The Blind Side

The Blind Side

http://theblindsidemovie.com/

Release Date: November 20th, 2009

Rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual referances.

Running time: 128 minutes

John Lee Hancock(dir.)

John Lee Hancock (Screenwriter)

Based on the book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis

Carter Burwell (music)

Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy

Tim McGraw as Sean Tuohy

Quinton Aaron as Michael Oher

Jae Head as SJ Tuohy

Lily Collins as Collins Tuohy

Ray McKinnon as Coach Cotton

Kim Dickens as Mrs. Boswell

Adriane Lenox as Denise Oher

BS-16478 QUINTON AARON as Michael Oher and SANDRA BULLOCK as Leigh Anne Tuohy in Alcon Entertainment’s drama “The Blind Side,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by Ralph Nelson

Our reviews below:

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The Blind Side Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

The Blind Side is the true story of Michael Oher, a poor, undereducated teenager living in a rough neighbourhood on someone’s couch. With the help of a friend, he is enrolled in a Christian school and catches the eye of the football coach. There he meets the Touhy’s, a family whose kids attend the school. When the mother Leigh Anne, played very well by Sandra Bullock, notices him walking to the school gym on a freezing November night, she invites him to stay at their house. What follows is an incredible story of hope, and of a sports star born out of nowhere.

The acting is all good, in particular Quentin Aaron as the incredibly likable Michael. Sandra Bullock is surprisingly good, in somewhat of a comeback. And though he never ages over the span of the film, young Jae Head gives a funny and very good performance as the precocious S.J..

What worked for me about this film, is that it never felt sappy or contrived. It’s sweet, but it’s also straight up and to the point, as it is largely based on a true story.

The Blind Side is the kind of film that will either work, or it won’t. And thankfully, this film really works. It’s an inspirational crowd-pleaser, it’s a tear-jerker drama, and it’s also a classic sports movie. This is one of the nice surprises of the year, and I think you should go see this film over the holidays.

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The Blind Side Review By Erin V.

***3/4 (out of 4)

Based on the true story of football player Michael Oher, The Blind Side is the perfect movie to see at this time of the year, due to it’s messages - particularly for those who celebrate American Thanksgiving.

What I really liked about The Blind Side is the fact that first and foremost, this is not so much a movie about football, as it is about family. It is a touching true story that is not made to be overly dramatized, or played that way, for the theatre. The actors are all excellent in their roles, which if you watch the featurette on Apple Trailers, you will see are cast perfectly.

As it said in the production notes, Michael could represent anyone. He could have become anything - not necessarily a football player - once he was given the chance and opportunity. But the thing about this story is, that each of the people in real life seem to have such interesting and distinct personalities, which are what made the events unfold the way they did.

Now, I am not a football watcher, so I have no idea really about the rules of the game. That being said, it did make the football scenes a little bit confusing for me at times as to what was going on, but like I said, the movie is more about the people than the game itself.

I think most people will really like this movie - football fans or not. This is one that you really should go see with the family - that is those about 10 and up. When it comes out eventually on DVD, this is one I would gladly watch again.

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The Blind Side Review By Nicole

***1/2 (out of 4)

It’s not every day that you see a decent movie about family values. The Blind Side is one of these films. This movie tells the inspiring true story of the football player, Michael Oher. he starts out as a homeless teen from a rough neighbourhood. Michael struggles in school, and longs for a family. he has only a few friends, one being a young boy named S.J. One day, S.J.’s mother notices Michael wandering in the cold. Her parental instincts are Strong, so she takes him in. Michael soon becomes part of the family. His grades improve, and his protective instincts make him a good football player. This story proves that, with love, anything is possible.

I really liked The Blind Side. Sandra Bullock is believable as protective mother Leigh Anne Tuohy, as is Tim McGraw as father Sean Tuohy. The young actors seem really natural. Jae Head is hilarious as S.J., and Quinton Aaron plays the innocent role of Michael.

The Blind Side is a very sweet movie. It is never cloying, and has just the right balance between drama and heart. I would recommend The Blind Side to anyone ages 10 to 100.

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The Blind Side Review By Maureen

***1/2 (out of 4)

“The Blind Side” is a heart-warming movie with a lot of soul. Based on the true story of American football player Michael Oher, the movie chronicles the years he spent with the Touhy family after they took him in off the street.

“The Blind Side” could have gone over the top with drama and sentimentality. There are certainly enough story elements that could have pushed it in that direction. Fortunately this movie delivers an uplifting, often funny and very satisfying story.

One of the reasons “The Blind Side” is so good is the excellent acting by the entire cast. Sandra Bullock’s performance as the feisty, Leigh Anne Touhy with the strong Mama bear instincts is wonderful. This is probably her best performance in recent years. Quinton Aaron as the gentle giant, Michael Oher gives a quiet, entirely believable performance. The comic relief in this film comes from Jae Head who plays the lovable precocious little brother, S.J. Touhy.

This is very much a movie about family values, unconditional love and acceptance and racial attitudes. It is also a football movie. Viewers like myself who are not football fans may find all the football scenes a little much, but this is after all a movie about a football player.

With the holidays just around the corner, this is a really nice movie to see as a family. The subject matter is too mature for younger children but fine for teens and adults. The Blind Side is a wonderful story of what can go right in this world with the power of love.

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The Blind Side Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

The Blind Side, based on a book and true story, is the story of Michael Oher (Quinton Aaron), a sweet but troubled boy from the Memphis ghetto who was taken in by strong-willed Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock) and her wealthy Christian family. Despite severe learning challenges, with the help of a tutor (Kathy Bates), he was able to get sufficient grades in a private almost all white Christian school for an athletic scholarship and NFL career.

Directed by John Lee Hancock, The Blind Side manages to be inspirational while avoiding the trap of cloying sentimentality. Sports fans (myself not included) will particularly enjoy the football footage and cameos of various college recruiters and other sports celebrities playing themselves. As seen from images of the real people in the closing credits and website interviews, the strong cast was faithful to all of the folks they were portraying.

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Consensus: The Blind Side is a really good movie to go see as the holiday season approaches. Based on a true story, it is not overly dramatized and is carried well thanks to an excellent cast. ***1/2 (Out of 4)

Shorts

Shorts

http://shortsmovie.warnerbros.com/

Release Date: August 21st, 2009

Rated PG for crude content, not recommended for young children.

Running time: 89 minutes

Robert Rodriguez (dir.)

Robert Rodriguez, and Elizaveth Avellán (prod.)

Robert Rodriguez (Screenwriter)

Robert Rodriguez, Carl Thiel, and George Oldziey (music)

Jimmy Bennett as Toe Thompson

Jake Short as Nose Noseworthy

Kat Dennings as Stacey Thompson

Trevor Gagnon as Loogie

Devon Gearlart as Cole Black

Jolie Vanier as Helvetica Black

Revle Rodriguez as Lug

Leo Howard as Laser

Leslie Mann as Mom

Jon Cryer as Dad Thompson

William H. Macy as Dr. Noseworthy

James Spader as Mr. Black

Angela Lanza as Teacher

Alejandro Rose-Garcia as John/Boyfriend

Cambell Westmoreland as Blinker #1

Zoe Webb as Blinker #2

Chris Orf as Goofy Host

Tina Rodriguez as Female Employee

Jack Hurst as Male Employee

Jonathan Breck as Security Guard

Racer Rodriguez as Bully #1

Rocket Rodriguez as Bully #2

Elizaveth Avellán as Voice of the Baby

and Bianca Rodriguez as the Baby

SHD-01460

(L-r) JOLIE VANIER as Helvetica Black, DEVON GEARHART as Cole Black, JIMMY

BENNETT as Toe Thompson, RACER RODRIGUEZ as Bully #1 and ROCKET

RODRIGUEZ as Bully #2 in Warner Bros. Pictures’ magical fantasy adventure

“Shorts.” Photo by Van Redin

Our reviews below:

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Shorts Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

After the excellent first two Spy Kids films and the alright, but not as good, third Spy Kids and Sharkboy and Lavagirl, Robert Rodriguez blasts back into action with Shorts. Like his other films for all audiences, this one is also imaginative, inventive and totally original. I thought it was about as good as the first two parts of the Spy Kids trilogy, and that’s really saying something. Especially considering that I didn’t walk in expecting all that much.

Shorts takes place in the made-up town of Black Falls Community, where everyone works for the Black Box company, which manufactures black cubes that can transform into pretty much any gadget you need. Three brothers (Laser, Lug and Loogie) find a mysterious rock at the end of a rainbow that can grant any wish they want. The wishing rock subsequently ends up in the hands of Tobey Thompson (Jimmy Bennet), who is always being picked on by the school bullies, Cole and Helvetica Black (Devon Gearhart and Jolie Vanier), who are the kids of Carbon Black (James Spader) who heads the Black Box Corporation. The many different story lines are all connected in some way or another by the mysterious rock.

The story is told in 6 out of order parts. The fractured narrative is done very well, and will only be confusing to younger kids and those not paying attention. The way each segment connects with the previous one is very clever and inventive. The movie plays as part kids fantasy-adventure and part technological satire. It’s smart entertainment for both kids and adults. The scenes at The Black Box Corporation are especially great.

There have been some really good live-action films this summer that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, this is definitely one of them, along with G-Force. Robert Rodriguez has once again created a fun, fantasy world where literally anything can happen. Take the whole family to see Shorts in theatres. It’s a great way to end the summer.

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Shorts Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Shorts: The Adventures of the Wishing Rock - called Shorts for short - this is a fun family film told out of sequence in a series of shorts, hence the title.

Narrated by lead character, Toby (Toe) Thompson, this method is not at all confusing if you watch along carefully. It follows the adventures of the residents of Black Falls community. In Black Falls, everyone works for Mr. Carbon Black, the maker of the Black Box - which is a small electronic device that is everything from a calculator to a toaster... The scene in the office of Mr. Black, featuring the rival purple triangle and silver cylinder, (see picture below), is one of my favorites.

When three brothers in the community find a wishing rock at the beginning of a rainbow, they inadvertently misuse it’s powers before their baby sister informs them that they should throw it away. Unfortunately, it keeps on turning up again, in the hands of various members of the community. When Toby finds it, he uses it to try to make his life better, as he is bullied at school a lot, by the daughter and son of Mr. Black himself. The problem is, a wishing rock like this can easily end up in the wrong hands... But who’s hands are the right ones anyway?

Shorts is a great family adventure. It is loads of fun, and despite how silly it gets at times, in the community of Black Falls and all of it’s eccentric people, we can actually believe that it makes sense. This is the kind of movie that is a fun treat to end the Summer with. The acting is good from the whole cast, the music is a lot of fun, and the special effects are quite cool, considering the production size. Robert Rodriguez once again displays his master at storytelling by leading us to not only believe, (in a sense), but follow along with this partially ‘out of sequence’, yet quite clever story. Gather up the whole family and go see this one in theatres.

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Shorts Review By Nicole

***1/2 (out of 4)

Once again, Robert Rodriguez has created a fun, quirky little gem that is great for the entire family. This film takes place in an imaginary suburb named Black Falls, so named because everyone works for the company Black Box Unlimited Worldwide Industries Incorporated. This company creates an electronic device that that can turn into whatever electronic thing you need.

Things start to get interesting when a rainbow coloured rock falls from the sky. One of the residents, 11 year old Toby (Toe) Thompson finds the rock. The rock is actually a wishing rock, found at the beginning of the rainbow. Toby wishes for friends, to defend him from the bullies at school. He ends up with tiny aliens, who know martial arts. Through a series of short flashback segments, narrated by Toby, we see all the quirky things that happen when each of the Black Falls residents get hold of the rock. There are crocodiles that can walk like people, a giant booger monster, a wise baby, as well as Toby;s parents getting stuck together. But disaster strikes when the bullies, son and daughter of Black Box Inc.’s president Carbon Black, get hold of the rock. Once the rock gets in the hands of their father, watch out! Can the kids restore things before the adults ruin everything?

I really enjoyed Shorts. The acting is good, and the characters are all really funny. The storyline, while totally off the wall, is well written, fun, and very original. The way that all the little details come together is just brilliant. Everything about this film worked for me. I liked the underlying messages too, about overuse of technology, increasing self centredness, and the importance of family and community. With no objectionable content, and no frightening scenes, this movie is nothing but pure, manic fun for the whole family.

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Shorts Review By Maureen

***1/2 (out of 4)

What happens when Robert Rodriguez gets hold of a magical wishing rock? He gets the kind of movie any filmmaker would wish for. “Shorts - Adventures of the Wishing Rock” is an energetic, full of fun, family fantasy adventure movie. In short, it’s really good.

The story is told in a series of out of sequence shorts narrated by the lead character, 11 year old Toby (Toe) Thompson (Jimmy Bennett). Toby lives in Black Falls with his older sister and his parents who are employed at Black Box Industries. Toby is the constant target of bullies and his life starts to get really interesting once he finds a rainbow coloured wishing rock. The rock ends up changing hands throughout the movie with one wish leading to another and all kinds of crazy things happening including mini-aliens, flying crocodiles and a booger monster.

The nice thing about Shorts is that the fast -pace and far, out adventures all connect well and keep the story making sense. The ending message about working together being more powerful than wishing alone makes this a good family choice.

Both kids and adults will enjoy all the special effects. The acting is good all around and the score that Robert Rodriguez composed worked really well to keep the sense of fun and adventure going.

If you like high energy, fun movies, go see ‘Shorts”

This one’s a winner for the whole family.

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Shorts Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Based in Austin TX, over the past two decades Robert Rodriguez and Elizabeth Avellán have produced a number of successful films, and six kids. Along with violent cult films such as the El Mariachi trilogy, Sin City and Grindhouse, the last with his friend Quentin Tarentino, Robert Rodriguez has directed several family features to amuse and involve his own growing family–the Spy Kids trilogy and The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lavagirl in 3-D, the latter based on ideas from his son Racer. He has also written many of his films and served as chief cameraman and composer. With extensive use of digital technology and CGI, he has a good track record for efficiency and thrift which attracts talent that will work for less than usual, knowing that for a modest time commitment including perhaps some babysitting they will have fun and come out with something good. Shorts departs from the Latino character of previous films without Rodriguez regulars like Cheech Marin and Danny Trejo.

The first two Spy Kids films were brilliant, rich with images that were at once sophisticated and childlike, that delighted kids and their parents alike. As an adult I didn’t care as much for the two 3-D kids films that followed, and based on the three trailers available on Apple.com I thought that Shorts might also have an appeal limited to pre-teens. We were pleasantly surprised. In some ways Shorts may be the best of the lot. The title refers to the way the film is divided into episodes that are shown out of sequence–0,2,1,4,3,5–that some may find confusing but make sense when you see it.

The discovery of a rainbow-covered rock that grants wishes to anyone holding it changes the lives of a company town where the ruthless Mr. Black (James Spader) produces handheld black devices that can transform into everything useful. Main character and narrator Toe Thompson (Jimmy Bennett) is being bullied by Cole Black (Devon Gearhart) and his sister Helvetica (Hel for short, played by Jolie Vanier). Toe has a teenage sister (Kat Dennings) and parents (Jon Cryer & Leslie Mann) who find themselves on rival development teams for the new Black do-all device–the loser facing immediate dismissal and banishment. Others who come into brief possession of the wishing rock include three brothers (with an all-wise telepathic baby sister played by the youngest Rodriguez) and the top Black researcher (William H. Macy), a germophobe who lives with his son in a house sealed up in plastic.

It may all sound silly but is dazzling in its imagination and effects. Adults will be delighted by the satirical undertone. For example, the large X promoting the new black box reminded me of both a gaming device and a rival’s operating system and countless handheld apps. Even at home Toe’s parents communicate by texting each other, until an inadvertent wish brings them together like Siamese twins.

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SSFF-00011

JAMES SPADER as Mr. Black in Warner Bros. Pictures’ magical fantasy adventure “Shorts.” Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

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Consensus: Another great family movie from the director of Spy Kids, Robert Rodriguez. Shorts is a lot of fun, and would make for a great end of Summer movie to see with the family in theatres. ***1/2 (Out of 4)

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kids-with-rock

Lug (REBEL RODRIGUEZ, left) and Laser (LEO HOWARD, right) watch as Loogie

(TREVOR GAGNON) closes his eyes to make a wish on the Rainbow Rock in Warner Bros. Pictures’ magical fantasy adventure “Shorts.” Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Ce Qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) DVD Review

Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) - An E1 Films Release

http://www.cequilfautpourvivre-lefilm.com/

On DVD: June 16th, 2009

Rated PG for language and crude content.

Running time: 102 minutes

Benoît Pilon (dir.)

Bernard Émond (screenplay)

Robert M. Lepage (music)

Denis Bernard as Père Millaire

Paul-André Brasseur as Kaki

Éveline Gélinas as Carole

Elisapie Isaac as Femme inuite

Vincent-Guillaume Otis as Joseph

Natar Ungalaaq as Tiivii

Natar Ungalaaq and Paul-Andre Brasseur in The Necessities of Life - an E1 Films release

Our reviews below:

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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Ce Qu’il Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) is a moving and beautiful Canadian film about love, friendship and the necessities that we all need to live. When Inuit man, Tiivii (Natar Ungalaaq), is found to have tuberculosis, he is uprooted from his family and brought to a sanatorium in Quebec City. When the nurses realize that Tiivii is getting depressed being away from his family, and the only one who can speak his language, they bring in a young Inuit boy, Kaki (Paul-Andre Brasseur). Kaki is the first person he has met in some time that can actually understand him. But Kaki also speaks French, so he is able to be a translator.

The film is a heartbreaking and real portrayal of a friendship. I highly recommend you see it. It was inevitable that Passchendaele was going to win the Genie for Best Picture, but this film is just as good if not better.

The DVD includes audio commentaries, a photo gallery and the films trailer. Most of the special features are in French only.

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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Erin V.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre, (The Necessities of Life), is a beautiful Canadian drama set in the early 1950’s.

The movie opens up North, where we are introduced to the main character of the story, Tiivii. Tiivii and his wife, and their two young daughters, live a traditional Inuit life. When a ship comes into the harbour, all the people in Tivii’s village are to go on board to be tested for Tuberculosis. Those who turn up positive are to go South for treatment. When Tiivii is told that he has ‘TB’, he has to stay on the boat, while his family leaves with hardly the time to say goodbye. When he finally arrives in Québec City, he is disoriented and confused. He has now been thrust into a world of large trees, white people, and everyone speaking French. Becoming increasingly depressed, it is not until he meets Kaki, (through a nurse named Carole who tries to help him understand her world as best she can), a young Inuk boy who speaks both languages. Kaki becomes a friend and translator to Tiivii, while Tiivii in return teaches Kaki, orphaned at a young age, the Inuit stories and way of life.

This is an emotional, and very well made Canadian film. Winning many awards at the Genie Awards, over giant Passchendaele shows just how good this film, particularly the acting from lead Natar Ungalaaq really is. From the score, to the landscapes, to the acting, and story, Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre is a film that is worth checking out, no matter what language you speak. Although the film is mainly in French and Inuktitut, it is subtitled well in English, and easy enough to follow along. I would definitely recommend watching this Canadian gem.

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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Nicole

***1/2 (out of 4)

The Necessities of Life is a thought provoking Canadian movie about Inuit culture. Set in the 1950’s, the movie follows Tiivii, an Inuk family man who contracts tuberculosis, and as a result, has to leave his family to receive treatment in a Quebec City sanatorium. This new world is confusing to Tiivii. Nobody speaks his language, the food is different, and even the landscape is foreign, with warmer weather and lots of big trees. Tiivii is also concerned that there is no one to hunt food for his family. So Tiivii keeps attempting to run away back to his Arctic home, much to the annoyance of hospital staff. There is one nurse, however, named Carole who recognizes why Tiivii is so confused and frustrated. So she brings in another Inuk tuberculosis patient, from another hospital. The patient, Kaki, is a young orphan, who speaks Tivii’s language as well as French. Kaki acts as a translator between Tiivii and the francophones, and Tiivii becomes like the father that Kaki lost. Tiivii reintroduces Kaki to the Inuit culture that he had forgotten after being hospitalized so long. The two develop a close bond, and Tiivii hopes to adopt Kaki when they both get out.

The Necessities of Life is an emotional and believable film. Parts of the film are quite sad, due to the subject matter, but are realistic to the story. There are also some funny lines, as well as many heartwarming moments. The acting in this movie is excellent, and the shots of the Arctic tundra are beautiful. This is one well made Canadian film that is definitely worth watching.

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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Maureen

***1/2 (out of 4)

The Necessities of Life is a gentle and powerful film about the early 1950’s tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Canada’s Far North. The story follows an Inuit man, Tiivii (Natar Ungalaaq) who is diagnosed with TB and transported to a sanatorium far away in Quebec City.

Tivii’s complete isolation is obvious when everyone in the sanatorium speaks only French. Tivii’s inability to communicate affects his will to recover. One of the nurses, Carole (Eveline Gélines) recognizes Tivii’s frustration and arranges for another patient, and Inuit boy named Kaki (Paul-Andre Brassuer), who speaks both French and his native language to spend time with Tiivii. Tiivii and Kaki develop a friendship with Tiivii sharing Inuit legends and customs with the orphaned Kaki. Once Tiivii begins to recover, he expresses his wish to adopt Kaki and bring him North so the boy can learn to live his heritage. As Tiivii puts it to the local priest, he is more than prepared to give Kaki ‘the necessities of life’.

This is a really nicely done, low-key, believable Canadian drama. The acting is superb. Natar Ungalaaq deserved his Genie award for his portrayal of Tiivii.

The visuals of Northern Canada are nice to see, and the music score fit the mood perfectly. The English subtitles are easy to follow.

The 2009 Genies rightfully recognized “Ce Qu’il Faut Pour Vivre” (The Necessities of Life) Director Benoit Pilon, with the award for Best Director. The film also took the awards for Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Actor.

I would love to see this movie shown in Canadian history classes across Canada. It is easily accessible in both French and in English with subtitles. It’s two bad the DVD extras are in French only.

Whether you buy the DVD or rent it, ‘Ce Qu’il Faut Pour Vivre’ (The Necessities of Life) is worth checking out. Vraiment, un film Canadien excellent.

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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Ce qu'il Faut Pour Vivre est l’histoire de Tiivii (Natar Ungalaaq), un chasseur Inuk1 de L’Isle Baffin forcé en 1952 de quitter sa femme et deux filles à cause de la tuberculose. Après un long voyage, il se trouve au Sanitorium à Québec dans un monde de grands arbres totalement étranger. Il faut se faire comprendre par des gestes, parce que personne ne parle sa langue. Tiivii s’occupe des dessins d’animaux dans son cahier, mais après quelque mois, de plus en plus déprimé, il refuse de plus manger. Une gentille infirmière Carole (Éveline Gélinas) arrange d’un autre hôpital le déménagement d’un garçon Kaki (Paul-André Brasseur), qui sait parler et français et inuktitut. Kaki ayant perdu toute sa famille, Tiivii le regarde comme un fils et propose de l’adopter. Il lui racconte des histoires traditionnelles et lui enseigne à faire des petits sculptures de bois. Kaki peut proposer qu’on commence à servir de la vraie nourriture: du saumon cru. Tiivii est introduit enfin à un prêtre (Denis Bernard) fluent en inuktitut, ayant été missionaire au nord. Je vous laisse à découvrir ce qui arrive après.

Même que le film nous fait toujours sentir l’isolation de Tiivii, il n’est pas sans humour. Par exemple, quand Tiivii et Kaki se rencontrent, Tiivii lui dit qu’il a un drole d’accent. Kaki répond: “Toi aussi.” Quand Carole refuse de “rire” avec Tiivii selon la tradition inuit d’hospitalité, Kaki lui explique qu’on ne pourra jamais comprendre les blancs. L’évêque approuve l’adoption grace aux petits mensonges du prêtre que Tiivii était marié et a fait baptiser ses enfants dans une église Catholique.

Ce qu'il Faut Pour Vivre est un film tendre et sensible. Même qu’il se déroule lentement, il vaut bien le temps.

1Inuk: singulier des Inuit, nommés Esquimaux à l’époch du film (et toujours aux E. U.), dont la langue est inuktitut.

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Consensus: A beautiful Canadian film, whether or rent it or buy it Ce Qu'il Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life), is definitely worth seeing. ***1/2 (Out of 4)

Goodbye Solo Review

Goodbye Solo - An E1 Films Release

http://www.goodbyesolomovie.com/

Release Date: May 29th, 2009

Rated 14A for coarse language

Running time: 91 minutes

Ramin Bahrani (dir.)

Bahareh Azimi (writer)

Ramin Bahrani (writer)

M. Lo (music)

Souleymane Sy Savane as Solo

Red West as William

Diana Franco Galindo as Alex

Lane 'Roc' Williams as Roc

Mamadou Lam as Mamadou

Carmen Leyva as Quiera

Red West and Souleymane Sy Savane in Goodbye Solo - An E1 Films release

Our reviews below:

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Goodbye Solo Review By John C.

***1/2 (out of 4)

Goodbye Solo is the story of two people. William (Red West), a washed-up old southerner who gets into a cab and tells the driver, Solo (Souleymane Sy Savane), to in ten days (on October 20th) take him on a one-way trip up to the top of a mountain. The story is of their friendship, and how it develops over the ten days.

The acting is excellent. Newcomer Souleymane Sy Savane is amazing to watch in the title role. The character is charming, funny and genuinely likable. We never quite know William’s motives for what he is doing, the audience never finds out more than Solo knows about his mysterious passenger.

The films most effecting scene, is a very brief one that doesn’t have any dialogue. Two characters look at each other, we see their faces individually. It is not spoken, but we know what they are saying to each other. It is emotional, heart-wrenching and real.

Goodbye Solo is a beautiful film about friendship and new life, even in our darkest hour. The film doesn’t sugarcoat things, or try and provide easy answers to it’s questions. And because of this, it is painfully realistic. While it doesn’t provide for light popcorn entertainment, you should see it for the story line. I highly recommend it.

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Goodbye Solo Review By Erin V.

*** (out of 4)

Goodbye Solo is about Solo, a cab driver who gets an offer from an older man named William of $1000 if he drives him one way to the top of a mountain in just over a week. While we don’t know the exact reasons for William’s request, we can come to our own conclusions. Solo is reluctant to agree at first, and starts to try to get to know William better. Meanwhile, he is trying to study for his flight attendant interview/exam, his relationship with his wife is suffering, and his stepdaughter wants him around more.

This movie offers an interesting view on life from the perspective of Solo, a very likable immigrant, who like so many others can only get work driving a cab, despite qualifications for much more. The relationship between the main characters are well acted, and believable. This is a movie that while slow moving, is emotional and thought-provoking.

Because of it’s slow pace and lack of much musical score, it may seem too long for some. This being said, while it may be one to check out more on DVD, it is still definitely worth seeing if you’re interested.

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Goodbye Solo Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Goodbye Solo is a quiet, thought provoking film about the unexpected relationship between a passenger and a taxi driver. The movie follows the story of Solo, a taxi driver form Senegal, who has moved to Salem, North Carolina to support his relatives back home. Solo’s life is turned upside down, however, when one of his regular passengers, an older man named William, offers Solo $1000 to bring him to the top of a mountain on October 20th. Solo is concerned about William, and tries to figure out why William is depressed. Solo also can’t figure out why William is not connected to his family, because in Senegal, people take care of their family members, especially the elderly. Solo tries to find out the cause of William’s problems, while at the same time is taking care of his stepdaughter, Alex, and his pregnant wife, all while applying for a job as a flight attendant. This stress temporarily separates Solo from his wife. As October 20th approaches, Solo has to make some serious decisions, as he desperately tries to help William before it is too late. This story will make you think, even after the movie ends.

This movie raises important questions about life and family. The contrast between William and Solo’s views on family really bring to light the problems with our society. Solo is a very likable character, who will never stop smiling and talking, much to the annoyance of William. Solo’s chipper and chatty character really contrasts William’s melancholy mood, and adds a lighter feeling to what could have been a darker film. The acting is decent, and the relationship between Solo and William is very believable. The mountain scenery is beautiful, with the panoramic view of a deciduous forest in autumn. Goodbye Solo is a unique film that is worth checking out.

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Goodbye Solo By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Goodbye Solo is the story of an unlikely bond between a taxi driver, Solo and his elderly passenger, William.

Solo is a taxi driver from Senegal struggling to make ends meet for his pregnant Mexican wife Keira and his stepdaughter, Alex. At the same time he is trying to improve his situation by studying to be a flight attendant, a pursuit that causes enough tension in his marriage to cause a separation.

Solo first meets William, when the elderly man books the taxi driver in advance for a one way drive on October 20th to Blowing Rock at Boone's Point. When William offers Solo $1000ºº for the no questions asked trip, Solo becomes concerned. His concern leads him to find ways to become William’s preferred driver for local trips.

The two men form a bond of sorts and when Solo’s wife kicks him out, Solo asks to crash at William’s motel room. During the time the two men room together, Solo gains some insight into why William would want to take a one-way trip to Boone’s Point. Solo finds it hard to understand why an elderly man would be without his family to support him when in Senegal the elderly would be cared for by their loved ones.

What carries this movie and makes it so special is Souleymane Sy Savane’s portrayal of Solo. Solo is a thoroughly likable and believable character. So when Solo makes the decision he does on October 20th, the viewer understands why.

Solid acting throughout and beautiful scenery in the latter part of the movie. Goodbye Solo left me thinking about how people come and go in our lives and how sometimes we need to take the time to get to know the passengers in our life’s taxi.

Goodbye Solo is worth a viewing if you are in the mood for a thoughtful human interest drama.

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Goodbye Solo Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Solo (Souléymane Sy Savané) is an immigrant from Senegal driving a cab in Winston-Salem NC. Gregarious and charming, he has mastered English with all its street idioms and always aims to please his clients, whether in licit or slightly illicit pursuits. He gets on much better with his bright nine year old stepdaughter than with his pregnant Mexican-born wife who doesn’t share his ambition to become a flight attendant. William (Red West) has offered him $1000 to take him in a couple of weeks on a one-way trip to the top of a cliff. Over that time Solo does what he can to persuade William to change his mind, even though he gets much more involved than William (or most Americans for that matter) would like.

Born 34 years ago in Winston-Salem of Iranian parents, Ramin Bahrani has already established himself after only a handful of films as a fine sensitive film maker. Goodbye Solo was inspired by his acquaintance with local African cab drivers as well as experience working in old age homes. The two principal actors couldn’t have been better suited to their roles. The instantly likable Souléymane Sy Savané was a model and TV star in Cote d’Ivoire and even worked for two years as a flight attendant. Red West is one of those faces that you know you’ve seen but can’t quite place. As a former marine born in a Memphis project, he was best known as a bodyguard and songwriter for Elvis Presley and has appeared in hundreds of TV episodes and films over the years, though always in small parts. Finally, the largely hand-held camera work of Michael Simmonds is worth noting for the intimacy it contributes to the story.

Though not for the attentionally-challenged, Goodbye Solo is a moving and life-affirming tale that is definitely worth seeing.

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Diana Franco Galindo and Souleymane Sy Savane in Goodbye Solo - An E1 Films release

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Consensus: Goodbye Solo is an interesting film. While it is slowmoving at times, if you don’t see it in theatres, it would be worth checking out on DVD. ***1/4 (Out of 4)

Is Anybody There? Review

Is Anybody There? - An E1 Films Release

Release Date: May 15th, 2009

Rated PG-13 for language including sexual references, and some disturbing images.

Running time: 92 minutes

John Crowley (dir.)

Peter Harness (writer)

Joby Talbot (music)

Michael Caine as Clarence

Bill Milner as Edward

Anne-Marie Duff as Mum

David Morrissey as Dad

Thelma Barlow as Ena

Linzey Cocker as Tanya

Adam Drinkall as Stuart

Garrick Hagon as Douglas

Michael Caine and Bill Milner in Is Anybody There? - an E1 Films release.

Our reviews below:

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Is Anybody There? Review By John C.

**** (out of 4)

Is Anybody There? is the story of Edward (Bill Milner), a young boy growing up at the retirement home his parents own. Fascinated with death and the afterlife, Edward doesn’t have many friends, until Clarence (Michael Caine) comes along. Clarence is a retired magician, who has to come to terms with his past before he can move on to the future. Set against the backdrop of the late 1980’s in a small seaside town in England, the two of them form an unlikely friendship that is both moving and believable.

Although the story does not just concern their friendship. Edward’s Mum (Anne-Marie Duff) is desperately trying to keep the home and her family running smoothly, and Edward’s Dad (David Morrissey) is on the verge of a mid-life crisis. We also get to spend time with the other senior residents, who are charming and funny. But, this really is Michael Caine’s movie. It’s also one of his very finest performances to date. I hope he receives some Oscar recognition for his work.

Despite it’s bleak subject matter, this is not a feel-bad film. There are some very funny moments and it celebrates life more than anything else. It’s sad, yes, but it’s also uplifting and full of hope.

Another thing I loved about the film was Joby Talbot’s musical score, which uses a theremin. This adds to the film’s sense of wonderment and the mystery of the unknown.

Coming of old age tales must be popular right now with such films as last Winter’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Gran Torino. Later this month Disney•Pixar will be releasing Up, another film about an old man forming an unlikely friendship.

Is Anybody There? is touching and emotional, it is at times heartbreaking and I had tears in my eyes. It’s just a beautiful film. As of now, this is one my favorite movies this year.

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Is Anybody There? Review By Erin V.

**** (out of 4)

Is Anybody There? is a movie about a boy named Edward, (Bill Milner), who while living in the senior’s home that his parents run, has become confused with life and death, and how it all works. He tries to solve this issue by planting tape recorders around the house after a resident dies to see if he can hear their ghosts. Soon, a new resident arrives. He is a magician named Clarence, (Michael Caine), and over time a friendship between him and Edward develops, and they both start to see life in a new light.

Is Anybody There? is a beautiful film that has a wide array of emotions woven into it. It’s a good movie that really captures it’s premise well, and Michael Caine’s standout performance carries it along at a pleasant pace. Bill Milner also does a good job as Edward, while acting alongside Michael Caine. The music by Joby Talbot including instruments such as the theremin, sets the mood just right.

After seeing this movie, I was debating between 3 1/2 and 4 stars. This is a movie that makes you think about what it must be like to have a whole life behind you and no one to remember it with. Is Anybody There? is one that you should see. I am happy to say 4 stars.

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Is Anybody There? Review By Nicole

**** (out of 4)

Set in rural England in the 1980’s, Is Anybody There is a charming and very touching film about the friendship between a boy and a retired magician. The boy, Edward, lives with his parents in a house that they rent out to seniors. Edward is bored living in this makeshift retirement/nursing home, so he occupies his time searching for ghosts every time another resident dies. When a retired magician named Clarence arrives, he is grumpy, and does not want to live at the house. Clarence is saddened by what has happened in his past, and wished he could make up for his past mistakes. Over time, Clarence befriends Edward, teaching him magic tricks. Edward realizes that living with older people is not so boring after all. The friendship between the two is very touching and believable.

This movie is funny, touching, sad at times, but very quirky and sweet at the same time. The acting is excellent, and the story is very moving. Michael Cain’s performance was really good, and captured Clarence’s character perfectly. Joby Talbot’s quiet score was perfect for the film. The use of a theremin really captured the quirky aspect of this movie.

Is Anybody There is a lovely and touching film that you can bring mature friends to. This movie will make you laugh, cry, and realize that friends can be found in the most unexpected places. This movie made me happy to be alive.

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Is Anybody There? Review By Maureen

***1/2 (out of 4)

‘Is Anybody There?’ is a heartwarming, quirky, low key British film about aging and friendship.

The story revolves around 11 year old Edward whose family owns and operates a somewhat rundown boarding house/seniors home. Edward is fascinated with the question of what happens to people when they die. He sets out with his tape recorder to see ‘Is Anybody There’ when some of the resident’s die in the house.

When new resident Clarence (Michael Caine) a retired magician arrives at the house Edward isn’t pleased. The last thing Edward wants is another grumpy old person sharing his home. Slowly over time a friendship develops between Clarence and Edward with Clarence teaching Edward magic tricks.

Michael Caine’s Oscar worthy performance as Clarence makes this movie absolutely wonderful to watch. He reminds us that beneath an unlikable or irritable exterior is a human being with a lifetime of memories, including regrets about things left unsaid. Clarence’s friendship with Edward help both of them develop a better understanding of what gives a person value in life and in death.

For anyone who has a loved one in a retirement or nursing home this movie will touch you., There is a lot of humour but also moments that will move you to tears. This is a really good movie that will stay with me for a long time. I’m glad I saw it.

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Is Anybody There? Review By Tony

**** (out of 4)

The parents of ten year old Edward (Bill Milner) run their large house as a seniors home. His Mum (Anne-Marie Duff) loves her job a lot more than Edward and his Dad (David Morrissey), who is undergoing a mid-life crisis. Dad does most of the heavy lifting except when residents check out for good and both parents need to pitch in to drag them away. Obsessed with mortality on a regular basis, Edward has been setting up his tape recorder under the beds of residents near death to try to capture any sounds associated with their final moments. This morbid fascination with death has largely alienated Edward from his schoolmates. Widdower Clarence (Michael Caine), a retired stage magician, arrives as a new resident in Edward’s former bedroom. Though at first resentful and uncomfortable around people in even worse shape than he is, Clarence eventually befriends Edward and manages to replace his death interest with a new way to live through magic.

Michael Caine is brilliant as expected in his finest film role to date, supported by an excellent cast that includes some of the finest elderly British talent. Despite various degrees of decripitude and dementia, the dignity of people in their last years is lovingly respected with a good deal of gentle humour along the way. Despite the thick Yorkshire accents, we understood just about all of the dialogue, and look forward to subsequent viewings to pick up the bits we missed the first time around.

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Consensus: Is Anybody There? is a touching film that is carried beautifully by what may be considered Michael Caine's finest role to date. This is a film that if you don't see it in theatres, you will definitely want to catch it on DVD. **** (Out of 4)

Star Trek Review

Star Trek - A Paramount Release

http://www.startrekmovie.com

Opens: May 8th, 2009

Rated PG for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content.

Running time: 126 minutes

J.J. Abrams (dir.)

Roberto Orci (writer)

Alex Kurtzman (writer)

Michael Giacchino (music)

Christopher Pine as James T. Kirk

Zachary Quinto as Spock

Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime

Eric Bana as Nero

Bruce Greenwood as Capt. Christopher Pike

Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy

Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura

Simon Pegg as Scotty

John Cho as Hikaru Sulu

Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov

Ben Cross as Sarek

Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson

Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk

Jennifer Morrison as Winona Kirk

Rachel Nichols as Gaila

All images courtesy of Paramount Pictures.

Zachary Quinto as Spock and Christopher Pine as Kirk onboard the Starship Enterprise.

Our reviews below:

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Star Trek Review By John C.

**** (out of 4)

While the plot of this film is highly illogical, it’s blend of outstanding performances, an excellent musical score by Michael Giacchino and most importantly humor, make this film a winner. I admit to being skeptical about this at first, wondering if it would just turn out to be 127 minutes of over hyped mind-numbing action, that would not live up to expectations. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised by this character-driven film. Yes, that’s right. It’s a character-driven film.

Not only are Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto perfectly cast as Captain James T. Kirk and Spock, the stellar casting goes right down to the more minor characters. John Cho as Sulu is perfect. Anton Yelchin as Chekov is great and often hilarious. Simon Pegg makes an utterly perfect Montgomery Scott, stealing every scene he’s in. It’s little things like this that could have easily gone wrong, but here they are gotten right.

I did not find this quite as solid a franchise reboot as the brilliant Iron Man or The Dark Knight. I found the plot of the film to be one thing that could have been a bit better. It’s a bit hard to follow and doesn’t make much sense. But when you are failing to follow, just sit back and enjoy the acting.

There is one line that Kirk says to a Romulan, (the bad aliens that they have to stop), that I just know will become a classic. Another things that is gotten right about the Star Trek world is the humor. There are some very funny moments in this film, making it just a lot of fun to watch. This will not only be enjoyed by fans of the show, but also by people who have never seen Star Trek, and that is one of the reasons this film succeeds.

I am not giving this film four stars because it is a masterpiece, but because this is a near perfect Star Trek movie, with excellent acting by a stellar cast, humor and heart. Go out and see it at a theatre, the way it was meant to be seen.

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Star Trek Review By Erin V.

**** (out of 4)

I had high expectations for this movie, and after seeing other reviews slowly trickling in, I was hopeful that it would be ***1/2, or at least *** stars. Once the movie started, I was glad to see that this movie was going to completely blow my expectations away. This is an amazingly fun movie!

Beginning with a flashback, we see a Federation vessel attacked by a Romulan ship. This scene is entense and quite sad, but is crucial to the rest of the story. This is where we meet James T. Kirk for the first time. We then flash forward to the future, and meet both Spock and Kirk as kids on their respective worlds. After this, we see where 25 year old Kirk is now, as Captain Pike, (Bruce Greenwood), puts it, ‘the only delinquent in Iowa with a genius level IQ’. Persuaded by Pike to join Starfleet, Kirk does, if only because he doesn’t have anything better to do.

It is at Starfleet that he first meets Spock, (Zachary Quinto), a concept first considered as early as 1968, and here, they immediately see each other as rivals. When the planet Vulcan sends out a distress call, all of the young Starfleet cadets are called to help, and the Enterprise launches into action.

The villian in this movie is Captain Nero, a Romulan, played perfectly by Eric Bana. Nero hates Spock for something that he hasn’t not done yet. He is from the future and it is for this reason that Star Trek fans must remember throughout this movie that due to his disrupting the space-time-contimuem, many things are changed. This plot element was actually smart on the writers parts, as it gives the filmmakers more freedom to stray from some of the original elements in the show. Since this takes place in a pararell universe, anything can happen. The time-travel story also allows us to see Leonard Nimoy play Spock again, as Spock from the future. This was a real treat!

This is the first movie where the orignal crew of the Enterprise was not played by the original actors. And the casting here was spot on. Christopher Pine plays a perfect young Kirk, without copying William Shatener, Zachary Quinto captures Spocks essense, again without being a copy actor. The rest of the crew, Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy, John Cho as Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura, and Simon Pegg as Scotty, and all of the others, all nail their roles as well.

This is the perfect Star Trek movie. The acting is great, Michael Giacchino’s score works amazingly, the special effects are good, and the storyline is classically Star Trek. One of the things that I had hoped for and was glad to see was just the right mix of action and humour on screen. This is a fun movie all around. A great way to kick off the Summer blockbuster season, you should go out and see Star Trek. It is worth it in every way!

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Star Trek Review By Nicole

**** (out of 4)

When I first saw the trailer for Star Trek, I really wanted to see it. The movie really did live up to my expectations.

The movie takes us through the younger years of the crew members of the Starship Enterprise. We see Kirk go from a young delinquent, who gets into bar fights, to becoming the captain of the Enterprise. We meet Spock’s parents, and see the conflict between Kirk and Spock. (I really liked seeing Zachary Quinto as young Spock meet Leonard Nimoy as Spock from the future.) Dr. McCoy is perfectly neurotic, and Scotty is hilarious, (with a strangely cute little companion that never speaks).

The crew have to stop an angry Romulan named Nero who comes from the future, and, due to a misunderstanding, has a grudge against Vulcans, and against Kirk. I don’t want to spoil too much, but fans of the original series will be pleased to know that any discrepancies from the original obviously have to do with time travel.

The acting is great, and there are a lot of funny scenes in the movie as well. The action scenes are fun, without becoming too violent, and the special effects are superb. Michael Giacchino’s score is exciting and fun, and I really want to get the soundtrack. Star Trek is a great summer blockbuster, that you should definitely go see, (preferably in IMAX if you can). This movie is nothing but pure fun.

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Star Trek Review By Maureen

**** (out of 4)

This new Star Trek movie transported me back to the days when watching the original Star Trek show was a whole lot of fun. I was never the degree of fan that would have earned me the title Trekkie, or Trekker, so any plot line deviations in this movie went over my head.

What I really liked about this movie was the solid casting. Each of the actors captured the original characters brilliantly. Chris Pine as James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto as young Spock worked extremely well as did the actors playing Dr. McCoy, Scotty, as Chekov, Sulu and Uhura.

My absolute favorite moment in this movie was having Leonard Nimoy appear as the wiser and older Spock. Live long and prosper, Mr. Nimoy. You were great.

The movie has lots of action and special effects to keep both long time fans and newcomers to the franchise happy. What makes this one special is the fun balance of action and humour. There were lots of wonderfully funny moments. Michael Giacchino’s score was a perfect finishing touch to a near flawless movie.

Long time fan or not, Star Trek is a must-see movie in theatres. The big screen, the applause at the end from the audience and the live long and prosper hand signs flashed at the screen all added to the movie going experience. Go out and see this one while you can.

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Star Trek Review By Tony

***1/2 (out of 4)

Star Trek is a prequel to the classic 1960s series (unlike Enterprise, which was from a previous generation), ending with the familiar “Final Frontier” intro (voiced by Leonard Nimoy) before a version of the original theme under the closing credits. Younger versions of the familiar crewmenbers are all convincing, right down to the doomed red-clad fighter. Some diehard fans may be shocked however, to see that Kirk’s fling with a green-skinned partner isn’t the only romantic interest. Recalling the Tribbles episode where Klingons were identifiable mainly by their beatnik beards, the heavy alien face prosthetics of later generations were scaled back, at least for the Romulans, to tattoos reminiscent of Mike Tyson and the Inkheart heavies. As expected, the special effects over Michael Giacchino’s score are awesome, and everything moves along quickly–too quickly at times for me since, as only an occasional Star Trek watcher, I found the convoluted time travel and parallel universe storyline confusing at times, requiring some assisted reflection afterwards. Though these plot devices are always tricky, they are used here to allow for inconsistencies from the original series, with the added benefit of watching Leonard Nimoy as the future aged Spock. Sequels are sure to follow.

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Kirk, (Christopher Pine), shows up at the docking port for the Starship Enterprise.

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Consensus: The acting, music, and special effects, are all great. You can expect a classic, (albeit slightly confusing), time-travel storyline that both fans of the show and those new to Star Trek can enjoy. With just the right mix of humour and action, this new installment of Star Trek is definitely one to see in theatres. **** (Out of 4)