gilbert seah

TIFF 2016 Movie Review: PLANETARIUM (France/Belgium 2016)

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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.

planetarium_poster.jpgPLANETARIUM (France/Belgium 2016) **
Directed by Rebecca Zlotowski

Starring: Natalie Portman, Lily-Rose Depp, Emmanuel Salinger

Review by Gilbert Seah

PLANETARIUM is beautifully shot period piece on the lives of two sisters who care too much for each other.

The setting is Paris in the 1930s, where two sisters, American spiritualists Laura (Natalie Portman) and Kate Barlow (Lily-Rose Depp), are winding up a world tour. Seemingly adept at communicating with the dead, the women are somewhat less experienced with the business of the living.

Nevertheless, their astonishing exhibit of apparently supernatural powers piques the interest of powerful French film producer André Korben (Emmanuel Salinger), who retains their strange talents for his wildly ambitious new film project. Laura and Kate are soon swept up in a scheme that, fusing art and the occult, portends a dark shadow soon to be cast over all of Europe.

The film is better than it sounds.

Portman inhabits her role similar to the one she did in her directorial debut A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS. But director Zlotoskski’s film feels very detached and one can hardly feel sympathetic for the sisters or even for the film producer. All pretty things aside, the film is quite the bore.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV3k-L10A2M

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

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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)

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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) ****

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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) ***

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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: LE CIEL FLAMAND (FLEMISH HEAVEN) (Belgium 2016)

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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.

le_ciel_flamand_posterLE CIEL FLAMAND (FLEMISH HEAVEN) (Belgium 2016) **
Directed by Peter Monsaert

Starring: Sara Vertongen, Wim Willaert, Esra Vandenbussche

Review by Gilbert Seah

Twin stories are told in writer/director Monsaert’s second feature set around the events at a local brothel called LE CIEL FLAMAND. One is the rearing of little Sylvie, the 6-year old daughter of the owner Monique who works there together with her own mother.

The brothel has been passed down through generations though it is falling apart, business-wise. Monique is shown as both a smart businesswoman and mother. She keeps the sex acts from Sylvie.

The film’s most amusing segment has Sylvie questioning her mother where babies come from. But when Sylvie appears to be sexually assaulted, things become extremely tense. Uncle Dirk is suspect but it is he who eventually finds the culprit.

All the events are set, ironically at Christmas time, when the joy of Christmas carols is in the air. The performances are excellent, especially those of real mother and daughter Sara Vertongen and Esra Vandenbussche. But the film’s trouble is director Monsaert trying to polish his film with metaphors and ends up becoming confusing and annoying.

An example is the puzzling last scene when Uncle Dirk uses a rope, initially thought for the making of a noose, that turns out to be the two parts of a swing he is making.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5FM0pOaSF4

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

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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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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: SNOWDEN (USA/Germany 2015) ***1/2

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snowden_poster.jpg
SNOWDEN (USA/Germany 2015) ***1/2
Directed by Oliver Stone

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo

Review by Gilbert Seah

Renegade filmmaker Oliver Stone knows how to get the blood of an audience flowing. He demonstrated this ability in the Oscar Winning PLATOON, political JFK and the controversial NATURAL BORN KILLERS. One can expect the same from his new film about whistleblower, Edward SNOWDEN (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

The ads for the film goes… Patriot, dissident, or traitor? But director Stone portrays him as none of the three. At the film’s start, there is a scene that shows Snowden saying that he believes that America is the best country in the world. As the film goes along, he ends up wrestling with his conscience on what is right thing to do. In Stone’s film, the right thing to do is to expose NSA (National Security of America) for violating the rights of not only the Americans but of the citizens of every other country in the world by lying to their Governments. Yes, the NSA can track every single person in the world – the only lame excuse given is the need for prevention of terrorism. To those who actually believe Snowden to be a traitor, Stone’s film will either infuriate you or convert you. Stone lays out the facts, but in a prejudiced way, just as in PLATOON.

But Stone makes Snowden’s story more human by concentrating on his human side – and his love with his wife (Shailene Woodley). The most emotionally charged scenes are the fights he has with his wife. Stone also invokes the audience’s sympathy by showing Snowden’s illness – his proneness to epilepsy.

But the film’s most effective scene is the climax. If Stone knows how to manipulate the audience, this scene shows it. After Snowden’s live speech on the Internet, the live audience gives him a standing ovation. At the same time the image of actor Gordon-Levitt metamorphosizes into the face of the actual Edward Snowden.

The story of SNOWDEN is old news by now and unless one has not been reading he news, one knows that Snowden is presently living in Russia, not coming back to the U.S. as he believes, which is true, that he would not be given a free trail. This is how the film ends, so as to be accurate.

This is not the first film made about Snowden. Documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras made CITIZEN FOUR as she was called by Snowden himself when he was blowing the whistle. Poitras is portrayed by Melissa Leo in this film. CITIZENFOUR lays the facts out straight. The titles at the start of SNOWDEN declares that the film is a dramatization of true events. And that the film is, entertaining as it might be.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlSAiI3xMh4

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Film Review: BRIDGET JONES’S BABY (UK/USA/France 2016) ***

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bridget_joness_baby.jpgBRIDGET JONES’S BABY (UK/USA/France 2016) ***
Directed by Sharon Maguire

Starring: Renée Zellweger, Gemma Jones, Jim Broadbent, Patrick Dempsey, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth

Review by Gilbert Seah

It’s been a while (15 years when DIARY was made in 2001) since Bridget Jones had a fling with her two boyfriends played by Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, with her having to decide the one to pick. The latest BRIDGET JONES’S BABY has Bridget aged from her 20’s to the ripe and mature age of 43 where it is time to have a baby or never. And maybe even get wed in the process. The film is faithful to the first film while the first film was faithful to a sort of modern version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Hugh Grant is out, but his character still makes an impact on Bridget’s life. He is conveniently put out of the picture by having his death occur and Bridget meeting Firth’s character, Mark Darcy once again at the funeral.

Sharon Maguire returns as director and most of the cast including Renée Zellweger as Bridget, Colin Firth as Mark Darcy and Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones as the parents.

In the true tradition of Bridget Jones’s first film, she has to have two beaus. The second one is provided by her chance meeting, with sex of course with American dating guru, Jack played by hottie Patrick Dempsey.
The film has a nice surprise cameo by no other than a well known celebrity (not revealed here) who Bridget thinks is the Starbucks guy. The cameo character gets to perform as well. Emma Thompson (who co-wrote the script) shows how to be funny by keeping playing it completely straight as Bridget’s doctor. One of the other co-writers is Helen Fielding who also wrote both the book and the script for the first film.
The guys roles are well written with the guys being level headed. If a wrong decision is made, (like Jack’s) a reason is given and he seeks forgiveness. Most female flicks have the male characters portrayed as idiots.

The film is updated with current issues like same-sex marriage, overhaul of newsroom presentations, freedom of speech and comfort of bearing bare breasts among other things. The two competing beaus do not fight and smash through a window like the first film, but they indulge in verbal arguments instead. But it is those stares they have for one another that kill.

The script knows when to be funny and when to be serious. The serious moment like when Bridget has a heart-to-heart talk with Jack adds meaning to the plot. But the film takes a while to get its footing. Many critics have applauded the hospital revolving door segment as the funniest. The comedy consists of lewd jokes (like children surprisingly uttering the f*** word), slapstick and play of words. The hit and miss ratio is not bad.

BRDGET JONES’S DIARY succeeds as a 40ish romantic comedy and an apt sequel. The film should not disappoint avid fans.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJsvmscPY9w

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TIFF 2016 Movie Review: WITHOUT NAME (Ireland 2016) ***

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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.

without_name_poster.jpgWITHOUT NAME (Ireland 2016) ***
Directed by Lorcan Finnegan

Starring: Alan McKenna, Niamh Algar, James Browne

Review by Gilbert Seah

Low budget and rather slow moving suspense thriller by first time director Lorcan Finnegan is a moody atmospheric piece set in a dense forest where some secret lies. A land surveyor, Eric (Alan McKenna) is in the throes of a midlife crisis.

His marriage is fractured and his son barely acknowledges him, so he’s more than willing to get away from his family when a mysterious client sends him on a prolonged survey excursion in a dense forest.

By the time his research assistant, Olivia (Niamh Algar), arrives at the remote cottage where he is staying, Eric has become disturbed and beguiled by the woodlands that surround him.

Barely glimpsed silhouettes haunt him among the trees, but he is never able to catch up with them. Trouble really starts when Eric takes too many mushrooms and hallucinates, unable to differentiate reality and fantasy.

The film takes a while to get its footing, with a lot of false scares. The climax also requires the audience to put two and two together. But Finnegan’s no-nonsense film succeeds as a creepy piece about creepy people.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd4K6qICqC8

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