Change Your Image
jeabraham
Reviews
The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)
Fantasy 80's parable draws you in
I'm a sucker for the coming of age stories. This one's about a high school girl who moves to a new neighbourhood, who befriends the autistic boy next door. The boy seems to be able to fly; he's obsessed with airplanes and spends long hours sitting in the window or standing on the roof.
The parts are all well played. There's lots of real emotion and a fantastic portrayal of real high school problems. Plus who doesn't dream of flying?
Some of these young actors went on to larger roles. Fred Savage looks a lot younger here than in The Princess Bride or The Wonder Years. Jason Priestley is barely recognizable.
A great family movie.
Getting Married in Buffalo Jump (1990)
Sweet, unique, great scenery, and Crewson and Gross just getting started
I loved a lot of things about this movie -- the setting close to home in the outstanding Alberta foothills, Paul Gross much younger then expected, the tender romance, the fairly unique plot, the notion of people trying to be good and not always succeeding. The Scottish vs. Ukranian prarie stereotypes. It's a good movie and there are lots of reasons to rent it.
It wasn't a great movie though -- a little too slow moving, production quality (at least on the DVD) is obviously made-for-TV, and the soundtrack was completely absent too often, and when it did show up it was too sappy. I would have preferred tighter edits, and less gratuitous cinematography (especially on video, which can't really do the Alberta ranchlands justice).
I'll stop short of calling for less gratuitous scenes of a semi-clad muscular Paul Gross working on the ranch, as I'm sure at least half of you will enjoy that.
It's a must-rent for anyone from Canadian Prarie Ranch Stock.
It reminds me a little bit of "The Hired Hand", but without the violence, without the hard edge, a sweeter romance, and I think better overall (sorry Mr. Fonda).
Doesn't begin to compare with "Bye Bye Blues" though.
Raising Helen (2004)
Funny; good family film, some tender moments.
I loved Kate Hudson in Almost Famous, and a few people told me this film was good, so we rented it.
We did enjoy it. It had some very funny moments, and some very tender moments. Kate Hudson was good, but don't expect "Almost Famous" style brilliance out of her in this one. The rest of the cast performs about the same -- good performances, nothing stellar. Except perhaps Joan Cusack; her performance was very good.
If you have kids, say, about ten years old and older this is a good film to watch together with them -- it introduces them to a few teen and adult issues (dating, death, etc.) and shows the sorts of tough decisions that parents sometimes have to make. And you'll have lots of fun laughing together too.
Bye Bye Blues (1989)
Great music, great prairie period piece, great Rebecca Jenkins
I loved this movie when I first saw it, and I love it still.
Rebecca Jenkins is simply phenomenal as a real-life singer in this movie, and as an actor too. You watch her move from a war-widow to a touring jazz star, slowly and reluctantly abandoning her old life. It's moving and it's hard to stop watching.
The music is simply fabulous. George Blondheim put together a classic 40's dance band sound that I just love. The soundtrack CD is still a favourite 15 years later.
And the scenery-- well, it's outstanding.
I wish they'd release this one on DVD so I can see it in all it's glory.
Phil the Alien (2004)
As good as galaxy quest, in a low budget kind of way
The plot setup is excellent -- an alien crash lands on earth in a backwater town, quickly becomes an alcoholic, makes some friends, joins a band. The US government secret agent assigned to eliminate the alien is also an alcoholic, but goes sober when he's "reactivated" to kill Phil. Since Phil is in the bar, the secret agent can't find him.
Meanwhile, Phil moves in with a talking beaver, discovers Jesus, and goes on tour. Phil doesn't think that shape shifting or telekinesis are cool, but the Canadians he runs across beg to differ.
Graham Greene is excellent as the bartender, and writer/director Rob Stafaniuk makes a good alcoholic alien. The best acted character, though, is the kid.
The Canadian Stereotypes are very amusing, Canadians should love this film. The jokes just keep coming, some of them are overstated, others are subtle and understated, but I never stopped laughing. At the end look forward to the "kill me" alien.