April 2008 Archives (17 posts)
The English Surgeon (2007)
Two people passed out during the screening of The English Surgeon (2007) on Wednesday night at the Bloor theatre. This was one of the goriest films at Hot Docs this year.
Henry Marsh is a leading neurosurgeon from London with a great sense of humour. He has a love for the Ukraine and often travels to Kiev to help his Ukrainian colleague, Igor. Henry tries to make a difference and save lives where he can even though his colleagues in London think he’s wasting his time.
Many patients in the Ukraine are misdiagnosed and die as a result. Quite often, Henry has to tell a child or a young woman that they will die and there is nothing he can do. He also brings hope to Kiev when he is able to perform risky neurosurgery and save a life.
A surgery like this is performed in the film with incredible visual and audio clarity. A young man with an inoperable brain tumor goes under Henry’s knife to have the tumour removed. The necessary anesthetic isn’t available so Henry performs the surgery while the patient is awake.
To say the least this scene is incredible graphic and difficult to watch. At one point Henry is making jokes about the Bosch cordless drill being used to remove a part of the patient’s skull. Minutes later their are some tense moments when the patient stops responding.
You’ll find this film to be funny, terrifying and heart-warming if you can get through it. One of my favourites from this years festival. 
Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.
Posted in Hot Docs at 12:57 AM | Comments (0)
Carny (2008)
Director Alison Murray saw some incredible photographs of carnival workers that inspired her to make the film Carny. She follows the lives of several carnies and reveals a world of lonlieness, poverty and addictions.
Your typical carny is at the end of their rope and running away from something — an abusive relationship, a spouse, usually the law. Many of them are covered in tattoos, missing a lot of teeth and drink a little too much. So how could a film with so much potential be so boring?
The problem is that nothing really happens in Carny. A great subject doesn’t guarantee a great film. Murray introduces us to a cotton candy lesbian, a bitter clown, and a man that lives with two women. They’re all unique characters but their stories lack drama. In my opinion, the film never takes off.
We get a slice of the carny life but it’s dull and uneventful. Two of the people that I watched the film with left halfway through. I stayed until the end but Carny just didn’t do it for me. ½
Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.
Posted in Hot Docs at 8:22 PM | Comments (0)
Mustang 2.0
The price of gas has skyrocketed. 94 octane from Sunoco is around $1.30/L in Toronto which means that spring has arrived. For me its the time of year when I put the Corolla to bed and take the Mustang out of the garage.
After years of neglect my ‘88 Mustang has a fresh coat of paint, new headlights, new taillights, and a new B303 cam. It’s about a week away from being finished and I can’t wait.
It came out of the paint booth this morning and this is what it now looks like. The picture isn’t great but the new colour is a dark charcoal gray. I’m planning to ditch the traditional 5-star rims for some black rims which will give the car a completely new look.
I’ve had the same aftermarket exhaust system for almost 20 years so and plan to put a new Flowmaster exhaust kit which will put a big smile on my face.
Posted in Personal at 1:51 PM | Comments (5)
The True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Lee Adams’ Appalachia (2002)
In 2002, Jennifer Baichwal directed a fabulous film about Shelby Lee Adams’ controversial photos of the poor people in the Appalachian Mountains — The True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Lee Adams’ Appalachia.
Adams was born in Kentucky and has spent 30 years documenting and photographing the poor families in the various hollers of Appalachia. He’s become very good friends with some of these families and has completely gained their trust.
Most of us would look at Adams’ photos and describe the people in them as hillbillies or “banjo people”, straight out of the film Deliverance. Is he trying to exploit them or is he merely documenting their way of life?
The subjects in Adams’ photos feel that his work is harmless and a true representation of their culture. As a viewer, you get the sense that Adams truly feels he is documenting the Appalachian way of life. Several art critics featured in the film, feel otherwise. Adams stages some of his photos and uses theatrical lighting to great effect. His work is incredibly beautiful, complex, and more fine art than documentary photography.
He’s exhibited his photos around the world, sold prints and published many books about the Appalachian people He’s become very successful and made a good living by being a photographer. Baichwal doesn’t make any judgments in the film. But at a Q&A after the film, she questioned how people at a Berlin gallery of Adams’ work would read his photographs while sipping champagne and eating smoked salmon. They’re probably going to see the stereotype instead of the friendly people that Adams has gotten to know over the years.
I haven’t mentioned the slaughter of a hog, the practice of snake handling, pipe smoking grannies, inbreeding and the high mortality rate up in the Appalachian hills. For that, you’ll have to watch the film and it’s a good one. ½
Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.
Shelby Lee Adams website: shelby-lee-adams.blogspot.com
CBC News interview of Shelby Lee Adams
Mercury Films
Posted in Hot Docs at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
The ultimate guide to Moleskine notebooks
I prefer the 192 page Plain Notebook with blank pages so that I can make sketches, to-do lists and take notes at meetings. If you don’t have a Moleskine notebook then you’re missing out on a good thing.
Moleskine photo © 2007 The European Paper Company. All rights reserved.
Posted in Observations at 9:51 PM | Comments (0)
Newsarama interviews Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz
The buzz about The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008) is growing and Newsarama has a video interview with writer/director Chris Carter and writer Frank Spotnitz.
Via SuperheroTV where Rob Sinclair is almost as desperate as I am for more information on the film.
Posted in Movies at 9:33 PM | Comments (1)
Behind the Glass (2008)
I wasn’t aware that Behind the Glass was screening with Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D but I’m glad it did. Director Gabriel Rhodes created a fantastic little film about a dying breed — the film projectionist.
Gabriel Rhodes does an excellent job of introducing several projectionists from around the US with interesting and unique stories to tell. Their jobs are changing as more theatres introduce digital projection. This film captures the end of an era that will be of interest to any cinephile.
Behind the Glass was shot on 16mm film.
Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.
Posted in Hot Docs at 1:44 AM | Comments (0)
Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D (2008)
At first glance, Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D appears to be a film about an artist who has a passion for 3-D photography. Unfortunately this film is more about Hai “Daddy” Tran’s lifelong obsession with photography and its impact on his family.
Tran is an interesting subject for a film. He’s charismatic, passionate about photography and he runs a vintage camera store in an industry that is dominated by digital cameras. He loves to collect things and not just a few — thousands of cameras and lenses, jewelry, lights, lawn ornaments. Every door inside his house has multiple locks. It takes four keys just to get inside his house!
I found Hai Tran to be more a lovable eccentric than a true artist or photographer. I was hoping this film would be a little more along the lines of What Remains (2005) or Manufactured Landscapes (2006). Tran appears to be more of a holiday snapper than a photographer. I guess this is why the film focuses more on his obsessions and character rather than his photography.
Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D is an average documentary film for me. The production value could have been stronger and I found that the same photos were being used repeatedly for different parts of the film.
I might have enjoyed the film a little more if:
- the projectionist didn’t stop the film 3 minutes in because it was being shown in the wrong aspect ratio
- the film didn’t stop 10 minutes later because it was missing the subtitles
- director Siu Ta brought the correct version of the film and checked it before the screening
Siu Ta wanted to cancel the screening and reschedule it for a later date! Thankfully an audience member persuaded her to just show the film. She used a microphone and translated parts of the film while it played.
Watching this film was probably the most unique experience I’ve had at Hot Docs. What made all of these glitches ironic was that it screened with Behind the Glass — a film about projectionists and their importance in the presentation of a film.
Films are rated from 1 to 4 stars.
Posted in Hot Docs at 12:11 AM | Comments (0)
It was the freshest move I’ve ever seen
I think I’ve watched this video about 10 times in the last couple of days. Old school. Cool. Watch it.
Posted in Music at 10:50 PM | Comments (0)
The Art of the Title Sequence
The Art of the Title Sequence is a fabulous site devoted to television and film title sequences.
A lot of films begin with a black screen and generic title sequence and sometimes this is appropriate. Occasionally a film like Thank You For Smoking or Catch Me If You Can comes along with a killer title sequence that captures the essence of a film in a creative and exciting way.
If you’re a creative professional and you need a little inspiration then spend some time watching these title sequences.
Posted in Motion Graphics and Movies at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)
Porsche 911 Carrera 4S test drive
My buddy Toby recently purchased a 911 Carrera 4S. Last weekend he drove it up to Toronto from NYC and made a stop at my place where I inspected every latch, curve and button. I also took it for a test drive and let’s just say that nothing I’ve ever driven comes close to the handling, power and luxury of this sports car.
The clutch is like butter. You can’t make a bad shift in this vehicle if you tried. The 400 hp pushes your entire body into the back of your seat. The 4-wheel disc brakes stop the car on a dime. This car is German engineering at its finest.
At $90,000, this car is way out of my league. I’m happy with my Mustang GT but now I have a new found respect for the Porsche 911.
Posted in Miscellaneous at 8:49 PM | Comments (1)
2008 Hot Docs Picks
Hot Docs starts in a week and I plan to see 13 films this year. Below is a list of my picks with screening dates and times. If you’re attending any of these films then look for me in line and say hello.
- Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D — Friday, April 18 / 9:30 PM
- The True Meaning of Pictures: Shelby Lee Adams’ Appalachia — Saturday, April 19 / 11:00 AM
- Murphy’s Law — Monday, April 21 / 11:59 PM
- Carny — Monday, April 21 / 11:59 PM
- 52 Percent — Tuesday, April 22 / 1:30 PM
- 20 Seconds of Joy — Tuesday, April 22 / 1:30 PM
- Man on Wire — Tuesday, April 22 / 6:30 PM
- Wesley Willis’s Joy Rides — Tuesday, April 22 / 11:45 PM
- Dance With A Serial Killer — Wednesday, April 23 / 11:30 AM
- At the Death House Door — Wednesday, April 23 / 7:00 PM
- $4 Haircut — Thursday, April 24 / 7:00 PM
- S&M: Short and Male — Thursday, April 24 / 7:00 PM
- Killer Poet — Thursday, April 24 / 9:45 PM
- The Black List — Friday, April 25 / 12:00 PM
- Standard Operating Procedure — Saturday, April 26 / 9:15 PM
- Planet B-Boy — Saturday, April 26 / 11:59 PM
It may seem like a lot of films but some of these docs aren’t feature length and will be screening with other films. Last year I picked 10 films and only made it out to a couple because of my crazy work schedule. This year isn’t any different but I’m determined to find the time this year.
Posted in Hot Docs at 9:27 PM | Comments (0)
I thought hockey was dangerous
It turns out that I was wrong. Being a television news reporter can be very dangerous! Gawker has a fabulous compilation video of some bizarre and very funny clips from over the years. I’ve watched the video five times and I’m still busting a gut.
My favourite is the reporter that gets attacked by a snake. The old man that gets attacked by the dog is a close second.
Posted in Humour at 12:28 AM | Comments (0)
Coffee protects your brain
According to a BBC News story, your morning cup of coffee might be your best defense against dementia:
Coffee may cut the risk of dementia by blocking the damage cholesterol can inflict on the body, research suggests.
So if you’re over 40, have high cholesterol and an expanding waistline you’re at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s. I’m going to grab a coffee.
Posted in News and Observations at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)
The Mist (2007)
It’s been a while since my last DVD review or recommendation. After watching The Mist (2007) I had to write something. The Mist has mystery, originality, a surprise ending, and it sucks!
I was so disappointed with the ridiculous ending that the created a lot of buzz last November. It is dumb, dumb, dumb! I haven’t read the Stephen King novel that the film is based on and wonder if it ends in the same way. The idea just doesn’t work on film.
The acting in this horror movie is terrible. By the end of it you want everyone to vanish into the mist. The special effects are also pretty lame. The monster with tentacles looks like something out of a 1950s horror movie — something Ed Wood might have cooked up.
Marcia Gay Harden’s performance as a right-wing religious nut was actually painful to watch and completely unbelievable. Even crazier was the idea that she could have a cult-like following of 100 people in 24 hours. The idea is interesting but poorly developed.
The plot, the screenplay and the direction is weak. I should have checked Metacritic before I sat down to watch this. It makes me want to cry when I think about Frank Darabont’s brilliant direction in The Shawshank Redemption (1994). What happened Frank?
Posted in DVD Reviews at 11:46 PM | Comments (2)
It’s been a good week for music releases
I’ve been buried in work and forgot about some major music releases this week. After a visit to iTunes Store I picked up:
- Keep It Simple — Van Morrison
- Accelerate — R.E.M.
- Last Night — Moby
Van, is, sounding, a lot, older, these, days. Nice bluesy album to relax to. R.E.M.’s new album is a bit pricey at $13.99 (16 tracks) when most albums are $9.99 on iTunes. I’ve listened to it once and think it will grow on me the more I play it.
Moby’s latest album is an old school, 80s, toe-tapping, head bopping, club sounding disc that makes me feel old. Despite that I like the album.
Who would have thought that Apple’s iTunes Store would become the top music retailer in the US in under five years? I prefer to shop at iTunes Store because I listen to most of my music on my computer while I work.
I have a large CD collection but they take up a lot of space. Just ask my wife. CDs get dusty. The jewel cases break. The discs scratch sometimes go missing when you lend them to friends. My digital music collection is easy to find, takes up very little physical space and costs less.
Posted in Music at 11:07 PM | Comments (0)
I can’t win
A couple of weeks ago I took a puck off the forehead that required three stitches. I purchased an Itech X100 half shield for my hockey helmet. Hopefully the flying pucks will bounce off my visor instead of my forehead in the future.
Unfortunately I wasn’t wearing a neck guard last night. I stepped onto the ice for my first shift last night and blocked a slapshot with my throat. I thought I was going to die.
You panic when you can’t breathe. I had this picture in my mind that my adam’s apple was inverted after the hit, that I wouldn’t be able to talk. I ended up playing the rest of the game, drinking a lot of water and sounding like Barry White. Today my throat is swollen and I sound like a kid hitting puberty.
All of the guys on the bench gave me the Don Cherry lecture about defensemen blocking shots — you shouldn’t keep your stick in front of you when a guy winds up for a shot. Your stick should be off to the side to avoid deflections of the puck. Live and learn.
I think that I’ll probably lose some teeth next week the way things have been going.
Posted in Personal at 9:25 AM | Comments (4)
