Wall-E

Rating: 9

Adorable!

Bigger, Stronger, Faster

Rating: 8

A Michael Moore-style documentary about steroid use, directed by Christopher Bell (thanks for the correction, screaming anonymous commenter!) Entertaining and enlightening.

R.I.P. George Carlin

The Incredible Hulk

Rating: 6

The CG effects completely ruin what would otherwise be a decent movie - the Hulk character looks like bad video game animation. The screening I saw was preceded by a trailer for Hellboy II. The monsters in Hellboy II look downright creepy and completely realistic. I wonder why the same effect can't be used for the Hulk? Anyway, I can't wait for that Hellboy movie!

You Don't Mess With The Zohan

Rating: 6

Not as bad as it looks, and there's a single gag that's hilarious enough to be worth the price of admission.

Sex and The City

Rating: 6.5

There is so much I find objectionable about this show. I have no interest in shoe-shopping or husband-hunting, and in real life I'm sure I would find Samantha's antics tiresome - and yet I am completely entertained by it. The best thing about the TV show was its raunchy humor. Unfortunately the movie falls short in that regard and relies more heavily on the sentimental romanticky stuff, which isn't really my bag. One thing was consistent though: Mr. Big is still an irksome dick!

Towelhead (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 7

The subject of Towelhead - a thirteen year-old's budding sexuality - is difficult to stomach, so this one's a toughie. I'm such a fan of Alan Ball's writing I'd rather see him using his own material rather than adapting a novel. Mr. Ball attended the screening and I think I liked the film more after hearing him explain why the story appealed to him, which in a nutshell is the complexity of its characters. That's Ball's specialty.

Visioneers (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 6.5

Takes place in the not-very-distant future and has some silly, fun moments as well as some wonderful performances (including a few local Almost Live alumni). I think with a little practice and guidance these filmmakers, who are brothers, could do very well.

The 27 Club (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 5

The premise claims to explore why so many famous people die at the age of 27, but it doesn't. It's just a mediocre road movie about grief after a suicide. The director is a cinematographer so the visuals were nice. Boring, though.

The Wackness (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 9

The Wackness is dope! When it comes out, see it.

Frozen River (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 8

A terrific story about two underprivileged women involved in human smuggling.

The End (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 5

This documentarian has unusual access to members of the London criminal underground since her father is a member. It would have worked well as a short but there didn't seem to be enough material for a feature-length film.

Hold Me Tight, Let Me Go (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 6.5

A documentary about an English school for emotionally disturbed children. The teachers outnumber the students by several to one and there are many instances in the film where it takes 3 staff members to restrain a student. The staff seem saintly in their ability to stay completely calm in the face of a cursing, spitting, violent child. Being a teacher for normal children would be difficult enough, but the teachers in this film seem to have a near impossible amount of patience. If the film delved more into the backgrounds of its subjects or explained the criteria they use to admit students it would have given some context that was lacking.

Choke (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 5

Probably a better book than a movie.

Be Like Others (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 7

Since homosexuality is punishable by death in Iran but having a sex-change operation is totally legal, what ends up happening is that non-transgendered gay people end up having sexual reassignment surgery to avoid persecution. This documentary follows a few of these tragic souls.

Sparrow (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 7

Due to a SIFF scheduling change, we ended up seeing this by accident instead of a Josh Hartnett thriller. Turned out to be quite good, particularly the cinematography and music. The story, about a group of Hong Kong pickpockets who meet a beautiful seductress, is OK. The director, Johnny To, seems to have quite a following in the film fest crowd.

Song Sung Blue (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 6.5

Documentary about a celebrity impersonator couple who seem to have a dark cloud hovering over them. A little disturbing, in an Edward Albee kind of way.

Savage Grace (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 6

Julianne Moore is a brave mofo. Or I should say, sofo? It will make sense when you see the movie.

That is all.

Encounters at the End of the World (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 9

Werner Herzog's latest documentary, about Antarctica and its strangeness, is magical.

Crossbow (SIFF 2008)

Rating: 9

Film festival shorts packages always require sitting through a bunch of films that range from boring to bad, but I keep going because there's invariably a gem hidden in there somewhere. Some of the best films I've ever seen have been shorts, though it takes a little work to find them. It's worth it because chances are, you'll never get a chance again outside film festivals. Jeebus willing, the internet will change this.

This year's short gem is a 14-minute Aussie film called Crossbow, about a neglected teenager. The director is David Michod. I'm keeping my eye on him. Absolutely brilliant.