Movie Review – The Social Network
By: Max Miller, Grade 12
In the trailer for The Social Network, a ghostly choir covers Radiohead’s classic Creep. “I don’t care if it hurts,” they sing, “I wanna have control. I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul.” There’s no way Thom Yorke could have predicted today’s social zeitgeist, Facebook, when writing the song in 1993, but the parallels are striking. Thom wants to hide everything that’s bad about him and present only the good parts, both the real and the invented. He wants a world that he can control, a world that doesn’t function without him. Above all, he wants to feel wanted. Mark Zuckerberg must have felt the same way when he founded Facebook, a website which lets everyone of us feel like we have all these things and more.
At the beginning of The Social Network, Mark (portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg) is a loser, a jerk, an elitist, and, well, kind of a creep. His singular goal is to get into one of Harvard’s exclusive clubs. When he fails, he comes up with Facebook, with the idea that “everyone can be the leader of their own club.” After more than a couple of sleepless nights programming with his best friend – sorry, only friend – Eduardo (Andrew Garfield), Facebook went live.
And it explodes, but you didn’t need me to tell you that. Pretty soon, everyone in the school is using the ‘Book’, and Mark is the most popular guy on campus. With Eduardo’s help, he expands it to other schools across the country, then to other countries, and eventually to the whole world. But with every step he takes he grows farther apart from the people who helped him start. By the movie’s end, Mark has become the man he had wanted to be at the beginning, and it has made him lonely and miserable.
Eisenberg works wonders with his character, giving Mark the sympathetic but honest portrayal that he deserves. The rest of the cast is equally fantastic, with the standout being Armie Hammer as twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, who try to sue Mark for stealing their website idea. Armie is the comic highlight. Not only is he playing two distinct but equally hilarious characters, the way he argues with himself is also absolutely priceless. Furthermore, Justin Timberlake gives a wonderfully schizophrenic performance as Sean Parker, the paranoid-psychotic founder of Napster. Without a doubt, the interplay between the cast is astounding, with every character spouting witty dialogue with a words-per-minute ratio that will probably make your head spin.
Director David Fincher, whose last film was the superfluous Benjamin Button, seems to be relaxing in the director’s chair this time around. The film is shot simply and feels more like a documentary rather than a box-office blockbuster. Likewise, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin does a great job making sure that there’s never a dull moment. And the best part about his script? All the nerd-speak is legit. None of the programming language has been dumbed down. Attention to details like this is what really sets the good films apart from the great ones.
So yes, The Social Network is a great movie, and yes, it deserves to be as mainstream as the website it’s based on. While many fact-based films of the last few years have ignored the people involved, The Social Network is all about the characters. It’s a movie about acceptance and what we’ll do to fit in, especially us high-schoolers – we tend to find it more poignant and relatable. This is simply one of the best movies of the year, and we can expect lots of “likes” from the Academy when Oscar season comes around.
Movie rating: 9/10
Movie Review: Town
By: Max Miller, Grade 11
Town could be the worst-titled wide-release movie in recent memory, likely to evoke some B-grade horror flick or cornball small-town coming-of-age drama. That’s actually about as far removed from the actual movie as you can get. The town referred to in the title is Charlestown – a Boston, MA, neighbourhood with an unusually high population of bank robbers.
The most successful bank robber is Doug MacCray (Ben Affleck), who has spent most of his adult life planning, orchestrating, and leading some of the biggest heists the city has ever seen. However, after a less-than-perfectly-executed crime, they left behind a possible witness (Rebecca Hall). Doug’s investigation into her leads to a relationship, which understandably doesn’t sit well with the rest of his crew. As their relationship progresses, Doug finds himself questioning his motivations as a robber, realizing that the key to happiness is love and not money. The first part of the film flirts with a couple similar clichés, such as the “one last big job” plotline, which the unnecessary, sickly sweet final fifteen minutes of the movie totally succumbs to.
Putting the ending aside, though, the rest of the film is incredibly tight. Affleck seems to fancy himself the next Clint Eastwood – writing, directing and playing the lead role – and for the most part he does a great job on all the fronts. My favourite scene in the movie takes place in a coffee shop, in which Doug tries to prevent one of his crew-mates (Jeremy Renner) from accidentally betraying their identities to Doug’s lady love. It’s the tensest scene in the entire movie, yet this comes without any big confrontation or threat thereof. Scenes like this, where everything happens through dialogue, rarely work – the direction, the script, and the performances all have to be aligned for them to happen as planned – and here everything happens beautifully.
The whole cast brings their A-game here, with the obvious standout being Jeremy Renner as Doug’s best friend, right-hand man, and a violence-loving psychopath. His character is quite complex. He’s unflinchingly loyal to Doug, despite his funny way of showing it – a way which usually ends up with several people visiting the hospital. Yet, he is convinced that Doug owes him for his service and isn’t going to let Doug walk away from everything they’ve done together. Renner got noticed by the Oscars last year; hopefully, this year he gets to walk home with a statue. On the other hand, Michael Mann’s role as the FBI agent hunting the robbers is a little one-dimensional, but still makes for one of the best love-to-hate villains of the year.
If Gone Baby Gone didn’t convince you that Affleck is a director to be reckoned with, The Town will set you straight. It’s tighter and grittier than the majority of Hollywood heist movies, desensitizing theft rather than romanticizing it. Although it’s far from perfection, and its ending holds it back from greatness, fans of the genre will not find a better movie this season.
Rating: 7/10
SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD
By: Max Miller, Grade 11
Meet 23-year-old Scott Pilgrim. He is unemployed, lives in a squalid, one-bed apartment with his “cool gay roommate”
Wallace, plays bass in a band with a whopping two fans, and is dating a 17-year-old Catholic school girl whom he hasn’t held hands with yet. In short, Scott’s precious little life seems to be going nowhere, and he’s more than happy with that.
This all changes when Scott meets the literal girl of his dreams – a fashionable hipster named Ramona Flowers. Inexplicably, the attraction is mutual, but Happily Ever After doesn’t come quite so easily. Ramona has seven evil, bitter exes who are bent on ruining her love life forever. Scott must defeat the exes in Mortal Kombat or risk losing Ramona forever.
If this all sounds a little zany, that’s because it is, but writer/director Edgar Wright (other notable work includes Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead) has already proved he has a deft hand for this sort of thing. The script is, for the most part, taken directly out of the comic. That’s a very good thing. Brian O’Malley’s source material is as hilarious, irreverent and poignant as it was in 2004, and hearing the books brought to life should be incentive enough for fans to buy a ticket. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World also looks about as close to the comic as one could hope. There’s always something happening on-screen; self-aware boxes of text, comic book sound effects, video game statuses and health bars. The fantastic choreography in the fights works brilliantly with the visuals and soundtrack, composed by Beck and Radiohead’s Nigel Godrich. This is filmmaking at its most ADD – as likely to exhaust you as it is to delight you.
Interestingly enough, the actors take the opposite route, beautifully deadpanning their way throughout the entire thing. Kieran Culkin, as Wallace, is the highlight that steals the show at absolutely every possible opportunity. The seven exes, ranging from a popular action-movie star to a vegan whose diet gives him superpowers, give seven great performances, almost making their outlandish characters believable. The only real disappointment is Michael Cera himself, who plays, well, Michael Cera – it’s the same awkwardly charming performance he’s been doing since Arrested Development. Because the script is so close to the comic, though, Scott is written with a very self-assured attitude and Cera just can’t keep up with it.
Nevertheless, on the whole, the film is one big FTW. Whereas most summer movies recycle, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World creates. It’s a world of pixels and bass strings and superheroes that may not make sense to everyone who sees it, but for those of us who are “in on it”, it will satisfy like no other movie this season.
8/10
Hot Tub Time Machine Review
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
What do you get when you combine a glowing hot tub, 3 friends, 1 nephew and illegal Russian energy drinks? Well you
end up in 1986, of course! What else? Hot Tub Time Machine is the newest sleeper hit comedy following in the steps of The Hangover and Superbad. Being a HUGE fan of all things from the 80s myself (especially the music) I was eager about watching this movie, where I could see the decade I adore so much in action. But I was slightly disappointed with how the writers handled the trip back in time. The movie did though have a few good belly laughs and gross-out scenes which like The Hangover and Superbad, make it a great “guy movie”.
The Poor State Of Music Today
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
We always see the movies that are successfully made. We see them because in the end they make it from the writer’s mind to the screen. But what about those movies that don’t quite make it in the end. Nine is about those kinds of movies. Nine is a drama/musical about director Guido Contini played by Daniel Day Lewis (in another Oscar worthy performance) trying to put together his ninth film which he calls “Italia”. The movie was adapted from the Broadway play of the same name which came from the book called “8 1/2.” This movie wasn’t bad but wasn’t the show I thought it would be.
The cast is full of super stars. Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, and Judi Dench all give wonderful performances in the complex roles they’ve taken on. While Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren give great support through out. Did you notice the gender ratio of the cast: 1: 7. The movie is basically the man and the women in his life. It covers all his relationships; from his mom to his childhood prostitute. We really see the influence they have on him through his life and why he is the way he is.
Movie Review- The Twilight Saga: New Moon
By Jenny Ho, Grade 11
The second installment in the Twilight Saga, New Moon, was one of the most highly publicized movies in 2009. Vancouver was the heart of all the fandom, as most of it was actually filmed in our own city. The movie, based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer, was nowhere near as great as it was claimed to be.
For those who have read New Moon, there are no surprises. It starts off on the eighteenth birthday of heroine, Bella Swan. Her boyfriend’s (Edward) family, the sparkling Cullens, throw a birthday bash for Bella. After a paper cut turns into a near massacre (when Jasper nearly attacks Bella, because he cannot resist the scent of her blood), the Cullen’s decide to leave Forks. After months of heartbreak and depression, Bella starts to hang out with her (werewolf) friend, Jacob Black, in La Push. Through a series of events, Bella discovers that if she engages in dangerous activities, she will “see” Edward. The rest of the movie is essentially based on Edward’s attempted suicide in Italy. Alice rushes Bella to Italy just in time, and she meets the Volturi for the very first time.
Nine – Movie Review
By: Mitchell Agostinho, Grade 12
We always see the movies that are successfully made. We see them because in the end they make it from the writer’s mind to the screen. But what about those movies that don’t quite make it in the end. Nine is about those kinds of movies. Nine is a drama/musical about director Guido Contini played by Daniel Day Lewis (in another Oscar worthy performance) trying to put together his ninth film which he calls “Italia”. The movie was adapted from the Broadway play of the same name which came from the book called “8 1/2.” This movie wasn’t bad but wasn’t the show I thought it would be.
The cast is full of super stars. Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, and Judi Dench all give wonderful performances in the complex roles they’ve taken on. While Fergie, Kate Hudson, Nicole Kidman, and Sophia Loren give great support through out. Did you notice the gender ratio of the cast: 1: 7. The movie is basically the man and the women in his life. It covers all his relationships; from his mom to his childhood prostitute. We really see the influence they have on him through his life and why he is the way he is.
Capitalism: A Love Story
Capitalism: A Love Story (120 mins)
Directed & Produced by Michael Moore
Review written by Jenn Lin, Alumnus
8.5/10
It strikes me as obvious that most teenagers will not choose to see this movie on a Friday night. That much is incredibly evident when you realize that it is two hours long and that it does not have any vampires or Transformers in it. And even though the title mentions the words, “love story,” it is more of a tragedy than anything. Yet I feel compelled to write this review because what is said in this documentary affects us all.
Movie Review – Star Trek
By: Max Miller, Grade 9
It’s safe to say that J.J. Abrams has succeeded. Star Trek has been reborn.
This re-imagining boldly goes where no Trek has gone before – to the origins of the Enterprise and its crew. The first things fans notice is the casting. It’s perfect. The new crew is made up of semi-no-names including Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Karl Urban (Bones). Each of the actors has an uncanny resemblance to their 60’s counterparts; something Trekkies would definitely appreciate. Pine’s (Kirk) is a bit cockier and smart-mouthed than the Shat’s, but otherwise, the actors do a great job capturing the feel of the original characters and not just the look.
The Wrestler Movie Review
By Max Miller, Grade 9
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Starring Mickey Rourke, Marissa Tomei
Run Time: 109 minutes
Rating: 14A for violence, language, sexual themes
You’ve probably seen The Wrestler before. Maybe it wasn’t called The Wrestler; maybe it was Rocky or Million Dollar Baby or The Rookie. We’ve all watched the underdog sports hero fight against insurmountable odds to reach the top. It’s been done to death. So, it’s pretty amazing that The Wrestler – a film that follows many of these conventions – always manages to feel fresh and poignant. It’s an honest contender for my favourite film of 2008.
Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) has seen better days. His huge career in the 80s finished, The Ram now fights in small-time wrestling match-ups and works at his local Acme supermarket. Eventually, Randy is offered a chance to relive his
The Watchmen Review
By Dar Breckenridge, Grade 10
Before I even begin my review of this movie, or my comparison of it to the acclaimed graphic novel, I must first mention that this is not a superhero movie. While movie posters may leave the impression that it is one, in reality, it is actually more of a mystery film filled with two hours worth of perspective on “human nature” (or in this case the nature of six masked vigilantes with numerous personality disorders). That being said, it was not a bad film.
HUGE Spoiler alert: stop reading if you don’t want to find out what happens in the movie.
Movie Review: Coraline
By: Max Miller, Grade 9
By the time a dismembered, spider-like hand tried to force its way through a tiny crack in Coraline, I realized I hadn’t really walked into a kids’ movie after all. It may not be something you’ll want to bring your little brother to, but Coraline is still one of the most entertaining animated movies I’ve seen in years.
You’ve probably daydreamed at one point or another about a ‘perfect’ family, where the parents are never on your case, the food is always good, and the days are all about having fun. For Coraline Jones (Dakota Fanning), this becomes a reality when she enters a parallel world through a door in her drawing room. Coraline is greeted by her ‘other’ Mother (Teri Hatcher), but it’s soon clear she has more sinister intentions.
Gran Torino Movie Review
By: Max Miller, Grade 9
It seems as if Clint Eastwood, one of America’s most respected filmmakers, can pretty much do as he darn well pleases. No matter what he does, his movies will still win over audiences and have critics crying ‘Oscar!’ Case in point: his latest project, Gran Torino. It’s not a good film by any stretch; it’s a very poor one that just so happens to have the big man’s name all over it. Heavy on clichés and cheese, Gran Torino is proof a great actor/director can only go so far when working with a D-list script and a mediocre cast.
Things aren’t going so well for Walt Kowaski (Eastwood). His wife is dead and his children want nothing to do with him, so he spends the most of his time sitting on his porch with a cooler of beer, sneering and swearing at the general populace. Why the contempt? The neighbourhood is overrun by Hmong immigrants, and Walt is one of the dirtiest racists ever to make his way onto the silver screen. If you had the poor judgment not to be born white, there’s no saving you from Walt and his impressive vocabulary of racial slurs. The only non-white thing he’s able to love is his gorgeous ’72 Gran Torino. So when a Hmong teenager named Thao (Bee Vang) tries to steal it as a gang initiation, it should be game over, right?
Wrong. Walt abruptly abandons his bigot ways for the kid, and proceeds to become a mentor of sorts while vowing to protect Thao’s family from the threatening gangs. It’s a complete 180, and it happens all in the space of ten minutes or so – far too quick to be believable. Gran Torino does this repeatedly. Just as you’re getting to know a character, the writers decide he or she needs to be turned right around. Despite this though, they can all be neatly classified like black and white. The good guys are always clearly the good guys, and the same can be said for the bad guys; they’re all completely two-dimensional, with no unique or interesting traits. Coming from the man responsible for Unforgiven, this is definitely surprising.
But the film’s problems don’t end there. Gran Torino’s script contains some of the most cringe-worthy dialogue of any film this entire year. The gangster characters drop more f-bombs in one line than in a whole episode of Beavis and Butt-head. It doesn’t help that the entire cast is made up of novices with no acting experience. Lines are delivered so poorly, it sometimes seems like it’s the actors first time performing them.
I really tried hard to like Gran Torino. If you dig deep enough, it does carry some very poignant themes but the awful execution makes them hard to swallow. Even the most die-hard Eastwood fans pass this one up without a second thought. 4/10.
Frost/Nixon Movie Review & Golden Globe Picks
by Mitchell Agostinho
Before we get into the movie: a bit of American History. On June 17 1972, five men were arrested for breaking and entering into the Watergate Hotel, which “coincidentally” was the location of the Democratic National Committee headquarters. They were found to be trying to plant “bugs” – hearing devices – around the hotel in order to eavesdrop on what the Democratic party was planning, seeing as there was an election coming up. The FBI investigated the break in and discovered that it was one of the illegal activities both authorized and planned out by President Richard Nixon’s staff. Though there was no hard evidence at the time, a set of tapes were discovered that had President Nixon discussing the events with his staff. This was evidence that he had full knowledge of the break-in. In the case of The United States VS. Nixon, the US supreme court voted that Richard Nixon be impeached as President and for him to resign. Now that you’re caught up on the basics, let’s get into the movie.
Twilight Movie Review
by An Anonymous Twilight Fan
There is no doubt about it; Twilight is a phenomenon that has swept readers off their feet. On Friday, November 21st, as I was informed, a full crowd of people flocked the theatres, showcasing dedication and love for the books as well as the actors. However, the expectations of success were high, even before the movie was released. Was Twilight a complete failure, or was it successful?
Personally, I expected the movie to be great even though I knew that the movie would never be as wonderfully pieced together as the book and that the actors wouldn’t exactly look like the characters I had envisioned in my mind; so I tried to judge the movie as a visual representation of the novel and not as an exact replication. Despite that, the actors looked promising and the director dedicated herself to ensuring that the movie stayed true to the book. I thought it did stay true to the book, but some scenes, to me, steered slightly away from the strength of Bella and Edward’s relationship. In other words, it didn’t really look like an extremely passionate love at some points in the movie.
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Movie Review
by Mitchell Agostinho
Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is cute – it’s a simple story of love – that’s it. For those people who want to see Michael Cera (star of hits such as Juno and Superbad), come and see him in this. For those people who want to see stellar acting from total no-namers, come see Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, and Rafi Gavron give awesome performances. If you want to see a developed plot and real story line that doesn’t revolve one question… stay away. Cutie pie films for couples are usually good but this one lacked in real story that others in this genre usually excel in.
NNIP tells the story of two people. Nick (Michael Cera): recently dumped and hung up on his ex-girlfriend, Tris. Norah (Kat Dennings): looking for love and forcing to find a spark when there is none. Open and shut case right? Wrong! Norah’s classmate happens to be Nick’s ex-girlfriend. Tris always talks about how Nick used to make her mix CDs but never really cared. Norah on the other hand loves Nick’s mixes and some how falls in love with him. These three all meet up at a club on night and from that point on, things start to happen. Kisses, drunks, and new boy friends and all that fun stuff pop up in no time. I shouldn’t leave out the quest. Oh yes, the quest to find Fluffy. Where’s Fluffy you ask? Well that’s the point. A band that is so mainstream shy that they will only plays secret shows. Why is this important? Nick and Norah are both HUGE fans. The story begins from there.
Battle In Seattle
29 Nov 99-Seattle,WA: Five activists from the Rainforest Action Network climbed a giant crane and unfurled a 2000 square foot banner just before dawn today, protesting the World Trade Organization
Movie Review
by Kevin Chan
So first off I have to admit that I am always a bit skeptical of any movie with a title so obviously dripping with cheese as ‘Battle in Seattle.’ The rhyme really doesn’t do anything for me, and frankly I was worried that the movie would be as bad as the name. That being said, the film turned out to be anything but and was well worth watching.
No matter how you feel about capitalism, the WTO, police brutality, the anarchist black bloc, tree huggers, trade unionists, direct action, or if you have no opinion at all; I’d still recommend this film for 99 minutes of entertainment. If however you do have an opinion about any of the aforementioned, you are lucky because you can also consider it 99 minutes of education. It captures real footage from the streets of Seattle and has edited it seamlessly within the dramatization, giving the whole production an authentic feel.
Burn After Reading
Movie Review
by Mitchell Agostinho
Here’s a better title, “Burn Eyes After Watching.” To be perfectly blunt, I didn’t like it; simple as that. Even though it had some great jokes and some cool moments, the movie was really boring. It started ok, then got weird, then got weirder, then got creepy, then funny, and then before I knew it, it was over. Honestly I expected more from the Cohen Brothers.
Last year the world applauded the Cohen Brothers for their gritty drama, “No Country For Old Men” (yes that was them). As their big follow up to their not one, not two but three Oscars, they made this. Burn After Reading has an all star cast (and I mean ALL STAR). The cast is comprised of: John Malkovich, George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, David Rasche, and J. K. Simmons. Great cast but a wee bit too many names all crammed together in high hopes of a smash hit (like The Dark Knight). The Cohen Brothers deliver a funky and over tried black comedy that left me wondering in the end.
Dark Knight
Movie Review
by Mitchell Agostinho
“I believe whatever doesn’t kill you simply makes you… stranger.” – The Joker
“Starting tonight… people will die. I’m a man of my word.” – The Joker
Those memorable quotes (and many more), are delivered in what I can personally call “the best movie of the year.” The Dark Knight (sequel to 2005′s smash hit: “Batman Begins”) is the latest (and highest grossing) of director Christopher Nolan’s (and any other director’s) Batman movies. Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal and of course the late Heath Ledger. With an all-star cast and brilliant direction and cinematography; The Dark Knight is a treat for the movie lover in all of us.
