesbian Vampire Killers pays off with the film first week in release landing at #4 on the UK right after its SXSW appearance. The buzz on this film has been all over the place for quite a while. No Canadian or North American release date as of yet. I was hoping it was lesbians that kill vampires but considering the poster, trailer and site all note the two male leads its clear they kill lesbian vampires. See more at the Lesbian Vampire Killers website.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the March 20, 2009 weekend
1. Knowing *
2. I Love You, Man *
3. Duplicity *
4. Race to Witch Mountain
5. Watchmen
6. The Last House on the Left
7. Slumdog Millionaire
8. Coraline
9. Met Opera: La Sonnambula *
10. Taken
11. Dédé, à travers les brumes
12. He's Just Not That Into You
13. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
14. Miss March
15. Confessions of a Shopaholic
16. Hotel For Dogs
17. One Week
18. Fired Up
19. The Pink Panther 2
20. Gran Torino

Top 20 Movies in North America for the March 20, 2009 weekend
1. Knowing *
2. I Love You, Man *
3. Duplicity *
4. Race to Witch Mountain
5. Watchmen
6. The Last House on the Left
7. Taken
8. Slumdog Millionaire
9. Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail
10. Coraline
11. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
12. He's Just Not That Into You
13. Confessions of a Shopaholic
14. Gran Torino
15. Fired Up
16. Sunshine Cleaning
17. Miss March
18. The Reader
19. Hotel For Dogs
20. Under the Sea 3D

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the March 20, 2009 weekend
1. Marley & Me
2. Paul Blart: Mall Cop *
3. Duplicity *
4. Lesbian Vampire Killers *
5. Watchmen
6. Gran Torino
7. Slumdog Millionaire
8. The Young Victoria
9. Bolt
10. Bronson

* indicates opening weekend in noted location

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Polytechnique

Dir: Denis Villeneuve (Maelstrom)
Cast: Maxim Gaudette, Karine Vanasse, Sébastien Huberdeau, Evelyne Brochu
Canada, 2009

Seen: March 23, 2009 at the Cumberland

Reason to see: Canadian

When I first heard that there was a film being made based on the 1989 Montreal Massacre, I was hesitant. I wondered why would we want to see this? Is this the right time for a film of this nature, is there ever the right time for this kind of film? Then I found out it was being directed by Denis Villeneuve, and realized this tender topic was in the safest hands out there.

The events that occur are, of course, brutal and upsetting. However it is shown with such a sensitive touch where there is almost no judgement, but depiction. Judgement isn't even necessary as we all know it was a horrifying day. Therefore we see a portrayal and the accounts flow seamlessly from portraits to everyday life moments to the surreal history itself. Shown in black and white we can feel the chill of the December day as the narrative unfolds. A quiet score fits in perfectly shifting from calm to panic. The actors performances are so on, that you never doubt them for a minute. It's hard to say that I 'enjoyed' watching the film, but I was amazed at how at the same time it was equally tactful, honest and scary. Quite a feat.

Those of us who were around at the time of the event will remember how it shook us as a people, as a country and for those of us who are women, as women. We do need to remember.

Shannon's Overall View:
I was moved by it
I'd love to see it again in French with English subtitles *
I recommend it

* I was very surprized that it was shown in English. It appears that there is are French and English version - I hope this leads to it been seen and heard to a wider audience.

13 minutes of preshow including the short film NFB 70 Years/ONF 70 ans, 1 commercial, 2 previews: Hunger and The Brothers Bloom

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© Shannon Ridler, 2009