Smoke (2007)

Rating: 4/5

Every once in a while a short film comes along showcasing the talents of someone who truly understands the medium in which they work. This is the case with Grzegorz Cisiecki’s short film, Smoke (original title: Dym).

Smoke does not have a narrative per se, Cisiecki describes the film as “the story of the person who became the captive of surrealistic madness” and while I’ve read a couple of interpretations of the film, I’m not going to tackle one here. The film lacks dialog, but this is not a hindrance, as the film unfolds it’s easy to get sucked in by the surreal images that are carefully moved along by the score provided by Aleksandr Porach and Rashid Brocca.

 

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Rating: 2/5

I’m not a big fan of comic book super heroes, nor the films based upon such heroes, and although a few good ones have slipped through, most fall under the category of Sunday afternoon fodder. Captain America: The First Avenger, I’m afraid, falls under the latter. It’s not that Captain American does anything wrong, it’s that it does everything right, textbook right. It’s a boring film and is the most generic super hero film I’ve ever seen.

 

My Dog Tulip (2009)

Rating: 5/5

My Dog Tulip is a vivid account—taken from the pages of J.R. Ackerley’s memoir—of the 15 years spent with his “ideal friend”, Tulip, an Alsatian (commonly known as a German Shepherd) he rescued from an abusive and neglectful home when she was 18 months old. Dog owners will be moved, possibly to tears, by this story of love and companionship between a man in his autumn years and his loving, energetic, and often unruly, dog.

 

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Rating: 5/5

I prefer to go into films blind—knowing as little about the film as possible before viewing it—I want to take in the experience as the director intended. Often, trailers—and sometimes reviews—reveal too much about the film and dull the experience. Thankfully, the trailer for Midnight in Paris gives away nothing so I had no idea what I was in for, which made for a richer film-going experience. If you want the full surprise of Midnight in Paris, see it without any further information.

 

Rule of Three (2008)

 

Rating: 4/5

Have you ever wondered what took place in a hotel room before you arrived? Maybe you found a relic from a past guest? What if you could peek into the past, and found something sinister? Rule of Three is an indie thriller that gives the audience a peek into three events that take place in the same hotel room, and eventually ties them together in a clever way.

 

Who’s There? (2011)

 

Rating: 3/5

Who’s There? is a short film with its strengths on the technical side of production, but suffers a few bumps along the way, while showcasing a cast and crew with potential.

 

Win Win (2011)

Rating: 4/5

Shit.

It’s a great way to start a movie (or a movie review for that matter). It’s what you say when things go wrong, it’s what you say when things go right, it’s what you say when you’re in Win Win.

 

Water for Elephants (2011)

 

Rating: 4/5

Water for Elephants is more than a love story, it’s a tale about overcoming the odds and turning supposed failure into success.

 

Sucker Punch (2011)

 

Rating: 2/5

While the 17-yr-old in me loved nearly every frame of Sucker Punch (hot chicks in tight revealing clothes, fighting mythological creatures), the 34-yr-old critic in me realized the lack of substance and saw two films spliced together like a Frankenstein monster waiting to lash out at its creator.

 

Cedar Rapids (2011)

 

Rating: 4/5

Comedies like Cedar Rapids are a dime a dozen; fish-out-of-water stories where a group of misfits are forced to work out their differences and everyone learns something (well, almost everyone). What keeps Cedar Rapids above water, albeit just a little, is the excellent casting decision in the form of John C. Reilly. The man’s ability to take words you’ve heard your entire life and present them as if you’re hearing them for the first time is the sign of a true comic genius.