The Ghost Writer (DVD Review)

Dir: Roman Polanski (The Pianist, The Ninth Gate, Chinatown)
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, Timothy Hutton, Tom Wilkinson, James Belushi
France/UK/Germany, 2010

Reason to see: I'm always interested in seeing Ewan McGregor's work

The Ghost Writer follows a ghost writer, played by Ewan McGregor, as he steps into the job of ghost writing an autobiography for the former British Prime Minister Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) whose actions in office come into scrutiny and shine an international light back onto him.

It's interesting to see a very classically set political thriller, that is purely drama based. I'm so used to action thrillers, that it took a bit to settle into this one and remember a different format of story telling. Ewan McGregor's character clearly stands as our guide on this mysterious journey as well as playing the moral centre and all around regular guy of the film. I can see this really being a fun ride as a 'What if that was me?' situation, where you are just going about your regular job (in his case, writing) and all of a sudden you are peeling back layer and layers of mystery and political intrigue. I enjoyed Ewan McGregor's performance here, it's very understated and relatable which serves the film perfectly. Who really nailed it out of the park for me though was Olivia Williams who plays Ruth Lang, wife to the former PM. Her performance is astonishingly strong presenting us with a character that is aggressive, abrasive but smart as a whip and I enjoyed each and every scene she was in.

I did find it at times a little challenge to follow what was going on in terms of the mystery/political thriller element of the film but that isn't unusual for me as it's not a forte genre of mine. It is certainly engaging and intriguing, and I'm sure people more well versed in mysteries will have no problems following along and truly I think that is who it is for and that they will very much enjoy it.

DVD Extras:
The DVD extras for The Ghost Writer are very slick, have great productions values and work nicely together as a set. There isn't much repetition of content between the three, which is nice, and all three of them are quite interesting.

• The Ghost Writer: Fiction or Reality? (10 minutes) - Interview with Robert Harris, screenwriter and author of the book from which the film is based. Discusses the book, original idea & vision as well as differences between the book, the film and reality. Also discusses working with director Roman Polanski, and processes and preparation along the way.
• The Cast of The Ghost Writer (11 minutes) - interviews with actors Ewan McGregor (The Ghost), Pierce Bronson (Adam Lang), Olivia Williams (Ruth Lang) & Kim Cattrall (Amelia Bly) and co-producer Timothy Burrill from everything to discussing Roman Polanski, to their characters, the development of their characters, the filming processes and working with each other.
• An Interview with Roman Polanski (8 minutes) - Interview with director Roman Polanski on the film, discusses working with writer Robert Harris, the casting, characters, story and locations.

The Ghost Writer is available on DVD as of August 3, 2010. Check it out over at Amazon.ca & Amazon.com

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it for the performances and the settings
I'd watch it again
I'd recommend it to fans of drama based thrillers and non-action political thrillers

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© Shannon Ridler, 2010


EWAN McGREGOR stars in THE GHOST WRITER, Photo Guy Ferrandis, Courtesy of E1 Entertainment


OLIVIA WILLIAMS in The GHOST WRITER, Courtesy of E1 Entertainment

Accidents Happen (DVD Review)

Dir: Andrew Lancaster - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Geena Davis, Harrison Gilbertson, Harry Cook, Joel Tobeck, Sebastian Gregory
UK/Australia, 2009

Reason to see: Geena Davis is a quirky comedy was something that I had to see.

The Conway family appears to be well out of any luck possible as they are prone to accident upon accident in Accidents Happen. Geena Davis as Gloria, the family matriarch, a character we'd expect to hold the family all together but she's actually abrasive and highly liberal in using colourful language that made my eyes widen more than once. All in front of the kids, of course, and in times of challenge and sorrow. This is actually a refreshing way to look at change and loss though, through dark comedy and at times hearing people voice what they actually think as oppose to being polite and saying all the right things, which the film has it's fair share does of as well.

Although I loved seeing Geena Davis and she's a true stand out and certainly has her own journey here, the film actually follows her youngest and 'the responsible one' of the sons, Billy played by Harrison Gilbertson. Billy is unlucky a lot in the film, from being witness to terrible events in, around and outside his family, and although he's subject to all of this somehow he's suppose to hold things together and be 'normal', when clearly no one else is. But, he's also a kid and all kids get into mischief and he certainly does with his brothers friend Doug (Sebastian Gregory from Beautiful (2009)), as they begin to become two friends that get some of the craziness of life out as they share and unspoken bond from both being in broken families.

How they incorporated the literally crazy darkness of incidents with not only dark but also regular humour is pretty amazing. The film is also highly quotable, although I'm not quite sure where I'd work "If my grandmother had balls she'd be my grandfather", into everyday conversation. Could lead into some interesting ones though!

DVD Extras:

• When Accidents Happen Featurette (3 minutes) - interviews with Geena Davis, director Andrew Lancaster, producer Anthony Anderson and screenwriter Brian Carbee discussing the film.
• Glorious Gloria Featurette (2 minutes) - Geena Davis on the character of Gloria, including her use of colourful language.
• Cast & Crew Interviews (8 minutes) - brief interviews with actors Geena Davis (Gloria), Harrison Gilbertson (Billy) & Joel Tobeck (Ray), director Andrew Lancaster, producer Anthony Anderson and screenwriter Brian Carbee. Some of the interview footage is the same footage that is used in the featurettes.
• Deleted Scenes (6 minutes) - 6 extended scenes from the film.
• Teaser & Trailer

Accidents Happen is available on DVD as of August 3, 2010. Check it out over at Amazon.ca & Amazon.com

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'd watch it again
I'd recommend it to drama fans who like a dose of dark comedy

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2010

Monthly Reading Check-in: July 2010

I think June must have been a crazy epic book reading month, because in July I 'only' got through 9 books and somehow that doesn't seem to compare with June's crowning 12. That 9 doesn't take into account the only partially read The Girl Who Played with Fire, which I had to return to the library before finishing it! I will get it again someday though! Now let's look at a selection of books that I did read in July, mostly ones for the 2010 Book to Film Challenge.

Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
I absolutely adored this book. I had borrowed it from my sister years ago, before there was even mention of it being a film. I tried to read it years ago but I just couldn't do it, because it was at the time way to close to home. But now, I adored it. Reading the book, which is a 1 year memoir through Italy, India and Indonesia, is literally reading the journey of the author in search of everything, including herself. Inspiring, refreshingly open & honest and completely realitble, I'm delighted it enjoyed 158 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers list and I think all of my women friends have already read it so I feel really behind on this sucker but I'm so glad that I waited to read it, because trying to push through it years ago would have been not the right thing to do. Reading it now was perfect. I loved it. It was delightful, healing, truthful and powerful. Oddly, the reason to read predates the fact that's it is going to be a film, although it was inspiration to get through it before the films release on August 13, 2010. The film version stars Julia Roberts as Liz, with a supporting cast of Billy Crudup (Stephen) James Franco (David), Richard Jenkins (Richard) and Javier Bardem (Felipe). I hope the film stays very true to the journey of the book.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (re-read) Book 4 of 7
Harry Potter reading countdown continues, as the plan is to read all of them before film 7.1 comes out in November. The Goblet of Fire is when the books blossom from a weekend read / very literal film adaptation to holy smokes that's a big sucker of a book / major adaptation to the film. This is the first book where I found huge elements were cut from book to film, albeit at 650 pages, you kind of have to. There is some shuffling of who does what and some characters completely omitted, but I think it's a solid adaptation, and I even like the film better in a lot of ways - specifically the art director of the World Cup and the Yule Ball - absolutely amazing. When I reviewed the film last year I noted and pondered on some odd gender things, and the book confirms that French school was not an all-girls only school, and I really wish they kept it that way in the film. Oddly it's never said one way or another if the Bulgarian school is just guys. Neville seems to be oddly inconsistent on the more or less scale here, I think in this one he's in the film more than the books - and who doesn't love Neville?

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, Narina book # ? I can't figure out the order
So a while ago we finally got a trailer for The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, which made me quick run and request a copy of the book although I was going to leave it for way later in the year. Resistance was broken and I had to read it and boy did I read it quickly, one day and mostly in transit being out and about on the town. What keeps me away from this series, although I always keep thinking it won't be there, is that it has some really strong religious undertones and analogies. I do like how they've done the film adaptations though, where that isn't as prevalent, it's like they found a happy medium where if it's something that is meaningful for you it's present and you can embrace it, but if it will rub you the wrong way it isn't so overt that it will throw you out of the film. Back to the book though, I was surprized that the trailer showed Susan and Peter as they aren't really in the book, which is more so the adventure is Lucy, Edmund, Caspian, Reepicheep and a new character Eustace whom I wrote in my notes as 'a bit of a git'. It story was sweeping adventure stuff all over the place and was overall a lot of fun and now I'm really looking forward to the film which hits theatres December 10, 2010 (in 3D).

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (book 3 of 5)
Last up for this month is continuing the Percy Jackson series, and I'm continuing to really enjoy the books. Although I'm not super keen on their take on Artemis, which is an interesting interpretation but very keep women/men separate from each other, I love that Artemis is *in* the book. The series is a really fun take on Greek Mythology, not only in being very clever but often in being funny. I think this installment really enjoys going epic and really has things that would be stunning visually, I can totally see why they'd make these film adaptations because I could literally see what was happening while reading. It also gracefully incorporates Percy learning responsibility and the affect actions and decisions have giving really great character development. I can't wait to dive into Book 4!

This puts me at 15/20 of the books read for the 2010 Book to Film Challenge with only what's left being Harry Potter 5 - 7, The Tempest and Return of the King which I never got through earlier this year. Looking promising to complete by the end of the year!

Fellow readers, feel free to friend me over at GoodReads!

Before the Dawn - Episode 62: The Music of Eclipse

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 62 is up!

This week at Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast, and this week it's all music to our ears as Marina & I chat about the soundtrack and score of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Check it out over at Before the Dawn.

Poll Results: What August Release Are You Most Looking Forward To?

You have voted and the results are in! Not a sweep this month but a steady lead for Eat, Pray, Love at 33% (I'm so close to finishing the book and now am really looking forward to the film!). In second place is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World with 22% and in third the Australian crime film Animal Kingdom with 16%. Next up we have a tie at 11% with The Expendables & Piranha 3D and then the phenomenal The Disappearance of Alice Creed at 5%. August is shaping up to look like quite the exciting month!

33% - Eat, Pray, Love
22% - Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
16% - Animal Kingdom
11% - Tie: The Expendables & Piranha 3D
5% - The Disappearance of Alice Creed

Thanks for voting!

Reverend's Reviews: For the Bis

With the Outfest Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival just concluding one of its best events in recent years, it was nonetheless clear yet again that the "B" in GLBT too often gets short shrift. This isn't festival programmers' faults since few bisexual-themed films are currently being made, according to a panelist who spoke after the North American premiere of Bisexual Revolution at Outfest on July 10.

The French-made documentary (which is subtitled, in English, Bisexuality: Is It An Art?) is the best cinematic exploration of the subject to date, which isn't hard to conclude when last year's woeful Bi the Way is seemingly the genre's high point. Filmmakers Eric Wastiaux and Laure Michel interviewed bisexual men and women around the world and compiled the insights gained for Bisexual Revolution. The result was shown last year on French television and reportedly ignited overnight a national discussion and a resultant, increased acceptance of bisexuality there.

Wastiaux and Michel, who also participated in the post-screening discussion, confessed to being dubious of bisexuality prior to filming. Both came away believers, and Wastiaux even engaged in his first same-sex experience. The doc takes a broad approach to understanding bisexuality, with Dr. Alfred Kinsey's famed scale of sexuality a particularly helpful resource. Kinsey's research in the 1950's revealed that the vast majority of human beings are neither 100% heterosexual nor 100% homosexual. Rather, we fall along various points of sexual orientation depending on our life experiences, attractions and values. The concept and practice of human sexuality emerged as much more fluid than conservative politicians and religious leaders would have us believe.

Bisexual Revolution makes this 50-year old finding abundantly clear. People of various genders, nationalities, ethnicities and ages discuss their bisexuality on camera with wisdom and honesty. Among the interviewees are American filmmaker John Cameron Mitchell (of Shortbus and Hedwig and the Angry Inch fame), French pop star Yelle, and numerous prominent writers, artists and educators.

At a concise 61 minutes, the film provides a great overview while hardly presuming to be the last word on the topic. Indeed, it serves as a great conversation-starter as evidenced by the French broadcast's aftermath and the post-screening discussion at Outfest. Audience members didn't shy from revealing their own, less-than-100%-gay-or-lesbian experiences. One transgender viewer commented about how even more complex sexuality is from her perspective!

It is unfortunate that bisexuality remains an often confounding and even taboo subject in straight, gay and lesbian circles alike. Bisexual Revolution can only help to de-stigmatize it, thanks to the film's declaration of the great truth that human beings and sexuality are too intricate to be categorized or labeled.

Watch the trailer for Bisexual Revolution here.

Reverend's Rating: B+

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

Films on TMN in August 2010

Here's a look at some of the new & notable films debuting on TMN (The Movie Network) this month!

Must See's

• Bronson- directed by Nicolas Winding Refn (The Pusher Trilogy, Valhalla Rising) and starring Tom Hardy, is well more than enough to get me to see any film and after seeing Bronson, I've cemented that I'll always see any work either of them do. Bronson is a biopic on a man in prison who supplanted his own personality with that of Charles Bronson and has the goal of reaching fame through becoming known for being violent. I know that might make a lot of people think it's a no, but believe me this film is a yes, yes, yes. Tom Hardy is a force to be reckoned with and he is the heart of the film give a performance that is easily one of the best of 2009. You might not know his name yet, although trekkies will recognize him as Praetor Shinzon from Star Trek: Nemesis, or most recently as Eames delivering all the best lines in Inception. And we'll continue to see his work as it was recently announced that he's playing the title role in the upcoming 2012 remake of Mad Mad. One of the best films of 2009.
• Valentino: The Last Emperor - fantastic documentary on the fashion designed Valentino and his haute couture fashion house, life and work. A must for any fashion folk.
• The Young Victoria - Another film that is one of the best films of 2009, this one starring Emily Blunt as a, you guessed it, young Queen Victoria. It's absolutely breathtaking not only as a period piece, but as a great film with a strong female protagonist that is based on a real person which is so refreshing to see. It's also beautifully about power, leadership and love. It truly has it all.

Highly Enjoyable

• The Fourth Kind - I know this one wasn't everyones cup of tea given the fact that the previews indicate that it's based on fact (when it isn't), but either way it still was one of the scariest films I had seen in years.
• Big River Man - fascinating documentary following Slovenian endurance swimmer Martin Strel's attempt to swim the Amazon River.

The Biggie's

• Inglourious Basterds - I can't not mention this one as so many people talk about it and I'm sure many want to see it. Won't be me though, no interest there.
• Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire - Not a perfect film, but certainly a powerful film with fantastic performances of people on a brutal journey. Kleenex is required for viewing though. Lots of it.

CanCon

• Defendor - Hamilton-set regular-guy-thinks-he's-a-superhero film starring Woody Harrelson. Not quite my cup of tea but I know lots of people that really enjoyed it.

My To Watch List

• The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day - probably won't see this this month as I still have to see the *first* Boondock Saints first!
• The Box - I'll watch any thrillers, but I wasn't interested in the premise of this one enough to see it in the theatre
• The Informant - Matt Damon = yes. Plus, the based-on-true-life-but-looks-too-unbelievable-to-believe and whistle-blower thing is just too crazy to pass up.
• Tetro - missed this Francis Ford Coppola film during it's limited theatrical release
• The Time Traveller's Wife - Another one not likely to see this month as I want to get through the book first, and I've been trying to do that since sometime last year!

How I Did With July
So last month I set out six films that I was interested in seeing that were debuting on TMN: Armoured, AstroBoy, The Final Destination, Flame & Citron, The Invention of Lying and Love & Savagery. Out of those 6 I only managed to see one of them, and oddly that was The Final Destination which was pretty much awful however pretty much exactly what I expected. I did also get to see Surrogates which was no where near as awful as everyone is saying, and caught Stuart: A Life Backwards because it stars Tom Hardy (yes, I'm talking about him again and will continue to urge you to see Bronson) and it was good but a bit of a hard watch due to content of the protagonist being a suicidal/drug addict/homeless man... but it still is a great performance. I also freely admit to watching both Robsessed and Twilight in Forks: The Saga of a Small Town, both Twilight-centric documentaries, with Robsessed being focused on Robert Pattinson and it was okay but felt very much like something you'd see on a music TV channel about a 'star', but Twilight in Forks: The Saga of a Small Town was actually a very well put together and interesting documentary on the Twi-Effect on the real town of Forks. I talk about those two films more in depth on the latest episode of Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast.

These are just some of the highlights I've picked out of what is new this month on TMN. They have loads more titles and you can check them out all over at the TMN website.