t almost seems as though the lower the film budget the better the film. Low budget films have to rely on things such as screenplay, character development and acting rather than special effects.
Napoleon Dynamite
n offbeat comedy about the trials and tribulations of a nerdy youth trying to navigate his way through high school and life with few marketable 'skills'. My son says it's a huge favorite among kids in Napoleon's age bracket. I loved Jon Heder as Napoleon and would happily go to see Napoleon Dynamite II and III, especially if they included Tina Majorino, his quirky movie girlfriend. Napoleon was filmed in the small town of Preston, Idaho by Jared Hess, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jerusha Hess (small budget movies are usually created by family and friends).The people of Preston were so used to seeing Jared and his movie camera around town that they were shocked at the success of 'Napoleon Dynamite'. For the first time in its history Preston is cool. The thrift store does a big business as people come looking for the type of t-shirts worn by Napoleon. There is a tetherball tournament planned for this summer and "Pedro for President" t-shirts are big sellers.
Heartlands
ne of those minor Brit flicks, which hits all the right notes. A sort of English road movie with many references to the British love of darts. Michael Sheen plays the lead role of Colin who loves his wife, but is way too sweet for this cynical world. Events conspire to send Colin beyond the newsagent's shop where he works and onto the highways and byways of Northern England, where his niceness and naivety are surprisingly well received by everyone from bikers to girl scouts. If you're tired of big names, violence and multimillion extravaganzas make a pot of tea and curl up with 'Heartlands'. The cinematography alone makes it worth the rental price.
Sideways
his is a bigger budget movie with all the small budget virtues. It was the 'sleeper' nomination in a number of categories for the Golden Globes and Oscars. Alexander Payne is a terrific writer/director who understands middle-aged white guys and gets wonderfully nuanced performances from Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church (I'm so glad George Clooney didn't get his part) and the under-rated Virginia Madsen. The people seem real, the restaurants feel as if you could walk right in and the houses are 'lived in'. There are a number of laugh-out-loud segments that alone are worth the price of admission. I loved the scenes from the synthetic, tourist-friendly vineyard in all its magnificent mediocrity.
Monsieur Ibrahim
onsieur Ibrahim is a small, endearing film set in Paris in the 1960's. The movie is a tour de force for Omar Sharif, who is an old Muslim shopkeeper steeped in Sufi wisdom. It's always a delight when the golden boys of by-gone eras get a chance to show us they can really act. The story centers around the relationship of the old Muslim shopkeeper and his teenage Jewish customer, Moses, or Momo as Monsieur Ibrahim calls him. If you're looking for car chases, violence and action, take a pass on this one, but if you like some insights on the human condition this is a good rental.
Motorcycle Diaries
t first sight, the youth of Che Guevara seems like an improbable topic for a modern North American audience. However, the director, Walter Salles, chose a great cast and created a fascinating road movie as a backdrop to watching Che's transformation from an asthmatic, rich boy medical student to a man that felt compelled to redress the indignities heaped on the poor and the peasants under capitalist regimes. Gael Garcia Bernal is superb as Che and Rodrigo De la Serna as Che's road buddy Alberto nearly steals the film. The real life Alberto Granado, who is a retired doctor now living in Cuba, played a major advising role in the creation of the movie.
Addendum
Before you run out to buy a Che Guevara t-shirt remember that the young ideologue morphed into a murderous adult. In a famous entry he wrote, "Hatred as an element of struggle; unbending hatred for the enemy, which pushes a human being beyond his natural limitations, making him into an effective, violent, selective and cold-blooded killing machine. This is what our soldiers must become." Writing in 'Slate', Paul Berman notes that Che presided over the Cuban Revolution's first firing squads and founded Cuba's "labor camp" system. Che gave his life for his beliefs, as do many Middle Eastern revolutionaries with bombs in their backpacks. He had plenty to be angry about as the movie shows so well, but anger probably distorted his judgment. As William Blake says,
The iron hand crushed the tyrant's head
And became a tyrant in his stead.
Footnote
The foolishness of the Oscars came to light when the theme song for Motorcycle Diaries, "Al Otro Lado Del Rio", won for best theme music. The composer of the song, Jorge Drexler, gave no acceptance speech, but instead sang a verse, picked up his Oscar and exited left. This was his musical protest against the Academy Awards Committee who would not allow him to sing his own song when it was showcased as one of the 5 songs nominated. This, in spite of the fact he has had a big Spanish language hit singing the song himself. Feeling they needed a 'name' to perform the song, the Academy called on Antonio Banderas and his mediocre voice to add some star power to the proceedings. Well, at least it wasn't Beyonce.
very funny, very silly, very English Zombie flick, which has to be a parody of "Dawn of the Dead", which I haven't seen. The directing (Edgar Wright) and camera work are slick and on a personal note I was delighted to see at least 2 cast members from 'The Office'. Destined to be a cult favorite.
For Canadians Only
The top Canadian songs of all time as voted on CBC, who are obviously not interested in the likes of Celine, Shania and David Foster bless their Canadian hearts. The voting went on for months and created plenty of controversy. The end result probably reflects the demographic of the typical CBC listener. There was a strong bias towards singer/songwriters and lots of Canadian content. I was delighted that Stan Rogers was 4th, beating out Leonard and Joni, but I think Men Without Hats and their song, "Safety Dance" should have been higher than number 36.
'Four Strong Winds' by Ian and Sylvia (1963)
'If I had $1,000,000' by the Barenaked Ladies (1992)
'Heart of Gold' by Neil Young (1971)
'Northwest Passage' by Stan Rogers (1981)
'American Woman' by The Guess Who (1970)
'Canadian Railroad Trilogy' by Gordon Lightfoot (1967)
'Both Sides Now' by Joni Mitchell (1969)
'Suzanne' by Leonard Cohen (1967)
'Big Yellow Taxi' by Joni Mitchell (1970)
'Early Morning Rain' by Gordon Lightfoot (1966)
'Lovers in a Dangerous Time' by Bruce Cockburn (1984)
'The Hockey Song' by Stompin' Tom Connors (1973)
'Life is a Highway' by Tom Cochrane (1991)
'Try' by Blue Rodeo (1987)
'The Weight' by The Band (1968)
'New Orleans is Sinking' by The Tragically Hip (1989)
'Summer of '69' by Bryan Adams (1984)
'Takin' Care of Business' by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1974)
'Snowbird' Anne Murray (1970)
'Angel' by Sarah McLachlan (1997)
'Constant Craving' by k.d. lang (1992)
'Home for a Rest' by Spirit of the West (1990)
'These Eyes' by The Guess Who (1969)
'Rockin' in the Free World' by Neil Young (1989)
'Sundown' by Gordon Lightfoot (1973)
'The Universal Soldier' by Buffy Sainte-Marie (1964)
'Courage' by the Tragically Hip (1992)
'You Oughta Know' by Alanis Morissette (1995)
'Wondering Where The Lions Are' by Bruce Cockburn (1979)
'Mon Pays' by Gilles Vigneault (1965)
'Raise a Little Hell' by Trooper (1978)
'Hasn't Hit Me Yet' Blue Rodeo (1993)
'Tom Sawyer' by Rush (1981)
'I'm Movin' On' by Hank Snow (1950)
'Echo Beach' by Martha and the Muffins (1980)
'The Safety Dance' by Men Without Hats (1982)
'Crabbuckit' K-OS (2004)
'High School Confidential' by Rough Trade (1980)
'Brother Down' Sam Roberts (2001)
'Diana' by Paul Anka (1957)
'Sonny's Dream' by The Wonderful Grand Band (1981)
'Tower of Song' by Leonard Cohen (1988)
'Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream)' by the Crew Cuts (1954)
'Rise Up' by The Parachute Club (1983)
'Coax Me' by Sloan (1994)
'Let Your Backbone Slide' Maestro Fresh-Wes (1990)
'I'll Never Smile Again' by Ruth Lowe, performed by the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (1940)
n offbeat comedy about the trials and tribulations of a nerdy youth trying to navigate his way through high school and life with few marketable 'skills'. My son says it's a huge favorite among kids in Napoleon's age bracket. I loved Jon Heder as Napoleon and would happily go to see Napoleon Dynamite II and III, especially if they included Tina Majorino, his quirky movie girlfriend. Napoleon was filmed in the small town of Preston, Idaho by Jared Hess, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jerusha Hess (small budget movies are usually created by family and friends).The people of Preston were so used to seeing Jared and his movie camera around town that they were shocked at the success of 'Napoleon Dynamite'. 
For the first time in its history Preston is cool. The thrift store does a big business as people come looking for the type of t-shirts worn by Napoleon. There is a tetherball tournament planned for this summer and "Pedro for President" t-shirts are big sellers.
The cinematography alone makes it worth the rental price.
his is a bigger budget movie with all the small budget virtues. It was the 'sleeper' nomination in a number of categories for the Golden Globes and Oscars. Alexander Payne is a terrific writer/director who understands middle-aged white guys and gets wonderfully nuanced performances from Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church (I'm so glad George Clooney didn't get his part) and the under-rated Virginia Madsen. The people seem real, the restaurants feel as if you could walk right in and the houses are 'lived in'. 
There are a number of laugh-out-loud segments that alone are worth the price of admission. I loved the scenes from the synthetic, tourist-friendly vineyard in all its magnificent mediocrity.
Feeling they needed a 'name' to perform the song, the Academy called on Antonio Banderas and his mediocre voice to add some star power to the proceedings. Well, at least it wasn't Beyonce.
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