Year: 2016

TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews: ELLE, Director Paul Verhoeven

festreviews 2016 movies, Movie Review, TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews, Uncategorized , , , ,

Movie Reviews of films that will be playing at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in 2016. Go to TIFF 2016 Movie Reviews and read reviews of films showing at the festival.

elle.jpgELLE (France/Germany 2016) ***1/2
Directed by Paul Verhoeven
Stars: Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny

Review by Gilbert Seah

Paul Verhoeven is known for both his Dutch foreign films (SPETTERS, THE FOURTH MAN, SOLDIER OF ORANGE) and Hollywood blockbusters (TOTAL RECALL, ROBOCOP, SHOWGIRLS).

His first feature film in 10 years proves to be a critical success as already celebrated at Cannes. Based on the novel Oh… by Philippe Djian, and written by David Birke, the film trails the life of a businesswoman, Michèle (brilliantly portrayed by Isabelle Huppert), who is raped in her home by an unknown assailant and stalks him back.

Michèle rules her company like a tyrant but faces personal problems like her failed marriage to Richard (Charles Berling), her slacker son (Jonas Bloquet) and a lacklustre affair with Robert (Christian Berkel). But she has not come to terms with her father’s crime.

Her father is a serial killer who is still in prison without parole. Her mother is getting re-married to a young buck makes matters worse. Verhoeven plays his film slick and efficient, but the films slags a bit before picking up again. All of Michèle’s problems eventually come together in the solid narrative with a bang-on message. The rape scene is played several times, each time just as (but necessarily) gruesome. The film is Verhoeven at his twisted and perverted best.

Trailer: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=OVBEV1w7too

Died Today (August 25th): Truman Capote (1924–1984)

festreviews Died Today, Uncategorized ,

Truman Capote.jpgTruman Capote

Born: September 30, 1924 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Died: August 25, 1984 (age 59) in Los Angeles, California, USA

I think I’ve written one masterpiece in my career and that’s “In Cold Blood”. It is a masterpiece and I don’t care what anyone says. I think I’ve also written three or four short stories that are as good as anything written in the English language.

[on Marilyn Monroe] She is pure Alice in Wonderland, and her appearance and demeanor are a nicely judged mix of the Red Queen and a flamingo.

Died Today (August 25th): Aaliyah (1979–2001)

festreviews Uncategorized , ,

Aaliyah.jpgAaliyah

Born: January 16, 1979 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Died: August 25, 2001 (age 22) in Marsh Harbour, Abaco Island, Bahamas

(August 25, 2001) Aaliyah and eight other people died in a plane crash on the return trip from shooting a music video in the Bahamas. The crash, which happened about 200 yards from Marsh Harbour Airport on Abaco Island in the Bahamas, was determined to have been caused by the plane being overweight by more than 700 pounds, and with one more person than the plane was rated for.

[interview in July 2001 with Germany’s “Die Zeit” newspaper that eerily predicts her death] It is dark in my favorite dream. Someone is following me. I don’t know why. I’m scared. Then suddenly I lift off. Far away. How do I feel? As if I am swimming in the air. Free. Weightless. Nobody can reach me. Nobody can touch me. It’s a wonderful feeling.

Happy Birthday: Rachael Ray

festreviews Happy Birthday ,

Rachael Ray.jpgRachael Ray

Born: August 25, 1968 in Glens Falls, New York, USA

That’s why I love food, ’cause it makes the best scrapbook. I mean, pictures are great but they’re not very tasty.

I’m Always on the lookout for safety ’cause I’m an especially accident prone girl.

I can say this. I am a cheese-in-a-can virgin. So… [tastes it, makes a face] …mmm, much like many of our first experiences. A little bit sticky, and not that memorable.

Happy Birthday: John Savage

festreviews Happy Birthday , ,

johnsavage.jpgJohn Savage

Born: August 25, 1949 in Old Bethpage, Long Island, New York, USA

I love plays like “Of Mice and Men.” Modern classics. They tell you so much about America, how things were. The time it’s about wasn’t all that long ago, but we often forget times, and things, we should remember.

The Deer Hunter
1978
dir. Michael Cimino
starring
Robert DeNiro
Meryl Streep
HAIRHair
1979
dir. Milos Foreman
starring
Savage
Treat Williams
Do the Right Thing
1989
dir. Spike
starring
Danny Aielo
Ossie Davis
THE GODFATHER PART IIIThe Godfather Part III
1990
dir. Ford Coppola
Starring
Al Pacino
Diane Keaton		 movie posterADMISSIONS
2004
dir. Melissa Painter
Starring
Lauren Ambrose
Amy Madigan

Happy Birthday: Blair Underwood

festreviews Happy Birthday , ,

blairunderwood.jpgBlair Underwood

Born: August 25, 1964 in Tacoma, Washington, USA

Married to: Desiree DaCosta (17 September 1994 – present) (3 children)

It’s so easy to sell your soul or sell out or cop out, and what it really comes down to is choices. If you have some kind of game plan, or at least a faith in your ability, it doesn’t matter if this town validates you or not because you’re already validated by your gifts. I just try to stay focused on what I have to offer.

SOUL OF THE GAME
1996
dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Stars:
Delroy Lindo
Mykelti Williamson

tv POSTERIRONSIDE TV SHOW PILOT
2013
Creators: Michael Caleo, Collier Young
MADEA’S FAMILY REUNION
2006
dir. Tyler Perry
Stars:
Blair Underwood
Lyn Whitfield

 

Happy Birthday: Billy Ray Cyrus

festreviews Happy Birthday , ,

billyraycyrus.jpgBilly Ray Cyrus

Born: August 25, 1961 in Flatwoods, Kentucky, USA

Married to: Tish Cyrus (28 December 1993 – present) (3 children)

[on Miley Cyrus] How many interviews did I give and say, ‘You know what’s important between me and Miley is I try to be a friend to my kids’? I said it a lot. And sometimes I would even read other parents might say, ‘You don’t need to be a friend, you need to be a parent.’ Well, I’m the first guy to say to them right now: You were right. I should have been a better parent. I should have said, ‘Enough is enough-it’s getting dangerous and somebody’s going to get hurt.’ I should have, but I didn’t. Honestly, I didn’t know the ball was out of bounds until it was way up in the stands somewhere.

Happy Birthday: Tom Skerritt

festreviews Happy Birthday , ,

tomskerritt.jpgTom Skerritt

Born: August 25, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, USA

It’s concentration and luck. There are many prominent people in this business who choose certain types of pictures and play a derivation of a certain character they always play so they are immediately identifiable — and they are commercially successful because of it. I have never pursued that. I just do films that I would pay five bucks to see.

MASH
1970
dir. Altman
Starring
Donald Sutherland
Elliot Gould		 HAROLD AND MAUDEHarold and Maude
1971
dir. Ashby
starring
Bud Cort
Ruth Gordon
ALIENAlien
1979
dir. Scott
starring
Skerritt
Weaver
THE DEAD ZONEThe Dead Zone
1983
dir. David Cronenberg
Starring
Christopher Walken
Brooke Adams
WHITEOUT Movie PosterWhiteout
2009
dir. Dominic Sena
Starring
Beckinsale
Gabriel Macht		 MOVIE POSTERTHE DEAD ZONE
1983
dir. by David Cronenberg
Stars:
Christopher Walken
Brooke Adams