Movie Review: NINOTCHKA, 1939

Tribute review for actor Greta Garbo. Happy Birthday today!

NINOTCHKA MOVIE POSTER
NINOTCHKA, 1939
Movie Reviews

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch
Starring: Greta Garbo, Elvyn Douglas, Bela Lugosi
Review by Patrick Askin

SYNOPSIS:

A stern Russian woman sent to Paris on official business finds herself attracted to a man who represents everything she is supposed to detest.

REVIEW:

“Ninotchka” from MGM released in 1939 and directed by the incomparable Ersnt Lubitsch is one of the great all -time comedies from the classic film era. This movie is like a fine champagne, it is delicate, bubbly and gets better with each viewing. The movie stars GRETA GARBO and is famous for the tag line “GARBO LAUGHS.” She is simply marvelous as a dour Soviet official with no sense of humor sent to Paris to oversee her incompetent but lovable co-workers who have bungled selling Soviet goods to the French.

The movie is basically a subtle satire of THE SOVIET UNION and also a subtle glorification of all things Capitalism. One of my favorite lines in the film is when Melvin Douglass who plays the charming French aristocrat Count Dagou meets the overly serious GARBO he says” Oh A Russian, I love Russians, I’ve been admiring you five year plan for fifteen years.”

So Count Dagou and Ninotchka(Garbo) end up falling in love despite their differences which sets a a confrontation of cultures and lots of comic twists in the plot. Garbo’ s supporting cast is full of wonderful character types and film also stars the wonderful INA CLAIRE as the former Grand Duchess Swana from Czarist Russia now living in exile in Paris.

Ersnt Lubitsch was a German emigree who’s directing style was known as the “Lubitsch touch” and it is never better than in this film. No one was better at sophisticated comedy than he was. There are so many great moments in this film but the comedy is subtly funny not laugh out load uproariously funny.The movie was released in 1939 which is considered the most Golden year of the Golden era. It received many Academy award nominations but that was the year of “Gone with the Wind” so it was overshadowed a bit. Garbo was nominated for Best Actress and it’s a shame she never won one because not only was she a great beauty she was also a wonderful actress and it’s too bad she didn’t make more comedies. Her talent like her beauty is timeless and she has a wonderful time here poking fun here at her own image.

All the elements of this film come together perfectly between the great writing, directing and acting. I’ve watched this film over ten times and it just gets better each time and it is about as perfect a movie as you can get. Unfortunately this sort of sophisticated type of comedy is sorely lacking in today’s films. When you watch this movie it doesn’t feel dated, there is always a market for satire and I think there is still an audience today for this type of movie.

So if you going to pick one comedy to watch from the Golder Age of Hollywood you can’t do any better the “Ninotchka.” But I suggest you watch it more than once because there are many little moments to cherish here. And if you are a Garbo fan or have never heard of her then this is also. a must see film

 

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Movie Review: …AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, 1979

Review for tribute to Jack Warden, born today. Amazing character actor. One of his best works.

AND JUSTICE FOR ALL,  MOVIE POSTERAND JUSTICE FOR ALL, 1979
Movie Reviews

Directed by Norman Jewison

Cast; Al Pacino, Jack Warden, John Forsythe, Lee Strasberg, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Lahti, Dominic Chianese, Craig T Nelson
Review by Surinder Singh

SYNOPSIS:

Ethical Baltimore lawyer Arthur Kirkland (Al Pacino) desperately battles the establishment of law when his case to free the innocent Jeff McCullaugh (Thomas Waites) is thrown out by the furiously unforgiving judge Fleming (John Forsythe) over a technicality. Soon enough the tables are turned and judge Fleming is arrested on a charge of rape and battery. Fleming specifically requests to be represented by Kirkland, which presents the honest lawyer with a conflict of interest…

REVIEW:

…And Justice for All arrived at the tail end of what is in hindsight the decade that Al Pacino did some of his best work. With roles like Michael Corleone, Frank Serpico and Sonny Wortzik already behind him, Pacino had to a lot to live up to! Arthur Kirkland is one the less renowned roles that Pacino has played, even though the movie carries one of the most famous Pacino quotes of all time: “You’re out of order! You’re out of order! The whole trial is out of order!” This is perhaps due to Kirkland not being as visually striking as the stylish Michael Corleone or as outrageously fashioned as Frank Serpico. Either way, Kirkland is a topnotch Pacino performance!

We first see lawyer Kirkland sat in a jail cell amongst the incarcerated. Having thrown a punch at judge Fleming, Kirkland’s “passion” has isolated him from other lawyers safely in their apartments. Kirkland in many respects is much like Serpico in that he’s a man who is standing up against what he believes is wrong in his own institution. Kirkland faces a minefield of moral dilemma everyday of his life, luckily he has at least one escape: his grandfather Sam (Lee Strasberg). It’s worth noting that Strasberg was Pacino’s real-life acting coach/mentor during his days at the Actor’s Studio and the relationship certainly shows on screen.

What is so striking about this low-key movie is how strong the script is, thus completely understandable why Pacino signed on. Even though the film takes place in a world of suited-and-booted lawyers, there is never a dull moment or a shortage of interesting characters in Kirkland’s life. When Kirkland is invited by his friend and colleague the unconventional judge Rayford (Jack Warden) on a helicopter ride, it ends in a near-death landing! The scene is wonderfully comical with Warden as a man who has a playful relationship with fate; he shows the terrified Kirkland the importance of being courageous and taking risks.

Being true to himself is certainly a risk Kirkland will have to face in the challenge ahead of him. When Kirkland’s colleagues tell him Fleming has been arrested and wants to be defended by him the sheer absurdity causes the men laugh hysterically! The scene shows a great understanding of humor and director Jewison handles the scene with skill. Pacino makes you laugh out loud (despite the seriousness of the case) you have to stand back and laugh at his character’s circumstance. Fleming is largely responsible for Kirkland’s innocent, young client being sat in a jail with dangerous criminals. What makes things worse is when Fleming confesses to Kirkland he is in fact guilty of the rape.

As the film progresses, the moral questions begin to press heavily upon Kirkland. Pacino revels in this opportunity to do one of the things he does best: portraying someone with deep inner conflicts. Pacino pushed this skill to the limit in the famous “Sollozo Scene” in The Godfather (1972). With his dark eyes Pacino gazes out at others but draws you into his character’s mind and emotions. The camera loves Pacino’s long, staring pose and when it’s on him you cannot watch anyone else in frame. Pacino displays this skillfully in the scene where his colleague Porter (Jeffery Tambor) reveals that his guilty client (that he cleared) has now murdered again. The guilt is eating away at Porter and we see in Pacino’s eyes the conversation Kirkland is having with himself.

Kirkland has to ask himself the question: “should I defend my guilty client because it’s my job to do so?” Kirkland is compelled to take the case or be disbarred from the practice of law (such is the influence of judge Fleming) Kirkland cannot evade the question. The filmmakers ensure we see a very bleak vision of the law; every excuse is given to Kirkland to lose faith in the justice system. When Kirkland makes demands of his client Fleming it’s clear that the judge has no intention of following orders and seems to be using his lawyer for political reasons. In this scene we are made aware that Kirkland is a puppet on a string and that he’s within a system attempting to control him.

From the very beginning we know that Kirkland is the outsider and so if anyone is going to rage against the machine it will be him! The final courtroom scene is a real treat for Al Pacino fans as it allows him a platform for one of his classic speeches! Pacino takes hold of everyone’s attention and destroys Fleming’s plea of innocence in a show-stopping rant: “And ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the prosecution is not going to get that man today, no, because I’m gonna get him! My client, the Honorable Henry T. Fleming, should go right to fucking jail! The son of a bitch is guilty!”

Pacino’s Kirkland finishes the movie with his principles intact and the crowd cheering. …And Justice for All is a simple morality tale about he importance of doing what you believe is right and just. What makes it great viewing is the acting and non-fussy direction that shows you what’s possible with the basics of narrative cinema: story and character.

 

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Movie Review: THE MISSION, 1986

Tribute review for Jeremy Irons who was born today. One of his best films.

THE MISSION MOVIE POSTER
THE MISSION, 1986
Movie Reviews

Directed by Roland Joffe
Starring: Robert DeNiro and Jeremy Irons
Review by Jeremy Richards

In 18th century South America Jesuit Father Gabriel (Irons) has come to set up a mission for the Native Guarani Indians. However, other more unscrupulous men like Rodrigo Mendoza (De Niro) are reaping the rewards of the slave trade. Enter Altamirano (Ray McAnally) a man who must decide whether the Jesuit missions will be left in safety or shut down for good. The final decision will pit men against each other as they hold steadfast for their beliefs and the rights of the Guarani.SYNOPSIS:

Review

The Mission is an immense film. It comes from director Roland Joffe who strived to elaborate on the viewer’s experience. The Mission has a documentary feel in its vast ambition of recapturing the lives of the Guarani Indians and Spanish settlers in 18th century South America.

In an inspired move Joffe decided to cast actual South American native peoples in a bid to bring more realism to the story. And as art mirrors reality, this film too had oppressed Native Americans playing the role of their oppressed forefathers adding to the films timeless appeal.

The 1980s ushered in a time when films seemed to have the most realistic quality. In the past film technology and special effects were probably considered too cheesy, and nowadays technology interferes so much that the viewer knows the film isn’t real. But films like The Mission hold a physical quality which allows you to feel as if you are a present in the action.

To help lose yourself within the film Joffe hired Robert De Niro and Jeremy Irons at the height of their careers to bring their commanding presence forward. But more impressive than the Hollywood stars are their actual feats on camera. We tend to forget that what we see in a movie has to be filmed in real life. This means setting up a camera, setting up lights, and having extras act in the background. All this prep makes filming a scene in an empty street difficult, so to watch Robert De Niro carrying a heavy bundle through the Amazon makes you appreciate the film that much more.

The Guarani natives were unfamiliar with modern technology and in fact didn’t even understand cameras. Obviously they never had any modern acting training like Robert De Niro, but this also means their reactions would be true to themselves. The Mission is the kind of film you have to watch twice. Once to see the story unfold and twice to see the scope what you have just watched.

The subject matter is filmed delicately by Joffe to convey the scope and grandeur of what is being shot. The film takes you through dirty Spanish streets, beautiful Jesuit Missions, and into the luscious heart of the Amazon jungle. The sets and lighting further add texture and beauty to the scenes.

The films score also deserves mentioning as it has been listed by the AFI as the 23rd greatest score ever. And it is quite a good score with deep drenching emotion. It would almost be too sappy if it weren’t for the gravity of the films subject.

In the end one of the best points about this film is that it has a great subjective feel. You are not going to see a film about villains chasing jewels, there is no big heist, and not a single mythical creature. You are going to watch peoples emotions unravel as they travel through harrowing events.

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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: CARRIE PILBY (USA 2016) ***

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.

carrie_pilby_poster.jpgCARRIE PILBY (USA 2016) ***
Directed by Susan Johnson

Starring: Bel Powley, Nathan Lane, Gabriel Byrne

Review by Gilbert Seah

Being too smart might be detrimental to ones life. Based on Caren Lissner’s best-selling 2003 novel, CARRIE PILBY is a story of a awkward teen who graduated Harvard at the age of 19 and lives in a small NYC apartment paid for by her London-based father (Gabriel Byrne).

Carrie (Bel Powley) has no job, no purpose and no friends because she actively dislikes just about everyone (rating them “morally and intellectually unacceptable”) as only a teenager can.

Her one regular contact is her dad’s therapist friend, Dr. Petrov (Nathan Lane in rare role of an unfaithful straight man), who after a fruitless series of weekly visits finally sets Carrie some homework: a five-point plan to get her life together. As they say, nothing goes as planned. The plan results in her life turned more upside down. Johnson’s film takes half the film to get its footing.

The first half is really annoying with Carrie spurting out too much clever dialogue and the script getting too smug for tis own good. It treats its audience as simple folk that need a twist in every segment or needing a punch line after a dialogue.

The film gets more tolerable in the second half even turning to winning when Carrie finally gives up on the plan.

Part coming-of-age, part father/daughter relationship and part romance, CARRIE PILBY is a chick flick that finally rises, like is character at the end.

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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: BOYS IN THE TREES (Australia 2016)

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.

boys_in_the_trees_poster.jpg
BOYS IN THE TREES (Australia 2016) **
Directed by Nicholas Verso

Starring: Toby Wallace, Gulliver McGrath, Mitzi Ruhlmann

Review by Gilbert Seah

BOYS UNDER TREES contains an exciting premise – a coming-of-age story with gay overtones set in a small Australian town where the protagonist seeks to leave for the big city. The action takes place during Halloween where goals and Aborigine black magic exists.

The story unfolds over the course of an afternoon and deep into Halloween night, what occurs are also on the border separating the comforts of daytime and the eeriness of twilight. Some of the suburban territories they stumble into seem to contain a parallel realm of supernatural forebodings.

But the parallel universe theme does not really work and serve to confuse than to fascinate. Verso’s film is also so slow moving that one feels that it should have ended long before its short running time. The film also puzzles with a lot of questions like:

Is the snow in one scene real and if false who is supplying it and why is it toxic? Why is the girl in a different place for no reason?
Why is the Aborigine in the white suit appearing for no reason?

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gfx7L-pXCUg

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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: AQUARIUS (Brazil/France 2016) ****

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.

aquarius_posterAQUARIUS (Brazil/France 2016) ****
Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho

Starring: Sonia Braga, Maeve Jinkings, Julia Bernat

Review by Gilbert Seah

Filho’s AQUARIUS is again set in Recife, the seaside neighbourhood that he made famous in his last film NEIGHBOURING SOUNDS.

Though that one was mainly set at night, AQUARIUS is mainly shot in bright sunlight for most of the scenes. AQUARIUS focuses on an individual: Clara (ex-Brazilian sex symbol, who still maintains her looks, Sônia Braga), a retired music critic and the sole tenant of an older apartment block being bought up by ruthless condo developers.

After surviving a bout of cancer and the loss of her beloved husband, Clara is hardly about to let herself be bullied by the “generous” offers or insidious charms of Diego (Humberto Carrão), the American-educated scion of a powerful local real-estate firm. Diego tries everything in his power to force Clara out of her home, including (hilariously, but not for Clara) hosting a noisy orgy in the suite above Clara’s — one that leaves a putrid mess in its wake. The second half of the film is how Clara fights back. Filho builds up the suspense right up to the climatic confrontation.

The film also reveals the class system, prejudices and culture of the Brazilian society.

Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bBcLImYBgQ

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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: WEIRDOS (Canada 2016) ***

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.

weirdos_poster.jpgWEIRDOS (Canada 2015) ***
Directed by Bruce McDonald

Starring: Dylan Authors, Rhys Bevan-John, Francine Deschepper

Review by Gilbert Seah

Bruce McDonald (HARD CORE LOGO, THE TRACEY SEGMENTS) turns down the angst a little with his latest film penned by playwright and fellow filmmaker Daniel McIvor. The setting is the town of Antigonish in Nova Scotia on the 4th of July of 1976, the American Bicentennial. Music-loving 15-year-old Kit (Dylan Authors) spends his time either alone in his room listening to Elton John albums, or hanging out with his platonic girlfriend, Alice (Julia Sarah Stone).

Like Kit, Alice feels out of place, and her divorced parents have too many issues of their own to offer much comfort. The film pays tribute (or copies, depending on how one wants at look at it) from films like Woody Allen’s PLAY IT AGAIN SAM and John Schlesinger’s MIDNIGHT COWBOY. Andy Warhol appears at various points in the film, unseen by anyone except Kit giving silly advice to Kit which Kit never takes anyway.

This ploy by McIvor is remotely funny, but serves no purpose but provide a little humour. The beginning of the film feels like MIDNIGHT COWBOY together with the falsetto part of the song resembling “Everybody’s Talkin’ of me” by John Nilsson.

Throughout the entire film, one has the feeling McDonald thinks he is pretty cool and that his film is pretty cool stuff. It is a good thing he is a confident director, as his watchable film is inventive in certain places.

But the film is too weird, pretty much like its characters and all over the place.

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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: ARRIVAL (USA 2016) ****

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.

arrival_poster.jpgARRIVAL (USA 2016) ****
Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker

Review by Gilbert Seah

Finally arrives a sci-fi futuristic alien film without the blow ups, collapsing buildings and end of the world scenario. Well, all of the above might still happen but it is up to theoretical physicist, Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner) and linguistics expert, Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams0 to find out the purpose of the landings.

The landings occur at 12 different locations around the globe and there is a reason for that. Director Villeneuve (PRISONERS, ENEMY) builds up the suspense carefully aided by Jóhann Jóhannsson’s captivating score, unique set design by Patrice Vermette and cinematography by Bradford Young. But it is surprising that the best part of the film is the simple shot segment of Dr. Louise’s explanation of what it means to communicate the question: “What is the purpose of your visit?” to the visitors.

Every word and even the question mark and the pronoun you (singular or collective?) might have different meanings. The non-linearity of time is also a neat concept that is also examined.

The title ARRIVAL in the film, could also refer to two things – the arrival of the visitors or the birth of Dr. Louise’s baby.

ARRIVAL is a fascinating film on all counts.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFMo3UJ4B4g

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Movie Review: JAILBREAK (2016)

  MOVIE POSTERJAILBREAK, 1min., USA, Animation/Crime
Directed by Alise Munson

Shot in black and white, “Jailbreak” follows the daring escape of a prisoner fleeing his cell and his quest for sweet punishment. The animated short from HouseSpecial Director Aaron Sorenson is a German Expressionist-inspired design mash-up of stop-motion and illustration with a decidedly adult twist.

Seen at the August 2016 ANIMATION FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Jail Break coming to us from the USA and directed by Alise Munson is a delight for the senses.

The curious duet of stop-motion and art illusion is superb creating a reality and
otherworldliness that is both engaging and visually decadent.

The animation in this piece is detailed, lush and highly satisfying. The story packs of humourous punch for so short a film coming in at just under one minute in length. You can’t help but side with our hard bitten hero, a complex criminal with some choice eclectic tastes.

Jail Break follows our criminal hero as he escapes from prison, narrowly missing guards and various obstacles only to get himself chained up in another, more pleasureably sense.

Comic irony that adults will enjoy, and might just go over the heads of a young audience. (Hopefully.)

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Movie Review: TIME SMASH (2016)

  MOVIE POSTERTIME SMASH, 2min., USA, Animation/Sci-Fi
Directed by Benjamin Reicher

A time traveler goes back 2 weeks to stop himself from going to Cynthia’s new years party. Unfortunately, he brings his cat along and forgets to let him back into the machine when he returns to the present. The cat grabs onto the machine last second, becomes radioactive, and ends up in ancient Egypt. What the time traveler finds when he returns to the present is pretty messed up….

Seen at the August 2016 ANIMATION FEEDBACK Film Festival in Toronto.

Movie Review by Kierston Drier

Time Smash by USA director Benjamin Reicher, is frankly, hilarious. This is due to simple cinematic mathematics. The plot is clear, simple and concise, the visuals are strong and punchy, the story is strong and the punchline is fantastic.

The result is quick, effective comedy.

Our story opens on a young man bent on time traveling into the past by two weeks to tell his past self to avoid going to a party. Yet on his way back he has an unexpected guest in his travel machine his pet cat.

The cat stumbles out of the craft halfway through the journey getting hurled somewhere into the depths of space and time. When our hero returns to the present the future has been utterly altered.

It’s “an Oldie but a Goodie” plot line that nevertheless relies on a killer pay off to make the story really sing. And Oh Boy, does Time Smash deliver. The only line in the entire film, is well worth the wait.

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