Rocket Talk: When's the TTC Going to Roll Out More Fare Collection Methods?
Newsstand: November 9, 2009
Zack Taylor in Disney Mama Drama
Santa's Weston Workshop
The Daily Photoist: November 9, 2009
Dr. Steve Brule. Now, that name either fills you with joy, and probably running straight to YouTube, or it rings absolutely no bells at all. We mention him—John C. Reilly's character from Tim & Eric Awesome Show Good Job!—because he's pretty much the reason we rate Reilly so highly. Initially he was lumped in with the list of "people who have been in Paul Thomas Anderson films that we are ambivalent about," but Dr. Steve Brule is such work of comedic genius, he's on the list of "good guys" now.
So for that reason we sort of want to see Step Brothers. We considered Talladega Nights a bit dull compared to Anchorman!, admittedly, but advance word on Step Brothers is good enough we're willing to give it a chance. NOW's Norm Wilner exclaims, "damn if it doesn’t work from beginning to end, thanks to the stars’ near-psychotic commitment to their characters."
Someone not on our list of good guys is Roman Polanski. Well done on Rosemary's Baby, for example, but we can never forgive him his worst crime—being in Rush Hour 3.
Sorry, that was in poor taste. If you're interested in the story of his actual crime, Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired plays the Royal this week, and it covers the events surrounding his conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl. The review from Jason Anderson over at Eye thankfully notes it "isn't out to exonerate Polanski" but does reveal "the startling and bizarre circumstances around the case." Which sounds interesting indeed.
Not so interesting is The X-Files: I Want to Believe, apparently. Though fans of the series have (we imagine) been hotly anticipating it, we were never that into the series to begin with (we tried—when Scully went into a coma or something, we gave up). "You'll want to believe the plot was better," quips the Globe and Mail's Liam Lacey.
Also out this week: Brideshead Revisited, Just Buried, and Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer. But the most exciting news this week is the reveal of this year's Midnight Madness films for TIFF. If like us you've been (mostly) nonplussed by TIFF's announced films so far, the Midnight Madness schedule should be more than enough to lift your spirits—this year's selection includes The Burrowers (from JT Petty, director of the superb S&Man) and opens with JCVD, a Jean-Claude Van Damme film (really). If that doesn't tickle your fancy, there's also Detroit Metal City, a new Japanese film featuring Gene Simmons.
| CORRECTION: JULY 25, 2008
The review of Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired in Eye was mistakenly attributed to Adam Nayman. Eye's review was written by Jason Anderson; Adam Nayman's two-star review of the same movie was published in Metro. |
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"What about the trace evidence, Scully?"
Super psyched about X-Files.
And Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer is a really fun movie. I was at the premiere at the Bloor last week. Made in Ontario, folks!
Hi Mathew
A friend informed me that you have accidentally misattributed Jason Anderson's review of the Polanski doc to me; I don't think Jason wants me taking credit for his work any more than I want to be positioned as one of this problematic film's defenders (though to be mistaken for Jason Anderson in any other context is an honor!) Perhaps you could link to my actual review at Metro? Also, yes, that JT Petty film sounds profoundly alright, even if I thought S&Man wasn' great).
thanks,
Adam N
Shit, you're also writing for Metro now? I'm going to have to start reading it (on Fridays).
My sincere apologies. I've fixed the mistake to link to Jason's review... I've put a few wrong links in previous Film Fridays too, so perhaps my old age is getting to me.
Oh well.
And the JT Petty film is indeed profoundly alright! And S&Man is one of the greatest post-modern documentaries ever, so I don't know what you're talking about.
I've appended a correction above.
SPOILERS FOR S&MAN:
Adam's problem with the movie was the same as his problem with Radiant City: he didn't buy it.
I did, however, and ranked S&Man as one of my top movies of 2006. Hey, Mathew, did you know you're quoted on the back cover of the (unreleased) DVD of the movie?
I'm not so sure you should have wrote that spoiler down, really, but I'm glad to find out I'm on the back of the admittedly-unreleased DVD! Are there any images of that online? It's cool to (sort-of) have a box quote to my name.
Chocolate looks reallllly good.
"...unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl."
Really? Um, can't we at least call it statutory rape, given that's what Polanski copped to?
We can all call it whatever we want! I'm not really sure what your issue is, the words I used are consistent with the generally used description of statutory rape.
I haven't had much luck finding the back of the box online, but here's the front. If I recall correctly, the other quote on the back was from LA Weekly's Scott Foundas. And it actually wasn't your Torontoist review that was quoted but rather something you wrote for twitchfilm.net.
Last I heard, the person in charge at HDNet, which produced the film, absolutely hated the thing, and that was the reason it never made it beyond the festival circuit or even to video. The DVD box I saw (in a friend's office) must have been some sort of promotional item assembled after TIFF; I'm not aware of anywhere you can find a copy, but of course Suspect's always worth a shot.
And I wrote down the spoiler mostly because I was concerned Adam would do the same, albeit without a warning.