Film

Wishing For A 48-Up for My Childhood Peers

Wishing For A 48-Up for My Childhood Peers

When I was in my 20s I saw a movie that really settled itself into my psyche – 35-Up.  It was a documentary which had been compiled over a period of 21 years, starting by interviewing 7-year old British children at a set of schools from different classes, i.e. socioeconomic backgrounds, about their future and dreams. The film maker, Michael Apted,  then reconnected with these children at 14, again at 21 and 35.  Originally it was just going to be a study of 7-year olds from a cross-section of Britain, inspired the Jesuit motto  “Give me a child until he…

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New VIP?

New VIP?

New VIP? — Originally uploaded by LexnGer The Varsity has changed it’s VIP theatres, and not for the better in my opinion. I don’t remember the last time we went to a VIP room, but it wasn’t that long ago. I do remember the big comfy chairs, the side tables for each set of two seats, and the wide aisles between rows allowing people to walk to a seat without bumping or turning sideways. All these features are gone. Okay, the chairs are comfortable, and they are adjustable but they aren’t spacious. Nor are the aisles. The side tables are…

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What’s In A Name?

What’s In A Name?

If the movie poster only has the word “Rise” on it, you’d think saying “two for Rise, please” would get you two tickets.  Wouldn’t you? Or, if that didn’t work, you’d think picking the movie who’s title most closely matches the main character’s name would get you tickets. Wouldn’t you? I’ll bet you’d be surprised if you saw penguins when you were expecting alien superheroes.  Wouldn’t you? So, I’ll share this warning: Surf’s Up is not the new Fantastic Four movie. On a positive note, the movie about surfing penguins is quite good, thank you.

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Infest Wisely

Infest Wisely

Postcard_thumb There's a new, chewable nanotechnology that lets you take photos with your eyes, cures cancer and eliminates body odour. But the early adopters are realizing they got extra "features" they didn't count on. And no one told them once they spread through the bloodstream, it's harder to uninstall than your average computer virus. INFEST WISELY is a feature length movie written by novelist Jim Munroe in seven episodes, each with different directors.  With a cameo by ME as the surly restaurant diner. Check out the trailer and consider becoming a Key Infestor by joining us at Innis Town Hall on…

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Infest Wisely

Infest Wisely

There’s a new, chewable nanotechnology that lets you take photos with your eyes, cures cancer and eliminates body odour. But the early adopters are realizing they got extra “features” they didn’t count on. And no one told them once they spread through the bloodstream, it’s harder to uninstall than your average computer virus. INFEST WISELY is a feature length movie written by novelist Jim Munroe in seven episodes, each with different directors.  With a cameo by ME as the surly restaurant diner. Check out the trailer (with a cameo by me) and consider becoming a Key Infestor by joining us…

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QotD: Please Make Another!

QotD: Please Make Another!

Sure, most sequels stink, but what movie really needs a sequel? Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – Bueller Bueller Edition If we thought we needed a day off when we were in high school, we had NO idea what we were in for. [2012 Update!  Honda's 2012 Superbowl Ad for their CR-V gave us a taste of what I was looking for in this "remake". ]

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Today’s Lunch: Staff Meal

Today’s Lunch: Staff Meal

I lucked out today for lunch.  I was part of an Infest Wisely film shoot at le Petit Dejeuner. Johan invited us to join in on the staff meal and then he whipped up a great, simple pasta with beef, sausage and fresh tomatoes. My dining companions for both the staff meal and for the shoot were my ultra-swank friends Trollo and Rannie. We were having a great chat, until the director asked us to improvise a conversation, then we froze.  But we hit stride again when it was time to be rude to the waitress.  It was great fun.

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Grilled

Grilled

Grilled Bored, slightly dispondent and waiting for Weeds to start, we flipped on over to Channel 300 and rented ourselves a movie. We decided against the more obvious and mainstream titles and chose something we'd never heard of before, a little film called Grilled.  Now, this is not high cinema, unless you mean the 420 kind.  But it has mobsters, freezers, hookers and meat.  I mean, meat salesmen struggling to bring home the bacon, how can this not be funny? We like Kevin James and, except for I Love Raymond, we've been amused by everything Ray Romano has done.  And…

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Bon Cop Bad Cop – Bon!

Bon Cop Bad Cop – Bon!

Bon Cop Bad Cop – Bon! This movie rocks!  And, yes, that is a professional critic's opinion.  Of course, my area of expertise isn't movies… but phht, who cares?  I like movies.  I like Colm Feore. I like hot Québécois. I like bilingualism. And I can live with hockey if I have to, especially for the hot Québécois! Bon Cop Bad Cop is a standard buddy cop movie set in Montreal and Toronto and played out in both official languages. The cultural stereotypes play nicely into the standard buddy-cop structure… [Continue reading this review on www.unsweetened.ca]

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Bon Cop Bad Cop – Bon!

Bon Cop Bad Cop – Bon!

This movie rocks!  And, yes, that is a professional critic’s opinion.  Of course, my area of expertise isn’t movies… but phht, who cares? I like movies.  I like Colm Feore. I like hot Québécois. I like bilingualism. And I can live with hockey if I have to especially for the hot Québécois! Bon Cop Bad Cop is a standard buddy cop movie set in Montreal and Toronto and played out in both official languages.  The cultural stereotypes play nicely into the standard buddy-cop structure – break-the-rules-get-r-done cop partnered with play-it-by-the-book cop.  They work together, have a couple of scraps and…

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QotD: My Intro to the Big Screen

QotD: My Intro to the Big Screen

Romeo & Juliet I remember seeing Romeo & Juliet  in a theatre in West End Saint John with my step-mother. After a little research I found out that it was released in 1968 (ACK!  I must have been only 3 or 4 when I saw it.) It was also he first time the lovers were played by actual teenagers – Olivia Hussey (15) and Leonard Whiting (17) and all of it was filmed in Italy. I remember it being beautiful, intense and incredibly powerful, at least to a 3 year old. Luckily it didn’t instill a belief that the only…

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