Costa-Gavras a Go-Go

I've been too poor to go to the theatre lately, so we'll be throwing it back this rainy and overcast afternoon. Between the Kenneth Anger shorts i've been consuming (and of course requisite episodes of Gossip Girl, Modern Family, and Park & Recreation) I watched two Costa-Gavras films. My co-workers were aruging as to which was better, so i watched both, and concluded that both are amazing in their own ways. Depicting politically charged events without seeming preachy is kind of a feet, but both films are just so remarkably engaging that it's hard to feel they are talking at you.

Z (1969)
Based around the murder of a leftist politician during a crowded and heated situation between the followers of the politician and the protestors against him. I liked that the murder was during the begining yet the film didn't lose any momentum. I remember when I saw the murder, I felt so outraged. I wanted to yell at my TV screen. That alone would prove a successful film, but it is to stylisically advanced that it really deserves it's criterion release. The depiction of the wife's grief was a highlight.

Missing (1982)
Probably more accessible than Z, Missing stars Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek. The story revolves around the "true events" of the dissapearance of American jouralist Charles Horman, and depsite the fact you pretty much know at the begining he is dead, you can't help but wish and hope with the father and wife. I enjoyed how Lemmon's character, a Christian scientist, sat in almost complete ideological opostion to Horman's wife, played by Sissy Spacek. Missing is equally engaging as Z, but some of the scene are overwhelming and heart breaking, the helpless feeling by the end when Horman's coffin slides from the airplane edges it ahead.

Ultimately, if your interested in watching a movie that really envelops you but not in an escapist way, both Z and Missing are good choices. Actually, watch them both.

2012: Don't worry, it looks cool when you're doomed

First and foremost, I should say that 2012 is not ostensibly a "good" film, in fact it's complete schlock, but in the best way. As an avid fan of disaster cinema I couldn't help but pick out all the references to other movies (*cough* Posiedon Adventure) though it doesn't do so in a smart way, but i'm easy. Though more disaster porn than disaster cinema, I couldn't help but share in Woody Harelson's aw at the distruction of our planetin 2012. Throw in lots of non-sensical plot points and a reaffirmation of the nuclear family and you've got a high concept film. Oh, and just so you're sure to fill the theatre, base it around not leaving Joe Shmoe behind in the midst of a recession. Well, actually only one family so don't all come running at once.

Feminist FlashBack: Born In Flames

As part of my independent higher learning, I'm ghost taking a course. By that I mean, I have the syllabus, and I am just going through it myself by watching the films and doing the readings. Most of it 've already done in previous classes but there are a few films I haven't seen, one of them being Born In Flames. From the title song that plays throughout to the seemingly found footage implanted at opportune times, Born In Flames caputres the feeling of a movement in one of the most provocative ways i have seen to date. Since I usually concern myself with as many female filmmakers, women's films, and anything of feminist interest, I figured there was a reason i hadn't seen this yet. Midway through, and after I cleaned up all the drool from being so enamored with it I asked myself WHY haven't I seen this? And furthermore, is that Kathryn Bigelow? The answer is, yes it is, and not seeing this film must be a fluke. Born in Flames put all of the femnist film theory, particularly that of constructing a women's history through it's own filmic means, into perspective. Watch and learn, ladies (and gentleman), watch and learn.

Zombieland

Horror-Comedy tends to be a pretty interesting genre because it seems to be easy to mess it up since you have to turn horrific events into something comical. Zombieland takes a nerdy kid, turns him into a reluctant killer and pairs him with the complete anti-thesis to him. The hilarious rules, mixed with well-placed narration over pretty gorey zombie killings is perfect. I knew i'd like it from the opening credits, and the film upholds throughout, though falling a little too sentimental for my tastes about a 3/4 of the way through. The BEST part for me was Emma Stone in a pretty breakout performance and of course the Bill Murray cameo. Seriously, i laughed until I cried at that part. Add in the "Zombie Kill of The Week" and you realize that the writers had just as much fun writing the film as you did watching it.
4.5/5

Jennifer's Body V.S Sorority Row

First off, clearly Jennifer's Body is the best written/shot etc. of the two. I saw Jennifer's Body and the opening night of Midnight Madness at TIFF, so the experience was prime. However, Sorority Row had the entertainment value of a "bad film", so instead of giving you a few psuedo-funny lines about both, i'd suggest at some point SEE both and take into account the following grading system. What am I saying they'll be some lines, let's face it, i can't NOT.

Jennifer's Body
Eye Candy:A-
I'm not a Megan Fox fan looks wise as most, in fact I found Amanda Seyfried quite cute in it. The grade would have been lower if it wasn't for the fact they make out.
Gore Factor: A
Pretty awesome, though a little cheesy at times.
Witty Lines: A
Diablo Cody wrote it, enough said
Special Add-Ons: Midnight Madness experience with the whole cast, directors and Diablo Cody in attendance.
Overall: A
Tightly written and darkly funny, Jennifer's Body put women in the Horror genre in a smart an interesting way. The Heathers references were ablaze which would probably only irk hardcore Heather fans, but Cody is obviously very schooled in the genre.

Sorority Row
Eye Candy: A
Briana Evigan turns out to be quite the babe by the end.
Gore Factor: C+
Unnecessary stuff, not fun, already overdone .
Witty Lines: B+
Sorority Row is ostensibly a pretty poorly written film, but in the best way. Actually, the Jessica character says pretty tasteless things throughout the film. It was thoroughly entertaining.
Special Add-On: We snuck in some Rum for our coke. It's a group movie thing.
Overall: B-
Okay, it's not the best film, or a good one at all, but its so much FUN to see, and I swear it wasn't just the alcohol. Did i mention Briana Evigan is a babe in it?

Summer Hours

Summer Hours is a film that reminds me why I love modern French films, and I would categorize it as quintessentially French. There's a certain subtlety i really enjoyed, as well as the Renoir-esq setting. At first glance, not too much particularly happens after the death of the matriarch passes on, but the question of what to do with her worldly possessions engrosses each character in their own way. Summer Hours is an interesting character study worth emersing yourself in.

Exracting a decent plot

We went with a couple friends to see Extract, the new Mike Judge film, in hopes of being entertained for a couple hours. Thankfully, all four of us generally were. There were a few laughs, cheap stoner jokes, and the suspicion that either Judge's humour is lacking or i've just outgrown it. I loved B&B growing up, HATED King of The Hill and completely praise Office Space, but Extract is kind of all three in detention. It seemed like he was supplementing gloriously childish humour for a more refined sense of comedy. Unforunately for Judge, there is a reason why not every kid gets an A in the class. Bateman and Wiig who are usually on point, turn into dodgeball dropouts in this mess of a film.