Hey folks, Harry here... Sounds like a 3 out of 4 of these movies were pretty damn wonderful. Got tons more reviews coming in today. I'll chat with y'all later...
WONDERLAND
"Wonderland" is the movie based a the brutal murder of four people in LA in 1981, made more sensational by the involvement of former porn star, John 14" Holmes, played by Val Kilmer, with Lisa Kudrow as his estranged wife, Kate Bosworth as his girlfriend, Eric Bogosion as a very scary guy, and Dylan McDermott, Tim Blake Nelson, and Josh Lucas as his scary assosiates. It's shot sylishly, with some speedups, a variety of color schemes, and period soundtrack. Because the living involved gave very different accounts of what went on, A "Roshoman" approach was rightfully used. I quite enjoyed this film, though I doubt I'll want to see it again.
21 GRAMS
I've been eager to see what Alejandro González Iñárritu would come up with after "Amores Perros". He has come up with something indeed. "21 Grams, stars Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, and Benicio del Toro, with Charlotte Gainsbourg, Danny Huston, and Melissa Leo respectively as their spouses. The film is presented non-linearly, scenes following each other in what seems like no particular chronilogical order. Of course one tends to try and put them in some kind of order, but I was way off the mark in the first half hour or so. But this is no cinematic game. In using this fractured presentation, we gradually learn about the psyches of the main characters, and how what they are going through affects them. This movie calls for a slighyly theatrical acting style without going over the top, and all the actors are spot on. I never lost interest, was drawn into this troubled world. Halfway through my fest stay, this is my favorite film. Totally gripping.
THE COMPANY
The film I came to Toronto most eager to see was Robert Altman's "The Company", about a professional dance company, starring and from an idea by Neve Campbell, who was a dancer before she started acting. After about fifteen minutes it was apparent that there was going to be no plot, just rehearsels, meetings, performances, parties, plus a little bit of personal lives, and since I have never had an interest in dance, I should have been bored silly. Au contraire. Altman is a genius, and the two hours flew by. I may even go see a dance performance. There is a scene with a duo dance to "My Funny Valentine', on an outdoor stage. It starts to storm, but the stage floor remains relatively dry that is so typically and beautifully visual Altman. There is a solo dance by a woman in a harneess that is shot so wonderfully I got chills. The only negative is Malcolm McDowell's some times going overboard on showing the jerk tendencies of hi character, the company director. Go see this even if you do not think it is your cup of tea. It is.
MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA
"Milwaukee, Minnesota", directed by Alan Mindel, looked intriguing. It has Bruce Dern and Randy Quaid, so the creepy factor is up there. It has Troy Garity, a Fonda, who was so good in the cable movie "A Soldier's Girl". It has Alison Folland, who I've liked ever since "2 Die 4". It even has Holly Wooodland, born, along with Hilary Clinton and Jaclyn Smith, on the very same day as I was. Garity plays a man, very closely taken care of by his mother, with some sort mental disorder, I think Ausberger's syndrome, though he is a big prize winner at ice fishing tournaments. His mother is killed and Quaid and Folland try to get his money. Garity channels Dustin Hoffman in "Rainman". He even looks like him. Folland isn't very good in her part. The movie just doesn't make it for me., but there is a scene with Josh Brolin in a pair of leather panties and a garter belt.
Il Matto
