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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 15 May 2004

In 1995, a young American and a young Frenchwoman met on a train from Budapest to Vienna.  They would then spend a beautifully romantic evening together that unfortunately ended at sunrise with the two returning to their regular lives.  This was the plot of a low budget film released back in 1995 called, appropriately enough, Before Sunrise.  Rising stars Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy played the love struck couple with the film made by Richard Linklater, a director who had developed a cult status following the release of his 1993 drug trip, Dazed And Confused.

Nine years have now passed and the three have united to produce a sequel.  For many people, this will be all rather meaningless.  Before Sunrise received a minimal release in this country and the few that have seen it will most likely have picked it off the video store shelf.   Having heard an interview with Ethan Hawke, the production of this film was more a labour of love.  It was never intended to be a huge blockbuster or to make millions of dollars.  It was simply a chance to reunite and once again play two characters they enjoyed so much.

In Before Sunset, Jesse (Hawke) sits in a French bookstore giving an interview on his latest novel to a small group of press.  He publicises his book as a work of fiction but to him, it is a deep recollection of that night in Vienna that he shared with Celine (Delpy).  It is a night he has never forgotten.  The two had agreed to meet that summer in Vienna but Celine never showed.  As they never exchanged details or phone numbers, it seemed the two were destined never to see each other again.

As the book interview concludes, Celine appears in the doorway.  Fate has brought them together again.  But what lies in store this time?  What has happened over the past nine years?

Before Sunset is strictly a conversational piece.  It feels like you’re having coffee with two old friends where you just sit back, relax and enjoy the discussion.  Jesse and Celine speak as if they’ve known each other for years and yet you sense the unresolved romantic tension between them.  It’s fascinating to both listen to and watch them.  You’re unlikely to find two more realistic characters in another film this year.

I won’t spoil what is discussed and how it finishes but I will say that the ending is near perfect.  The audience’s response was proof of that.  Don’t be too perturbed if you missed the first film as you’ll soon understand from the introduction to Before Sunset.  One for the romantics.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 04 May 2004

Robert Strange McNamara is now 85 years of age and the stories he can tell will leave audiences gasping for more.  He has done much since his birth in 1916.  He lectured in Business Administration at Harvard, he was an Air Force Captain during World War II, he was President of the Ford Motor Company and he was President of the World Bank.

Despite these achievements, most Americans will remember him as Secretary of Defence of the United States Of America during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations of the 1960s.  McNamara oversaw the Vietnam War which many regard today as one of America’s great mistakes.  I guess the timing of this film is somewhat appropriate considering the current conflict in Iraq.

The Fog Of War is a smart documentary put together by director Errol Morris.  Initally, Morris wanted to put together a short segment for a television series.  After interviewing Morris for the first time, he realised this story deserved a wider audience.  In all, Morris interviewed McNamara for over 20 hours and this film features the best of what McNamara had to say, mixed with archival footage and old audio tapes of McNamara speaking to political heavyweights.

What impressed me most was Morris’s obvious decision not to take a side on the McNamara debate.  There are some who heavily criticised McNamara during his time as Secretary of Defence but there were others who praised his work.  This film does not try to categorise everything as black and white.  Morris understands there is much grey and the overall impression we will form on McNamara has not been influenced by his own opinions.

The full title of the film is The Fog Of War: Eleven Lessons From The Life Of Robert S. McNamara.  The film is focused around these eleven lessons and whilst they are not new, they carry an extra significance given the person who is speaking them.  The lessons weren’t all learnt from Vietnam.  The film does focus on his time as Secretary of Defence but does look at many other aspects of his early life.

It’s unusual to see a big-note soundtrack to a documentary feature but Morris secured brilliant composer Philip Glass (The Hours, Kundun) to craft a hypnotically repetitive score ideally suited to the subject material.  I’ll be ducking down to my local music store to pick up a copy of the soundtrack as soon as I get the opportunity.  I also think I’ll be buying the dvd when released because it is a great example of how to put together a documentary.  Morris does not linger too long on any one point and uses old television and movie footage to compliment McNamara’s words.

After taking home the Oscar for best documentary at this year’s Academy Awards, The Fog Of War has received deserved attention.  2004 looks like being the year of the documentary and if they continue to be released with such high quality, I’ll welcome even more big screen documentaries in 2005 and beyond!

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 May 2004

At this year’s Academy Awards, the nominees for best animated feature were Brother Bear, Finding Nemo and The Triplets Of Bellville.  Most hadn’t even heard of the third nominee and a French song from the film was performed during the Oscar ceremony (for which it was also nominated), one friend sent me a text message to the effect of “what the f***”.

Les Triplettes De Bellville premiered at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival and the buzz has since filtered around the world.  Disney and Pixar currently dominate the animated market and I don’t see this film acting as a threat.  There’s a lot to like about Brother Bear and Finding Nemo but there’s a familiarity and predictability about what to expect.  The Triplets Of Bellville turns the animated genre upside down with its crazy visuals and unique approach.

Don’t expect any dialogue.  After a big musical opening, all you’ll hear is music and a few mumblings.  This may seem strange but trust me, you won’t want to look away from the screen.  There’s some strange happening in Bellville and the challenge of understanding it only adds to the film’s value.

The story revolves around a professional cyclist who is kidnapped by the mafia so his mother and loyal dog go in search for him.  It doesn’t sound enticing on paper but if you catch a glimpse of the film or view the trailer on the internet, you’ll see how much more there is on show.

Of the ensemble, the funniest has to be a smiling French waiter at restaurant.  Another nice touch are the many different dishes the triplets craft from frogs.  As I’ve said many a time before, it’s always more exciting watching films when you don’t know where they’re going.  Here’s another example and in my eyes, it exceeds Finding Nemo (which did win the Oscar) as the best animated feature of the past twelve months.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 03 May 2004

Paris, France, 1968.  Almost every evening, film-buff Matthew (Pitt) leaves his small hotel room and walks to the nearby movie theatre to take in a night’s entertainment.  Somewhat of a loner, the theatre provides the American-born Matthew a world of escape.

One afternoon though, the theatre is closed.  A swarm of students are outside conducting a demonstration rally against the French government while the police look on.  Under direction from the government, the cinema’s curator had been removed of his post and the cinema closed.  This was just the tip of the iceberg and it is a true story that France was brought to its knees in May 1968 as a result of these student riots.

Matthew had never really made any friends in Paris but spots a fellow filmgoer outside the closed theatre and shyly introduces himself.  Her name is Isabelle (Green) and is always accompanied by her twin brother, Theo (Garrel).  With no movies to attend, the three walk around town, talk movies and for Matthew, it’s the greatest night of his life.  But it’s only just beginning…

The next day he is invited to dinner with Isabelle and Theo and on the next, he is invited to move in with them.  With their parents away on a holiday, Matthew, Isabelle and Theo have the lavish house to themselves for a whole month.

To say there is a sexual tension between all three is an understatement.  You should expect nothing less from director Bernardo Bertolucci who made the explicit The Last Tango In Paris in 1972 won an Oscar for The Last Emperor in 1987.  The film comes from the novel by Gilbert Adair which I only finished reading a few weeks ago.  The novel is very different but the expected sex and nudity does come through on screen.  You’re unlikely to see so much of it in another film this year.

But the purpose of this film isn’t to push the boundaries of cinema.  It’s a story about three people who become consumed by each other and create world that seems fine to them but frowned upon by outsiders.  The performances from stars Michael Pitt, Eva Green and Louis Garrell are all very good and their personalities match what I’d expect having read the novel.  Pitt is creating quite an impressive arthouse resume having appeared in the well received Hedwing And The Angry Inch, Bully and Changing Lanes.

The film takes a little while to develop and the ending is a touch weak but the body of The Dreamers will take you away from the monotony of life and into a crazy sexual odyssey.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 05 May 2004

I am not going to try and sugar coat it.  I am going to be truthful and honest.  It may only be May but I am already declaring.  Get ready because here’s your quote for the movie poster… “Van Helsing is the worst motion picture of the year!”

Hugh Jackman may drive a stake through the heart of Count Dracula but he may also be driving a stake through his own career.  The dialogue which spews from his mouth is cheesier than a James Bond movie.  It literally is laughable.  I chuckled on several occasions.   The same applies to Kate Beckinsale who produces an embarrassing fake accent.

What is this nightmare about?  Well, Van Helsing (Jackman) is some super guy who has been killing bad guys for thousands of years.  He’s just finished off Dr. Jekyll and now is looking to slay Dracula.  Off he heads to Transylvania where he meets the princess of the town, Anna Valerious (Beckinsale).  Her brother was recently slain by Dracula and she wants revenge.

So the two team up and along with Van Helsing’s goofy sidekick, Carl (Wenham), they look to find Dracula’s lair and ultimately, his weakness.  After 10 minutes of this film I was looking to walk out.  So imagine my delight in staying for a whopping 132 minutes only to see the predictable finale play itself out (complete with more cheesy dialogue).

Suffice to say this film won’t be winning any awards for its special effects.  I shouldn’t even be using the term “special” as it may be misleading.  80% of the film looks like it was generated by a Commodore 64 and I’d say that the real Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale appear in about 5 minutes worth of actual footage.  For the rest of the movie, they are played by stuntmen and unrealistic computer graphics.

Universal Studios aren’t helping the film’s chances at box-office success by promoting it as being “from the director of The Mummy and The Mummy Returns”.  The man they are referring to is Stephen Sommers and he would be one of the most overrated directors in the business.  He has no idea how to make an action film and has become consumed by the whole process.  In Van Helsing, the camera moves all over the place and at times I had no idea what was going on.  If we are fortunate, the film will tank when released in the U.S. this weekend and Sommers will consider a career change.

Let’s say that what’s on screen certainly puts the “hell” into Van Hel-sing.  Tacky cliché isn’t it?  You ain’t seen nothing yet!