DVD Releases for the Week of Jun. 23, 2009
Oops! This is coming a little later than usual; getting caught up in an upcoming move and the monitor is hidden between a pile of smelly boxes. Already out in rental shops is Before Tomorrow (Le Jour avant le lendemain), a Québecois film set in the north and stars an Inuit woman trying to coach her grandson through the trials of life, and teaches him to live his life with dignity. While not as high profile as Pilon’s Ce qu’il faut pour vivre, which won a bunch of awards earlier this year; those hankering for more Inuit film may want to check it out. Read more »
DVD Previews | 
June 25, 2009 | Comments Off
This morning, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced its nominees for its awards ceremony, more commonly known as the Oscars. On Sunday, February 22nd, the winners will be decided. That gives everyone one month to catch up on the films they’ve missed. While the Best Film nominees were no big surprise, there were some in the other categories, and some disappointments to boot. 
Festival season has come to an end for both Montreal and most of the rest of the world. Now all eyes turn to the slew of critic association lists and the upcoming film award ceremonies in the new year. Airing on the 11th of January, the Golden Globes is the first major ceremony of 2009. For filmgoers with more than a passing interest in the awards (more than just red carpet glitz), take an active part by making your own decisions on the nominees with this handy viewing guide to catch the majority of films in the next few weeks. 
Rare it is to witness an animated film for adults that is simultaneously engaging and meaningful. Even Brad Bird, long-time advocate of the format as extra-generational, has been relegated to creating children’s films that adults can enjoy (Ratatouille, The Iron Giant). In short, the market for “cartoon” films marketed to adults is not there. Israeli director Ari Folman has managed to break this tradition by releasing Waltz with Bashir, which is one part documentary, one part meditation on the horrors of war. By using animation as a means to enlighten, in a way that no live-action film could, Folman has created a modern masterpiece in the genre. 
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