Sounds Like a Revolution is a documentary based on the newest generation of activist musicians. Erykah Badu narrates the film which features artists ranging from Anti-Flag to Michael Franti, with interviews from The Dixie Chicks, Steve Earle, Ani DiFranco and a bunch of other artists who have faced persecution for their views and political voice. One of the main issues addressed in the film is how the Corporate idealism of the music industry today has made it nearly impossible for main stream musicians to have any views and beliefs other than sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. Indie labels have become the only way for any artists to have real creative freedom, and with this, the political activism of these artists is finally spreading to today’s youth.

I watched the movie with my boyfriend, Mike, who isn’t quite as politically active as I am, but isn’t completely ignorant to what’s going on in our world either. We didn’t completely agree on all of the aspects touched upon throughout the movie so here’s what we both thought:

The Good Stuff:

I thought that the movie was well-made and did address the larger issues of today’s politics within North America, and mostly within the United States. Another aspect that I liked about it was that the film was based around more unknown artists and discussed, with complete frankness, the issue of corporate idealism and how it has effected all aspects of free speech within the music industry.

The Bad Stuff:

Well, Mike didn’t think that the artists were doing enough, and although I don’t think that violence is the answer (as we can see with Iraq, Afghanistan, etc, etc, etc) I did have to agree in this respect. I don’t think that playing a few songs can really make a difference, and although Fat Mike from NOFX made a point of saying that he and his band were solely responsible for convincing their apathetic punk fans to go out and vote during the last election, I have to disagree. I mean, sure, they probably convinced a good portion of their fan-base to go out and do so, but I attribute most of it to the PSAs put out by people like Leonardo DiCaprio, and other more well-known celebrities, as well as the fact that there was actually someone worth voting for this time around (The Obamanator).

Now, I don’t want to step on anyone’s politically-sensitive toes while writing this review, so I’m not going to express my personal views on anything, but I do recommend this movie for someone who actually cares about politics more than the average-Joe. No, it doesn’t touch on the Bob Dylans or the John Lennons of the past, so don’t go in expecting that; the movie is strictly about the modern-day musician-activists. I don’t think that the average person would really find this movie interesting or worth watching, and neither did Michael. I liked it, and even though I watched it at 1am on a week-night, it kept me up and interested the entire time.

Watch the trailer here: Sounds Like a Revolution

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Plot Synopsis:
Dave Lizewski was just a regular kid; a nobody. He just liked to read comic books and pleasure himself just like any other teenage boy, that is until one day, when he started to wonder why no one has ever really tried to become a super hero, like, in real life! He set outs to finally be someone; a super hero like in his totally awesome comic books.

Genre:
Comedy/Action

Starring:
Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Moretz, Mark Strong, Nicolas Cage

Director:
Matthew Vaughn

Review:
First, let me say that I was forced to sit in the second row from the front while watching this, so my review might be a little whoozy thanks to the severe nausea I’m still suffering from due to my head being at a 90 degree angle for two hours. Second, Kick Ass was just that; totally frigin’ awesome. I haven’t read the comic books, so I can’t give my review from that perspective, suffice it to say that I absolutely loved this as a movie.

Aaron Johnson didn’t disappoint. He’s totally do-able and a great actor. I prefer him in a more rugged role (see: John Lennon in Nowhere Boy) but I guess if I hadn’t seen him in this after that, then I wouldn’t care either way. Nicolas Cage was awkward, and I’ve heard from people who have read the comics, that he was miss-cast, so I’ll attribute the creepiness to that. (I still love me some Nic Cage, though! No hating here!!!!) Chloe Moretz was frigin’ awesome and made me wish I could be an 11 year old super hero. There’s more than one scene with her kicking more ass than any of the guys in the movie which was another perspective that I loved; not only was she a girl, but she was a kid, too. No stereotypes and cliches here, my friends!

Music was dece, but I wish there was more of it. They only used about two good songs in two of the fighting scenes, and that was it. They did fit really well into the parts they were in, so I won’t get super mental on that perspective.

Special effects and cinematography were awesome. Lots of explosions, lots of ass kicking, totally fab.

Overall, I give this movie a 5/5. Perfect for a Saturday night when you just want some damn good entertainment and laughs!

Watch the trailer here.

Plot Synopsis:
Following the death of their son, a married couple go on a trip to ‘Eden,’ their cabin in the woods, but the wife finds it just a bit too hard to cope with the pain.

Genre:
Drama/Horror

Starring:
Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe

Director:
Lars Von Trier

Review:
Every once and awhile, a movie comes along that rekindles my love with cinema and in today’s word of recycled film, it’s nice to see something as original as this.

I loved this movie. Two words: genital mutilation. When I think back to when it premiered at Cannes, I remember reading about how audiences were leaving the theater due to it’s graphic nature, and laughing. I tend to not get disgusted by these types of things, but I will admit that Antichrist did leave me a bit… discomposed?

Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg are two of my favourite actors, for obvious reasons. They’re both outrageously talented and the fact that Lars Von Trier casted the two of them in this movie made my 2009 movie year that much brighter. The cinematography was fabulous, the score was perfect for the film, the script was perfect; I honestly couldn’t find one flaw in it, personally.

I will say that, for the faint of heart, this movie might not be for you. It’s very graphic, so when I say genital mutilation, I mean genital mutilation; male and female. It’s also very philosophical and has a heavy storyline, so not something you’d want to watch at your best friend’s birthday party or something, unless you’re the artsy-type perhaps? Oh, and feminists, beware! It does have a slightly mysogonistic undertone.

Anyway, I give this film two big thumbs up! Enjoy!

Where to see it?
It’s currently available on DVD, although I wasn’t able to find it on Canadian Amazon. Here it is on the American one.

Watch the trailer here.

Plot Synopsis:
After the successful hanging of their biggest nemesis, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are thrown into a whole new world of trouble when the occult mastermind returns from the dead with hopes of overthrowing British parliament and taking over the world.

Genre:
Action/Comedy

Starring:
Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Eddie Marsan, Mark Strong

Director:
Guy Ritchie

Review:
Alright…so I’m a little biased; I love everything that Guy Ritchie has ever made (except that Madonna movie), so it was no shock that I adored Sherlock Holmes. I was lucky enough to go to the world premier of Rock n Rolla, and I have to say what an honour it was to see one of his pictures before anyone else.

The total awesomeness of this movie started with the opening credits.. They were illustrated and just fabulous. Guy’s intro and end credits are always super cool.

Right off the bat, the music was perfect for the film; The Rocky Road to Dublin during the boxing scene was probably one of my favourite scene/music combos ever and that’s saying something.

The acting was golden, as can be expected by the dreamy Robert Downey Jr who really never disappoints, heroin addiction or not. Jude Law posed a lot, being the pretty boy he is, but still pulled off the role. The only one who I wasn’t happy with was Rachel McAdams. Her acting was fantastic, but I just felt that she didn’t fit the role. I wish the casting directors had chosen Kelly Reilly as Irene Adler, as opposed to the Watson‘s fiancee.

Anyway, I hope that they make like 65 more of these, as long as the quality stands, because the film definetly had the potential to become a franchise, and it was my absolute favourite adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s book series. It was an A+ film and you should go see it. Now-like!

Where to see it?
It’s still playing all over the city.. Click here for the specifics!

Watch the trailer here.

Plot Synopsis:
Bright Star is based on the 3 year relationship between John Keats and the love of his life, Fanny Brawne, before his early death at the age of 25.

Genre:
Romance/Biography

Starring:
Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish

Director:
Jane Campion

Review:

I absolutely loved this movie. It was like a John Keats poem within itself. From start to finish, the cinematography was absolutely ravishing with it’s vivid blues and purples and just spoke of a doomed romance. Sorry if that’s a spoiler for ya’ll, but it’s pretty much known to everyone that Keats got died super young, and the trailers make it pretty obvious, as well.

Anyways! My one complaint it that the acting didn’t speak to me as much as everything else (directing, writing, cinematophraphy, etc). This is Abbie Cornish‘s first big American role and she’s finally getting her footing as an up-and-coming actress, so I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt; but Ben Whishaw, whom I love and adore unconditionally, just wasn’t putting out enough for me here. I just wasn’t getting the “love” vibes from him and I didn’t think that there was very much, if any, chemistry between the two lead actors.

That all being said, it was a wonderful movie and I highly recommend it if you want a beautifully shot tear-jerker with some grand poetry thrown in the mix! Oh! And in terms of eye-candy, Ben Whishaw was looking fiiiiine as always! :)

Where to see it?
It is now available on DVD.

Watch the trailer here.

Plot Outline:
Creation is the story of Charles Darwin, his journey to the single most important discovery in the history of mankind and how it challenged every relationship he had within his life.

Genre:
Drama/Biography

Starring:
Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, Jeremy Northam, Toby Jones, Benedict Cumberbatch <- Best name evur.

Director:
Jon Amiel

Review:
I have always been thoroughly fascinated by Charles Darwin and his life and discoveries, so when I heard that Creation, a new film about his life, was being made, I was totally excited. After watching the trailer, I expected to see a movie that was about his research in the Galapagos islands and about the battle he had with the Church while trying to get his discoveries published. Instead, I later found out that the movie was based on the book Annie’s Box, which chronicles Darwin’s relationship with his eldest daughter, Anne, who died at the age of 10, and the effect this had on his marriage, research and his own personal health and state of mind.

After watching the film, I can say that it was well-made, had a fantastic story and was greatly acted, by both Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly, who are married in real-life, if you didn’t already know that. : ) It barely touched on his research as a naturalist (in terms of what he’s best known for) but mostly on the publishing of “The Origin of Species.”

It’s a very good film and I highly recommend it if you like the more biographical, emotionally charged film. If you’re only going for entertainment value, then I’d say see something else. Hope you enjoy it!

Where to see it?
The three locations it is currently being played at in Toronto are:
- Cineplex Odeon Queensway
- Cineplex Odeon Varsity
- Cineplex Odeon Sheppard

Watch the trailer here.

Plot Outline:
Legion shows us what happens when God stop giving a crap about mankind. The film takes place in a diner in the middle of nowhere, which ends up becoming ground zero for the fight for humanity.

Genre:
Thriller

Starring:
Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Tyrese Gibson, Lucas Black, Charles S. Dutton, Adrianne Palicki, Willa Howland, Kevin Durand, Kate Walsh

Director:
Scott Stewart

Review:
Alright… I don’t typically go to see movies that I know will be bad.. or watch them at all. I actually expected Legion to be a good movie.. The concept is amazing and Paul Bettany typically doesn’t make bad films (aside from The DaVinci Code), but this movie sucked. It was terrible. I think that the only reason that Bettany agreed to make the film as because he just played Charles Darwin in Creation and needed a way to appease anyone who thought he was anti-God.

Like I said, the concept was amazing… The idea of an apocalypse where angels are sent by God to destroy humanity and the one child that could save us all does have some potential. The creepiness of some of the characters (ie. The old lady and the ice cream guy) could have been placed throughout the film, but where instead only featured in pretty much only those two parts. It wasn’t scary, it just dragged and was totally lame.

That being said, Paul Bettany looked hotter than ever, and not just because of his sexy six-pack. Dark hair totally suits that fine, fine man.

In conclusion, I’d say don’t waste the $12.50 to see the movie, because you’re more than likely going to be disappointed.

Where to see it?
It’s pretty much playing in every theatre in Toronto, but I’d still check here if you want to see it at all.

Watch the trailer here.

Plot Synopsis:
Based on the book of the same name by Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man takes place in a day in the life of a middle-aged gay man, in 1962, who is coping with the death of his lover.

Genre:
Drama

Starring:
Colin Firth, Matthew Goode, Julianne Moore, Nicholas Hoult

Director:
Tom Ford

Review:
Where do I begin? I absolutely adored this movie, from the acting, to the music, to the costumes (and what else could one possibly expect from designer, Tom Ford‘s, directorial debut?).

The film, which was shot in only 21 days, takes place in the early 1960′s, a time when men and women still knew how to dress (sorry fashionistas). The storyline takes place in a single day in the life of George, who is a university professor. He changes his outfit a few times, but is always impeccably dressed in a crisp suit…. and ladies, and men, too, Colin Firth is looking FIIIINE in this movie. He’s always amazing… but there’s something about watching him mourn the loss of his lover in a perfectly tailored outfit that just makes me quiver! ;P ..Oh, and Julianne Moore looks fantastic, too.

The score of the film was wonderfully eerie and really made you feel the story and the emotions of all the characters. And although the movie had a dark undertone, I like how they also made the audience laugh a few times, too.. That’s something that I believe every good drama should have. (“I drink your milkshake! I DRINK IT UP!” Anyone?! ……..Anyone?)

Anyway, I recommend that everyone see this film, gay, straight, young or old. Tom Ford did a fantastic job, as did the cast, and I really hope to see a lot more films by him in the near future, because A Single Man is probably one of my favourite movies ever.

Where in Toronto?
I saw it at Cumberland theatre, and as of today, that’s the only place in the city that it’s playing… uncomfortable seating, but definetly worth it for the movie. Go check it out, kiddies!

Watch the trailer here.

So since it’s New Year’s Day, I decided to do another ‘Best of ….’ list, and will return to my regular broadcast next Friday. So here they are, in no particular order, because honestly.. there were so many goodies this year, I couldn’t just pick one as my favourite:

The Cove

(500) Days of Summer

Up

An Education

A Single Man

Up In the Air

Moon

Inglourious Basterds

Sherlock Holmes

The White Ribbon

Runners up:

Antichrist, Public Enemies, District 9, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Precious, Coco Avant Chanel, A Serious Man, Avatar, Invictus, Bright Star, The Hangover, Zombieland, Anvil! The Story of Anvil, Pirate Radio, Bronson, The Road

Pop quiz: You’re a young lady, at a hotel party, enjoying some beers. Ron Jeremy saunters up to you, grey-black mane dangling like a greasy mop at his shoulders…he caresses your little hand between his two beefy paws and requests, like a gentleman, if he can go down on you. What do you say? TOO LATE. He already made you explode like a chinese water fountain. Just from being there. Just with those two stoney eyes locked into your own, in those two seconds between “Hello” and “I’m Ron.”

How does he do it? Men have always wondered how this super-average guy managed to get a Guinness World Record for doing the most porn stars, ever. It’s a mystery. Correction. It used to be. But I discovered the secret.

And that’s about the best – or only –  insight I got out of the Hedgehog, during the worst interview I ever did. It’s not all my fault though – one of the guys at Street Carnage, this guy,  fucked me and told me to ask Ron about the concept of ‘the Other’…and to tell him some guy said hi. Which I did. I didn’t realize it was all part of some elaborate plot to make me look like an idiot.

The only thing you’ll find interesting is at the end, when Ron gives away that secret to making girls explode in two seconds without taking their pants off.

I just want to say: Ron Jeremy was an alright guy. He played the harmonica really, really well, and he was insanely horny all night long. Which is crazy because you’d think he’d be sick of it by now.

I thought I would change it up a bit… Today, I bring you a list of my top 10 Holiday movies as a recommendation for anyone looking for something to watch tonight.

10. Rankin/Bass Christmas Shorts

9. Miracle on 34th Street

8. White Christmas

7. Elf

6. Home Alone

5. A Christmas Story

4. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

3. Scrooged

2. Love, Actually

1. It’s A Wonderful Life

and as a bonus… just because I didn’t want to make it an uneven list…..

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Plot Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Claireece ‘Precious‘ Jones has been physically, mentally and sexually abused since she was 3 years old. Now, pregnant with her secondchild, illiterate and kicked out of school, she’s sent to an alternative learning center where a whole new world is opened up to her.

Genre:

Drama

Starring:
Gabourey Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Sherri Shepherd

Director:
Lee Daniels

Review:
I have to admit… I am definetly one of those people who will refuse to watch a movie that is so overly-hyped it won’t possibly be as good as you expect it to be when you watch it… I’ve given in a few times… usually to a result I had always expected; The movies sucked.. that is, until I watched Precious. It was exactly what it was hyped to be and more. I wasn’t expecting that, especially since the trailers and interviews have made it out to look like Mariah Carey is in 90% of the movie, when really it’s more like a grand total of 5 mins. That said, she did really well. I was shocked because most of the actors who starred in the movie are people you would expect to completely bomb, but I can honestly say, without a hint of sarcasm, that all of them gave Oscar-worthy performances.

The Golden Globe nominations came out this week with Precious being nominated for: Best Picture, Best Actress (Gabourey Sidibe) and Best Supporting Actress (Mo’Nique). I’m a little shocked that Lee Daniels didn’t receive a nomination for Best Director, but the Academy Awards noms will be out soon and I’m sure the film will be getting a lot more nods, as there are far more categories. If Mo’Nique doesn’t win in her category, I will be shocked. I haven’t seen someone be that passionate about a role in a long time… I can’t rave it enough.

This movie is passionate, beautiful and above all, has heart and is completely relatable. I strongly urge all of you to see it, not because it’s nominated for everything or because it’s well-made, but because it has a lesson. It’s meant to teach us all not to judge people on what you see, be it mental illness, or in Precious Jones’ case, being pregnant, kicked out of school and illiterate at 16, but rather to hear their stories and to understand why we all are the way we are.

Rating:
5/5

Plot Synopsis:
Edward leaves Bella… she gets depressed and starts to cling onto the only guy, Jacob, who will put up with her annoying-ness during this very difficult time.. and he turns out to be a werewolf. …You get the gist.

Genre:
Romance

Starring:
Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene

Director:
Chris Weitz

Review:
Ok.. so I’m going to try and be as unbiased as possible with this.. and I do have to admit that I’ve read both Twilight and New Moon.. and I even plan on reading the last two books before the movies come out.. They’re my guilty pleasure…… but I just can’t seem to get into the movies. Perhaps this is why I tend to read books after the movie they’re based on has come out.

Anyway…. Acting-wise.. I just felt like Kristen Stewart was going to have a seizure every few minutes… I don’t like the expression she constantly has on her face.. and.. she needs.. to stop.. touching… her hair!!!!1!! Am I being too harsh? Probably. Robert Pattinson, who I have been madly in love with since his Harry Potter days tends to overact a bit in anything I’ve seen him in since HP.. but he’s still pretty to look at… Taylor Lautner was actually the only one of the three who I was surprised with. He pulled it off and pretty well brought the movie together. ……Oh, and Michael Sheen should never.. ever… ever.. play a vampire again…. I love the guy to death.. but no no no… and for the amount they were publicizing the Volturi vamps (Sheen, Dakota Fanning, Jamie Campbell Bower, Christopher Heyerdahl, Charlie Bewley, Daniel Cudmore, etc…) they should definetly have been in the movie more.

So… aside from the acting… which was fine aside from the two main actors.. the cinematography was great… the soundtrack is fantastic.. My only other complaint was that the ending was way too rushed… The pace was good throughout the entire film, but it just looked and felt like they tried to cram about half of the book into 10 mins.

So after all of this.. if you still want to see the movie.. no one will hold it against you. Twi-hards, unite!!!

Rating:
2.5/5