2035 - The Grand Seduction

I tried to see this while it was on the festival circuit last year but it was always up against something I couldn’t miss - but it worked out nicely since I was able to go see it with my wife.  This is the kind of film where if you hated it, I might just accuse you of being dead inside.  It’s pretty damn charming.  It’s simple and sweet and entertaining.  Often films that take a gentler approach to innocent comedy pander a lot to their audience where this one felt pretty smart in it’s comedy.  I found myself laughing out loud regularly.  And Gordon Pinsent gives one of his most entertaining performances (in a career full of them) - also lovely to see Peter Keleghan as well.  Brendan Gleason was simply perfect as the small town man that steps up to rally the troops together and save the town.  If you’re from a small town, or just like good hearted films, please do yourself a favour and check this out - especially if you’re looking for something to do on Canada Day!

1770 - Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

I still have mixed feelings about this film.  I wanted something to play in the background as I did some planning and prepping for a project at my desk.  I think I'd started this commentary before and never finished it.  It's not another overly remarkable.  You don't get a super large insight into anything, really.  One of the more interesting things is how they talk about the development of the script and how it happened slowly because they started early while Bryan was still writing the books.    Everything else is just them hanging out and having a good time - and chatting about Toronto, which is always lovely as well. 
I'd have to rematch it again on it's own but I think my fundamental issue with the film sticks - and it's in comparison to the books.  The books take place over a decent amount of time - several months at least wherein the film takes place over the course of maybe a week or two.  It makes the shift about a story about how relationships are difficult to being about getting over the hang-ups of a new relationship.  Not a terrible subject matter, but not quite as interesting to me as the former.
All in all I still recommend the books over the film, and the books in general .  It's a fantastic series. 

1413 - Trigger

It's almost not fair for me to write about this film. I had just come from a luncheon that I was invited to as part of my Irving Avrich Award, so I was rushing in, and at the same time I was dealing with a frenzy of e-mails dealing with some stuff for our film, so my head wasn't in the right place, and I think I missed a good chunk of good stuff. I will say this, of what I was able to focus on I liked. I tagged this under "like" but upon another viewing (and I damn well promise to watch it again) it could easily elevate to a "loved it". Tracy and Molly are fantastic and play off of each other like old friends. Don McKellar has a cameo in this that is unlike anything he's ever done. He slayed me. Brilliant.
Like I said, I'm not going to say a whole lot 'cause it's not fair - but I will say that I'm really looking forward to a rewatch of this film. It's a great tribute to Tracy and her ablities. She'll be missed.

1073 - Monkey Warfare

I first heard of this film when I was lucky enough to be out for drinks with Don McKellar after a script reading event. I think it was just about to come out and he was pimping it a bit, which just goes to show you the kind of guy he is. The film is the baby of Don's longtime editor and so it's really awesome to see him helping the guy out in his first foray into feature directing.

That aside, how was the film? It's kind of hard to talk about it without mentioning the budget and how much they did with so little. For a practically no-budget film it's incredibly open and they've been able to give the film at least the look of having production value, so good on them. The cast is all wonderful with McKellar and Tracy Wright being solid as per usual, but for me this was a discovery film for Nadia Litz. She has a few odd moments, which were more a stylistic director choice, of which she can't be faulted, but despite being easy to look at she's got this quality that makes you just want to spend time with her on the screen. Hopefully as she continues to grow she retains her Canadian roots. I'd love to work with her some day.

So overall I think the film had a good story, although I'll admit I was a little let down by the reveal at the end. I was expecting a bit more, not much, but a little at least. It's out on DVD now and easily worth the rental. I picked it up used and I'm really looking forward to listening to the commentary.