Saturday, December 29, 2007

LONGFORD


LONGFORD (2006, UK/USA, Tom Hooper, Peter Morgan screenplay)
If people think that makes me weak... or mad... so be it. That is the path I am committed to. To love the sinner, but hate the sins. To assume the best in people, and not the worst. To believe that anyone, no matter how evil, can be redeemed... eventually.

Here's an overlooked film that's 100% Soul Food, an HBO production that premiered at Sundance in 2007. Lord Longford (a transformative portrayal by Jim Broadbent, who also happens to have played Professor Kirke in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) is a British aristocrat whose outspoken Christian faith led him to champion the cause of Myra Hindley, the notorious serial killer involved with England's horrific "Moor Murders." The SF Chronicle aptly calls the film "languid but always fascinating," the story of "one man who tested his faith and his reputation by refusing to pass judgment."

Longford's Christianity is front and centre throughout. Just as with the historical events, this smart film doesn't make up our minds for us. Is he is a well-meaning but misguided Pollyanna whose "look on the bright side" religiosity makes him an easy mark for a manipulative criminal? Or is his the authentically Christlike choice, the hard way of radical obedience that follows Jesus to a shameful cross between thieves?

The title of Peter Stanford's Longford biography points up something essential in the man when it dubs him "The Outcast's Outcast": in championing the outsider - as well as other unpopular causes - this man who was at one time the leader of the House of Lords makes himself a pariah. Broadbent's thoroughly embodied performance suggests the sort of upper class softness and eccentricity lampooned in endless Monty Python sketches, at the same time as it suggests the possibility of Longford's sanctity - or at least a thoroughgoing humanity and a divine humility. At the outset, Longford plumps his latest book for one of those smarmy BBC talk show hosts;
Host: So many questions to ask you, such a long and *distinguished* career. But I'm gonna start with the book. What prompted you to write it?
Longford: As a lifelong Christian and scholar, I've always been interested in ideas of sanctity. But more than that, I think it was probably the entirely selfish desire to spend a little time with my heroes.
Host: Your "heroes"?
Longford: Yes, that's what the saints are - my heroes, friends, intercessors.
Host: Interesting! Right...

I wasn't a long way into the film before I thought, "This reminds me somehow of THE QUEEN." Sure enough, the screenplay is by Peter Morgan, for whom 2007 was a big year: LONGFORD won him the BAFTA TV Award for Best Writer, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND won him the BAFTA Film Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the award for which THE QUEEN was nominated. Also in 2007, the stage play FROST / NIXON travelled from the West End to Broadway.

Samantha Morton's canny performance as Hindley beautifully serves the script, RSC actress Lindsay Duncan's Lady Longford is exquisite, and Andy Serkis brings fire to the film whenever he's onscreen as Hindley's psychopathic lover - a character as memorably evil as Broadbent's Longford is memorably decent. (Premise for a film: Gollum summons Digory Kirke to his prison cell...)

The fact that this is an HBO picture, as was THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE, makes me wonder if there's an exec there with some sort of interest in the Christian faith. Both films are substantial studies of the faith playing itself out in unlikely ways, in unexpected people.

AMAZING GRACE, DEAD MAN WALKING, THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE


Available at Videomatica
See also the National Catholic Register review by Steven D. Greydanus

Friday, December 28, 2007

The Films of 2007 (Dec 28)

An update of the Movie City News tally of critic's year-end lists, with local viewing details. The MCN meta-list is a terrific tip-off about what to see as this exceptional movie year draws to a close. My particular favourites are in boldface: can't wait to see JUNO!

1. No Country For Old Men (Fifth, Scotiabank, Silvercity, etc)
2. There Will Be Blood (in Vancouver theatres Jan 11)
3. The Diving Bell & The Butterfly (Fifth)
4. Once (DVD available)
5. Atonement (TT Park SC etc)
6. Into The Wild (DVD Feb 12)
7. Juno (TT Fifth SC etc)
8. Zodiac (DVD available)
9. Sweeney Todd (SC Scotiabank etc)
10. Michael Clayton (Granville 7 - may leave soon)
10. Away From Her (DVD available)

12. I'm Not There (Granville 7)
13. Ratatouille (DVD available)
14. 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days (gone, don't know DVD release date)
15. Before The Devil Knows You're Dead (gone, don't know DVD release date)
16. Eastern Promises (DVD available)
17. Assassination of Jesse James (DVD Feb 5)
18. Persepolis (No sign of this one yet)
19. Lives Of Others (DVD available)
20. Bourne Ultimatum (DVD available)

21. Killer of Sheep (DVD available)
22. The Savages (Fifth, TInseltown)
23. Syndromes and a Century (No sign of this one)
24. The Host (DVD available)
25. Gone Baby Gone (DVD Feb 12)
26. Knocked Up (DVD available)
27. No End In Sight (DVD available)
28. Darjeeling Limited (DVD Feb 26)
29. Superbad (DVD available)
30. 3:10 To Yuma (DVD Jan 8)
30. American Gangster (Tinseltown, Station Square)

32. Black Book (DVD available)
33. King Of Kong (Gone)
34. Control (Gone)
35. Sicko (DVD available)
36. Margot At The Wedding (Granville 7)
37. 12:08 East Of Bucharest (DVD Feb 5)
38. Grindhouse (DVD available)
39. Hairspray (DVD available)
40. The Wind That Shakes The Barley (DVD available)

41. Lust, Caution (Station Square)
42. Across The Universe (Denman Sat 2:30, DVD Feb 5)
43. Offside (DVD available)
44. Enchanted (Tinseltown, Oakridge, SC, etc)
45. Lady Chatterly (been and gone?)
46. Rescue Dawn (DVD available)
47. 300 (DVD available)
48. Breach (DVD available)
49. Southland Tales (gone?)
50. This Is England (DVD available)
50. Charlie Wilson's War (SC Dunbar Scotiabank etc) [27]

52. Lars & The Real Girl (Granville 7) [25]
52. The Kite Runner (Ridge SC Scotiabank etc) [25]

54. Lake Of Fire [24]
54. Golden Door [24]
54. In The Valley Of Elah [24]
54. Paprika [24]

58. Hot Fuzz [23]
58. Private Fears In Public Places [23]

60. After The Wedding (DVD available) [21]
60. The Great Debaters (Tinseltown) [22]
60. Bug [21]

Starting Out The Evening (not here yet)
Paranoid Park (been and gone?)
Silent Light (hasn't come yet)

*

And here's my own year-end list of personal favourites. Not an objective assessment, these are the films I've most enjoyed/appreciated in 2007. Amazingly strong roster, and so many yet to be seen. I think this is the strongest year for film since 1999.

My Faves of 2007
1. Adam's Apples
2. Into The Wild
3. Across The Universe
4. Assassination of Jesse James
5. I'm Not There
6. Gone Baby Gone
7. After The Wedding
8. The Lives Of Others
9. This Is England
10. Once
11. Michael Clayton
12. Amazing Grace
13. Lars & The Real Girl
14. Black Snake Moan
15. You Told Me, You Love Me
16. Ratatouille
17. Into Great Silence
18. No Country For Old Men
19. You, The Living
20. Jindabyne
21. Secret Sunshine
22. The Aura
23. Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
24. Away From Her

Eager To See
Atonement
Ben X
The Bothersome Man
Charlie Wilson's War
The Darjeeling Limited
The Diving Bell & The Butterfly
Dry Season (Daratt)
Hairspray
Juno
Kite Runner
Margot At The Wedding
Paranoid Park
Persepolis
Silent Light
Sweeney Todd
Syndromes & A Century
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac
4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days

Movie Marquees

Here's a curious coincidence I noticed while watching one of my Christmas gifts a day after viewing one of my favourite Christmas movies. I'm wondering if the movie marquee in the second film might be a tip of the hat to the first. Recognize either one?



And speaking of movie marquees, know who put this marquee in his 2002 film?

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The Films of 2007 (Dec 26)

Who was that smart guy who wrote about the Dec 15 posting of this year's Movie City News tally of critic's lists that...
"There Will Be Blood will climb once more critics see it and more lists are posted. (up now from #15 to #2) "Same with Jesse James and I'm Not There..." (both up slightly, JJ from #23 to #19, and INT from #18 to #14). "Wonder if Syndromes and 4-3-2 will be viewed widely enough to climb?" (up from #23 to #21, and from #29 to #16 respectively) "I'm surprised how high Breach and 3:10 are, and 300 - I bet they all fade." (Breach drops from #25 to #43, 3:10 drops from #17 to #31, and 300 drops from #20 to #50)" "Slightly surprised and definitely pleased to see Once so high - wonder if it will sag to top 20?." (Once held its own at #5)

The MCN site compiles all the professional "Best Of" lists they can find, as well as nominations for various awards. Of course, these lists aren't a lot more significant than awards, whose worth is always questionable. But they're a terrific tip-off about what to see in the end-of-year onslaught of interesting movies.

Here's the latest iteration, ranked by total points. And what the heck, I'll boldface my particular favourites...

1. No Country For Old Men (Fifth, Silvercity, etc)
2. There Will Be Blood (In Vancouver theatres Jan 11)
3. Zodiac (DVD available)
4. Diving Bell & The Butterfly (Fifth)
5. Once (DVD available)
6. Atonement (Tinseltown, Park, Silvercity, etc.)
7. Into The Wild (Tinseltown - may leave soon)
8. Juno (Fifth, Tinseltown, Silvercity, etc.)
9. Michael Clayton (Granville 7 - may leave soon)
10. Sweeney Todd (Rio, Silvercity, Scotiabank)

11. Away From Her (DVD available)
12. Before The Devil Knows You're Dead (Tinseltown)
13. Ratatouille (DVD available)
14. I'm Not There (Granville 7, Fifth Avenue)
15. Eastern Promises (Hollywood Dec 26/27)
16. 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days (Had a short fall run)
17. Lives Of Others (DVD available)
18. Persepolis (No sign of this one)
19. Assassination of Jesse James (DVD Feb 5)
20. Bourne Ultimatum (DVD available)

21. Killer of Sheep (DVD available)
22. The Savages (Fifth, TInseltown)
23. Syndromes and a Century (No sign of this one)
24. The Host
25. Knocked Up (DVD available)
26. Darjeeling Limited (Tinseltown - may leave soon)
27. No End In Sight (DVD available)
28. Gone Baby Gone (DVD Feb 12)
29. Superbad (DVD available)
30. American Gangster (Tinseltown, Station Square)

31. 3:10 To Yuma (DVD Jan 8)
32. Sicko (DVD available)
33. King Of Kong (Already ran at the Vancity?)
34. Control (Had a short fall run)
35. Black Book (DVD available)
36. Hairspray (DVD available)
37. Lust, Caution (Station Square)
38. Across The Universe (DVD Feb 5)
38. 12:08 East Of Bucharest (DVD Feb 5)
38. Offside (DVD available)

41. Rescue Dawn (DVD available)
42. Margot At The Wedding (Granville 7)
43. Breach (DVD available)
44. This Is England (DVD available)
44. Charlie Wilson's War (Dunbar, Scotiabank, Silvercity, etc)
44. Lady Chatterly (been and gone?
47. Grindhouse (DVD available)
48. The Kite Runner (Ridge, Scotiabank, Silvercity)
48. The Wind That Shakes The Barley (DVD available)
48. 300 (DVD available)

51. Lars & The Real Girl (Granville 7)
55. After The Wedding (DVD available)
60. Starting Out The Evening (not here yet)
63. Paranoid Park (been and gone?)
DNR. Silent Light (hasn't come yet)

*

And here's my own year-end list of personal favourites. Not an objective assessment: these are the films I've most enjoyed/appreciated in 2007. Amazingly strong roster, and so many yet to be seen. I think this is the strongest year for film since 1999.

My Faves of 2007
1. Adam's Apples
2. Into The Wild
3. Across The Universe
4. Assassination of Jesse James
5. I'm Not There
6. Gone Baby Gone
7. After The Wedding
8. The Lives Of Others
9. This Is England
10. Once
11. Michael Clayton
12. Amazing Grace
13. Lars & The Real Girl
14. Black Snake Moan
15. You Told Me, You Love Me
16. Ratatouille
17. Into Great Silence
18. No Country For Old Men
19. You, The Living
20. Jindabyne
21. Secret Sunshine
22. The Aura
23. Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
24. Away From Her

Eager To See
Atonement
Ben X
The Bothersome Man
Charlie Wilson's War
The Darjeeling Limited
The Diving Bell & The Butterfly
Dry Season (Daratt)
Hairspray
Juno
Kite Runner
Margot At The Wedding
Paranoid Park
Persepolis
Silent Light
Sweeney Todd
Syndromes & A Century
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac
4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days

Sunday, December 23, 2007

The Films of 2007 (Dec 23)

The top ten (or twenty, or hundred) lists start accumulating now, just in time to tip us off about what to see in the end-of-year onslaught of interesting films.

Here's the first iteration of the annual Movie City News tally, a cumulative ranking of films which appear on the Top Ten lists of (eventually) hundreds of film critics and awards. This one's from Dec 15, I think. The posted list is presently ranked by number of list appearances, which I suspect will switch over to total points once enough lists have appeared, but maybe not. In any case, my version is ranked by total points, which appear in brackets following each title.[/i]

1 No Country For Old Men (156) Fifth, Silvercity, etc
2 Zodiac (82) DVD available
3 Away From Her (73) DVD available
4 Once (67) DVD available
5 Juno (65) Fifth, Tinseltown, Silvercity, etc.
6 Michael Clayton (49) Granville 7 - may leave soon
7 Diving Bell & The Butterfly (46) Fifth
7 Lives Of Others (46) DVD available
9 Sweeney Todd (44) Rio, Scotiabank, Silvercity, etc.
10 Into The Wild (40) Tinseltown - may leave soon
11 Eastern Promises (39) Hollywood Dec 26/27
12 Atonement (36) Tinseltown, Park, Silvercity, etc.
13 Before The Devil Knows You're Dead (35) Tinseltown
14 Ratatouille (34.5) DVD available
15 There Will Be Blood (33) In Vancouver theatres Jan 11
16 Killer of Sheep (31.5) DVD available
17 3:10 To Yuma (29) DVD Jan 8
18 I'm Not There (28) Granville 7, Fifth Avenue
19 Superbad (27) DVD available
20 300 (25) DVD available
21 Syndromes and a Century (24) No sign of this one
22 Bourne Ultimatum (24) DVD available
23 Assassination of Jesse James (23) DVD Feb 5
23 Knocked Up (23) DVD available
25 Breach (22) DVD available
26 Persepolis (21.5) No sign of this one
27 Control (20) No sign of this one
27 Darjeeling Limited (20) Tinseltown - may leave soon
29 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days (18) No sign of this one
29 Gone Baby Gone (18) DVD Feb 12

I bet There Will Be Blood will climb once more critics see it and more lists are posted. Same with Jesse James and I'm Not There. Wonder if Syndromes and 4-3-2 will be viewed widely enough to climb? I'm surprised how high Breach and 3:10 are, and 300 - I bet they all fade. Slightly surprised and definitely pleased to see Once so high - wonder if it will sag to top 20?.

More to come.

And here's my own year-end list of favourites. Not an objective assessment: these are the films I've most appreciated in 2007. Amazingly strong roster, and so many yet to be seen. I think this is the strongest year for film since 1999.

My Faves of 2007
1 Adam's Apples
2 Into The Wild
3 Across The Universe
4 Assassination of Jesse James
5 I'm Not There
6 Gone Baby Gone
7 After The Wedding
8 The Lives Of Others
9 This Is England
10 Once
11 Michael Clayton
12 Amazing Grace
13 Lars & The Real Girl
14 Black Snake Moan
15 You Told Me, You Love Me
16 Ratatouille
17 Into Great Silence
18 No Country For Old Men
19 You, The Living
20 Jindabyne
21 Secret Sunshine
22 The Aura
23 Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
24 Away From Her

Eager To See
Atonement
Ben X
The Bothersome Man
Charlie Wilson's War
The Darjeeling Limited
The Diving Bell & The Butterfly
Dry Season (Daratt)
Hairspray
Juno
Kite Runner
Margot At The Wedding
Paranoid Park
Persepolis
Silent Light
Sweeney Todd
Syndromes & A Century
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac
4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days

Saturday, December 08, 2007

praying with lior

Opens theatrically February 1 2008. Hoping it comes to the Vancouver International Jewish Film Festival - probably the end of March.

PRAYING WITH LIOR
"If there is a God, Lior is definitely closer to God than anyone else I know."
- Yoni Liebling, Lior's brother

An engrossing, wrenching and tender documentary film, PRAYING WITH LIOR introduces Lior Liebling, also called "the little rebbe." Lior has Down syndrome, and has spent his entire life praying with utter abandon. Is he a "spiritual genius" as many around him say? Or simply the vessel that contains everyone’s unfulfilled wishes and expectations? Lior – whose name means "my light" — lost his mother at age six, and her words and spirit hover over the film. While everyone agrees Lior is closer to God, he’s also a burden, a best friend, an inspiration, and an embarrassment, depending on which family member is speaking. As Lior approaches Bar Mitzvah, the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony different characters provides a window into life spent "praying with Lior." The movie poses difficult questions such as what is "disability" and who really talks to God? Told with intimacy and humor, PRAYING WITH LIOR is a family story, a triumph story, a grief story, a divinely-inspired story.

Official website

Press release

Praying with Lior, the profoundly moving and entertaining documentary about an extraordinary family, a “spiritual genius” (according to some), and a Bar Mitzvah will open theatrically in New York City at Cinema Village on February 1st, and around the country throughout the spring.

Ilana Trachtman's feature-length documentary had its world premiere at the 2007 San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, where Variety enthused: "Trachtman captures a complex family dynamic in which Lior isn't the only intriguing personality…These people are so interesting, and Trachtman's handling so intimate and involving, it would be very welcome if she revisited the family every so often, 'Up'-style."

Before its theatrical release, Praying with Lior will screen once at the Margaret Mead Festival (Sunday, November 11 at 5:15 pm) and twice at the New York Jewish Film Festival at Lincoln Center (on January 15 at 3 pm and 6:30 pm).

Shot over three years and focusing on the months leading up to Lior's Bar Mitzvah in 2004, Praying with Lior draws a riveting portrait of a high-functioning, quick-witted, friendly and sincere boy, who, as he proudly approaches manhood, is simultaneously "retarded" and, according to his many admirers, a "spiritual genius." It also offers a wonderfully illuminating window into how disability can strengthen a family and a community. In extensive media coverage in Philadelphia where the film was shot, Praying with Lior has already been hailed for encouraging greater inclusion in faith communities for persons with disabilities.

Trachtman, a producer and director of several award-winning projects for PBS, Showtime, HBO Family and A&E, had already proven adept at content-rich, character-driven cinema verité. Here she used those skills as she gained unique access into the day-to-day lives of the Lieblings, a deeply spiritual if unconventional family.

Lior's siblings figure prominently in the film, making observations about life with their "special" brother; but it is Lior's parents who stand out by demonstrating extraordinary compassion and selflessness. Mordecai Liebling, a nationally known rabbi and former director of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, is unabashedly proud of his son's embrace of spirituality, interest in “davening” (praying) and whole-hearted, off-key singing. Lior's mother, Rabbi Devorah Bartnoff -- who died of breast cancer in 1997 -- together with Lior's stepmother, Lynne Iser, lavish generous servings of love and provide the film's feminist perspective.

The soul of the film is revealed by the history of the mother. Knowing the seriousness of her illness, Rabbi Bartnoff filmed home movies of herself and her very young son Lior so that he would have a clear memory of her love for him. What is also clear from those celluloid memories is her profound appreciation of Lior’s special qualities; she expresses an unrequited wish to survive to his Bar Mitvah – a wish that Lior becomes convinced is fulfilled, at least in spirit.

# # #

Praying with Lior features a soundtrack composed by the klezmer and bluegrass virtuoso Andy Statman, one of the most influential acoustic musicians of our time. The editor is the acclaimed Zelda Greenstein, and the Emmy Award-winning director/cameraman Slawomir Grunberg serves as cinematographer. This is New York-based Trachtman's independent feature film debut.

Produced and Directed by ILANA TRACHTMAN
Edited by ZELDA GREENSTEIN
Cinematography by SLAWOMIR GRUNBERG and ARI HABERBERG
Music by ANDY STATMAN
88 minutes, color, 2007

Saturday, December 01, 2007

adam's apples TONIGHT ONLY!!!!

Oops, asleep at the switch. My favourite movie of the year so far (though quite possibly no one else's) is showing tonight at the European Film Festival, 9:15, Pacific Cinematheque.

ADAM'S APPLES is an ultra-black Danish comedy that seems to me to be about the folly of the Christian faith - whether the film thinks such serious foolishness is holy or simply foolish will be entirely up to you to decide. I see it as an admittedly bizarre partner film to Rossellini's FLOWERS OF ST FRANCIS, so you can see which side I come down on, but so far have only found one fool to agree.

In any case, don't go expecting a melancholy Danish film of great theological weight and substance. This is an "I can't believe I just saw that" / "I can't believe I'm laughing at that" European comedy. If it sounds like that might be for you, have a look!

And here's a link to my piece on the film.

tears for april: beyond the blue lens

A note from Steve Plitt, who did a bunch of tech stuff around PT a way back, and then headed into film. You've probably seen his wonderful short SUPERANON. Well...

Hello, again!

I wanted to give you the heads up to a movie that's playing this week only at
Tinseltown; Tears for April: Beyond the Blue Lens. This film was a decade in the
making, and dives into the sometimes brutal, sometimes heartwarming interactions
between the cops and the addicts on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

It has been described as "a gushing stream of turmoil, desperation, love and
hope with touches of humour."

This is the latest major project from Vancouver's Odd Squad, and some unknown
filmmaker/goomba/PT alumnus named Steve Plitt edited it.

More blurbs and promo material here

Here's the Straight review (of course, they can't help being political at the
end)

Playing at Tinseltown Nov 30 to Dec 6