Cinephile At Large

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Writer: Scott Z. Burns (screenplay); Kurt Eichenwald (book)
2009

When this film was over, I really didn’t know what to make of it. It’s one of those films that leave you a little confused, even though the story was fairly straightforward. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. The Informant! is a quirky Soderbergh film with his unique brand of humour and nonlinear editing style. Matt Damon (thank you Mr. Soderbergh for not casting your good friend George Clooney in this film) is superb in the title role of Mark Whitacre, a corporate employee who exposes his company’s price-fixing operation to the FBI, leading to larger problems in the company and Whitacre’s life as he is exposed as a possible embezzler. As a viewer you are constantly conflicted as to whether or not to believe this Mark Whitacre because his story is constantly changing whenever he retells what happened. One time it’s 5 million he reportedly embezzled and the next time it’s 7, that sort of thing. Whitacre creates so many lies of omissions and fabrications that even the FBI begin to question his level of ‘truthiness’. Nevertheless, as a whole the film is pretty good and even more enjoyable if you are partial to Soderbergh and his brand of storytelling. My favourite aspect of the film is Mark Whitacre’s strangely funny and out of place random thoughts, portrayed in voice overs. They are hilarious and relatable because they are the kind of random thoughts everyone has all the time. So, keep an open mind and go see The Informant! for yourself and let your opinions run rampant!

Director: Ruben Fleisher
Writer: Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick
2009

If you like zombie films then you’ll love Zombieland. If you don’t like zombie films than you’ll love Zombieland. This film appeals to a wide range of viewers aka smart viewers with great taste in films, and if you don’t like this film there is clearly something wrong with you. Zombieland is ridiculously funny, entertaining, action packed and chockful of crazy zombies. Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg are the perfect pair of polar opposites, with Harrelson being the cool, tough guy and Eisenberg the neurotic antisocial guy with helpful hints on how to survive a zombie outbreak. There isn’t much you need to know about the plot, just that the zombie virus spread quickly and started with a hamburger (take that meat eaters!). Unlike most zombie films, this one does not take itself or the genre seriously – it has fun with the genre and that makes watching it very enjoyable. Get your hands on Zombieland, you won’t be disappointed. Just be sure to bring along a pen and paper to write down the survival tips cleverly edited into the film, because you can never be over-prepared.

P.s Keep an eye out for the coolest cameo ever!

Director: Clint Eastwood
Writer: Nick Schenk, Dave Johannson
2008

I will admit I haven’t liked a lot of Clint Eastwood’s recent films, so I was not expecting much from this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. This film is really great, especially Clint Eastwood’s performance as a prejudiced all-American war veteran (Walt Kowalski) living in a completely ethnic neighbourhood. Everything from the way he delivered his lines, to his death stares and snarl were perfect for bringing his character to life. Through the course of the film, the racially ignorant Walt finds his way into the lives of his Korean neighbours and what unfolds is a wonderful story about life, acceptance and friendship. At times, some of the things Walt says are so politically incorrect that is is in fact quite humerous because it just shows how much he does not know about anyone else – the beautiful thing about the story is he is willing to learn. For all his faults, Walt is undoubtedly a cool, tough guy and even becomes a likable character, and it’s not just because he’s Clint Eastwood. Go see Gran Torino, you will not be disappointed.

Director: Yoichi Sai
Writer: Sampei Shirato, Kankurô Kudô & Yoichi Sai
2009

Kamui is a fugitive ninja on the run from all other ninja who constantly pursue him because they are trained to capture any ninja who abandon the group. Constantly on the run, he eventually winds up in a small fishing village and befriends the people living there (and to explain it any further would ruin this very dense plot). Kamui is a very good film, with spectacular ninja action and fight sequences embroiled in a dramatic story about love, freedom, trust and honour and the ninja code. Becuase of everything going on in the film, Kamui is a little drawn out and longer than necessary. Nonetheless, it is a highly entertaining film that mixes well the action aspect of the story with the human aspect making for one great ninja epic.

Director: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Writer: Hitoshi Matsumoto & Mitsuyoshi Takasu
2009

Colin Geddes, the Midnight Madness programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival, in his introduction for the film described it as one of those “wtf?” films. And that’s in a good way. Hitoshi Matsumoto directed and stars in this crazy film that tells two stories that eventually come together in the most bizarre way possible. The first story centers around a Mexican wrestler getting ready for a huge match against top competitors. The second and more central story is about a man who wakes up in an empty white room and needs to figure his way out. Coming from the mind of Matsumoto (the weirdly original director who brought us Big Man Japan – which I highly recommend), Symbol is entirely bizarre yet also funny, inventive and just so damn original. To describe more of this film would just ruin it, nor am I going to try to read too much into it because its one of those films where it just is what it is. And if you want to overanalyze the film, be my guest but that takes the fun out of watching and appreciating Symbol.