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Reviews
All or Nothing (2002)
A gritty look into another world
Yes, this film is difficult. The characters are portrayed as working class stiffs existing in their respective bleak lives with little hope for redemption. Yet within each of the 3 families you can catch a glimmer of hope. The lost teenage girl with drunks for parents shows her humanity on at least two occasions. The single mother shows compassion for her friends and daughter that is missing from most people further up the economic flagpole. But the real heart of the story is with the day-dreaming taxi driver and his family. You will be hard-pressed to see many other films with the level of emotional content that comes out at the end of this. The only recent one that comes to mind is the powerful scene between Sissy Spacek and Tom Wilkinson in In The Bedroom. Wading through the suppressed emotions, anger and emotional squalor is definitely worth the wait. But above all, these people are real. There isn't a false note from any one of them. And the casting is superb. If you want to see a feel-good comedy, this isn't it. But if you want to get right inside the lives of the characters of a film, even if it's going to be unpleasant, then this movie is for you. And at the end there is the possibility that there may be hope for these downtrodden people.
Nasty Burgers (1993)
gives Canada a bad name
Movies like this give Canada a bad reputation on the world stage. It looks and feels like a bad student production. I guess it's supposed to be funny, but it isn't. If you want to see a bad Canadian student film that is worth watching, have a look at "Cannibal Girls". Mind you, that was made by Ivan Reitman, who started his career with this one.
Cavale (2002)
First part of an incredible trilogy
This is probably the best place to start on Belvaux's incredible trilogy. On its own, it is a more than satisfying thriller, starring the director. But in context with the accompanying two films, one has to wonder where this guy has been hiding all this time. As the story unfolds you start to learn more and more of the lead character's persona, his motivations and his potential for destruction. This is no ordinary "action" film where the hero can do no wrong. At each corner it seems that his world is about to explode. Some people may be dissatisfied with the ending, but I think that it's exactly where the story has to go. And this is born out when you see the other two parts, Un Couple epatant and Apres la vie. If this trilogy gets the recognition it deserves, I'm sure it will be referred to as the cinematic masterpiece that it is, along with recent films like Memento and Amores Perros.
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
disappointing
Having seen Eraserhead more times than I would like to admit, plus each of David Lynch's subsequent films at least once each, I found Mulholland Dr. fairly disappointing. There were too many familiar elements that he did in his previous works, some of them not worth repeating. Like the dwarf in the curtained room (groan!) from Fire Walk. Having said that, there are moments that are brilliant. Like Betty's audition scene. Naomi Watts is quite a find. There is 'the' scene at the end that looks more than a little like the one at the end of Polanski's "The Tenant". Still, I found it quite easy to sit through the more than 2 hours because of the striking visuals and the usual twisted Lynch atmosphere.