bart-44 Reviews

Le Dîner de Cons (1998)

hilarious farce with a perfect ending

[4 October 1999]

Four friends have a contest to see who can invite the biggest idiot to accompany them to a dinner party. If the premise makes you uncomfortable, you may feel a bit better when the main protagonist's wife expresses her view of the idea by walking out on her husband. This early scene I think is key to reassuring the audience that the filmmakers are aware the "game" which underlies the film is not ethically neutral. Having been reassured on this front, the audience can then settle back and enjoy the fireworks choosing to ignore that little voice of conscience warning you that this isn't very nice. And fireworks there are as Monsieur Pignon (the idiot) manages to destroy Pierre's life in a single evening. This is a hilarious farce with a perfect ending.

Buena Vista Social Club (1999)

Joyful, heart-warming and exuberant -- a great film

[9/10 · 28 September 1999]

I had assumed, wrongly, that this film was about the process of Ry Cooder tracking down these aging Cuban greats and convincing them to come out of retirement for the production of the CD from which the film takes its name. This is covered, of course, but the film is shot more than a year later and after the commercial success of the recording. I guess this was to be expected, since few would have predicted the phenomenal interest that the recording would generate, so no one would have even contemplated doing a documentary in advance.

This is a wonderful film that captures the warmth, humanity, and exuberance of these great musicians despite the circumscribed nature of their Cuban lives. Compay, Ruben and Ibrahim are as vibrant, engaging and genuine as they are eccentric. Their concert at Carnegie Hall in New York is a triumphant and emotional climax to the film: an emotion fuelled by the realization that this is a never-to-be-repeated occasion.

My only quibble -- and the only thing that keeps BVSC from being a ten in my books -- is that Wim Wenders avoids any attempt to tackle explicitly the political context of his story. Why shy away from the fact that it is the disgusting political regime of the past forty years that has kept Cubans locked in poverty and isolation from the rest of the world, and forced a great musician like Ibrahim Ferrer to shine shoes in order to put food on his table?

Mrs. Brown (1997)

I loved this film

[10/10 · 28 September 1999]

There may have been a bit of poetic license taken with the story of Queen Victoria and her Scottish groom, but this is an absolutely wonderful film! Dench as Victoria and Connolly as Brown are absolutely superb, and the rest of the cast is just as good. (Antony Sher is brilliant as the shrewd and compassionate Disraeli, and though its not a big role, he is a joy to watch.) The developing bond between Dench and Connolly is very believable and there is a real chemistry when they are on screen together.

When the story begins England is growing very tired of their Queen's prolonged grieving over her now long-dead husband Prince Albert -- she has virtually eliminated her ceremonial appearances and cut herself off from the public literally for years. Problem is, no one seems willing to confront Her Majesty with the fact that it is high time she move on. No one, that is, except John Brown who recognizes that even the Queen of England needs to be treated like ordinary human beings once in a while.

Their developing relationship is charming and touching. This is no dry, historical period piece, this is truly a great film. (Ten out of ten from me, and I don't rate films a full ten very often!)

Without Limits (1998)

You don't have to be a runner to enjoy and be moved by this film

[9/10 · 27 September 1999]

Steve Prefontaine had his own way of doing things -- in running and in life in general -- which made him a difficult athlete to coach but makes him a compelling subject for a film. It is the relationship with his coach Bill Bowerman (played by Donald Sutherland) that provides the focus for this excellent film. (Bowerman is better known as the guy who started Nike using his wife's waffle iron to shape the tread of the home-made running shoes he insisted be worn by all the runners he coached.) Without Limits follows Pre from his high school senior year, when he was being courted with offers of scholarships from universities around the country but wanted only one thing -- to be invited personally by Bowerman to work with him at the University of Oregon -- to his untimely death before the Montreal Olympics. If the conventional rules of behaviour or methods of training didn't make sense to Pre he simply ignored them. Naturally this led to conflict with his family, his coach and the American Track and Field Association. Naturally, as well, Pre's extraordinary ability earned him some latitude to pursue his unconventional methods. This process of resistance to innovation and gradual acceptance provides a counterpoint to Pre's own development as a runner and a man. You don't have to be a runner to enjoy and be moved by this film -- I give it nine out of ten.

One True Thing (1998)

schmaltzy and contrived

[4/10 · 23 September 1999]

I appear to be in the minority on this one, but I found One True Thing to be schmaltzy, contrived and generally unpleasant. Not that the acting was all that bad, but the characters seemed little more than archetypes (the bad father, oh, but wait, maybe he's not unredeemably bad; maybe there can be a resolution at the end . . .). Admittedly, the woman I was with loved the movie, so maybe you'll like it. But I didn't.

Genesis (1999)

Straight from the book of Genesis

[8/10 · 21 September 1999]

A biblical tale not in the style of a massive Hollywood epic but on a much smaller scale as Jacob, his wives, children, and other assorted hangers-on may actually have lived in the desert a few thousand years ago. All the familiar details of the Genesis story are there, although the 'council' scene, where some of the background is filled in, is a bit confusing. The actors and setting are African (though it is hard to tell exactly what race Esau might belong to -- perhaps to emphasize that he has literally given up his birthright and heritage), but who's to say that Soutiguy Kouyate (Jacob) looks any less like an ancient Hebrew than does Charlton Heston? A refreshingly straight-up adaptation of a biblical story and a fine film.

Spy Games (1999)

interesting idea, okay film but never really takes off

[6/10 · 21 September 1999]

He's an American spy, she's a Russian spy, they're both in Helsinki spying on each other and sleeping together. They both know that, things being what they are in the 90s, they're probably not as relevant as they once were. They both have superiors who take things slightly more seriously than they do. Sounds like a good premise, and the film certainly had it's funny moments. I saw it at the Toronto Film Festival last week. The audience enjoyed it. Lots of laughs. I liked it. There are worse ways to spend two hours.

The Winslow Boy (1999)

Very satisfying film

[8/10 · 21 September 1999]

An excellent Edwardian period piece (ok, I know, it was after Edward, but you know what I mean) and an interesting story. Seems they went a bit far to show that the Winslow Boy was a Cause Celebre, but that's my only quibble. Casting was superb (the maid was perfect) and so was the acting -- Nigel Hawthorne really is a fine actor. I recommend it as a very satisfying film.

Bowfinger (1999)

Ok, I did laugh a couple times

[4/10 · 21 September 1999]

Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy ARE funny people, no-one can deny that. If they're in a movie, you know you're going to be made to laugh at some point, and I admit it: there were some funny gags. But this one just didn't do it for me. As they say, "that was two hours of my life I'll never get back." Instead, maybe you could read a book or play with your kid or something.

Project Grizzly (1996)

You've gotta respect the guy, even if you think he's nuts

[7/10 · 9 March 1999]

This short documentary (72 min) introduces North Bay, Ontario's Troy Hurtubise, and I can assure you you won't soon forget this guy. After a near-encounter with a giant grizzly in the Canadian Rockies, Hurtubise becomes seized with the idea of building a protective body suit strong enough to let him wrestle 'the Old Man' mano-a-mano and live to tell about it.

Just the sight of this contraption will make you laugh, and there are enough scenes of the 'field-testing' to keep you in stitches as he is knocked over by flying logs, run into by a pick-up truck doing 35 clicks and shot at with a variety of firearms, all without suffering any ill effects.

Hurtubise was apparently annoyed that the film ignores the 'science'. No doubt there are practical uses for this seemingly impenetrable body suit, but discussing the chemical properties of titanium won't make for a good film. Project Grizzly is the story of a man who follows the beat of his own drummer. And it is a very funny film. Early on, the laughter may be directed AT Hurtubise, but by the end of the film the viewer has come to respect the integrity of this man's quest and to feel certain that he will achieve his objectives someday, if not just yet. An entertaining and off-beat film.

Fargo (1996)

My favourite film of the last five years

[10/10 · 9 March 1999]

Some of the 'experts' say this film will become very dated very quickly. But then, so what? These characters are etched in my brain and I can't even think about some of the classic lines without laughing. You don't have to analyze it too deeply -- just enjoy it.

Waking Ned Devine (1998)

An enjoyable way to pass two hours

[9/10 · 3 March 1999]

A straightforward story shot with unknown actors playing quirky and engaging characters. Proof that you can make a good film without a big budget or big stars. David Kelly is wonderful as the harmless and rather inept Michael O'Sullivan. A very enjoyable way to pass two hours. Nine out of ten.

Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Best film of 98

[10/10 · 3 March 1999]

An all-round great film. Wonderful performance by Joseph Fiennes as Shakespeare with writer's block looking for inspiration and love in Gwynneth Paltrow. Some nice work by big names in the minor roles including Judi Dench as Queen Elizabeth and Geoffrey Rush as the theatre manager trying to stave off the sheriff and his creditors. Should get best picture.

Analyze This (1999)

Great premise, very funny -- last act is a bit silly

[7/10 · 3 March 1999]

De Niro is perfect as the mobster trying to get in touch with his feelings. The gags with psychiatrist Crystal are as unpredictable as they are funny. Character actor Joe Viterelli turns out a wonderful performance as Paul Vitti (De Niro)'s man Jelly. This is a great premise for a film and it is carried off well until the last act when it seems the writer(s?) realized they hadn't any idea how to end it. All in all though a very funny movie worth seeing. I give it seven out of ten.