DEAR MR. WATTERSON [2013]

Joel Allen Schroeder sets out to explore the cultural impact of Bill Watterson's cherished newspaper comic strip Calvin & Hobbes in Dear Mr. Watterson.
Not since Krazy Kat or Pogo had their been a comic strip quite as artistically brilliant and thoughtfully written as Calvin & Hobbes and sadly there hasn't been one since, so it's interesting to hear just why people feel the way they feel about this strip.  It's very clear folks are very passionate about the characters (myself included) but what exactly is it that does this?  This film explores each reason with a gaggle of cartoonists and artists that all have one thing in common...love for a boy and his tiger.  If you're a fan already then there's nothing new here but it's nice to hear other people's kind words of works that inspire you as well.

3½ Yukon Songs out of 5

The Riddle (2007)

A lazily unfolding mystery about an unpublished manuscript by Charles Dickens. It’s an odd merger of past and present, with a fourth wall breaking monologue from a bygone era having relevance to a modern day murder. The result is like a pilot episode of a series that had never any hope of being picked up. A fastidious rewrite (or three), some recasting and an increase in the budget could've turned it into something uniquely entertaining, because there's a genuinely interesting story there, but as it is now it’s watered down and lacks impetus.

2 pieces of life out of 5

THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES [2013]

Director Harald Zwart adapts City Of Bones for the screen, the first book in Cassandra Clare's youth oriented fantasy novels series, The Mortal Instruments.
It's a messy execution that is cluttered up with too much dead end background lore and a collection of way too many characters that serve next to nothing to the story.  As opposed to the overly mopy Twilight series, TMI tries to add in some cheeky one-liners to lighten the mood and although some of them are pretty funny they are in all the wrong spots.  There's simply just too much pointlessly tossed in to the simple story that is pretty much just an excuse to dress up pretty young people in skimpy Goth clothing.

2 tarot cards out of 5

A Country Christmas Story (2013)

Mother and daughter, Jenny (Megyn Price) and Grace (Desiree Ross), argue over the young girl’s future. Grace wants to be a Country singer, but mean and moody mom is having none of that nonsense.
As luck would have it, Dolly Parton is holding a contest at Dollyland to find a new star, so the kid picks up a guitar for the first time ever and writes one song (ONE song!) and submits it. It’s no surprise that she makes the finals, but does she win? Does she crumble under pressure? Will there be tears or cheers? Will anyone care enough to wait two hours to find out?

2 finger calluses out of 5

Don (2006)

A slick Indian action/thriller that isn't quite as amazing as it pretends to be. It’s a little bit European and a lot American in style. If Hollywood remade it it’d likely star Tom Cruise. That’s the kind of crap it is.
SRK has fun in a dual role as a Mafia villain and a selfless nobody. Arjun Rampal has a lesser role and does just as well with what he’s given. The ladies get a share of the action and drama, but are mostly there for support.

2½ twisty twists out of 5

Lovecraft: Fear of the Unknown (2009)

A documentary about H.P. with observations that come almost exclusively from interviews with a small group of filmmakers and writers (Stuart Gordon, Guillermo del Toro, John Carpenter, Peter Straub, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Ramsey Campbell, S. T. Joshi, Robert M. Price, Andrew Migliore and Neil Gaiman), so, in essence, it’s about what Lovecraft means to them as much as anything else. They use all the correct words to describe his fiction, but it’s the short analytical moments that offer real insight.

3 unpronounceable names out of 5

UPSTREAM COLOR [2013]

Writer/director Shane Carruth returns to the world of film nine years after his sci-fi cult classic debut Primer with an even more baffling headtrip in Upstream Color.
A complicated story about what I assume is about 2 completely unrelated people who unwillingly become part of a science experiment that binds their identity and behavioural cycles with a parasite that is passed onto pigs and then orchids.  Carruth adopts the lost daydream style of Terrence Malick where time means nothing and dialogue is merely background noise, all to rely on the picture and emotions to tell the story.
It might be more of an enjoyable film had Carruth not made so many quick edits and allowed the viewer to study and feel each shot for a bit longer.  In the end the quick edits hurts a "thoughtful" film like this quite a bit.

3½ pig-farming sound FX samplers out of 5

THE BUTLER [2013]

With it's huge cast of big names, politically historical subject material and more calculated dramatic moments you can shake your fist at, it seems Lee Daniels made The Butler to be scream "give me an Oscar".
Forest Whitaker turns in a well-rounded thoughtful performance as do all his co-stars but unfortunately the film itself seems to make all it's points with neon signs never really going for subtly or grace.  Uneven storytelling and predictability prevent it from becoming the timeless classic it wants to be.
It's not a bad film but after awhile you tire of it trying to be too good.

3 JFK neckties out of 5

LA VIE D'ADELE: CHAPITRES 1 & 2 [2013]

aka Blue Is The Warmest Color

I honestly wasn't expecting to get absorbed into Abdellatif Kechiche's adaptation of Julie Maroh's graphic novel Le bleu est une couleur chaude as much as I did.  

La Vie d'Adèle – Chapitres 1 & 2 might be nearly 3 hours long but I honestly wouldn't have minded it if it was longer than that it was so interesting to watch.  Adèle Exarchopoulos, who plays the title role, is simply amazing with her natural performance that speaks to you with each and every frame no matter how mundane her action is.  Hardly a moment is wasted as nearly every moment strengthens and further develops the characters into something more intricate and favorable no matter what their flaws might be.  My only real qualm would be the number of pointless sex scenes (one which clocked in at over 6 minutes) that did nothing to develop the story but maybe gave the director a collection of fap outtakes for his own private collection.

4 tasty snot-balls in a shell out of 5

Fortress (1992)

It's 2017. John Brennick (Lambert) gets sent to a Maximum Security prison for a crime that he did commit. Yes, he’s guilty, even though the poster art implies that he isn't. Admittedly, there are mitigating circumstances, but if they were taken into account then the film wouldn't exist.
It’s a story of the steadfast nature of the human spirit in the face of adversity and inhumane practices. If you've been a fan of sci-fi for any length of time then you’ll have seen the separate parts of the tale 100 times before in many guises. If the thought of seeing it 101 times doesn't fill you with repulsion, then it’ll fill a 90 minute gap in your life.
The year 2017 doesn't seem very far away any more but it did back in ’92.

2½ barcodes out of 5

ENOUGH SAID [2013]

Writer/director Nicole Holofcener teams up Julia Louis-Dreyfus & James Gandolfini with great success in the bittersweet romantic comedy/drama Enough Said.
The two leads have a wonderfully believable chemistry but the story is also blessed with a gaggle of interesting supporting characters that make me wish the film was just a bit longer to get to know them as well.  Far from the usual youth oriented fluff these films tend to be, Enough Said offers a very adult outlook on such subjects as divorce, parenting and sex with an aged flabby body.  It's well acted, well written and nicely paced but I wish it was just 15 or 20 minutes longer.

3½ onions on the bottom of the bowl out of 5

The Principles of Lust (2003)

Any author worth their salt has lived tragedy first-hand. Paul (Alec Newman) has a creative block, so he ventures into the world in the hope of finding a muse, but instead he finds Billy the wanker (Marc Warren), who offers Paul danger and excitement at the cost of his own self-worth.
Alec Newman isn't the best actor in the world but the film proves that he’s prepared to go to whatever lengths are required to make the role work; except it doesn't work because it’s much too obtuse and everyone in it is an unlikeable prick. Even the stability provided by Juliette (Sienna Guillory) is tainted by her being an immature slut. There's much irony to be found, but none of it makes for an enjoyable film.

2 comparisons out of 5

Dagon (2001)

Two couples are at sea on a yacht when a storm arrives unexpectedly and turns their rich-folks-day-out to shit. The obvious solution is to seek help from the nearby village, but when that village is Inboca (that’s Innsmouth to you and I) things turn even more nasty... with tentacles.
The tension built up as the protagonist runs from the burbling freaks is excellent, it plays out like a Lovecraft inspired survival horror game without guns, but the shaky-cam makes watching it almost unbearable. On the rare occasions the camera is steady the film improves. It even delivers one truly gruesome scene that you won't forget in a hurry.

2½ fish heads out of 5

The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies (2002)

A western view of Chinese Martial Arts movies. To its credit, it begins with a history lesson and tries to keep it relevant to discussion, but it’s not without problems in other areas. It neglects some important figures to focus instead on the most prominent and prolific actors/directors.
If it wasn't so packed with spoilers it’d be a good primer for the movie-goer who’s just discovering the genre for the first time. For the aficionado there’s little of interest other than some rare silent era footage.
It’s narrated by Sam Jackson. Sam has a great voice, there’s no denying that, but did we really need to see so much of him?

2½ small plays, played seriously out of 5

He-Man and She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)

The twins’ birthday just happens to coincide with Christmas, so the gang gather on Eternia for a party.
Throughout the short running time He-Man and She-Ra take turns at being Captain Obvious in case the audience are asleep.
As usual, Skeletor brings the comedy and makes it worth watching.

2 easy wins out of 5

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY [2013]

Taking inspiration from James Thurber's classic short story, director Ben Stiller radically changes the finer details of The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.
As different as it is from it's source material, the message is still there quite clearly beneath all the beautiful visuals and wonderful music.  As nice looking and sounding as the film is it gets hurt by a lot of flat-lining awkward dialogue that can't must muster up the inspirational heights that the story aims for.  Stiller knows funny but doesn't always get the timing right which makes for some distracting moments of laughter that might have been better on the cutting room floor.  It's a fine film with a character that's more than easy to relate to but somehow doesn't quite hit what it's aiming for.

2½ snow cats out of 5

Munster, Go Home! (1966)

The Munsters leave the familiar haunts of 1313 Mockingbird Lane and travel to England so that the easily excitable Herman can claim an inheritance.
There’s an occasional America/England joke, but mostly it’s the usual kind of family-friendly comedy that made the TV Series popular.
It was the first time that fans got to see the deathly pallor of the cast in colour. If you prefer the B+W versions, you may be a little disgusted by the 60s Technicolor and the heavy-handed makeup.

2½ vulture bumps out of 5

Election: Volume 2 (2006)

Known as 'Triad Election' in the USA.

It’s been two years since the last Election. Tradition dictates the current chairman must step down and make way for new blood, but, unsurprisingly, he’s reluctant to do so. His continued lust for power creates new tensions and new rivalries within the secret organisation.
In some ways it’s the same old situation, but the motivations for some of the characters are new. Johnnie To wisely lets the story dictate the direction and in so doing achieves the near impossible: he has us not only respecting but actively cheering for a murderous villain. The violence is swift and brutal, earning it a Cat III rating.

3½ bowls of chum out of 5

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY [2013]

John Wells adapts Tracy Letts' dysfunctional family stageplay August: Osage County for the screen with a most impressive cast ensemble.
It's Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts who do most of the heavy lifting but it's hard to find a weak link in the bunch as each actor brings tragic dedication to their own role.  While there are some wickedly funny bits of dialogue throughout the film, I found this to be one of the saddest films of the year with it's story about a family falling to pieces after a funeral.  Each character gets their own introduction and since there are so many you start to wonder where it's all going after awhile until the middle of the film when it kicks into high gear.  With the addition of some painfully awkward and uncomfortably funny scenes, I'd watch it all over again just to pick each individual performance because there's so damned much going on at once.

4 catfish out of 5

The Pit and the Pendulum (1991)

Having grossed us out with Lovecraft more than once, Stuart Gordon moved onto Edgar Allan Poe. Keeping it faithful to the period meant he could present the Spanish Inquisition in all its terrible glory.
Lance Henriksen’s Grand Inquisitor Torquemada is a lecherous, masochistic bundle of moral and religious contradictions that embodies well the kind of obsessional traits that haunt many of Poe’s literary characters. His fascination with the beautiful Maria (Rona De Ricci) will leave no one in any doubt where the film is headed, but it pendulums (*ahem) in quality.
If you like it, Gordon’s Masters of Horror episode, The Black Cat (2007), saw him return to Poe, along with Jeffrey Combs.

3 nipples for Satan out of 5

BLUE JASMINE [2013]

Woody Allen's comedic drama Blue Jasmine echoes that of A Streetcar Named Desire with a modern flair and without as much dramatic tension.
Cate Blanchett leads the cast with one of the best performances of her career however it's Sally Hawkins who steals every scene she's in with the perfect balance of comedy and dramatic realism.  The rest of the cast are just as great and in a surprising turn, Andrew Dice Clay deserves some attention.  Allen's script is wickedly funny and well-structured but without the talented cast and comedic timing it might not be as great as it's end results.  It's tragedy and comedy all rolled into one crazy cast of characters making for one of Allen's better films in several years.

3½ Blue Moons out of 5

From Beyond (1986)

The same creative team that gave us Re-Animator (1985) knocked out another classic B movie that’s simultaneously gut-busting hilarious and bowel-churning gross, again based on an H. P. Lovecraft tale. It even called back some of the same cast, including the wonderful Jeffrey Combs as a dangerously obsessed scientist. He and a fellow dabbler build a device that enables them to see the unseen, and consequently invite a whole new world of sexy depravity and icky shit to their door.

3½ disturbances out of 5

MI MEFAHED MEZEEV HARA [2013]

aka Big Bad Wolves

Mi Mefahed Mezeev Hara, a ruthlessly brutal Israeli crime drama from writer/directors Aharon Keshales & Navot Papushado is sure to please those fans of Guy Richie and Quentin Tarantino who need a bit more wince-inducing sadism than what they're getting.

As violent and stomach turning as things get in this film it's a wild (and twisted) surprise to find it has a wickedly dark sense humor thrown in to break the heavy tension at all the most unexpected moments.  It's well acted, beautifully shot and wonderfully scored by Frank Ilfman to give it that extra dramatic flair.  

It walks a thin line between torture porn and good crime drama but that's what kept me watching until the end. 

3½ little red riding heads out of 5

A Belfast Story (2013)

I’d like to see a film set in Northern Ireland that isn't wholly political, but until then I’ll settle for Colm Meaney doing his best Gene Hackman cop with a weight on his shoulders impression.
Someone is killing off aged individuals with suspected IRA membership in what appears to be a crusade of poetic justice. Meaney is tasked with finding out who is responsible before it reaches an inevitable conclusion: a return to war. But does he really want it stopped?
It’s a gritty drama with some astute observations about life during and after the Troubles, but the motivations of the higher ups is muddy and poorly defined. More clarity and a better ending would've helped.

3 shit-storms out of 5

Dolls (1987)

The cover art and the director’s name (Stuart Gordon) tell you all you need to know about this flick. The only real surprise is how funny it is. It takes a while for the murderous dolls to wake, but once they do there’s lightning, blood, stalker camera angles and Harryhausen-esqe stop motion. If the budget had allowed for it, more deadly Doll action would've been most welcome because it’s crazy good fun.

2½ little people out of 5

MR. HUBLOT [2013]

From France, written & directed by Laurent Witz, Mr. Hublot is a steampunk stylized animated short that is sure to warm the heart with it's story, characters and all around charm.
It tells the story of an OCD robot that puts his disorder to the test when he has to decide between his obsession and his heart.  Without any dialogue it relies on the movements and hilarious little details to tell the story, along with a catchy little tune that shows up in random spurts.  The design is dazzling to look at with it's amazing detail and depth so it's best viewed on a larger screen.

3 damned light switches out of 5

JACKASS PRESENTS: BAD GRANDPA [2013]

Director Jeff Tremain, co-writer Spike Jonze & star Johnny Knoxville bring the antics of their Jackass old man to his own film in Bad Grandpa.
While still using hidden camera antics, they decide to stitch together a loose story about Grandpa, his recently deceased wife's corpse & his grandson on a road-trip leaving a trail of chaos along the way.  It might still be the cheap Jackass humor of before but occasionally it's brilliant shit-your-pants funny...literally. Knoxville's not nearly as smart or as good as Sacha Baron Cohen when it comes to this schtick he's just as ready to dive in face first and sometimes that's just enough.

2½ Cherry Pies out of 5

ALL IS LOST [2013]

The remorseless sea hands Robert Redford more than his fair share of shitty deals in director J.C. Chandor's one-man survival film All Is Lost.
With about 45 seconds worth of dialogue throughout the 106 minute long film, Redford relies on his body movement and facial expressions to carry the entire movie and he does so with moving grace.  As vast as the ocean might be, the scope is small but speaks hugely of resilience, resourcefulness and the value of life.
Some will scratch their heads screaming "gimmick", while others will admire the challenge and rewards the film offers to those who enjoy something a little different.

3½ shipping containers of shoes out of 5

Necessary Evil: Super-Villains of DC Comics (2013)

What makes a good comic book villain? And what do they need to do to be categorised as a SUPER-villain? Do we even need them in our comics? This documentary attempts to answer such questions by asking the creators directly. Topics such as motivation, ego and tragedy are discussed and stretched beyond their topical value.
Keep your finger on the mute button because every second word Geoff Johns utters from under his GL cap is pure spoiler. He sure knows his stuff, but it’s as if he’s programmed to ruin storylines. He’s the villain of this one.

2½ counterpoints out of 5

METALLICA: THROUGH THE NEVER [2013]

 Nimród Antal directs this mostly silly concert film by Metallica, titled after their 1991 song Through The Never (which coincidentally is never heard).
It's mostly concert footage but for some reason after each song it cuts to a silly story that interrupts the flow of the concert.  The mind-numbing plot follows Dane DeHaan, playing a roadie, as he ventures through an unnamed city in the middle of a surreal riot made up of imagery and moments that only a metal-head who's literally banged his head a bit too much might find cool.  Maybe it's because I was at the majority of the filming, but the concert footage is actually quite entertaining for someone who's familiar with most of these songs.
With a little more thought and careful editing it might have been a unique concert film but nearly falls flat on it's face.

2 technical difficulties out of 5

12 YEARS A SLAVE [2013]

Based on Solomon Northup's own auto-biographical 1853 novel, 12 Years A Slave, director Steve McQueen takes up the heavy challenge of adapting it into a powerfully moving film.
Everything about it from the outside screams Hollywood epic tale but once you get past that you find an intimate tale about the power of the human soul in even the worst of times.  Some of the most effective moments are long takes of nothing but silence and allowing the actor's eyes or subtle body movements to do the talking.  Chiwetel Ejiofor deserves every bit of praise he's received for this role but so should Michael Fassbender, as despicable as his character is, one can't deny the impact of his performance.
As difficult as some of the necessary subject material is to watch, it's a film and story that needs to be told, heard and seen.

4 fiddles out of 5

Across the Hall (2009)

Dir. Alex Merkin remade his 2005 short film with a new cast and an extended running time. He proves that sinister music can make even the most mundane thing seem ominous. The contrast between it and the 1920s period music had me hooked. The contrasts that followed in other aspects of the story had me double-hooked.
It skips around in time, often with no indication to let the viewer know it’s changed, but it’s easy to follow and its structure highlights beautifully how important editing is to the filmmaking process.

4 closed doors out of 5

DON JON [2013]

Joseph Gordon-Levitt writes, directs and stars in this skewed version of a rom-com that mirrors Don Juan which is aptly titled Don Jon.
Playing a believable body-building porn addcit, JGL portrays deserving confidence in his film-making as well, with a great deal of help from his impressive cast, including a scene-stealing Tony Danza.  Some of the language does get pretty colorful and it does show more than it's fair share of porn clips, so it's obviously not your usual rom-com but if you've seen (500) Days Of Summer you'd know JGL steers clear from the usual fluff.  Unfortunately it weakens quite heavily by the end, as if he didn't know how to wrap things up but the ride there is enjoyable enough.

3 tissues out of 5

FROZEN [2013]

Disney loosely adapts Hans Christian Anderson's The Snow Queen for it's 53rd animated film, Frozen.
It goes without saying that it's visually astounding, the voice acting is energetically entertaining and several of the songs are very likeable.
However it lacks in a well-fleshed out story, that makes it very apparent that Disney tried to bury many of the darker undertones and conflicts of the characters underneath a heavy helping of animated glee.  The lack of a memorable villain hurts the impact of the tale as well and in that makes for a boring finale that leaves much to be desired when all is said and done.
Criticism aside, it's a perfectly fine film for the kids and I would gladly watch it again in the company of my niece and nephew.

3 trading posts...and saunas out of 5

Flight of the Navigator (1986)

A family film about twelve-year-old David (Joey Cramer) who's forced to deal with a frightening and unexpected change in his life. The appearance of an alien ship complicates matters further for everyone involved.
It’s a coming of age story, but not in the traditional manner. I can’t say more than that for fear of spoilers. It avoids many of the clichés that usually litter this kind of feature and makes best use of some others.
Being set in a specific era means it doesn't feel overly-dated, except perhaps for some of the music.

3½ leaks out of 5

HER [2013]

Visionary film-maker Spike Jonze writers & directs her, a lonely drama aspiring for romanticism and sprinkled with just enough sci-fi to ground the concept in reality.
It studies the lack of human interaction in society today, our inability to properly socialize due to technology and at the core, just how desperate a lonely heart can get without ever realizing what's directly in front of it.  Joaquin Phoenix brings a masterful sincere performance to the table that is compelling, touching and sympathetic without ever becoming the type of creepy it could have easily been had it been in someone else's hands.  Complimented with some soft color palates, beautiful and non-distracting set & costume design and a powerfully elegant soundtrack, her deserves a round of enthusiastic applause from fans of Jonze's work.

4 sexy dead cats out of 5

The Jazz Singer (1980)

The Neil of Diamonds plays a gifted member of the NY Jewish community who’s torn between his love of performing music and his guilt tripping family who want him to attend to his religious Jewty.
It’s the great American success story with no real surprises.
People who aren't fans of Neil need not apply. Nor should people expecting some actual Jazz, because there isn't any.

2½ songs of life out of 5

LE PASSE [2013]

aka The Past

Asghar Farhadi, writer/director of Jodaeiye Nader az Simin, tells a poignant story of family relationships both broken and breaking in the French/Iranian drama-mystery Le Passé.

One of the most cleverly structured screenplays of the year allows each actor to fully inhabit their roles with haunting realism and stunning subtly that you can't stop watching.  It starts out as an absorbing character piece that never once loses your interest and slowly evolves into a mysterious drama that bounces back and forth but never aggressive enough to break the perfect mood.  

I fail to find a flaw in this film and look forward to visiting it again in the very near future.

5 paint allergies out of 5

IN A WORLD... [2013]

Writer/director/star Lake Bell asks what would a world be like if a woman did the voiceover work for movie trailers in In A World....
It's a comedic satire of the Hollywood-ized industry but never thinks it's smarter than it really is, like many of these films try to do and in doing so remains realistically grounded with a sense of charm and reserved wit.   Movie buffs will find a lot of humorous lines scattered throughout the film but nothing particularly laugh out loud which is all right if you don't go in expecting much.  Each actor inhabits their character with passion and charm which makes each and every one of them quite watchable.
Easily digestible without a bitter after-taste makes for a pleasant but forgettable watch.

3 sandwich bars out of 5

The Dark Half (1993)

Fiction writer Thad Beaumont pulls plots and scenarios for his gory trash novels from a repressed part of his adult mind. He attributes the ideas to a pseudonym he named George Stark. They say you can't kill an idea, but what if the place where it originates wants a similar kind of life to the host?
It’s ridiculous but it’s Stephen King magical realism so we accept it. It’s a shame then that the film never lives up to its own aspirations. It could've been told in half the time, and the ending is a feeble attempt at covering up a lack of resolution for the characters.

2 sparrows out of 5

CARRIE [2013]

Boys Don't Cry director Kimberly Pierce goes for a third adaptation of Stephen King's classic thriller/tragedy novel Carrie.
Unfortunately Pierce finds nothing new to explore within King's story and gives you no reason to give it much thought.  Besides the formidable performances from Chloë Grace Moretz in the title role and Julianne Moore as her batshit crazy mother, the only other thing that held my interest was how were they going to set-up the iconic prom scene.  It pleases with ruthless carnage and horror that probably had Mister King himself squealing with glee.  As a stand alone film it's all right, as yet another adaptation it's feels pretty pointless.

2½ YouTube sensations out of 5

THE HOST [2013]

½ Wanderer out of 5

Kuch Naa Kaho (2003)

For a while it’s standard fare for this kind of film: man, woman, wrong foot, interfering family, filler, rain, waterproof mascara, etc. but then it throws in an unexpected element. In the third act it returns to the formula by digging its emotional claws mercilessly into your heart. It's done well, so even predicting the eventual destination doesn't ruin the journey.
The chemistry between the two leads is good. They must've agreed, because they got married in real life four years later.

3 wishing coins out of 5

THE ACT OF KILLING [2013]

Joshua Oppenheimer's documentary The Act Of Killing is one of those films that is so bat-shit crazy I'm more than certain it will haunt my thoughts for weeks to come.
The basic idea is to get former Indonesian death squad leaders to re-enact the executions they performed in the mid '60's, in whatever film genre they prefer.  The results are Hollywood-ized gangster films and a surreal, whimsical musical number that is both baffling and disturbingly amusing.  At first the leaders act as if they've been celebrities all these years, brushing off their actions as natural order but as they revisit these buried feelings things become clearer to them and revealing their worst nightmares.
It sounds obvious that a study of mass murderers should be so disturbing but I still felt unprepared for what sort of impact it would have.

4 anonymous credits out of 5

ERNEST ET CELESTINE [2013]

Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar & Benjamin Renner adapt Belgian children's author Gabrielle Vincent's Ernest et Célestine for the screen in this irresistibly adorable French animated film.
Animated with a warm hue of water colors, the film reminds us how much heart a classically animated film can have compared to the army of CGI animated films we've gotten so used to.  As wonderful as the animation is, the storytelling deserves recognition as well with it's innocent simplicity and harmless yet effective humor.
It's message is sincere, subtle and asks nothing of you but a heartfelt smile.

4 bear teeth out of 5

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM [2013]

Justin Chadwick adapts former South African president Nelson Mandela's auto-biography Long Walk To Freedom with mixed results.
On the plus side, Idris Elba & Naomie Harris turn in some towering performances that are both honorably emotional and demand respect.  With some prior knowledge of the Anti-Apartheid Movement and Mandela's 27 year imprisonment the film is quite interesting and moving.
On the minus, it tries to pack in way too much in the it's 2½ hour running time making for some questionable inclusions that do nothing to drive the narrative forward.  Without any prior knowledge of the history, audiences will be lost as the film-makers offer no explanation and expect you to be educated on the subject so it will easily ostracize many viewers.

3 long trousers out of 5

Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000)

John Little's documentary charts Bruce Lee's progression from martial arts student to martial arts master. It introduces the core values of his philosophy and the circumstances that surrounded their discovery.
There’s archive material, behind the scenes footage, screen tests and home movies, but the real treasure is 33 minutes of footage that had been lost for over a quarter of a Century. It was originally planned to be part of Game of Death (1978), a film that was completed and released posthumously. It’s an almost unbroken section of film that includes a spectacular fight between 5’ 7” Bruce and 7’ 2” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar!

4½ intercepting fists out of 5

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

A documentary about the American public’s love of guns. For someone like me, who lives on the other side of the Atlantic, Moore’s carefully selected footage paints a horrifying picture of a culture out of control and so deeply entrenched in the mechanics of fear that they either can't or choose not to see the destructive reality they've created.
It'll make gun-haters even more aware of the depth of the malady, but there's also a danger that the film will strengthen the fears of gun-lovers and make them feel more justified in fulfilling their needs.
It’s been twelve years since the film‘s release; has anything really changed since then or are Moore's observations just as relevant?

5 correlations out of 5

Enter the Dragon (1973)

It’s ironic that Bruce’s masterpiece is an English language film. It was also his last ever film because he tragically died less than a week before it was released. Honour his memory by watching the restored version that reinserts the more spiritual moments the studio cut.
The film is iconic in every way. The combat is superb. Lee’s composure is majestic. The finale is mind-blowing. Lalo Schifrin’s funky score oozes 70’s charm from every brass parp and perfectly timed woodblock tap.

4½ hands of Han out of 5