Movie Reviews: July - November 2013

Holy Motors

Beautiful. Bizarre. French. Art. Flick.

Never got a chance to watch it again before returning it, pretty fuzzy from 4 months ago. 7/10

Hitchcock

Loved looking back to the heights of Hitchcock movie mania - super production and Hopkins' guise. Unfortunately the story wasn't as riveting as a Hitchcock plot. 6/10

Codebreaker

Fascinating and tragic story of a man that probably made a significant impact on my life.  7/10

The Place Beyond the Pines

I had to stop the movie to write down some thoughts (watching on Air Canada flight)

Oh what a tangled web we weave. Only flaw was AJ - couldn't connect him, didn't really fit. But otherwise, rich, complex, beautifully acted masterpiece. Raw, real, rugged. Tragic, frightening and glimmers of humanity and hope. Gosling and Dane Dehaan were standouts.  9/10

Iron Man 3

Great non-baddy.  Humour made it entertaining and took the edge off the violence.  Effects were a bit too much, but still lots of fun.  7/10.

Gattaca

The beauty of imperfection.  Nice near future imagery, well acted and interesting premise.  More in the movie than its thin layer of plot, worth contemplating for a while. 7/10

Flight

Difficult subject matter twisted with a superbly crafter plot. Rock solid performance by Washington and a lovely surprise from Reilly.  Goodman's cameos were delightful and provided a little humour and break in the heavy drama.  Thought provoking, but rooted in the beauty of our imperfect human life. 7/10.

The Hangover Part II

Insane, stupid, tasteless - but lots of fun and pretty darn entertaining.  Superb location shots and cameos.  7/10

Frida

Wonderful story with passionate performances all around. I'm a little annoyed that it took me so long to see it (and that I missed the exhibit when it was at the AGO). 7/10

Carnage

Superb dialog delivered beautifully but some top talent.  Very uncomfortable at times, a poor ending, but very entertaining - if you like watching a good fight ! 7/10

Horrible Bosses

All star cast, incl. superb cameos (with one I didn't catch) - lots of really good gags.  Kept me laughing throughout - ridiculous plot bits, but who cares, very entertaining.  Underrated - but I'll give it a solid 7.

Tinker Tailor Solider Spy

Very slow and morose, but complex storytelling and superbly acted by stellar cast.  I can't say I grasped the entire plot but didn't get to watch it again before returning the BluRay rental.  So shocking, unexpected gruesome shots showed the danger of the day.  6/10

Trance

Wasn't truly comfortable with the plot - yes, expected some twists and turns, but I wasn't really enjoying the ride, but Boyle made it all come around beautifully.  

Mind bender.  Clever.  Great acting.  Stylish.  7/10

Great extras - what is the online experience of extras ?

The Artist

Delightful.  Adorable.  Irresistible.  Every shot is B&W photographic art. Amazing how much of a story can be told without dialog.  How much of the story can be told throught body langauge and the eyes. Surprisingly serious and dramatic moments. Wonderful score.  So many different sides to this movie. There are so many elements of this film that are spot on,  Beautiful, top draw entertainment, 5x what I was expecting. Had a smile on my face the whole movie. 9/10.

From the extras - "people don't realize the rise of film was faster than the internet" (approx. 30 years).

Rust and Bone

So good in many ways - artistically, the performances, the directing, the script, even the soundtrack.  Close to what I expecting from a few skims of reviews and press, but it was much more.   I'm not a huge fan of Cotillard, but I loved her performance and character.   Very rich and rewarding.  Plus superb special fx.  8/10

2 of his 18 points, the kid's on fire - #342/365

2 of his 18 points, the kid's on fire - #342/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Work-in-progress aux artes - #341/365

Work-in-progress aux artes - #341/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Sidewalk eBiker and the uptown styler not freezing in December - #340/365

Sidewalk eBiker and the uptown styler not freezing in December - #340/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Fantasy Farm, Pottery Road at night - #339/365

Fantasy Farm, Pottery Road at night - #339/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

A John Hancock tower morning, Boston - #338/365

A John Hancock tower morning, Boston - #338/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Tortoise, hare and the photog at Copley Square, Boston - #337/365

Tortoise, hare and the photog at Copley Square, Boston - #337/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

College Park December escalator refelection - #336/365

College Park December escalator refelection - #336/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Iced fall leaf in the brook - #335/365

Iced fall leaf in the brook - #335/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Report from the dog walk: clear your ice people - #334/365

Report from the dog walk: clear your ice people - #334/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Earlier in the week we had a little snow accumulation in the city. But some people perhaps didn't think it was enough to clear their sidewalk. Combine some deep freeeze temps and shadowed sidewalks and there are plenty of treacherous spots on my dog walk. So I gave the duenorth traction aids a test drive tis morning. Definitely boosts the confidence for this past broken ankle on the ice dude, but a little harsh on bare pavement. Plus, I had them on backwards !

The ornament tunnel of an Eaton Centre Christmas - #333/365

The ornament tunnel of an Eaton Centre Christmas - #333/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Why are they called scalloped potatoes ?

I thought I might cook scalloped potatoes for a change tonight, but I rarely cook them and wasn't sure of the recipe.  So I grabbed The Joy of Cooking and randomly opened the book in the middle and it opend on the page for scallops.  That's a pretty big book so I figure it's worthy of a Only Coincidence? post.  I ended up abandoning scalloped potaotes and kept it simple with mashed.  Got a little too cocky with the ratios - very creamy.   Well, the kids said very liquidy - but that's not a real word.  

Polite Canadian jokes

Perhaps to take my mind off our very impolite world infamous mayor, I thought of a new polite Canadian joke on my dog walk.   But first, my two favourite (the second updated for a holiday theme). 

1. Why did the Canadian cross the road ?   To get to the middle.   

2. How does a Canadian get 200 crazy guests to leave their house Christmas party ?   They say "excuse me, would you mind going home now please ?"

3.   What does a Canadian say when he sees a really suspicious looking dude in their neighbourhood ? "Can I help you ?"

First snow fall of the season, Lytton Park - #332/365

First snow fall of the season, Lytton Park - #332/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Bits. Books. Jewels. #331/365

Bits. Books. Jewels. #331/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Kooper gives an old friend some lovin' - #330/365

Kooper gives an old friend some lovin' - #330/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

November late afternoon sky from Ontario Place - #329/365

November late afternoon sky from Ontario Place - #329/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

That's the way to win bowtie mate - #328/365

That's the way to win bowtie mate - #328/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Fire escapes pinholed on Rosewell - #327/365

Fire escapes pinholed on Rosewell - #327/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Welcome to toy library; late night edition - #326/365

Welcome to toy library; late night edition - #326/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Signing my alias on The Brickworks - #325/365

Signing my alias on The Brickworks - #325/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

But what does it mean ? #324/365

But what does it mean ? #324/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Hard to part with her little girl toys - #323/365

Hard to part with her little girl toys - #323/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Tune up time - #322/365

Tune up time - #322/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Shadow trees and the highline trail - #321/365

Shadow trees and the highline trail - #321/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

The old rake still works for me - #320/365

The old rake still works for me - #320/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

WTC globe reflection - #319/365

WTC globe reflection - #319/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Amsterdam Brewery, Toronto - #318/365

Amsterdam Brewery, Toronto - #318/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Suspicious mind ?

I wouldn't say I'm an overly suspicious person, but:

I'm suspicious of business people I see on the subway who aren't carrying a bag.  As a corollary, I'm even more suspicious of people in airports with no luggage.

I'm suspicious of people I know in my urban neighbourhood who I never see walking anywhere.

And as my Facebook profile says (somewhere, in answer to religion) - I'm suspicious of coincidence.  See related posts on this if you interested here.

Knobs on the TV - #317/365

Knobs on the TV - #317/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Remembrance Day 2013 - #316/365

Remembrance Day 2013 - #316/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Last night I dreamed: Grenoble Olympics

Disclaimer: it made sense at the time when I was writing this down with sleep still in my eyes

For my wife.

This morning I dreamt about going to the Olympics.  It was in Grenoble.  I was on the ski hill watching ski cross I think, a few skiers fall and they are racing together.  I remember watching a few big jumps, one after the finish line !  I was thinking it was going to be difficult for me to compete as it was all quite new to me.  I was getting ready to compete in the bobsleigh although it was all very new to me.  The village at the base of the hill was very quiet and I was an early arrival.  I remember shuffling through the snow where the end of the bobsleigh run was going to be on this large frozen lake.  I see a large snowplow pull into a garage with other heavy equipment.  The plow almost hits me.  In the garage, all the equipment is in Canada Post livery.  The workers ask about the sport(s) I'm competing in - I say it's all quite new to me.  Back in the hotel room I'm checking out all the electronic connections and contact my wife to ask her to bring a travel AC plug converter.  But my mother-in-law says she won't bring it because my wife is like my mother-in-law - something about airport security.

We will remember them

Originally posted on Facebook in 2011.

Thank you to the brave who sacrificed so much in past wars and to those serving their country today.

I asked a few people today about our family and friends' connections to war veterans:

• My grandfather served in the R.E.M.E. (Royal Engineering and Mechanical Engineers) in WWII in India. 
• My great grandfather served in WWI
• My Mom's uncle served in the Army in WWII and was rescued from Dunkirk.
• My Dad's uncle served in France in WWI and was killed in action.
• My Mom's cousin was a rear gunner in the Royal Air Force in WWII.
• My uncle was a helicopter gunner in Vietnam with the Australian forces.
• My wife has cousins that served in the Canadian Navy and the US Military.
• My brother-in-law's grandfather served and survived WWI and his uncle was a tail gunner in a Lancaster bomber and was shot down in WWII.
• A friend of mine was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian forces and served in Afghanistan.
• A previous work colleague's Dad was in the Royal Air Force, navigator on a Halifax bomber.

I'm thinking of them today.

Photos from past Remembrance Days can be viewed here.

Other posts relating to Remembrance Day:

• Remembering War Veterans
• Morris
• Thank you Walter
• South African War Memorial, Toronto

And the fall leaves start to assemble, Burke Brook - #315/365

And the fall leaves start to assemble, Burke Brook - #315/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Rainwater aqueduct in fall - #314/365

Rainwater aqueduct in fall - #314/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

In Tune In

Just imported all posts from my other old music themed blog called In Tune In.  If you'd like to see them all and other items relating to music you can find them all under the music tag.

Daily photos now here

Just imported all posts from my daily photo blog.  The blog was originally started Nov 11th, 2009 for a project called 365 in-Camera (where no post-processing was done). After year 1, the blog was changed to a daily photo site continuing until Dec 2011 (778 shots). After a year off, my daily photo began again Jan 1, 2013.  If you are only interested in my daily photographs and not my rambling ideas on other subjects, you can see my daily shots in one place on Flickr - click here to see my daily photo set in Flickr.

Bumped into Jason

As I work form home these days, I'm not taking the subway as often and missing out on hearing some of the great musicians that busk in the stations.  I met Jason Crawford playing jazz on his 8 string guitar at my local Eglinton station back in the spring of 2010.  Jason became #51 in my 100 Stranger project.  I used to see him every few weeks but I hadn't seen him for many months.  I happened to play one of his CDs on Wednesday night.  Then heading downtown on Friday I bump into him at Queen station.  Great to see you Jason - sounding superb as ever.

Only Coincidence ?

Just imported all posts from my other old blog called Only Coincidence ?  If you'd like to see them all, you can find them all under the coincidence tag.

I could photograph the stairs at the AGO all day long - #313/365

I could photograph the stairs at the AGO all day long - #313/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

By the light of the iPad - #312/365

By the light of the iPad - #312/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Take my daughter to work day: basement office style (sorry I didn't have a meeting in NYC today) - #311/365

Take my daughter to work day: basement office style (sorry I didn't have a meeting in NYC today) - #311/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

The age of the city - #310/365

The age of the city - #310/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Too long for the bin - #309/365

Too long for the bin - #309/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

The simple beauty of colour on a fall morning - #308/365

The simple beauty of colour on a fall morning - #308/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Stretch for an ocassion (not fornication) - #307/365

Stretch for an ocassion (not fornication) - #307/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.

Shooting lasers in a time warp bubble - #306/365

Shooting lasers in a time warp bubble - #306/365, a photo by PJMixer on Flickr.