Religulous

VIFF 08 Movie Review.


Written by Bill Maher
Directed by Larry Charles
Starring Bill Maher

“Religion is detrimental to the progress of mankind”.

This is the thesis Bill Maher uses to introduce his film, Religulous, directed by Larry Charles (Borat). I wish it wasn’t so simple, but if you agree with his statement, this is your movie, if you don’t, it probably isn’t. However, I urge everyone to see it. While it likely wont be changing all people’s views on faith, it is thought provoking. This is probably the best conversation starter in theaters this year.

The director, Larry Charles is no newcomer to controversy. Two years ago he brought us the brilliant Borat, which immediately divided audiences with it’s offensive content. While Borat was accused of racism, it was actually meant to expose the prejudice of the “Land of the Free”. This time around, Charles is taking on religion which should spark even stronger controversy. Also, audiences will be divided within the first 30 seconds of the trailer. A shame, really, as this is one of the most thoughtful and powerful films of the year.

We follow famous stand-up comedian Bill Maher on his quest to prove not that there’s no God, but that it’s impossible to know if one exists. As he puts it, he preaches the church of “I don’t know”. He interviews people of various faiths, but Catholicism is his primary target. He pretty much only goes for the easy victims. For example, an actor performing as Jesus, a holocaust denying Rabbi and the people inside a truck stop chapel. While his choice in interviewees seems like cheating, Bill Maher actually gives them all a chance to have their say. He is surprisingly fair to everyone he interviews. OK, maybe not the Holocaust denier. Maher listens to everyone carefully. In each conversation he goes on to debunk everything they say, and he does so respectfully. It’s clear that Maher is very well read and informed. Of course, none of his subjects give in, but they do manage to make fools of themselves again and again, and make no mistake about it, Maher and Charles never cease to capitalize on their ignorance and they do it in hilarious fashion.

Religulous actually harbours some very sweet moments. One display of kindness and sincerity from a Christian found in the truck stop chapel is very powerful. Bill Maher asks the man to pray and the ensuing prayer is sincere and heartwarming. Maher isn’t looking to insult everyone with faith. What he wants is to point out the flaws of organized religion and have people reason with him, instead of having blind faith. He mentions being terrified by having a religious government. Again and again he points out how religion contributes to many of the world’s problems. Maher’s argument is a convincing one.

At the end of the film, he nearly pleads for the world to wake up and change. This is something I feared he would do. However, by the end of the movie he has done such a good job of supporting his ideas, that it comes off extremely well. The last few minutes are deathly serious and astoundingly powerful. I was moved and enraged. This is one of those rare movies that makes you want to do something about what it’s saying.

Unfortunately, I fear that Religulous will suffer from the “Fahrenheit 9/11” effect. By this I mean that only the supporters of the film’s cause will go see the movie, thus completely ruining the possible effect Bill Maher hopes it to have. Once again I urge everyone to see it, as it is one of the funniest movies of the year, It’s one of the most powerful, but moreover, it’s the most important.

Blindness

VIFF 08 Movie Review.


Written by Don McKellar
Directed by Fernando Meirelles
Starring Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Gael Garcia Bernal, Alice Braga & Danny Glover

In Fernando Meirelles's latest film, a city is struck by an epidemic of blindness. Those afflicted with the "white sickness", named such because it is a white blindness as opposed to the traditional darkness, are placed in quarantine in an abandoned mental hospital. Once you're put in the quarantine, you can not leave. Military personnel have the exits surrounded, and are willing to kill those who try to escape. When a husband and wife arrive early on, played by Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo (no characters are given names), they step up as leaders and try to bring kindness and order inside the quarantine. Julianne Moore's character has a secret, she can see. She followed her husband, not wanting to be separated. Soon the building is overflowing with too many people, and the mini-society they had formed begins to crumble.

I have not read the book, so I can not compare the two. I have noticed many critics are attacking the film and claiming it to be an insult to the Nobel Peace Prize winning novel by Jose Saramago. I'm sure most would agree the go-to opinion would be the original author's. When Saramago saw Blindness, he told the director, "Fernando... I'm as happy with the movie... as I was when finished the book". You can even see his initial, very emotional reaction, while in the theater, on YouTube. It's not often an author praises a film adapated from his work, I can only think of when Phillip K. Dick said he loved Blade Runner. The only example where the author was wrong I can think of is Stephen King hating Kubrick's The Shining.

Fernando Meirelles is a world-class film maker. His last three films are all attempts at masterpieces. It seems he is only interested in setting the bar as high as it can go, and never compromising. I have all the respect in the world for him and if he doesn't always reach the bar, he comes close. City of God was a masterpiece, and The Constant Gardener, like Blindness, had it's flaws. Also like Blindness, those flaws are forgivable and fade away from memory, while the important points of each film linger on and on.

This film is shot like no other before it. It is somewhat experimental, but I was never distracted, at least not in a bad way. Cesar Charlone, the film's cinematographer deserves to mentioned come Oscar time early next year. There is frequent over exposure and brilliant use of shadow and reflection. One particular shot when Julianne Moore first arrives at the quarantine is astonishing. The camera sits in one spot, while she walks around and in several rooms off camera, but we can always see her in a reflection in the windows and clear glass walls.

People will be divided by the film's brutality in certain scenes. There is a specific sequence receiving much criticism. A cruel, group rape scene, in which the women are humiliated and used. Does this scene make you angry? Uncomfortable? Miserable? Don't let that stop you from thinking about what it may mean or represent. In an allegorical sense it could mean the raping of women's rights. Anyways, it's supposed to make you feel that way, it is the director's intention to go to these dark places. Film can not always be entertaining and enjoyable. We must be honest about the depths of human indecency, to earn the right to tell the stories of unwavering kindness. And if you look close enough, you will find that that unwavering kindness is in Blindness.

The acting is solid, but Julianne Moore steals the show. She conveys through her eyes, the weight that is on her shoulders from having to be the only one who sees, the only one who can ultimately guide everyone to freedom. Mark Ruffalo is very good as always, and plays his role in an everyman fashion hard to find in Hollywood. The always superb Gael Garcia Bernal is a little too at home playing the sadistic "King of Ward 3". This is the man, who sets the aforementioned rape in motion. In one scene, he sings to everyone through the PA system, happy as can be, laughing in between lines.

I do have a problem with the inconsistent narration from Danny Glover's character. In two or three instances, he has a brief narration that feels very out of place. Each time we hear his thoughts, he merely describes his feelings or what is taking place, mind you he does it eloquently. It is completely unnecessary and beneath a film of such substance because it halts our own thoughts and conclusions and subjects us to his, which at least for me, were already what I was thinking about on my own. It almost seems like it's an attempt to think for the audience so they don't have to. Fortunately I'm discussing just two minutes out of a two hour picture but it still degrades the quality.

I have had a couple good discussions about what this film means, and most people I talk to, myself included have several ideas. My favourite theory can't be fully discussed because it involves the final act in explaining it. I do get somewhat of a pro-anarchist vibe, as these people all struggle to survive in the hospital, where they create a mini-society. The blind are leading the blind. Mark Ruffalo's character begins a democracy and "The King of ward 3" starts a supposed monarchy. It all crumbles. These people can not be free until they let go of such notions.

Blindness can be seen as how humans would actually react to the devastating "white sickness", or it can be taken allegorically in several ways. How many recent mainstream movies can you say that about? This may be the most thought-provoking film since Children of Men. That was a masterpiece, and this may be flawed, but Blindness is an admirable effort that mostly succeeds. Despite that the vast majority of critics dislike this movie, I highly recommend it. Especially to those who like being challenged by cinema. Otherwise, what's the point?

Ballast

VIFF 08 Movie Review.



Written & Directed by Lance Hammer
Starring Micheal J. Smith, JimMyron Ross & Tarra Riggs

Ballast is the story of how the suicide of one man effects his twin brother, ex-wife and son. The film begins with an exquisite shot of a young black male running in a field as a massive flock of birds takes off in flight. The brilliant title then fills the screen, causing a surprising emotional stir, considering it's the first minute of the movie. Unfortunately, that holds as the peak of the movie's power.

Next we see Lawrence, sitting on the couch in his obviously poverty effected home in the Mississippi Delta. Down the hall, lying in bed, is his dead twin brother. He has been there for a few days, but Lawrence is trapped by his despair. Fortunately, a concerned neighbour inquires about Lawrence's wellness and calls an ambulance. Lawrence, along with his brother, ran the local convenience store together, but now he just stays at home. Marlee, the ex-wife eventually expresses interest in running the store with the help of her troubled young son, James.

This is Lance Hammer's first feature film, which surprised me. This is a movie that sets out to be something and succeeds. I was fortunate to be present at a Q & A where he shed light on his inspiration. Hammer, when visiting the Mississippi Delta, felt a profound feeling of sadness and longing, particularly when in the poverty stricken area that he eventually filmed the movie in. He claims the landscape, housing and people made him feel this one thing so strongly that he wanted to put it in film. He uses several techniques to accomplish his goal; he casted local non-professionals; he gives the film a somber, blue tint; and made the decision to exclude all use of music. Hammer's most interesting decision was to not use a script. Of course, he wrote a script, but only as a guideline. Hammer would just describe a scene to his actors and ask them to say what they naturally would. This is a move that certainly pays off. Hammer is able to successfully convey the aforementioned feeling in every frame of his picture, but that's all Ballast really does.

The characters are merely there to help contribute to the mood. The plot is a little less than involving and a little more than slow-moving. While I admired the artistry and lack of convention, despite my best efforts, I found my mind wandering off a couple times. I feel a little guilty, because movies like this need support to live, but I can't recommend it to everyone.

I have to elaborate on how much I love the title as it is so rare that there is any figurative thought behind one. Ballast is something that gives stability. Each of the characters in this film are recovering from the trauma of someone close to them taking his own life. Each person is looking for stability, so they can move on. I only wish that there was more to the film than a great title and a consistent mood.

It is clear that Lance Hammer is a very talented film maker who should go on to great things. His control over tone, mood and his use of the non-professional actors he personally casted are most impressive. Supporters of indie film, or actual aspiring film makers will likely enjoy as well as learn a few things from Ballast. Other movie goers may have trouble paying attention.

The Masterpieces.

The Masterpieces is an ongoing list of the greatest films ever made. Any film can qualify, the only requirement being a movie can't be added until at least one year after it's initial release. Other than that, it's fair game. These are the films that set the highest standards for their art form and respective genres. They can be important socially, universally, or personally, or they can simply be damn entertaining. As long as a movie can be considered to have achieved true greatness, it can be added to The Masterpieces.

An alphabetical list of all films added to The Masterpieces (click to see the original article)...

2001: A Space Odyssey

The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser

The Royal Tenenbaums

The Bronze. Lists

Here is a summary of all lists published on The Bronze.

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Adam's Top Ten 2005

1. Serenity
2. Crash
3. Batman Begins
4. The 40 Year Old Virgin
5. Sin City
6. The New World
7. The Constant Gardener
8. Brokeback Mountain
9. Walk The Line
10. Oldboy
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Adam's Top Ten 2006

1. Children of Men
2. Clerks II
3. Little Miss Sunshine
4. The Departed
5. Letters From Iwo Jima
6. Borat
7. Blood Diamond
8. Pan’s Labyrinth
9. Babel
10. The Prestige
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Adam's Top Ten 2007

1. Juno
2. Ratatouille
3. There Will Be Blood
4. Superbad
5. Once
6. Hot Fuzz
7. Knocked Up
8. No Country For Old Men
9. Into The Wild
10. Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead/The Savages (Tie)
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List Logic
An article about the point of top ten lists, and why they work. The article includes a revised Top Ten 2007 list.
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Adam's Top Ten 2008

1. Synecdoche, New York
2. The Dark Knight
3. In Bruges
4. Entre Les Murs
5. Paranoid Park
6. The Wrestler
7. Wall-E
8. Milk
9. Rachel Getting Married
10. Revolutionary Road

Parker's Top Ten 2008

1. In Bruges
2. The Dark Knight
3. Synecdoche, New York
4. The Wrestler
5. Wall-E
6. Milk
7. Rachel Getting Married
8. Slumdog Millionaire
9. The Fall
10. Forgetting Sarah Marshall
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The 10 Greatest Works of Joss Whedon (as of July 2008)

1. Once More With Feeling (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6, Episode 7)
2. Serenity
3. The Body (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5, Episode 16)
4. Hush (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4, Episode 10)
5. Restless (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4, Episode 22)
6. Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog
7. The Chain (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, issue #5)
8. Objects in Space (Firefly Episode 14)
9. Waiting in the Wings (Angel Season 3, Episode 13)
10. Fray
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The Masterpieces, an ongoing list of the best movies of all time can be found here.