Dances With Wolves Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Dances With Wolves
Year: 1990
Director: Kevin Costner
Country: US
Language: English

Kevin Costner's Directing debut won a total of seven Oscars at the 63rd Annual Academy Awards; Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Original Score. Its main competition was the Martin Scorsese masterpiece Goodfellas, which frankly should have given Dances with Wolves the beating of a lifetime. Seriously, what were they thinking? Perhaps Scorsese's moral ambiguity left them cold?

Kevin Costner stars as Lt. John Dunbar, a man who is dubbed a hero after he accidentally leads Union troops to a victory during the Civil War. He requests a position on the western frontier, but finds it deserted. He soon finds out he is not alone. He befriends wolves and Indians, making him an intolerable aberration in the military.

Does anybody watch this film anymore? For a picture that is only 24 years old it has aged horribly, worse than some silent movies! It's a historical epic that is far too long and tedious to be considered entertaining. It's the typical white guilt movie that Hollywood loves to shove down our throats every year, except with a considerable lack of CGI. Why see this picture when we have Avatar? Or the considerably shorter Ferngully/Pocahontas/ The Help/The Last Samurai/Django Unchained?

It seems like in the 90's The Academy Awards had a stiffy for historical epics. Consider the fact that Dances With Wolves, Braveheart, Schindler's List, Forrest Gump, The English Patient, Titanic and Shakespeare in Love all won "Best Picture" that decade. Perhaps Wolves was a safe movie, that attempted to right some Hollywood wrongs. Perhaps it was an admittance that we had not treated Native Americans very kindly in our pictures. Then again, the attempt at dealing with race relations is painful to watch at times. In 2014 it feels condescending rather than honest. Its poor pacing, lack of structure & dismal conclusion left a bitter taste.

In conclusion, it's best to stay away from Dances With Wolves. Let it die and be forgotten by the masses. Watching it left me uninspired and unfulfilled. I felt like I had wasted a decent portion of my life on a picture that nobody cares, or should care about. If you're looking for a decent movie about race relations see either Lawrence of Arabia or 12 Years A Slave. Both are phenomenal. Piss on it! 1/5

The Wolf Man Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: The Wolf Man
Year: 1941
Director: George Waggner
Country: US
Language: English

Universal Horror is the name given to a series of unique horror, suspense and science fiction films made by Universal Studios starting in 1923 (Phantom of the Opera) and ending in 1960 (The Leech Woman) The most successful era was the 30's, when in- spite of the depression- audiences flocked to see the newest Bela Legusi or Boris Karloff flick.The german expressionist style would follow through the 40's as a new star was being made; Lon Chaney Jr. His most successful feature was 1941's The Wolf Man

A practical man returns to his homeland, is attacked by a creature of folklore, and infected with a horrific disease that turns him into a werewolf during each full moon. The local villagers become unruly, and go on the hunt for the wolf terrorizing their village. 

Most cultures around the world have their own legend to explain the equal parts good and evil present in every person. In a lot of these legends the susceptible human shape-shifts into some horrid monster, or other fiend. Some legends prove to be allegories regarding puberty, sexual drives or catholic guilt. Indeed the Wolf Man does a great job at reflecting the duality behind the human monster. which proves ultimately more confronting, psychoanalytic, and undeniably more terrifying than an explanation rooted in the paranormal. 

Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright. The picture is essentially about intense sexual desire, which is frowned upon in strict Christian communities where the story is set. I believe the main character is a sexual predator who cannot come to grips with his actions. This would explain why all his victims are female, and why the wolf tracks always lead to his bedroom. The townspeople slowly start to suspect the main character, one woman even accuses him of looking at her “like a wild animal with murder in his eyes.” 

 In conclusion, The Wolf Man is slightly dated but still proves to be entertaining and provokes discussion. Using a combination of rubber framework, false teeth, and yak-hair wigs to bring the werewolf to life, this depiction of a werewolf is much more convincing than anything that has come since. Though many pictures have used the wolf motif, none have done it as successfully as this horror classic. Praise it! 4/5

L'Avventura Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: L'Avventura
Year: 1960
Director: Michelangelo Antonioni
Country: Italy
Language: Italian

The first part of the unofficial Incommunicability Trilogy with La Notte (1961) and L'Eclisse (1962) Italian Director Michelangelo Antonioni didn't intend these three movies as a trilogy, however cinema historians have called it so. Originally L'Avventura wasn't perceived very well; at its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival it was received to a loud chorus of boos. Audience members repeatedly yelled "cut!" at various scenes, because they felt it was far too long. After its second screening there was a complete turn around in how the audience felt about the flick. It would go on to win the Special Jury Prize, and become a landmark in European cinema. 

The film begins with a wealthy woman disappearing during a Mediterranean boating trip. the plot thickens during the search, as her lover (Gabriele Ferzetti) and her best friend (Monica Vitti)  become attracted to each other

Before L'Avventura Antonioni had made five other features, but was little known in Europe and even less known in The United States. The film made Antonioni, as well as the film's star Monica Vitti, and international sensation seemingly overnight. Translated into English, the title is "The Adventure". One might think that the story is a mystery thriller with a side of adventure, but they would be wrong. There is little physical searching for the missing woman, rather the picture consists of our characters searching their spirituality. 

L'Avventura deals with many postwar existentialist themes such as alienation, non communication, and failure to find meaning in an uncertain world. The characters respond to their lack of meaning by engaging in superficial sex and indulging in mindless affairs. Claudia and Sandro disregard their values and unconsciously refuse to make their lives meaningful. They lie to themselves, and to each other. Modern films would romanticize this lifestyle, but Antonioni is smarter. 

The picture is deliberately paced, some scenes drag to a crawl yet feel incredibly important. A cocktail of emotions fill the screen, even when action doesn't. Very little drama can happen, but it can still make the frame absolutely fascinating. L'Avventura is unique because the events depicted aren't meaningful, and the characters motivations aren't clear. The Director doesn't hold our hand throughout, he lets us interpret the film for ourselves.

In conclusion, L'Avventura is certainly an arthouse European flick that isn't set out to please everybody, nor will it. It has profound emotional depth, a very mature flick compared to most of what Hollywood offers today. I found myself glued to the screen, and would love to see it again. Praise it! 5/5  

Bjork: Biophilia Live Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: Bjork Biophilia Live
Year: 2014
Director: Nick Fenton
Country: US
Language: English

Bjork is one of the strangest artists in the world; weird is an understatement in attempting to describe her. The Icelandic musician is no stranger to controversy, she wore a shocking swan dress at the 2001 Academy Awards. Her personality is bizarre, as is her music.
Having made eight records since 1977, there is no denying she is a wonderful musician; her talent is criminally underrated in North America.

Biophilia is Bjork’s eighth studio album, released by One Little Indian Records and distributed by Universal Music Group on Oct.  5, 2011. It’s an electronica album influenced by avant-garde music and alternative dance. It references various linking points between music, nature, and technology. It has received very positive reviews, with many critics stating that it was an ambitious yet rewarding project.
 
Biophilia Live is a concert documentary revolving around this album.
 
Biophilia Live is an exhilarating experience, perhaps the most entrancing concert I’ve ever seen. Bjork’s engrossing performance kept me on the edge of my seat. The unpredictability of the performer, as well as the surreal atmosphere, kept me in awe. Bjork knows how to push the envelope, while setting the standard for what a concert film should be.
 
It’s simply overwhelming to the senses...

Dancing around in London’s Alexandra Palace, she appears against pits of lava and celestial beings. She is dressed like something out of Bride of Frankenstein and yet is able to pull this extravagant event off coherently, consistently on key.

While Biophilia Live isn’t going to make fans out of her detractors, it certainly is going to win the hearts and minds of those who have already loved her. It’s absolutely breathtaking.5/5

Dial M For Murder Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Dial M For Murder

Year: 1954
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Country: US
Language: English

Officially the Master of Suspense’s 45^th film, Dial M For Murder was originally conceived as a hit stage play by writer Frederick Knott.  Alfred Hitchcock adapted it onto the screen at a crucial time when he felt his influential power as a filmmaker was running low. While audiences of the time loved it, Hitch was not so pleased. In the book Francois Truffaut’s A Definitive Study of Alfred Hitchcock – a transcription of about 50 hours of conversation between the two- Hitch barely mentioned the picture, at one point describing his effort as “playing it safe”

Ray Milland stars as a former tennis pro who conceives a plot to murder his longtime wife (Grace Kelly) so he can collect on her insurance policy. However, when his plans go array he improvises a cunning plan “B”

 Most would disagree with the Director’s feelings on his own film; considering that most of the action takes place in one room, I’d say he pulled off a remarkable feat.  Hitch refused to “ventilate the play”, to extend the story beyond what the original writer intended, therefore he had to interact with the small amount of space given to him. A master with the camera, Hitch uses the lenses to manipulate our emotions. In one instance the room feels painfully claustrophobic, in another it reeks of murder, and in another a suspenseful telephone exchange leaves the audience out of breath.

The attempted murder in Dial M For Murder is as frightening as the Psycho shower scene, but I do not wish to spoil the film with too many details. It’s a shame that Hitch never truly saw the film for what it truly was: a masterpiece. Perhaps he hated the gimmick of 3D, which had not reached maturity by that time.  For a 50’s flick, it  hasn’t aged a bit. I highly recommend it. Praise it! 4.5/5

After the Show Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: After the Show
Year: 2014
Director: Steven K. Johnson
Country: Canada
Language: English

Romi Mayes is one of Winnipeg’s most colourful and enjoyable homegrown rockers.
Mayes has been rock ’n’ rollin’ for the last decade. In 2011 she joined long-time friend Jay Nowicki (The Perpetrators) to write, record, and perform a live original duo album.

Directed by Steven K. Johnson, After the Show documents Mayes and her band’s trials, tribulations, triumphs and general lives.

The camera seems to follow the charismatic singer everywhere, from airports to backstage rehearsals to a live performance at the West End Cultural Centre. There are many talking head interviews in which Mayes reveals both the difficulties and the rewards of being a single mother on the road. She is a great role model who perseveres despite circumstance often not being on her side.

After the Show dissects not only the life of one creative artist, but the lives of many. It’s a tribute to all independent artists who must sacrifice their time, effort and relationships in order to rock. For non-musicians, it’s difficult to fathom how rough the road life can be, but this film gets it down perfectly.

Too many rockumentaries make their subject pathetic by glorifying their excess of pills and booze, so it’s refreshing to witness an artist who comes off as truthful and free without succumbing to the “live fast, die young” motto. Though Mayes doesn’t have widespread international fame, the picture measures her success via her commitment to her art form. Praise it! 4/5

The Departed Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: The Departed
Year: 2006
Director: Martin Scorsese
Country: US
Language: English

I have written a lot about Martin Scorsese, mainly because I consider him one of the greatest living American Directors. While I personally think Raging Bull is his best work,  I've seen Goodfellas over a dozen times. Most people know him for his gangster work, though he has made plenty of extraordinary pictures that don't belong in any genre. He can even make a great children's picture, as seen in Hugo. Most of his pictures deserved the best picture Oscar, but only The Departed won it. So I thought I would review it. 

In The Departed an undercover state cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) who has infiltrated an Irish gang and a mole in the police force working for the same mob (Matt Damon) race to track down and identify each other before being exposed to the enemy, after both sides realize their outfit has a rat.

Inspired by a successful Hong Kong flick known as Internal Affairs, The Departed is about two men trying to live public lives that are the complete opposite of their inner realities. DiCaprio works for the mob, yet is a fragile man underneath the surface. His life is hell, but unfortunately he can't get out of it until the mob boss (Jack Nicholson) is exposed for what he truly is and cuffed. His life is rather tragic; we can't help but sympathize with this poor man. Damon is quite frankly, a complete asshole. He is a slimy snake who nearly takes down the entire police force. Throughout the film I found myself begging for something nasty to happen to him.

Scorsese presents an already intense story and increases the suspension by ten. He preys on our belief in human nature, our belief that all humans have at lease some sense of remorse and some sense of guilt. As intelligent humans we also have a sense of justice, and are infuriated when justice is not served. How can bad things happen to good people? How can bad people get away with horrible crimes? We hate being backed into a corner, thus we are upset when we find our hero constantly trapped. The picture is an examination of conscious, playing almost like a horror movie in a predominantly Christian North America.

In conclusion, while I do hate the ending because I think it robs the audience of a satisfying conclusion (although I am thankful that the Damon didn't exactly get away with his misdeeds) I can't deny that The Departed is certainly one of Scorsese's greatest works. Its depth and maturity is the sign of a cinematic genius who also really understands his Catholicism. Praise it! 4.5/5

A Brief History of Time Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: A Brief History of Time
Year: 1991
Director: Errol Morris
Country: UK
Language: English

Stephen Hawking is a theoretical physicist whose theories regarding space and time have changed the way we think about the Universe. His brilliant mind occupies a fragile body; worn down by ASL he is incapable of speech or movement, rather he uses his fingers to type words into a computer which expresses his thoughts. When approaching this flick, I feared it would consist of incomprehensible scientific discussion, the kind physicists would understand but an  arts major wouldn't. I'm glad to have found that my first inclination was completely wrong. 

Unlike the book, this film is really an anecdotal biography of Stephen Hawking, who despite his near paralysis is one of the greatest minds on Earth. Clips of his lectures, interviews with friends and family and a little physics are shown throughout. 

The film begins with two important questions "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" and "Did the universe have a beginning, and if so what happened before then? Where did the universe come from, and where is it going" A Brief History of Time isn't a lengthy discourse on theoretical cosmology, rather it is entranced in spirituality and philosophy. It's both intimate in its humanity and cosmic in its scale. Hawking doesn't bore us and Director Errol Morris doesn't fill the screen with too much information. Rather the picture is a conversation between the subject and his audience, he encourages us to open our creative minds and really think about the unanswered questions of the Universe. 

Morris' movie is also part biography; an analysis of man who is as strange as the film itself. We get an in depth look at Hawking's life, which did not cease when his body collapsed upon itself. Hawking is a remarkable role model for disabled people as he does not let illness get the best of him, he perseveres despite the odds being against him. A Brief History of Time is surreal at moments, Morris calls it "biography as dreamscape," Indeed it stretches our imagination and makes us think of God, disbility, time and the Universe in ways we couldn't dream possible before we had seen the film.

In conclusion, I found myself absolutely entrenched by A Brief History of Time. It was absolutely breathtaking, a film only Errol Morris could pull off with this amount of intelligence. We are left wanting to know more about Stephen Hawking, and unfortunately Morris does not get down every detail, but still this is an impressive feat. Praise it! 4.5/5

Hearts and Minds Review- By Michael Carlisle

 Title: Hearts and Minds
Year: 1974
Director: Peter Davis
Country: US
Language: English

As America begins another war, a full-out air assault on Syria to take out the newest Boogey-men known as ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) I thought it would be appropriate to review a film about an American military campaign that didn't turn out so well. No, this isn't about the gulf war, Iraq, Afghanistan or Korea, it's about the Vietnam war. This particular war was officially divided into two halves: the military war and the war to win the hearts and minds of the people. 

This film recounts the history and attitudes of the opposing sides of the Vietnam War using archival news footage as well as its own film and interviews. The film also endeavors to give voice to the Vietnamese people as to how the war has affected them and their reasons for why they fight the United States.

The images of Hearts and Minds are shocking, yet powerful.  There are shots of a Viet Cong suspect being summarily executed and of a little girl running and screaming down a road, her skin burned by napalm.We see American soldiers with Vietnamese prostitutes, and hear the words of ignorant soldiers who prove that their country had no business putting themselves in the middle of a war-zone. How can men run a war for years in a country they can't begin to understand?

The film, like most American media at the time,  is propaganda, However, it's propaganda that dares to show the brutality and senselessness of war. It gives voice to the Vietnamese, who weren't previously given camera time to explain the war and its impact on their own terms.  The camera gives them humanity and it takes the pain and suffering of all Vietnamese seriously. Hearts and Minds shows its audience that the United States couldn't have won over the people of Vietnam despite all its efforts, in many ways it made the region worse.

In conclusion, the war turned a generation of Vietnamese women into potential prostitutes, and resulted in more civilian casualties than soldier deaths. It's strange that the leaders of the 21st Century still have a "white savior" mentality. They think that they can bring democracy to a broken region by systematically killing all the bad guys. Has the United States learned nothing?  Hearts and Minds is an essential experience, not only because it contributed to the reconciliation between the Vietnamese and America people, but because it makes the viewer re-consider the "effectiveness" of war. 

Au Hasard Balthazar Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Au Hasard Balthazar
Year: 1966
 Director: Au Hasard Balthazar
Country: France
Language: French

Before I had seen Au Hasard Balthazar I already had a high opinion of the film's Director Robert Bresson. Born in France on September 25, 1901 Bresson is regarded as one of the greatest French filmmaker's to have ever lived. Personally I've been entranced by every single one of his pictures. They are usually about salvation, redemption and metaphysical transendence. Though there is a hint of Catholicism in every film, Bresson is in no way a preacher. 

Au Hasard Balthazar is the story of a mistreated donkey and the people around him. His life is paralleled with that of the girl who named him, and as she is humiliated by her sadistic lover/ A study on saintliness and a sister piece to Bresson's Mouchette.

Balthazar's tale is not for the lighthearted; he is not a cartoon animal who can talk and sing like Donkey from Shrek, rather he is a beast of burden, completely aware that he's living a life that he cannot control. On the surface he is a dumb beast, but noble and seemingly intelligent, though Bresson gives no effort to display Balthazar's reactions to the world around him. The donkey has no way of exposing his inner thoughts, instead we supply them for him. 

Bresson's cinema is one of empathy; we arrive at conclusions about the character on our own. Yes, Balthazar is full of sorrow, but it is also full of hope. Interestingly enough Bresson suggests that we are all Balthazar. We can hope, dream and wish, but the world will do with us what it can. Intelligence gives us the power to comprehend our fate, but not the power to control it. It's a very mature picture which may take more than one viewing to digest. 

In conclusion, the shining light of Bresson's masterpiece is the suggestion that we are not completely alone in the world. If we are able to empathize then we can find relations in the shared human experiences. This picture is an absolute must see for anybody who already hasn't experienced it. Personally, I regard Au Hasard Balthazar as one of the greatest films of all time, it has certainly made my top five. Praise it! 5/5

Sleeping Beauty Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Sleeping Beauty
Year: 1959
Studio: Disney
Country: US
Language: English

With the exception of the neglected, it is not at all ridiculous to insist that every child in North America has heard of- or seen- a Walt Disney Picture. Each one is a pleasure to the senses; a visual odyssey into a magnificent world beyond our imagination. Of course some speak to us more than others. everybody has a favourite. As a child I was moved by Pinocchio, The Lion King and Sleeping Beauty in particular. This review is about the latter.

An adaptation of a fairytale by the Grimm Brothers, Sleeping Beauty  involves a malevolent witch who curses  a beautiful princess out of spite. The witch declares that before the maiden reaches her 16th birthday she will die by pricking her finger on the spindle of a spinning-wheel.The king places his daughter into hiding with three good-natured fairies.

Sleeping Beauty's production spanned most of the decade. In 1951 the story work had commenced, and by late 1959 it hit theaters across the globe. Unfortunately, the picture had lukewarm critical and commercial success. Even in 2014 it does not stand out amongst classics like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. However, the animation looks lavish and stylish, the unique animation choices (though controversial at the time of production) really make the picture stand out. Framed in "ultra widescreen" the stylized background give the story an atmosphere of class and scale. The music heightens our senses and further drives us into the story.

Even though I feel Sleeping Beauty is one of Walt Disney's greatest films in terms of being both aesthetically pleasing and entertaining, I must admit that it reflects the worst attitudes of the 50's. Along with the "father knows best" notion, we get the common 50's belief that a woman is helpless without a man at her side. Throughout the film Aurora has no sense of Agency; her entire life is determined for her and every choice she does make is the wrong one. She CAN marry, but she must marry a pre-determined partner.  Even when she is "saved" by Prince Charming there is no sense that her life has changed. She will still follow his command, just like the Queen follows the king's command. In comparison, Maleficent is a very strong woman who stands up to patriarchal authority. Of course she is wrong to do so and thus must be a villain who has no hope of redemption.

In conclusion, Sleeping Beauty is fantastic as mindless entertainment but has dated subtext that really doesn't belong near our current  society. The character Maleficent is an enduring villain even though the audience doesn't get to know her very intentions very well. It's quite a typical Disney film, but it does have a few unique flairs. 3/5

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Year: 1937
Director(s): William Cottrell & David Hand
Country: US
Language: English

Born on Dec 5th 1901 in Chicago Ilinois, Walt Disney was already a modestly successful artist by the time the 30's rolled around. His early cartoons, such as Steamboat Willie, were simple yet inspiring. They revealed the man's enormous potential. In 1934 Disney decided to start a feature length animated picture based on a play by the Brothers Grimm, despite critics assuming that any feature animation would be an  enormous flop. He proved them incorrect as it was a great hit, and it still is 77 years later.

"Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is essentially about an evil vain queen who wishes to murder the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, because it isn't her. She sends a huntsman to kill Snow White, but allows her to escape. She eventually finds a cottage which is occupied by seven dwarfs; doc, grumpy, happy, dopey, bashful, sleepy and sneezy. 

Disney's most triumphant achievement in regards to this film is the fact that he creates a living and breathing world out of animated cels. Though it is called Snow White, the woman in question is not the subject of the picture. She's more of a living MacGuffin, a plot device that the characters pursue. As a character she is rather boring, but that is purposeful; it is meant to take the focus off her and onto every other character. Thus even the forest has a personality; in one scene it almost consumes her with it's evil intentions. 

Another Disney achievement was the "multiplane camera". It gave the illusion of three dimensions by placing several levels of drawing one behind another and moving them separately--the ones in front faster than the ones behind, so that the background seemed to actually move instead of simply unscrolling. This was remarkable considering before this animation was considered children's entertainment, usually played before the main feature. The animators freed Snow White from time and space, giving it a whole new dimension. Seeing the film nowadays, one finds it hard to believe that it came from the 30's. 

In conclusion, Russian Film Pioneer Sergei Eisenstein once called Snow White the "greatest film ever made" and its not difficult to understand why. Disney's picture is a whirlwind of emotion, it even features vaudevillian slapstick comedy in form of the seven dwarfs who physically express their wonderful personalities. Considering animation has greatly tranformed since 1937 it's easy not to see Snow White as a revolutionary picture, but it is in every sense of the word. I can only hope that more generations see this amazing masterpiece. Praise it! 5/5