The Fountain

JP:
Paul: *

* Paul keeps flip-flopping on his rating. (4… 4 1/2… 4…) Needs to see it again.

Spanning over one thousand years, and three parallel stories, The Fountain is a story of love, death, spirituality, and the fragility of our existence in this world.

Being huge fans of Requiem For A Dream, we were highly anticipating this film.
This is a one-of-a-kind experience that you just will not be able to define.
See it on the big screen… it is visually stunning.
Hugh Jackman gives a gut-wrenching, impressive emotional performance.
Audiences will be split by the film. You’ll either love it or hate it.
It is not a mainstream film but an art film.
We talked about it for a long time trying to piece it together and decipher all of it. It is left very vague as to what actually happens to the characters… What is real? What is not?
Awesome score by Clint Mansell, Kronos Quartet and Mogwai.
Finally, the best thing I can say about it is, I already want to see it again.

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Trapped Ashes

JP:
Paul:

A complete failure on all fronts. Shit acting, shit story, shit production values, shit, shit, shit. Extremely dull too… we strained to stay awake. Comparing it to a B-movie is unkind to B-movies.
You know what sucks, watching a movie this shit while sitting behind the writer of it — just makes you feel bad.

P.S. The best part of the film was when they had to stop the film to fix the projector.
Look for it on TV at 3 or 4 in the morning.

This Is England

JP:
Paul:

Based on childhood experiences of director Shane Meadows and the lead actor, Joseph Gilgun, the story follows a group of skinheads in the 1980’s.

The film felt very real, almost documentary-like (as if we are just following people around).
Great performances all around.

Joseph Gilgun playing the young boy looking for a father figure was outstanding.
It was nice to see a movie about skinheads that included non-racists skinheads (the original, true skinheads).
It balanced comedy and drama very well. It was as funny as it was ’scary’.

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The Dog Problem

JP:
Paul:

The second movie directed by Scott Caan (his first was Dallas 362 which we very much enjoyed), we really looked forward to this one. Giovanni Ribisi and Scott Caan (together and seperately) pull off their roles and click together. Funny and amusing script. Jimmy the Dog stole the show. He was amazing. Best dog ever.
We had a few problems with some elements of the script such as some of the dialogue felt unnatural and forced, and a couple of characters (Mena Suvari and Keving Corrigan) were underwritten or included solely to spout “cool” offbeat dialogue.
Look for the scene with “the Dog” ‘walking through L.A.’.
In the end it bring nothing new to the table, but it’s enjoyable enough as a fun coming-of-age Comedy. Take a date.
Seek out Caan’s first film Dallas 362 first. It’s a lot better.

Little Children

JP:
Paul:

JP’s favorite of the festival (so far).
Kate Winslet is fantastic as a bored suburban housewife falling for Patrick Wilson a fellow stay-at-homer. As they take their kids to the local parks and pools, the two build a relationship to the point of having an affair. The film explores why and what is lacking from their lives.
Jennifer Connely stars in a throw-away role as Brad’s (Patrick Wilson) wife. Largely underused.
Jackie Earle Haley who plays Ronald James McGorvey, the local sex offender is fabulous. He may or may not like hearing it, but he is completely believable from beginning to end.
The film is narrated (a lot like Dogville was) adding a dry sense of humour to the “goings-on”. This may turn off some viewers. JP thought it worked, Paul didn’t like it as much.
Paul felt it was just another “bored suburbanites having affairs to fill there lives”. Even though it’s very well done, it suffers from having seen it a million times before.

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