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Reviews
Small Town Murder Songs (2010)
Glad that I finally saw this
After missing this by minutes at TIFF (I went to the box office when I should have went to the venue and joined the rush line...oops) I finally was able to see it at a sold out screening in the town where it was shot. In the time between it's premiere in Toronto and the screening I finally saw it at I had seen reviews slowly appearing here and there. While there was good word from Toronto media, which seems partial to hometown boy Ed Glass-Donnelly, I was also seeing less favourable reviews which seemed to be critical of the pacing and the soundtrack. The fact is I found both of these elements of the movie were executed brilliantly. The sound is sparse, the dialogue crisp and clear driving this character study toward it's realistically explosive conclusion. The music was used in excellent way to build atmosphere. The songs by Bruce Peninsula were especially appropriate. Coming from a small town I must add that some of the characters in Smalltown Murder Songs could live right next to me. Believable.
Canada's Worst Driver (2005)
I'm not a fan of reality TV but i am a fan of horror films
I have found this show strangely appealing because it seems to combine horror films with reality. These people really drive the streets of the cities that my everyday life takes me to. I wish with all my heart that this show was faked. That these drivers were mere actors and every driver on the roads was capable and fit to be on the roads but, alas, although most of us have made a mistake or two from time to time there are people like those on this show that make mistakes while driving on a daily basis. worse yet when these people make small mistakes they magnify the problem by quickly losing control of the problem. So to sum this up. this show is like a good horror movie. I love it and hate it simultaneously. It gets under my skin because it deals with a real terror anyone who steps outside their door has to face. Bad drivers are everywhere and they can get you anywhere. Heck, we've all heard ill-fated stories of cars crashing right into homes. The horror. The horror.
Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream (2005)
This film renews my spirit in underground cinema1
I found this on my TV instead of another listed program and was quite happy the cable guide screwed up. A romp through some of my favorite spunk filled films of all time. the midnight film has a spirit that most films being released these days fail to capture. this was fun to view. Maybe I've heard the same words before but we could all use hearing these words again. Very inspiring. Love this stuff! John Waters, George A. Romero, and the Rocky Horror picture show. What else do I need to get my ass in gear to make another film. did I mention this is inspiring to those who love underground cinema. This ain't smut...this is art.
My Sweet Killer (1999)
a gem found in a pile of junk
I was searching through a local bargain bin and found a single copy of this film. I purchased it on the strength of the Filmthreat review and was pleasantly surprised that it lived up to the review. Sure it is a low budget film that relies more on the actors than the action but the cast hold their own. The script has a few moments that are hard to follow but the plot comes through if you pay attention and in my humble opinion it is worth the effort. A slow dark thriller. Some of the action at the end could have been choreographed better but i know from experience on sets of B-movies that choreographing action can be tough so I'll let that slide.
This cheap film grabbed me and kept me interested and there was definitely a lot of heart behind the scenes and it shows on screen. If you ever get the chance to see this movie i recommend you watch. Good stuff!
Trailer Park Boys: The Movie (2006)
Proud to be a Canadian
Excellent. Many layers of enjoyment for us Canadians to embrace. The soundtrack for instance, who else would pick up on the immortal strains of Helix pumping out some Heavy Metal Love at Ricky and Lucy's wedding. Platinum Blonde gently caress my ears as the boys venture into the Gentleman's Club and who else but Hugh Dillon of the headstones croons along. Cops from the Tragically Hip and RUSH.
This movie is by Canadians, for Canadians, and about Canadians. If that doesn't suit you, that's fine but I for one felt patriotic pride for those minutes, 90 or so, that I sat in that comfy theatre seat. This movie is is anthemic in proportion. Not that I know what that means. Go see for yourself, the power of the Canadian people.
LovecraCked! The Movie (2006)
I was creeped out, I was tickled, I was intrigued, I was bored, it was a well rounded indy film experience
First of all I will say that the DVD release of this is very good quality for an independent film and it is packed with features that make it well worth seeking out.
Now onto the main course. This is an amusing, somewhat creepy (a few times downright horrifying) tribute to HP Lovecraft, or is that PM Lovecraft. I must say that by the end of this film I knew less about Lovecraft than I did before I viewed this film. Basically this is an anthology of short films inspired by HP Lovecraft and the whole thing is linked together by the inanely hilarious antics of an incompetent Investigative reporter played by Biff Juggernaut's very own Elias.
Overall, the films are well crafted and entertaining. There is a wide spectrum of approaches from slapstick to film noir through to an amusingly straight take on "The Statement of Randolph Carter" that brought to mind older takes on Lovecraft on early 60's TV programs such as The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone.
Highlights for me were "Bug Boy" and "Alecto" which really got under my skin and freaked me out. Not unlike late night readings of Lovecraft's Stories as I thought to myself "This is corny, how can this scare me?" but after I finally put the book down and tried to sleep every howl of wind, creak of floor, or shadow of tree limbs out side the window pulled Lovecraft's monsters to the forefront of my thoughts.
I think that the low point for me was "History of the Lurkers" but other than that one this is a good independent blast!
A History of Violence (2005)
Good but not great.
Something a bout Cronenberg's work always leaves me unsatisfied and this film is no different. I enjoyed it. It was well acted, well written, the effects were excellent as well, but the effect it had on me was rather blah. If the acting, writing, visual effects are great, I find it most easy to use Cronenberg as my scapegoat and I blame him once again for coming close to greatness. I must admit that his is far better than his feeble attempt at the eroticism of car accidents in Crash but, as I've been saying, I walked away from this viewing experience unsatisfied. I can't put my finger on the cause of my lack of satisfaction but it remains, nonetheless. Good movie but definitely no masterpiece.
Full Count (2006)
Excellence achieved on a shoestring budget.
A promo copy of this short floated my way and I was pleasantly surprised when I viewed it.
The dry wit of the storyline and the mix of the score, El Mariachi meets hardcore punk, left me entertained and chuckling to myself. Several viewings later I still find this film as entertaining as the first time. The concept is simple enough but the delivery is clever and this short is filmed and edited very well. The acting is excellent as well. These people made me like baseball more than I actually do with this.
I'm very interested in what these movie makers deliver next.
Terminal City Ricochet (1990)
Excellent! Why can't I find this now?
This movie is excellent. Funny political satire for the whole family to enjoy. Very hard to come by these days. The soundtrack was also very good. DOA, Nomeansno, Jello Biafra, Gerry Hannah (of the squamish five and The Subhumans). Several excellent Canadian actors appeared here that also appear in Canadian films of note such as highway 61. This comment is more of a jumble of warm thoughts this movie brings rushing to my head than it is a review. Good movie and a nice piece of punk rock history to boot. The Jello Biafra team ups with DOA and Nomeansno were probably a direct result of time spent together on this film set. If you get this chance give this movie a try. Thanks for your time. The last scream of missing neighbours.
The Voice Inside (2001)
Extremely extreme and supremely disturbed.
I was told I had to watch this but that I should wait until I had a high speed internet connection. Got it and watched it. I'm not easily disturbed anymore but this thing did it to me. The most intense movie I've seen in a long time and it's only 13 minutes long so I urge you to give it a try. I dare you to give it a try. Go ahead! Excellent that will disturb all those turds cobwebbed in the back of your head. Like G G Allin in a film by Richard Kern. Must view at least once just to prove you can. This may not have been a life altering experience but then again...it's just a movie. At least I hope it was. Excellent effects for a low budget short. This little movie pushes buttons other filmmakers would be afraid to put their fingers on.
Hostel (2005)
Raiders of the Lost ark with more blood but less melted Nazis!
I'm not sure now what I was expecting the first time I walked into the theater to see hostel but I know it didn't deliver. I think I was expecting to be sickened until I puked or so disturbed I'd never set foot in a theater again but those are unrealistic expectations in this day and age of media overload and desensitization.
What I did end up seeing was one of the best adventure movies I have seen in years. Vin Diesel eat you heart out. Paxton ended up being the best American action hero since Indiana Jones.
Now, I've got to get busy writing nasty reviews of every horror film that is based on rural farmland and misrepresents those of us that choose to dwell in such areas. I'm going to be a busy man!
Redneck Zombies (1989)
Truly inspired cinema.
This is a pioneering effort for the "shot on video" level of renegade film-making. This was shot on a camcorder before all this digital era technology made it as simple to do that as it is for a horse to use a toilet. The plot is simple but effective. Full of fun and quirky spoofs. The acting is good for a film that was meant to be trash. The effects. Cheap and gory. I see other reviews here using the old argument, "I could do better" but all I have to say to that in a situation like this is, "If you can do better, why haven't you?". This is an inspiring piece of cinematic history because it proves that if you have the will, then they definitely is a way you could make a movie. It seems to me that their are 2 types of people in this world. There are people that DO things with their lives and people who complain about those who DO things with their lives.