1839 - Blackbird

I've been wanting to see this film for a while since I'd heard nothing but amazing things about it.  For those that aren't in the known, this film is about a highschool boy that's been bullied and ends up writing a story about taking revenge on those who torment him - the wrong people find the story and assume that he's planning a Columbine-esque attack and suddenly he's sent to juvee where the people are far worse and realizes the only way out of that hell is to plead guilty to a come he didn't commit.  

Simply told, it starts off with almost a Citizen Kane thing going as we're brought into the backstory through flashbacks following his initial arrest.  The performances in this film really are quite something else.  This is a film that's, sadly, very timely and I think a film that needs to be seen by as many people as possible.  It's currently doing the rounds in Canada so please, pretty please, give it a shot.  Jason Buxton has made a bold first feature give it a shot when you get a chance as it's easily one of the best Canadian films I've seen in a very long time.

1838 - New Girl: season two

This is a series that more-or-less had me from the very start and hasn't let go.  I'm not a huge fan of things that are overtly quirky, but for some reason it works here and it does so again and again.  Week after week we're introduced to what feels like a never ending well of character ticks that each of our heroes have, which ultimately exist to serve the story-of-the-week, but I always let it slide because the characters are solid and I believe these ticks exists within their world, and also the writing is so goddamn good, 
I'm going to get into minor SPOILER territory here, so proceed with caution.  From the very beginning you'd have to be an idiot not to figure out that at some point the writers were going to play with the idea of Nick and Jess as a couple - the question was how long would they drag that out and how would they sustain it once they do.  We're not partly into that.  I have to say that the execution under which they became a couple was pretty fantastic.  The entire cast is fantastic, and that's how you get a sitcom that sustains (or any show for that matter) people that you want to keep coming back to.
I felt like the end of this season got a tinge repetitive with Jess and Nick's push and pull, but I also bought the hesitation - it's a big move for them and the show.  I love where Max Greenfeld's character was left off, and now we just need something exciting for Winston!
If you're not watching this show you're making a big mistake.  It's easily my favourite sitcom currently on air.  I still argue that it has a terrible name for an ongoing series, but I can let that slide.  Please - check it out!

1837 - Vegucated

It's hard for to write about food documentaries like a regular review on here.  I'm a pescatarian, which is a vegetarian that eats fish - and I tell you, after watching something like this I start to strongly question that choice as well… so much about what we eat and why is tied to closely to tradition for tradition's sake.  No one who lives in any kind of civilized place can make a solid argument for why you need to consume animal products - you just can't outside of choice and desire.  This is a pretty fresh take on the subject and it's director introduces the ideas with humour and then gets you comfy before pulling out the more uncomfortable stuff. 
If you're reading this and you're a meat-eater - I get it.  I was a meat-eater for a long time, and it's only been five years since I've drastically changed the way I eat.  Here's the thing - even if you don't care about animals, even if you don't care about what the meat and dairy industry does to the planet - you should at least look at what reducing some of the stuff can do to your body.  Over the last 5 years I've lost around a hundred pounds without really trying all that hard.  I'm still trying to lose more, and that's tougher once you plateau - but I definitely feel a shit-load healthier.  It scares me to think what I'd look like if I hadn't changed my diet.  So there's that.  Do or do not, but make an informed decision before dismissing something like this.

1836 - Iron Man 3

Marvel has really done something quite amazing with the Marvel cinematic universe.  If you're a fan of the DC superheroes you can bow in and out of them as you please - like Batman but not Superman - fine - watch one and not the other.  But with Marvel, to get the full experience and all the references, you really need to show up each time - especially to get the benefits of the Avengers when they all team up.  It turns it into a really interesting and integrated series. 
So that brings us to the third (or I suppose 4th) outing for Tony Stark.  Tony easily has the most interesting arc of his entire series here.  The events of the Avengers fucked him up.  Iron Man started off as something very grounded in reality, and so it works nicely that as we expand the Marvel universe we discover other heroes with different powers - Tony is merely a human being, and intelligent one, but just a human.  Up to this point he's truly believed that he needs his armour.  And that's not untrue.  So what's really great about this storyline is that just when Tony needs all his toys the most, he's stripped of them and forced to be enough just as he is.  Much like Thor not being able to use his hammer for the majority of that film, Tony doesn't really get his powers back here until he's worthy of them.  It's great storytelling.  Add to that Shane Black's trademark jaded humour and you've got the kind of summer flick that most should aspire to. 
It's hard to imagine and fan of this franchise didn't run out to see this opening weekend, but if not then do so - this could be the best so far - and if you're new to the Marvel universe - start from the beginning.  It really is a ride worth taking.

1835 - Garden State

I haven't revisited this film in a long time and I did, I'm sure like many this week, on the cusp of Zach Braff's crowd funding campaign for his new film WISH I WAS HERE.  This film has a cult following and there's no surprise why - it's charming, full, sweet, and full of heart.  If I could make one change in this film it would simply be not to make Zach's character a struggling actor.  Outside a running-gag it just feels to me like a story that in infinitely more relatable if he's more of an everyman.  But there's not much to be done about that at this point.
This is likely one of the films that helped coin the term Manic Pixie Dreamgirl, but I could care less since Natalie Portman is so damn adorable here.  If you watch this and don't fall for her, you're dead inside.  That's right.  I said it.  The film has a killer soundtrack, and Big Bang Theory fans keep an eye out for Jim Parsons - if you remember the film but haven't seen it for a while, he's the knight.  (RIGHT?!)

Zach Braff has been taking some shit for raising money to make his film on Kickstarter, but I really don't understand why.  I can see the complaint that places are like that are for people who can't raise money traditionally - but I'd argue that we have no idea what Zach's situation is - sure he made a cult film - but that was almost ten years ago. (I know… sep).  Also, celebrities like he and the Vermonica Mars people attract new people to websites like that, those of whom might not had went there in they first place.  Indie filmmaking is the wild west, and if you can tap into a fan base to raise your money, then right there you've got proof that yours is a film people want to see.

If you haven't seen Garden State, it's absolutely worth checking out.  I don't praise it to the mountains like some do, but I do love it.   

1834 - The Queen of Versailles

Wanted to see this last year at Hot Docs, but it was madness trying to get a ticket.  If you don't know, this is about rich people having to deal with the fact that they're probably not going to be rich anymore. A timeshare company gets screwed over when the american banking system collapses and suddenly the plans for his $100M home fall apart.  Poor man.  And yet his wife continues to live as though they're making fistfulls of cash.  They have to lay off half of their serving staff.  When she goes to rent a car she asks what the name of her driver will be.  It's very entertaining in that regard, but sad as shit when you realize how disconnected this people and their family is.  They don't really even seem to like each other.  The mother claims she had seven kids because it was fun to have kids, but if she ever thought she'd have to raise them without nannies she probably would have stopped at two.
This is a tough documentary because it's not really about the economy in any meaningful way so much as it is watching the train wreck of this white trash family, who just happened to get rich, and now they're not quite as rich.  It's hard to really connect and care about them at all.
I liked it enough and glad I checked it out, but it's hard to give it a solid recommendation.  Casual documentary lovers will probably enjoy, but those looking for something hard hitting and emotion - keep looking.

1833 - Molly Maxwell

I will preface this by saying that this is my second time seeing this film and that I'm a friend of the film's director.  So take that for what you will.
I like this film a lot.  Coming-of-age stories done well will always be in demand.  Coupled with this you've got the relationship between a teacher and their student, and what's so refreshing in Sara's film is that it never feels like she's passing judgement on either character.  Is what they're doing right or wrong - well that's up for you to decide.  This is a film that truly 'gets' teenagers and feels more authentic in that regard than most things you'll find in a multiplex.  If you have a chance it's playing at the Carleton cinema right now - see it while it's still there!  The film is beautiful to look at and so well crafted.  Sara St. Onge has made a little gem of a film and I can't wait to see what she does next.

1832 - What Just Happened?

It's funny, when I was younger I was really obsessed with films about the inside of the industry, especially dark comedies like this that shed it's light upon the underbelly - there was some joy in the mystery of this world - but now I can't imagine myself writing something that's so inside baseball.  I have no complaints about those that do - but it just makes the whole business seem so ridiculously petty - and maybe that's the point.  There's a lot of truth in the insanity that's shown in here, and the actors who play themselves do a pretty great job of leaving their egos at the door.
DeNiro plays a producer who is having the week from hell, dealing with a director who wants to keep his uber-bleak ending for a film about to go to Cannes, and Bruce Willis refusing to shave his beard for an upcoming film.  This sound terribly first world problem-esque - and they are, but I don't think the film is ignorant of that, in fact I think it takes great joy in playing up those of us who just take this shit a little too seriously.
The cast is great and seems to enjoy lampooning us a tinge.  It's not essential viewing by any means, but it's entertaining enough.

1831 - Ruby Sparks

I was so happy to see that this was on netflix, especially since revisiting the directors first feature (Little Miss Sunshine) just the other day.  First off, I love magic-realism, and when you pair it with a love story then you've got me hook-line-and-sinker.  This is the story of a child prodigy, who wrote an amazing book in his teens and has been coasting for the last decade.  He has a dream about a fantasy girl, writes about her in great detail and then wakes one more to discover that he's manifested her.  She's exactly as he described her... and... when things in their relationship move past the honeymoon phase and start to get real - he can change her into whatever he wants her to be.
I won't give away a tidbit more because it's truly the kind of story you just want to experience all for yourself.  I was impressed to learn that the title character of Ruby, played by Zoie Kazan, was also the film's writer.  It's a beautiful, smart, tender ride.  It's for everyone whose ever been frustrated in a relationship and wished they could just push a magic button and fix the problems without having to dig deep into them - however life is messier than that - as our hero soon will learn.
This is a little gem of a film, and like I mentioned, it's on netflix, so no excuse.  Dano and Kazan are pretty magical together.  Chris Messina has a great part as the brother - and Antonio Bandaras and Annette Benning steal the show as Dano and Messina's mother and (step-father?).  If you loved films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Stranger Than Fiction, than this is right up your alley.

Race

This morning my son saw the playbill from last night's show and asked me what it was about, and after a moment I told him "It's about a man who hurts someone, and the other people have to decide what to do about it."  What Race is really about is a rich white man who is accused of sexually assaulting a black woman, and the three attorneys (two black, one white) who have to decide whether or not they'll represent him.
It's Mamet so it's intentionally provocative.  What I found really compelling was the idea of having a court room drama take place inside of the law office prior to a trial.  And because it's a hotbed subject and what's really on trial is our feelings on race, it ends up being that each of our characters takes a turn being the victim, the accused, the prosecutor, defendant, and judge.  I don't want to give away any details - I went into the play blind and I'm really glad that I did.  It's on in Toronto until May 5 and features a dynamite cast including Jason Priestley.  I can't say that I'm an expert on Mamet, but if this doesn't rank amongst his best, then I need to get myself out to the theatre far more often.

1830 - Little Miss Sunshine

Revisited this film as a reference for something in the works.  It's hard to think of a film since this one that has hit such a chord an an indie film.  This is a lightning in the bottle kind of film that everyone involved probably had no idea how much of a fire it would start.
Michael Arndt wrote a perfect script with wonderful stories and arcs for each character.  It's got a fantastic visual to it and I love how simple and real the production design is as well.  Films like this are like comfort food and an absolute pleasure to revisit.  If you've never seen this film you need to correct that wrong ASAP.  It's the kind of film where, if someone tells me that they don't like it I just can't imagine how we could possibly be friends...

1829 - Your Sister's Sister

This film was a lovely little surprise.  I'm a fan of Lynn Shelton, so I was happy to see that this was on Netflix.  I'm a fan of Mark Duplass as well as Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt.  It's a pretty simple premise - two best friends of the opposite sex are mourning the loss of his brother/her ex, and when he ends up sleeping with her sister they have to deal with their true feelings for one another.  There's a lot more than that going on, but that's the gist.  It's a simple little love story, but with some fantastic acting and really wonderfully honest moments.  I love that Shelton has created this career where she goes and works on series as a director and then comes back and does these wonderfully intimate little pieces.  Well done, her!
See this film - it's a beautiful little character piece and well worth your time!

1828 - Lola Versus

I kind of adore Greta Gerwig, so I'll largely watch whatever she's in :)  I'd seen the filmmaker's previous film 'Breaking Upwards' (also on netflix) and I dug it.  At the beginning the film felt off - like it was the kind of plot that belonged in a typical studio rom-com, but as it went along it felt a lot more fresh as it delved into the complications of Lola and her relationships.  It's a cute film and enjoyable for sure - but it didn't knock my socks off by any means.  If you like rom-coms, and you have a liking for Gerwig then check it out for sure.

1827 - The Walking Dead: season three part 2

Holy shit. I just realized that I never wrote about this.  Huh.  So I'm a bit late to this commentary party but here goes… I think this season was largely the strongest season of the series.  I think it had a momentum that was exactly where it needs to be and go.  I love what the first half of this season did for setting up the second.  I love how they're honouring the comic series without feeling the need to subscribe to it.  The changes they did with Woodbury and The Governor in particular were smart - and I'm not sure how I feel about how they left it - I'll have a better opinion once I see where they go with it come season four.  I want to say a whole lot here, but I'm holding back for those who haven't seen the show yet.  And along those lines, I really do urge you to pick up the comic books - especially if you LOVE the show - it's a nice way to fill the gap between seasons!

1826 - Californication: season six

This show is one of my guilty pleasures.  I love the tone of it and how it balances the wacky and the poignant, and Hank Moody is one of the more delicious television anti-heroes ever created.  This series has had some rockiness to it as it balances how to move Hank forward without losing who he is.  I think this season was one of, if not, the most successful in that regard.  It's gone a long way into delving into the fuckedness of Hank.  Maggie Grace was a much welcome addition to the cast - so much so that I actually have a hard time buying the outcome of Hank's decision at the end.  If you haven't been watching this series yet you've got a lot of road to catch up on, but it's bi-and-large worth it for the moments of heart.  Looking forward to more when it returns, of course, although I'm just not sure what tricks this show could still have up it's sleeve - unless the final season is about Hank trying to be in an honest, celibate relationship.  That could be interesting… after six seasons of watching these characters behave like children, can they become responsible adults?

1825 - The Great and Powerful Oz

I'm an Oz nerd.  Return to Oz was one of my favourite films as a kid - probably my favourite since I went down to the video store every week to rent it to the point where they finally just gave me the well-worn VHS.  The first of a, now large, film collection. 
So here we have a prequel of sorts - I'm pretty big on what Gregory Maguire did with the Oz story, so I'm going into this accepting something that's more align to Baum's canon.  It's the story of how the Wizard got to Oz.  First off, I was entertained the whole way through - I figured out where some stuff was going to go pretty quickly, but I also enjoyed the ride.  That being said, it felt a little like they were trying to be just a tinge too clever.  First, the world looks glorious, but I don't need a dozen spanning shots of CGI - I get it - Oz is magical.  Also it just felt like a few too many winks to the audience in terms of how many connections they made to the 1939 film, etc… it didn't feel like a film that could stand on it's own and become it's own classic.  It felt like it was trying to pay homage a little too much and came off as a bit of a a fan-film because of it.  I'd be interested to see if they continue with this as a series of films, but if I'm completely honest - I'm still looking forward to a film adaptation of Wicked.  If you like Oz stuff, it's a must see - especially in the theatres - there's some scary stuff for kids, so be wary of that.

1824 - 50/50

Rewatched this mostly as a visual inspiration or something I'm working on.  I still love the hell out of this film.  The cast is pitch perfect.  Anna Kendrik is beautiful awkward, Rogen is oafish and loveable, and JGL is wounded and honest.  If you want a more in-depth look into my thoughts they're around here somewhere - I'm not sure I'll say anything new since I still just loved the hell out of every inch of this film.  When it was finished I wanted to watch it again right away.  If you haven't seen this film you absolutely must.  It's not a heavy-handed piece by any means.  It's light, but with some poignancy and heart to it.  Please, please, see this film.

1823 - Watchmen (Director's Visual Commentary)

I got the bluray of this for xmas this year and on it is a pretty insane, in-depth visual commentary thing.  Some people panned this film - I loved it.  I thought that Zack Snyder did a pretty kick-ass job of adapting something that's so personal and epic to so many people.  I think he got the heart of it right and that's the main thing.  I prefer his ending to the ending in the comic as it's far more integrated into the actual story itself.  Sorry for you purists - but the squid was kind of stupid - let's be honest.
If you want the kind of experience that really rips a movie into pieces and shows you behind the curtain, this is exactly the kind of thing you'll love.  Although it made me want to revisit the film on it's own - which I'll try to do sooner rather than later. 

1822 - The Other Guys

I watched this sometime last week and seem to have forgotten to write about it here.  The premise is a lot of fun and I won't get into the details of the first act 'cause there's a great surprise moment there that I wouldn't want ruined for anyone else.  Wahlberg and Ferrell make a wonderfully unlikely comedy team and the story itself reminds me of all those buddy movies I watched as a kid in the 80's.  What's really wonderful is that the film takes itself seriously as an action comedy - the action is pretty fantastic, but played realistic in the sense that people don't easily walk away from the pain endured.
This has been out for awhile, and I believe it's on netflix - it's a fun flick if you want some solid popcorn entertainment. 

1821 - The Trotsky

I've been wanting to revisit this film for some time now and figured tonight was as good a night as any.  This film is just chalk full of actors that I absolutely love Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Tommie-Amber-Pirie, Jessica Pare, Michael Murphy, Saul Rubinek, the list just goes on and on and on. 
This time around I watched it with the commentary which just made me like Jacon Tierney all the more.  It's an honest, casual commentary with his editor and well worth the listen.  Made me want to revisit the film with the actual sound (which I very well may do).  If you haven't seen this film it's an absolute must see!  A contemporary classic, if you will.  I hadn't planned to make this a week filled with Canadian cinema, but so be it - there are much worse ways to spend my viewing times by far, and this was a great one to go out on.  Be a good person - watch some Canadian films this week!

1820 - Please Kill Mr. Know It All

I went to see this as part of the Canadian Film Fest that's going on in Toronto right now.  It's a film with a solid title and a pretty great premise.  An advice columnist starts to become popular and has to create a face for her alias so she steals it from a man she sees in a movie theatre - although it turns out he's a hit man and having a recognizable public face isn't something that's desired by a man whose job it is to blend in.
For me the stand-out here was Lara Jean Chorostecki.  She's delightful in almost every scene, and you buy in to the usual rom-com tropes because of her.  The film has a bunch of great moments and that alone makes it worth checking out, I'm not sure what it's distribution timing is though.  Keep an eye out for it.  It's by no means a perfect film, but if you're a sucker for an interesting rom-com, you've found one right here.

1819 - Ferocious

I'm just on a Canadian film rampage this week.  Huzzah for that!  I always find it a celebration when my friend's features get a theatrical release.  Last night I was lucky enough to check out this film while it's in its theatrical run.  Ferocious is the story of a small town girl who left and made a name for herself as a tv star, but has come back to tie up some loose ends.  It, largely, takes place in all one location and while I'm sure that was a budgetary consideration it never once feels like it.  They make an amazing use of their prime location and it feels like a world unto itself.  Kim Coates does what he does best and comes off as a dirty creepy son-of-a-bitch, and my buddy Katie Boland plays a fantastic comic relief (in a good way).  This film charmed me quite a bit, and it's easy to recommend it.  It's got a great vibe to it.  There are a few tropes that you just have to buy into with this sort of tale, but you do so easily and are able to just dive in and enjoy the ride.  If I had to give a complaint, I suppose I just wasn't all that invested into Amanda Crew's character - everyone else popped in a really great way, but her character was slightly under-developed for my liking - which sadly is easy to have happen when your character is meant to shoulder a film like this.  Over all, good stuff Robert Cuffley!

1818 - Amy George

The two guys that made this film (Yonah Lewis & Calvin Thomas) were part of what inspired me to make Sex After Kids through crowd-funding.  I contributed to their new film and part of that was the DVD for this one, which arrived today much to my excitement.
I'm not going to get into how awesome it is that two people as young as these filmmakers not only made something but got it into TIFF.  That's been written about.  If you head over to the film's website they self-describe it as a "dimly-lit, glacially-paced movie experience", and while that description isn't wrong, it doesn't do the film justice (and points to them for realizing that their film fits into a niche). 
The film is about a young boy at the age where young boys aren't all that likeable.  And here they've got a tremendous performance out of Gabriel del Castrillo Mullally.  The idea of working with someone this young would terrify most filmmakers, but this film wisely builds a performance around it.  I loved the real-life-couple parents played by Claudia Day and Don Kerr. 
Visually the film is lovely, and the soundtrack flows wonderfully along with it.  I can't say that this is the type of film that I generally love, but when I'm in the right mood it can be just the right thing.  This is also the kind of film that I think requires a few repeat viewings to enjoy the subtleties.  It's not easy subject matter, by any stretch of the imagination, but it's worth checking out and I hope it gets a wider release.  I look forward to seeing what Yonah and Calvin pull off with their next opus.

1817 - One Week

It's pretty common for Canadian filmmakers to shy away from Canadian content, mostly because of the fear that doing so limits a sale of their film to other territories around the world.  Michael McGowan is clearly not of that mindset.  You could almost go through a laundry list of Canadianna and find a lot of it in this film.  From Stanley Cups to roll-up-the-rim from Tim Horton's, it's all here - at least from Ontario through to the west.
I went back to look at my thoughts when I first watched this film and it's interesting how things shift and change.  I still enjoyed it - it's beautiful and really does show off just how gorgeous Canada is.  I'm not sure I'm in love with the narrative devise - there are moments where it's really wonderful, and others where it just felt a tinge precious.  I feel badly saying that, 'cause I think it's an interesting choice - I'm just not sure it works all the way through.  I had a tougher time with Joshua Jackson's character this time - he's a man who is told he has stage four Cancer, and decides to be selfish and go off on a road trip by himself before he has to go through becoming a patient.  I can only imagine what goes through your mind when you're dealing with the potential of death, but I still felt like he was a bit selfish to an unlikeable degree - and outside of that I guess I just didn't find the character all that compelling for the bulk of the film.  It's starting to sound like I disliked the film, but I assure you that wasn't the case.  I'm really quite surprised that I've had such a different reaction this time around.  Just imagine how I'll feel when I watch it down the line a third time...
So it's on Netflix in Canada if you haven't seen it - not sure how to view it outside of Canada.  If you haven't seen it, you absolutely should - if nothing else it's a beautiful postcard to the country I call home, and that I love more than any other.

1816 - No Strings Attached

This is the second time checking this one out.  I'm a fan of Elizabeth Meriwether's New Girl, and I forgot that Jake M Johnson was in this.  I think he's pretty goddamn great.  I like this film despite the fact that it falls into the usual rom-com plot tropes.  The cast is pretty stellar and is full of a lot of people I like.  The characters are all solid and unique, the dialogue catchy.  It's not the kind of flick that's going to change your life, but it's pretty solid popcorn romantic entertainment.  It's on netflix and well worth the time.  Boyfriends, you'll enjoy this along with the girlfriends.  Portman is pretty delightful here and Kutcher ain't too bad himself.  Lake Bell is sexy/funny as well.  Man, I really could just laundry list this entire cast... I won't - just watch the damn thing!

1815 - Girls: season two

The first season of this series was easily one of my favourite things about television last year.  It was one of those things that made me jealous to my core.  It had a language, a style, that I was envious of.  Whenever I thought of a series I wanted to create I'd often ask myself "What is MY 'Girls'?"

And then this second season happened.  And… well… I don't know… If I'm honest I'm not sure that I entirely recognize this show right now.  It's characters just felt like they wanted to be angry and terrible to each other for an entire season only to become happy again at the VERY end.  A lot of reviewers have commented that this seasons end doesn't feel earned and I'm inclined to agree. 

There is so much about this series that I love still.  I'll still be tuning in when season three comes around.  I adore Adam Driver, and all the other guys on this show.  The women are a bit frustrating for me.  Hannah's, out of the blue, OCD, just felt like another crutch for a character who's entire existence appears to be about making excuses for why she isn't further along with life.  She's, clearly, a self saboteur, and we know that - and while I admire Lena's decision to do that with her character, it makes you not like her a whole hell of a lot. 

It's a series that is not for everyone.  I loved the first season, and found this one enjoyable in parts and frustrating in others.  I remain cautiously optimistic about the next season.  I want to love the shit out of it.  I really do.  I hope this review doesn't turn anyone off.  That's not my intention whatsoever.

1814 - Suck

I feel badly that it took me this long to get around to this film.  If you're into Canadian comedy then you're hopefully aware of Rob Stefanuik and his previous film, Phil The Alien.  This time out it's a rock opera about a band that'll do anything to become famous - including selling their souls and becoming vampires.  Outside of Stefaniuk in the cast there's also the amazing Jessica Pare, Dave Foley not to mention some fantastic cameos by rock legends such as: Henry Rollins, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper, and Moby. 
As usual I don't like giving much away, and I won't here.  But this is something unique and special.  It's fun, funny, and it looks goddamn great.  If you like dark comedies, vampires, and rock and roll then you really can't go wrong with this one.  Shit tonnes of fun.

1813 - Silver Linings Playbook

I normally don't go heavily into details about new releases, but I feel compelled to do so here, so please if you haven't seen this there will be some spoilers below...

...

So let's get it out of the way - there's some really great things about this film.  Jennifer Lawrence is pretty fucking fantastic as is Bradley Cooper - and DeNiro gives a performance we haven't seen in years from him.  The first two thirds of this are a really well layer and performed character drama - and then all of a sudden it takes a hard turn into becoming what felt like something else entirely.  Like it's lead, the film itself was bipolar with how much it shifted from character to plot motivation.  Like their final dance it started off so promising and just hit a wall near the end that left a bad taste in my mouth.  Tonally and structurally it felt like an entirely different film.  I'm not sure I buy that Tiffany fell in love with him or that he'd really earned it - it felt more like a plot device than anything.  I'm actually somewhat surprised at how well received the film is given the ending.  I'm going to have to dive into reviews for it to see if I was just crazy and missed something crucial or if I'm just a jerk for not getting caught up in it all.

Still worth seeing, absolutely, but hopefully erase the hype from your mind first.  My expectations going in were pretty high and that's never fair for any film.

1812 - House of Cards: season one

It too me two goes to get into this.  When I first watched the pilot I left a little 'meh'.  I also put it on in the background and didn't give it the attention that it requires.  So I went back and revisited the pilot and then got hooked into the whole damn thing.
If you haven't seen it yet the whole season is up on Netflix and it's the exact kind of show that you want to binge watch.  It's about a Congressman who is passed up for a promotion to Secretary of State and, feeling slighted, decides to shake things up and go after what he really wants - which I won't reveal here because it makes for a large part of this season's mystery.
Kevin Spacey is more interesting to me here than he has been in, oh I can't quite recall how long.  He's a character straight out of Shakespeare and I can only imagine that he has a shit ton of fun doing it.  Kate Mara, also  provides a solid supporting role and I'm pretty excited about where her character left off at the end of this season.
The show is a lot prettier than most and makes Washington look like the place be.  The most frustrating thing about this show, now that I'm hooked, is the year it'll take to come out properly . I haven't said too much above, but this isn't that kind of show - it's a show that takes it's time and enjoys the set-up 'cause once the train leaves the station, it's going full force.  If you start off watching and feel you're not into it, do me a favor and go until at least episode three before you call it quit.  I personally can't wait to see the house of cards that's been built in this show to come crash down.  Well done, Spacey and Dana Brunetti and Netflix - I look forward to more of their original program :)

1811 - Finding Nemo

I haven't watched this in forever and got to re-visit it with my son.  I remember really liking it, but I was really happy to see how well it holds up and delights the next generation.  It's a film that's got a wonderful heart with a tragic beginning.  It's got wonderful character and comedy moments and fantastic set pieces.  The fact that an animated film with a parent as the lead character is as powerful as this one with children is no small feat.  Last week they formally announced that this film was getting a sequel - now as much as I love this - I'm just not sure that it's the kind of thing that warrants it - it's a stand alone masterpiece, and it feels a tinge like Pixar is running out of steam on original ideas.  I'm hoping that's not the case.
If you haven't seen this one, you're doing yourself a disservice whether you've got kids or not, it's worth while through and through!

1810 - Annie Hall

So I've seen this film (probably) more than any other.  I've written about it here a lot.  Last night I got to do one of my favorite things, which is introduce a great movie to someone who has never seen it - and in this case it was a friend who is a young filmmaker.  I still remember the first time I saw this, having been loaned it by a friend with no lead-up at all.  It blew my mind and everything I wrote in the weeks after was a blatant rip-off.  What Allen does in this film is create a magic trick - he blends a lot of different techniques and uses them to express ideas too complicated to summarize through straight narrative.  And the only bad thing about Annie Hall is when you realize that there's nothing else like it, and there's no way to experience it again for the first time.  I'm not going to say any more, probably because I'll just be repeating myself from a previous post, but I'll say this - if you've never seen this movie please get-thee-to-a-DVD (or however you can).  To not like this film is, to me, akin to someone saying that they don't like music.

After watching the film my friend asked me to recommend a top-ten essential Woody Allen.  Which is no small feat to make considering the man has made a film a year for four decades, and at least half of his body of work is amazing.  I tried to narrow it down to ten and I couldn't - and no one can make me,  so instead I've boiled it down to what I think you'd be absolutely remiss to miss.  She'd already seen Midnight in Paris and Vicky Cristina Barcelona so that, along with Annie Hall, will be absent from this list.  I decided to make the list on what best represents Allen, but also gives a sense of his breadth as a filmmaker as well.  Here is it.  If I made this list tomorrow as opposed to today there's a good chance it would be different because, to me, Woody Allen is like sex or pizza - even when it's bad it's still better than most things.  If you're reading this and you're offended that I've omitted a title I promise you that tomorrow I'll be equally offended!

Top Essential Woody Allen Viewing (without Annie Hall, Midnight in Paris, or Vicky Cristina Barcelona (which my friend had already seen) and in no particular order):

• Take The Money and Run 
• Bananas
• Manhattan
• Stardust Memories
• Zelig
• The Purple Rose of Cairo
• Hannah & Her Sisters
• Crimes & Misdemeanours
• Husbands & Wives
• Bullets Over Broadway
• Mighty Aphrodite
• Everyone Says I Love You
• Deconstructing Harry
• Sweet & Lowdown
• Match Point

So there's that - disagree with the list?  Comment below!

1809 - Postcards From the Edge

I'd forgotten that I'd seen this film years ago when a friend brought it up the other day.  I suppose it don't make all that much of an impression, but it's a really lovely film.  Meryl Streep is fantastic in it, and it's really a who's who of Hollywood talent at the time, with even people like Richard Dreyfus, Oliver Platt, and Annette Benning doing these great little one scene bits.  And Gene Hackman comes in for two scenes and makes a goddamn meal out of them.  Between Fisher's screenplay and Nichols direction this must have been a dream come true for the cast.  I just looked back on my previous review of this film where I gave it a 'meh' - my opinion has certainly changed.  Sadly this film isn't on Netflix, but you can get it digitally otherwise.  It's one of those classic stories that you really need to check out.  I'm kind of curious to read the book now, actually.  Glad I revisited it, even though I thought I was watching it for the first time :)

1808 - I Could Never Be You Woman

It's always quite amazing when Hollywood casts someone like Michelle Pfeiffer to play a television show runner, and especially make us believe that she's out of her league in dating a younger man.  Let's cut the shit - Pfeiffer will be a smoking hot number at any age.  But whatever, I'll take it - I'll buy into your premise because I love Amy Heckerling and I adore the shit out of Paul Rudd.  If I'd picked this up randomly the Tracy Uhlman mother-nature rant that opens the film might have completely turned me off, but I stuck with it.
This film works because the cast pops.  Pfeiffer and Rudd are a solid pairing - and Saoirse Ronan is a goddamn scene stealer if ever there was one.  She's fantastic in every scene she's in, but the music parody bits are truly sensational.  Looking forward to seeking out more of her stuff. 
If I'm not giving it a glowing review is because it feels like they wanted this thing to be a big satire and take the piss out of society, but in truth only kind of went about it in a half-ass way.  Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to like about this flick, but it's not Heckerling's best.  I liked it, I just didn't love it.  But please judge for yourself - netflix it up!

1807 - Sherlock Holmes

I missed this in the theatres and got the Bluray on sale a while back and for whatever reason just never got around to watching this.  It's so much fun.  Guy Ritchie did a pretty great job of turning Holmes into an intelligent action adventure star, and Downey infuses the role with gusto.  His interplay with both Jude Law and Rachel McAdams is really enjoyable to watch.  I'm not a big Holmes nerd so I can't tell you how much they strayed from the originals, re-invented, etc... but what was going on here was a shitload of fun - and I found myself believing that Blackwood might actually be a sorcerer as well.  I have to say though that all of Holmes "deductions" came a bit after the fact and a fair amount was left from us - but I'll take it to get caught up in it like this.
Looking forward to the follow-up!

1806 - Boyz in the Hood

So I'm slightly embarrassed to admit that I've never seen this film before.  I remember the box in the video store when I was a kid, and I was always too young to rent it, and the main reason I watched it now is because I'm going to a talk tonight with John Singleton at TIFF.  It's amazing to think that Singleton was twenty-four years old when he made this film.  It's a goddamn amazing achievement.  The performances he got out of everyone is nothing short of amazing.  You feel like you're a part of this world and you fear for these poor bastards 'cause you know that no matter how bad it gets, it's never going to be great for them.  As bizarre at this sounds it feels like Stand By Me for black kids, especially the beginning and ending - the use of music, etc... This is a truly great film and if you missed it like I did - it's on netflix now.  It's solid through and through.

1805 - Jesse + Celeste Forever

When I saw the trailer for this it was the kind that makes me instantly jealous - why didn't I think of that idea - why does it look so good - why is this trailer so compelling?!  I imagine this is a constant problem for fellow filmmakers - supporting and feeling crushing jealousy all at the same time.
So this film is about two best friends who were, until recently, married.  But they are still best friends - and some of their friends are starting to think it's a bit weird (ahem, unhealthy) for them to spend this time with each other as the divorce looms over them.
Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg have chemistry in spades here, and you have no problem wondering why they're hanging out - why wouldn't they be?  They're both awesome!  But what I really love about this is that Rashida (also the co-writer) has no issues with her character doing shitty things sometimes and coming off a bit nutso when appropriate.
I wouldn't lump this in with the rom-coms, it's more of a dramedy, and I say that in a positive way.  It's also kind of an anti-date movie, which probably didn't help it's release either.  Ideally, if you're in a group of friends who are single as shit - this might be the remedy for what ails you.  But even if you are a couple I doubt you'll not enjoy how it unfolds.

1804 - Gunless

I like Paul Gross.  I like that he's trying to make genre films in Canada, and by and large, they're entertaining.  And the same can be said for William Phillips the director who also made Foolproof.  I like a good western, and one that roasts Canada a little bit is okay in my books - and it doesn't hurt that my buddy Jay Brazeau has a great part in it.  It's about an outlaw who wanders into a town with no guns and goes from there.  It's fun, slightly predictable, but then again you're not exactly looking for a film like this to reinvent the genre. 
I got it from zip.ca but it might be on netflix as well.  Give it a shot if you want to have a nice light fun little flick.

1803 - A Good Old Fashioned Orgy

I forgot about this film until I was in a conversation with a friend the other day.  Nothing beats a flick with a catchy title.  A group of friends who have a weekend place that's famous for their constant parties runs the risk of losing their party spot and decides upon a big blow-out by way of an orgy. 
The film's got a great cast and there's some funny stuff going on inside.  I have to say I was delightfully surprised with how all-out the ending gets, but I was also a little disappointed that there wasn't more going on outside of the premise.  Some fun characters, but I never really felt like I got to know their issues, or that this weekend really meant anything to any of them in the long run.  I would have liked to have seen some more heart and a clearer resolution.  It's a good comedy that could have been pretty great, especially considering the talent involved.  Alas.  If you like late-night comedies give it a whirl!

1802 - Sex After Kids

Am I reviewing my own film?  No.  But I always do a write up following a first public screening, so here it is. 
I'd love to say that it was a long road to get this film here, but it wasn't really - not when you compare it to most films.  It was just a few days more than a year ago that I even decided that I wanted to make a film about this subject - and now here we are, a very successful world premiere under our belts, and we continue moving forward.
We had our World Premiere last Saturday at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival to a sold-out audience.  They actually had to turn people away, which is sad, but kind of awesome as well.  It's nice to be a part of something that people are really excited to see!  The audience had a great reaction and the room was full of laughter.  We had a great Q&A after the screening, and just a general good time over-all. 
In lieu of doing my own review I'm going to attach some comments that have been posted on Santa Barbara's site.  Here's the link to it and feel free to go and rank the film yourself: 
http://sbiff.festivalgenius.com/2013/films/sexafterkids_jeremylalonde_sbiff2013

Like LaLonde's previous film, this is a funny, yet mature and touching film that will undoubtedly nip and tug at some sort of core emotion in many people.

What a fantastic movie! Funny, edgy, raw and yet touching. My husband and I laughed until we cried. Jeremy Lalonde has taken an ensemble cast of extremely talented actors and actresses and made a gem of a movie!

So often in ensemble films, certain plot lines get pushed aside in favor of others, so it was great to see a movie where every family is given pretty much equal importance and screen time. Witty dialogue, likeable characters, and a realistic premise make for a feel good film.

Okay - enough self congratulations.  If you're in the southern states - we've still got two screenings this upcoming weekend in Santa Barbara - get your ass out!

1801 - My Awkward Sexual Adventure

I was really excited when I found out that this was also screening at SBIFF, but even more excited when I saw I'd be there for it on the same evening that it's stars and director were in attendance and excited that I got to get to know them a bit subsequently following the screening. But enough about me talking about me. 
Lovable loser Jordan (Jonas Chernick) is a terrible lover and his girlfriend decides that enough is enough.  He heads off to Toronto for business and ends up getting connected to the typical stripper with a heart of gold, but luckily for us this time it's played by the always enjoyable Emily Hampshire.  I made the remark that this would be a great double-bill beside my film SEX AFTER KIDS - and technically it was on the Saturday night of the festival.  There's a lot to like about this film - it's funny on a consistent basis and Chernick and Hampshire are dynamite together on screen.  Emily has this absolutely unique blend of nerd and sexy that really shines here.  She's the kind of girl who you want to pal around with, but probably can't help but be attracted to.  I don't want to give away anything in the story - especially since it's in theatres soon.  I had a couple very minor quibbles with the story, but not enough to really get into it here.  For a late-night comedy it does exactly as you need it to - it's fast, funny, and quite fresh.  Go see it because it's Canadian, but support it because it's pretty damn great on top of that!

1800 - Caesar Must Die

Another film I caught at the Santa Barbara Film Festival was this unique adaptation of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.  The backdrop is this - a high-security is putting on a production of Julius Caesar with it's inmates acting as the actors.  Through the course of the film we watch them rehearse, all leading up to the performance, and through all of that we get the actual play alongside the commentary of the prisoners as they find ways to relate to the material. 
It's a pretty unique idea, right?  Sadly it was too much in the middle for me.  I would have preferred if it was just Julius Caesar set in a men's prison, or if it was more about the prisoners putting on the play, but with some more personal b-story.  It met the ideas in the middle and I think, suffered for it.  I believe this film has actually been around for a few years at this point, and not sure how else one could see it.  If you're a big Shakespear nerd then you'll probably want to check this out just because.  Not sure I can highly recommend it to anyone outside of that circle.

1799 - Disconnect

A few days behind on this.  This was the opening night film at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, of which I attended with my feature SEX AFTER KIDS.  Like our film it was an ensemble, unlike ours it was a heavy drama centered around the theme of... I guess, the internet, and how by being connected to this web we're disconnected from our humanity.  Pretty heavy stuff.  The material is intense and could have been melodramatic if not for a cast of extremely talented actors.  There's some great timely material, the most interesting being that of cyber-bullying, but it also extends to relationships in chat-rooms, identity theft, and cyber-sex.  Given that it's so heavy it was a surprising choice, to me, for an opening night film given that it's intended to create a tone for the festival - although perhaps that's exactly what they were going for.
Not sure when this is coming out otherwise, but if you like heavy human drama you'll probably dig this - if you prefer lighter fare this might just be a tad too intense for your liking.

1798 - The Hunger Games

Okay.  So clearly I'm way late to the party on this one, and I haven't read the books.  I was going into this expecting something a lot more polished and glitzy and I was pleasantly surprised.  The filming style lent itself well to the story and characters.  I found myself engaged - I knew Katniss would make it out just fine given that this is part of a trilogy, but I was still pretty damn invested in seeing how she would do.
So I'm probably not going to say anything that hasn't already been said, but if you were skeptical of all the hype, so was I, and I absolutely enjoyed it and look forward to the next in the series.  I doubt I'll run to the theatre on the first weekend, but I'll probably try to check it out during it's opening run.  For those who haven't seen it, it's on netflix now.

1797 - Mission Impossibe: Ghost Protocol

This was a film I knew I wanted to see eventually but wasn't really dying to see in the theatres.  Glad it came onto netflix.  Here's the thing about a film like this - the plot is convoluted and whatnot and I really don't put a whole hell of a lot of stock into that - what I want from a film like this is to be entertained by stunts and spectacle and it delivers fully on that.  Brad Bird does a hell of a job on his first live-action effort.  What I liked was how this really brought together a lot of elements from the previous films and made it so it felt like a full universe.  I hope the franchise continues chugging along - I'm in for the next!

1796 - Robin Hood

For some reason or other I still had this on my list for zip.ca - yes I'm still a member - 'cause I have the dirt cheap package and still get new releases faster than netflix - the second that changes - I'm out!  No offense, zip.ca
Once I settled into realizing that this was pure origin story and we wouldn't be getting the typical Robin Hood in the forest story, I was okay with it.  Although, truth be told, I'd watch a sequel to see what they did with that character in this world.  I like the film enough, I didn't love it.  I thought the politics with the French were just a bit much, I wasn't really interested in that so much I was England's internal turmoil.  I like that King John outlaws him because of jealousy and ego, and that makes him all the more celebrated still.
So if you like your big action flicks with a sense of literary flare, this might be right up your alley. 

Sex After Kids goodies!

So today some of our cast decided to throw me for a loop and start a twitter fire that resulted in us getting over 1,000 likes on our Facebook page.  Originally I'd stated that we'd post a trailer when that happened, but it caught me a tad by surprise.  And so I decided to up it and offer something in addition if we reached 1,500 by days end.  That didn't quite happen - but holy shit did you guys deliver regardless.  At least count it was over 1,300 and that's not bad for a days work - so I'm going to give you guys the some thing special anyway.

Below are two different sized Sex After Kids desktop wall paper.  Designed by the very talented Lourdes Ruiz!  Hope you enjoy it and keep your eyes peeled for the trailer - coming ASAP!!! Click to get full sized!

The Walking Dead: 17 - Something To Fear

I'm a little behind on this bad-boy and some NINNY online ruined something in it for me, but here I am.  And in the good faith I like to put forth - because we're so far along in this comic series there will be SPOILERS AHEAD.  It's amazing.  Read it.  That is all.

So the last book left us on what was probably the most optimistic note the book has ever taken, there was a real sense of hope.  And it was the job of this book to take that hope and crush it.  Not only crush it, but smash it's head in until it was unrecognizable - which is exactly what happened, horrifically to a character that's been around the series for a very very very long time.  In a series filled with devastating deaths this one might be the worst - and sadly I didn't really get to experience it fresh since I knew it was coming.  Alas!

I love where this story is heading.  I was getting worried that we were getting to a point where I didn't know what other tricks Kirkman could pull out of his bag, and this just shows how much left there is to explore in his world and it excites me to no end.  I love that the comic and the series exist in such unique parallels and they play off each other, but don't force themselves into each other.  My only complaint that, as fast as it does come out, that it doesn't come out even faster.

Keep it coming Robert Kirkman, I'll be right here waiting for it.

1795 - This is 40

I'm a big fan of Judd Apatow - I like how much he throws himself into and this little empire and network of people that he's created - it's quite something.  Throw that and Paul Rudd into the mix and I'm a happy camper.  This is by no means a perfect film.  And it's not for everyone - if you like slice-of-life family drama that connects pretty deeply, you'll dig it - but if you like big stakes then I imagine a film about middle class white people not being able to afford their amazing lifestyle isn't going to quite do it for you.  And that's fine too.
The Apatow "method" of improv heavy films has never been quite so obvious as it is here - and I'm not passing judgement or suggesting that it doesn't largely work, but at the same time I find it difficult to justify the running time for this sort of film.  There's no need for a 2hr, 14 minute film about a mid-life crisis comedy.  Good for Judd for getting away with it, but I think that this is a film that could benefit from a good deal of pruning.  As it is I like it, but I probably could have loved it.
If you've liked his previous films, this one is worth checking out - although I feel like it's his less heart-filled film.  At the end I don't know if I felt like Pete and Debbie so much resolved their issues as they just stopped bitching at each other about their current problems.  I sound like I didn't like the film, but I swear I did.  Can't wait for the special features that'll be loaded to the tits on the BluRay.

1794 - Friends With Kids

I wanted to see this while it was in theatres, especially since it appeared to be within the same realm of my new film (get ready for the shamless plug) SEX AFTER KIDS.  And while our films live in similar worlds this is more of the boy meets girl variety (or rather boy met girl a long time ago and is now going to fuck up what they've got going on).
This film has a powerhouse cast and everyone works really well, although I think Kristen Wiig was underused.  Without getting into any spoilers, because this is a film worth discovering fresh, I loved about the first 90% of it and just felt a tad let down by the ending.  That's not to say I didn't enjoy it all the way through but it does peter out a touch.  That being said, the other 90% absolutely makes it worth watching (I swear!) especially if you're a parent, there's a lot of great stuff in here.  Jennifer Westfeldt should make more movies - I'm a fan!  And if you see this and adore it go back to the vault and check out a previous film she wrote (or co-wrote...) called Kissing Jessica Stein.  This is currently on Netflix - so have at it!

2012: a year of films

I don't do top ten lists, mostly because I just don't want to put the agonizing work into what it takes to create them and really think about the choices.  Instead, what I like to do is present a list of the films I saw for the first time this year, in the order that I enjoyed them.  Which means that you're going to see films that might be several decades old in this list - that's just the way it is.  If you want to know more about my thoughts you can find my little mini-reviews of all of these by either typing in the search or scrolling down the archive on the side. And keep in mind that if I were to make this list tomorrow there's a good chance that the order might very well change to some degree, so there's that...

1. Django Unchained
2. Argo
3. Goon
4. The Avengers
5. Wendy & Lucy
6. Les Miserables
7. Cabin in the Woods
8. Looper
9. Take This Waltz
10. Molly Maxwell
11. The Fisher King
12. The Dark Knight Rises
13. Jeff, Who Lives at Home
14. Cedar Rapids
15. Newlyweds
16. Captain America: The First Avenger
17. Brave
18. The Groomsmen
19. Young Adult
20. Terri
21. Forks Over Knives
22. Her Master's Voice
23. The Girlfriend Experience
24. Super 8
25. Jiro Dreams of Sushi
26. Chloe
27. Law Abiding Citizen
28. To Rome With Love
29. Romantics Anonymous
30. X-Men: First Class
31. Being Elmo
32. Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging
33. Hannah Takes the Stairs
34. Conception
35. Foolproof
36. The Sitter
37. Uncle Kent
38. Limitless
39. This Means War
40. Growing Op
41. The Outsider
42. Did You Hear About the Morgans?
43. Teenage Paparazzo
44. I Love Your Work
45. The Mechanical Bride
46. The Job

Now - what were some of your favorites???