Film Fan Fridays for Friday April 24, 2009

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday April 24, 2009! It feels like a quiet week when we only have 5 releases, and most have a sad or trying undertone - which feels like the tone of the moment. I swear something must be in retrograde because holy smokes everyone seems to be a bit down. Hopefully one of these films can cheer you up!

In limited release this week we have two films, both with a focus on relationships. The Canadian film Only shows use the subtle strength of friendship and Three Monkeys / Üç maymun the 2008 Cannes winner for Best Director (Nuri Bilge Ceylan) shows the strain of relationships in trying times.

In wide release this week we certainly have people facing some struggles. In Fighting, Channing Tatum is a streetwise fighter who gets a glimpse at something more. We also have Obsessed starring Ali Larter who is... wait for it... obsessed with her boss, Idris Elba. Last up we finally have the release of The Soloist starring Jamie Foxx as a near forgotten Cellist until he finds a friend played by Robert Downey Jr.

Along with regular releases, we also are full on in festival season. I'll be attending Hot Docs which opens next Thursday so be sure to check out daily coverage here at Movie Moxie from April 30 - May 10, 2009.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Hot Docs
Canadian International Documentary Film Festival
April 30 - May 10, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sprockets
Toronto International Film Festival for Children
Continues until April 24, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Continues until April 26, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday April 24, 2009 Releases

Fighting
Dir: Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints)
Cast: Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Zulay Henao, Luis Guzmán
USA
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Obsessed
Dir: Steve Shill - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Ali Larter, Idris Elba, Beyoncé Knowles
USA
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Only
Simon Reynolds & Ingrid Veninger - feature film directorial debuts
Cast: Jacob Switzer, Elena Hudgins Lyle, Ingrid Veninger, Simon Reynolds
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Soloist
Dir: Joe Wright (Atonement)
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener, Tom Hollander
UK/USA/France
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Three Monkeys / Üç maymun
Dir: Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Climates / Iklimler, Distant / Uzak)
Cast: Yavuz Bingol, Hatice Aslan, Rifat Sungar, Ercan Kesal, Cafer Köse, Gürkan Aydin
Turkey/France/Italy
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of April 24, 2009**

Toon Talk: What a Wonderful World

This past Wednesday (Earth Day, naturally), Walt Disney Studios launched the new film label “Disneynature”, the mission of which is to bring high quality, family-friendly nature documentaries back to the big screen. Considering the popular and critical success of such recent examples of the genre as Winged Migration and March of the Penguins, it is not surprising that the Mouse House would want to get back in the business that they themselves pioneered some sixty years ago with the legendary True-Life Adventures. And with Earth, the first of the planned annual releases under the Disneynature banner, that legacy has been reborn.


Culled from footage gathered for the award-winning Planet Earth television series, Earth is filled with innumerable instances of breath-taking, jaw-dropping beauty. The crystal-clear images — captured through the use of high tech, high def cameras and skillful photography — never fail to amaze the viewer with the wonders of this planet of ours. Truly, superlatives do not do justice to what you see and experience while watching this film, especially if you see it in a theater with state of the art digital projection and surround sound systems.

UPDATE: Earth is now available on DVD and Blu-rayfrom Amazon.com.

Click here to continue reading my Toon Talk review of Earth at LaughingPlace.com.

Only

Writers/Directors: Simon Reynolds & Ingrid Veninger - feature film directorial debuts
Cast: Jacob Switzer, Elena Hudgins Lyle, Ingrid Veninger, Simon Reynolds
Canada, 2009

Reason to see: Compelled by the premise of two kids just around teenager age forming an unlikely friendship, and missed it at TIFF'08

Only was inspired by Northern Ontario in the 70's, a vibe that you can certainly feel in the film but the beauty of it is how it transcends time and place and lands on a chance friendship that could happen anytime or anywhere.

The young leads played by Jacob Switzer and Elena Hudgins Lyle give strong performances showing how different we can be depending on who we are with and what our relationship is with those around us. Who brings out the troublemaker in you and or who are you around when you get to be truly yourself. We learn from the two protagonists, Daniel & Vera as they learn from each other about their worlds, their thoughts and experiences in a way that rings true to friendships that crop up in unlikely but beautiful places.

Only is fantastic exploration of friendship through everyday adventures and how they can make the world special. The quiet pace and gentle tone of the film give a naturalistic feel that is easy to relax into and relate to. The music fits in perfectly, bridging characters in a unique way.

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'll watch it again
I recommend it

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009

On the Edge of 17, Again: Canadian, North American & UK Box Office April 17, 2009 Weekend

17 Again tops the Canadian and North American box office charts on it's opening weekend. This makes the second week in a row of top honours going to the younger crowd with last weeks opening of Hannah Montana: The Movie. State of Play did land in the top 5 for both in it's debut week, whereas Crank: High Voltage only came in 6th in Canada and North America, and 5th in the UK. Fast & Furious and Monsters vs. Aliens are both holding on strong settling in the top tier of the charts.

In the Loop which debuted in the UK at #8 is a political comedy starring Tom Hollender, Steve Coogan and James Gandolfini got a stellar review on the Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo's Film Review podcast from April 17, 2009 (which also confirmed my suspicious when it described Crank: High Voltage as a film that 'hates women'). In the Loop is set for a limited US release on July 24, 2009 but no info yet for a Canadian release. Fingers crossed we will see it in theatres here this year.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the April 17, 2009 weekend
1. 17 Again *
2. Hannah Montana: The Movie
3. Monsters vs. Aliens
4. State of Play *
5. Fast & Furious
6. Crank: High Voltage *
7. I Love You, Man
8. Observe and Report
9. Knowing
10. Met Opera: Madama Butterfly *
11. Dragonball: Evolution
12. The Haunting in Connecticut
13. Adventureland
14. Duplicity
15. Tera Mera Ki Rishta
16. Sunshine Cleaning
17. Watchmen
18. Under the Sea 3D
19. Taken
20. Two Lovers

Top 20 Movies in North America for the April 17, 2009 weekend
1. 17 Again *
2. State of Play *
3. Hannah Montana: The Movie
4. Monsters vs. Aliens
5. Fast & Furious
6. Crank: High Voltage *
7. Observe and Report
8. Knowing
9. I Love You, Man
10. The Haunting in Connecticut
11. Dragonball: Evolution
12. Adventureland
13. Duplicity
14. Sunshine Cleaning
15. Race to Witch Mountain
16. Taken
17. Paul Blart: Mall Cop
18. The Last House on the Left
19. 12 Rounds
20. Sin Nombre

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the April 17, 2009 weekend
1. Monsters vs Aliens
2. Fast & Furious
3. 17 Again
4. I Love You, Man *
5. Crank: High Voltage *
6. The Boat That Rocked
7. Race to Witch Mountain
8. In the Loop *
9. Knowing
10. Marley & Me

* indicates opening weekend in noted location, red text indicates Canadian film release

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Women We Love: Barbra Streisand

Object of our affection: Barbra Streisand, actress/ singer/composer/director/writer/producer.

- Where do you start with Miss Barbara Joan Streisand? She has conquered virtually every aspect of show business ... and has the awards to prove it (including lifetime achievement honors from the American Film Institute, the Kennedy Center Honors and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association). In addition to her performances on stage and screen, she is one of the most commercially and critically successful female entertainers in modern entertainment history and one of the best selling solo recording artists of all time.

- In the small but scene-stealing role of Miss Marmelstein in the musical I Can Get It for You Wholesale, she took Broadway by storm, followed by her star-making turn as the Funny Girl herself, Fanny Brice, in both New York and London. She won a special Tony Award in 1970.

- She would reprise her acclaimed performance of Brice in her film debut, Funny Girl, which won her an Academy Award and the first of seven Golden Globes. Additionally, she is the only person to have won Oscars for both acting and songwriting (for "Evergreen", the "Love Theme" from A Star is Born). Her film career has run the gamut from musicals (Hello, Dolly!, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Funny Lady) to dramas (The Way We Were, A Star is Born, Nuts) to comedies (The Owl and the Pussycat, What's Up, Doc?, The Main Event), culminating in directing herself in all three genres (Yentl, The Prince of Tides and The Mirror Has Two Faces, respectively). Most recently, she co-starred in the hit Meet the Fockers, and is set to return for its sequel, Little Fockers.

- Her first record, The Barbra Streisand Album, won the singer her first two Grammy Awards. She would go on to win seven more, for such other classic albums as My Name is Barbra, Color Me Barbra and The Broadway Album. She has recorded more than 60 albums (including 29 top ten hits), and her many hit singles include "Happy Days Are Here Again", "People", "The Way We Were", "Evergreen", "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" and "Somewhere".

- For television, she has won four Emmys out of nine nominations for her legendary musical specials, including My Name is Barbra, A Happening in Central Park, Barbra Streisand ... and Other Musical Instruments, Barbra Streisand: The Concert (which also won the Peabody Award) and Timeless: Live in Concert. She returns to TV this Saturday on the CBS special Streisand: Live in Concert, which will feature performances from her 2006 concert tour.

To All the Working Girls Out There ...

Happy Administrative Professionals' Day!

Reel Thoughts Interview: The Lady Bunny Speaks!

If you’ve seen the film Wigstock (and shame on you if you haven’t!), we have a trailblazing drag superstar named The Lady Bunny to thank for it. If you read a bio of the Tennessee-born, big-haired blonde, you’ll realize that she has been a part of many causes near and dear to the GLBTQ community. That doesn’t mean that she’s tactful and PC — far from it!

Travel to Tucson this Saturday for Wingspan’s Gay West ’09 celebration and you’ll get the pleasure of seeing the full range of Lady Bunny’s comic talents. I had the opportunity to ask the drag icon her views on life (... but forgot to ask her if she’s offended that Lady Gaga was clearly channeling her on American Idol):

NC: You've been described as Dusty Springfield-meets-Don Rickles, but I get more of a Barbara Eden in her prime. Who was your inspiration for Lady Bunny, and whose sense of humor do you love?


LB: Well, you are incredibly sweet! (and quite possibly blind!) I do idolize Barbara Eden! I got to meet her once at a Michael Alig party at the Limelight and she said, "I wish I could get my hair to do like yours!” I told her that every wig I ever wore was inspired by her looks on I Dream of Jeannie. I also loved Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stevens on Bewitched. I think I was just so bored growing up in Chattanooga, and desperately longed for some magic — and false eyelashes with big hair — to whisk me away from it all! As far as humor, I love Lisa Lampinelli, Sacha Baron Cohen, Amy Sedaris and Dame Edna!

NC: You'll be bringing your brand of fabulousness to Tucson, and I just hope Tucson's ready! What should people expect?
LB: My act is fairly raunchy comedy, but not all of it. I do a lot of song parodies like “All That Jizz” and “Don't Let Your Son Go Down on Me,” but I also sing a few less insane songs. And I'm a little bit country, so that always comes out when I play in the south and west ... (and I) do a little stand-up and a fairly R-rated, Laugh-In style joke routine.


NC: I'm impressed that you'll be honored along with Cleve Jones (creator of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt) and Patricia Field (Sex and the City's costume designer) by AMFAR this June. What causes are most important to you? What pisses you off most these days in general and in the gay community?
LB: I'm most concerned that we the people get involved in our government. We are politicians' bosses, yet we seldom exercise our own power. We did when we reversed the direction of the country's policy by electing Obama, but that's not nearly enough. Obama himself urged us to get involved, so let's stay involved.

I'm disgusted by the American people for sitting back and allowing Bush to steal one, maybe two elections and murder innocent Iraqis with my tax dollars. How does a supposedly Christian nation forget “Thou Shalt Not Kill” and create turmoil in a country that never sought to attack us? If that doesn't bother you, then you are disconnected from the process of government. We're supposedly fighting to spread democracy in the Middle East, yet it's been taken from us here in our own country.


Of course, it doesn't help that corporate interests run the country’s news, so we rarely hear the truth. How does a news anchor who is sandwiched between a commercial for BP and another oil company claim that the war is in Iraq is for oil? Their sponsors tie their hands. Why would a news anchor report that the rich have gotten richer in the last few years while the rest of us experience a recession if their bosses were among the filthy rich? It's a clear conflict of interest and our news is not telling us the truth.

NC: Your humor is so raucous and bawdy (and hilarious). How hard was it to develop your stage persona? Have you ever gotten in trouble for anything you've said?
LB: A religious group in Richmond, Virginia tried to press charges after I appeared at an all-ages Pride fest there. And footage of me on ecstasy in San Francisco Pride parade in the ’80s was used by a documentary in fundamentalist churches to show how far gone the homosexual lifestyle can become. I was high as a kite and flapping the wings in a fairy costume! I'm SO proud to be in that video!


NC: As the creator of Wigstock, you have definitely seen your share of drag performers. What do you think of the state of drag today? Did you follow RuPaul's Drag Race, since I know you've done a duet on RuPaul's new album?
LB: I am saddened that today, drag performers seem to think that it's the height of fierceness to recreate a video — choreography and all. In fact, Drag Race did just that with Beyoncé's “Single Ladies.” Where is the imagination in that? Before videos, queens like Hot Chocolate were tearing it down with their own, genius choreography, not mimicking a video. Why would anyone want to watch a video on TV all day and then see it recreated at night by a queen? I can't think of anything more tired. Overexpose the already overexposed? How about creating something new?

As far as Drag Race, Ru is one of my oldest friends and former roommates so I wish her all the best with the show. But elimination shows are not my cup of tea and I can't identify with this country's preoccupation with who is the best model, chef, drag queen or singer. Take for example the challenge in which Bebe Zahara Benet had to rap on Drag Race. Since when does any successful drag queen need to rap? Yet people are living through these meaningless "challenges." I prefer to focus on real life challenges like getting out of a recession and a war we claimed to have won years ago. We need to focus on getting our country (and the whole world if you count global warming) back on track. That is deserving of our undivided attention. Whether a drag queen can rap or not isn't. On a side note, Bebe did prove that not all black people have rhythm while trying to rap!


NC: I never knew you DeeJayed! What drew you to doing that? How were the Bravo A-List Awards, and how’d you get on with Kathy Griffin?
LB: I don't really spin the latest circuit sounds — I like to mix up everything from disco to contemporary R&B and dance classics like Deee-Lite and Crystal Waters. And I managed to sneak in a duet I've written and recorded with RuPaul called “Throw Ya Hands Up” on Ru's new album, Champion. I've met Kathy once and she could not have been more chilled out and sweet.

NC: You just won an AVN (Adult Video News) Award for best non-sexual performance. What was that event like, and what do you hope comes from the award?
LB: I actually don't follow porn, so I didn't even know I was nominated! But Michael Lucas is a friend and so he asked me to do a demented cameo (in his movie Brothers Reunion). I'd like to parlay my win into some sexual roles — on and off camera! But I might wanna lose a few of my own rolls before I attempt that! OINK!


NC: You keep a pretty crazy travel schedule. How do you manage to keep sane and keep those gargantuan wigs looking so fierce?
LB: Photoshop!

NC: You've said you're pretty political, and I am more than happy to give you a bullhorn, so to speak. What's on your mind?
LB: It's the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the birth of gay rights. And somehow we've lost our fighting spirit. We need to get it back somehow. I just performed in Connecticut and Massachusetts on two consecutive nights. They now both have legalized gay marriage! Which proves that you can get what you want if you fight for it. But no one is going to fight for you. So stop bitching unless you're ready to organize and do the actual work. Showing up and getting drunk at a glitzy benefit once a year is not activism.


NC: You're taking part in Gay West ’09 in Tucson on almost the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. What does gay pride mean to you, and how has it changed over the years?
LB: I've really enjoyed seeing gay events in smaller cities over the last few years — the diverse elements really seem to celebrate and enjoy each other. We all know that the primary image within our own gay publications is of a young, buff, white male, and we are so much more varied than that. Unfortunately, NYC's parade is all about advertising, with straight go-go boys hired to dance on floats hawking lube, some nightclub or some booze. It's important that we come together one day a year to show that there is no shame in our game and to feel our strength in numbers.

But one day isn't enough. Our enemies meet in a church 52 times a year, so the odds are 52-1 that our gay agenda will be advanced by going out and getting drunk wearing rainbow outfits. I love a party too, but where is our fighting spirit? Where's the organization of our movement. Did you go and cry, as I did, when watching Milk? Well, where are the new Harvey Milks? I see most young gays as the shallowest generation I've ever encountered.

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