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'Dark Places': Great cast, shallow style
Dark Places, adapted for the screen and directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner, is Hollywood's latest take on the novels of writer Gillian Flynn.
The film starts out with a cool third-person black and white view through the eyes of a young Libby Day. The present day Libby (Charlize Theron) wakes up from what appears to be a nightmare. The Day family was murdered in an alleged satanic cult ritual, where Libby and her brother Ben were the only survivors. Libby Day is now close to broke and has little left in the way of money or having people take pity on her situation, because there are new victims of hardship. This is until Lyle Wirth (Nicholas Hoult) gets in contact and invites Libby to the Kill Club, a place where people reenact murders and crimes in order to shed new light and solve them. As much as Libby voices her strong reservations puts up her barriers, Lyle proceeds to pay her to find the truth about her family's gruesome murder. Libby and Lyle travel down in the darkness as she visits the man accused of the murder, Ben Day (Corey Stoll). There are flashbacks to the events leading up to the murder, and the ongoing investigation that Libby and Lyle are conducting. There are many twists and turns, including the fact that Ben Day might not be the only one involved in the murder.
I would like to highlight the two great performances by Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult. Theron gave a great performance as Libby, the strong individualistic female, and Hoult was successful as the mysterious, shady, and socially awkward character Lyle. Dark Places helped me understand why Libby is strong compared to her brother Ben Day; even his girlfriend Diondra (Chloë Grace Moretz) never failed to put Ben down as not being manly enough.
My review may be a bit biased, however, because I believe that last year's Gone Girl (directed by David Fincher) was a better adaptation of Flynn's work. Paquet-Brenner tried to capture the chilling dark tones of the novel, but his filmmaking style resembled a made-for-television "who done it" murder mystery. This aesthetic drew me out of the movie I was watching on screen. Dark Places lacked in style and seemed to be going through the motions of recreating the crime and trying to solve it. It would have been better as a made-for-television movie, or perhaps a miniseries where there is time to flesh out the characters and the story.
Rating: 3/5
--Tune in to At the Movies with Iconic Sounds every Tuesday at 8 AM with your host, Remi! Only on CJLO 1690AM and cjlo.com.
'Cop Car': One of the best dark comedies of the year
Cop Car, directed by Jon Watts, had to be one of the best films screened at Fantasia this summer. Being a fan of dark comedies (a genre Fantasia serves up in abundance) and Joel and Ethan Coen, Cop Car resonated well with me. Let me take a moment to gush over what a fan I am of star Kevin Bacon, who is quite a reserved and humble individual. This is one of Mr. Bacon's darker roles, but he eases in and out of the bad-sheriff good-sheriff routine in a matter of seconds. This movie features one of my funniest laugh-out-loud moments of the year, competing alongside that movie theatre scene from Judd Apatow's Trainwreck.
The screening began with Black Eyes written and directed by Rick Spears, a short film about a young boy and girl getting revenge against the school bullies. Cop Car continues the story with Travis (James Freedson-Jackson) and Harrison (Hays Wellford), who are both on the run from their homes. In pure juvenile fashion, the boys expand their vocabulary of explicit language. Along their journey they find an abandoned squad car and decide to investigate this unnatural occurrence. They hesitate at first, but then decide to take the car out for a test drive. On the other side of town, Sheriff Kretzer (Kevin Bacon) is disposing of bodies, which seem to be young children, in a quiet and subdued fashion. As he returns to find where he parked his squad vehicle, he notices its disappearance. His good sheriff routine kicks in as he calls dispatch and says he will handle the situation, and returns home to liquidate some assets. He finally gets a hold of the joyriders and tells them all he wants is the car back and to not open the trunk. Unbeknownst to him, the joyriders have already seen inside the trunk, which opens a Pandora's Box of thrilling events to come.
Cop Car is a dark joyride of twists and turns that just does not stop until the final bullet is fired. We feel a sense of adventure alongside of Harrison and Travis, who are not only threatened by the people around them, they put themselves in physical danger as well. Kevin Bacon as Sheriff Kretzer will keep the audience guessing as to whether he is good or bad. Jon Watts has made the perfect dark comedy that will sit well with audiences.
Rating: 4.5/5
--Tune in to At the Movies with Iconic Sounds every Tuesday at 8 AM with your host, Remi! Only on CJLO 1690AM and cjlo.com.
'Ava's Possessions': What happened last night?
There have been many films in the horror genre over the years that deal with demonic possession and how the characters came be to possessed (The Exorcist, The Exorcism of Emily Rose), but never the aftermath of the ordeal, or how the victim's life and the lives of those around them are affected. With Ava's Possessions, screenwriter and director Jordan Galland tries to show how a character must answer for her actions in the aftermath of her possession. This dark comedy works the same techniques as most exorcism movies, but subverts the genre by adding humour and answering the unexplainable.
The film begins right at the climax of the exorcism, where the priest tries to cast out the unwanted spirt. Ava (Louisa Krause) awakens from her possession to find her family and friends asking her what happened, but she is in a state of amnesia. Ava's possession has left a path of devastation and everyone blames her for what has happened, including her mom who delivers that classic line, "marijuana is a gateway drug." Ava has two options: either face jail time, or take part in mandated Spirit Possession Anonymous courses. Wanting to move on with her life, Ava decides on the mandated therapy, which brings her back to the world of evil spirits and possession. In order to rid herself of her possession for good, Ava must track down and make amends with the people she hurt along the way. The burning question is, will Ava overcome her amnesia, move on with her life, and rid herself of this evil?
As a dark satiric comedy about comedy, Ava's Possessions worked and played with a new trope in horror by making the aftermath the focus of them film. The audience seemed to have more of a fun time than I did, however. This is not the classic Hollywood possession movie that audiences are used to; it is a b-horror. The style, editing, and cinematography were interesting—from the overhead angels, to the drum beats, and the use of blue and red hues—and at times undermined what is expected from a typical horror movie through the use of fresh imagery, including a neon pink cross. As it stands, Ava's Possessions brings something new to the horror genre while still paying homage to the classic possession dramas, which for me was the most enjoyable part of the film.
Rating: 3/5
--Tune in to At the Movies with Iconic Sounds every Tuesday at 8 AM with your host, Remi! Only on CJLO 1690AM and cjlo.com.
'She Who Must Burn': The controversies of film realism
Disclaimer: The beliefs expressed in the film She Who Must Burn do not reflect the writer's own views, nor those of CJLO 1690AM, CJLO's editorial board, our partners and affiliates.
She Who Must Burn, directed by Larry Kent and co-written by Kent and Shane Twerdun, is one of the most controversial films so gripped with the realism that it becomes disturbing. It sits right along Kevin Smith's Red State, poking a thorn in the side of Evangelical Christianity, and showing the religion at the extremes of absolute power and evil. Abortion is a taboo and controversial subject, especially for Evangelical Christians, Kent showcases their deep and passionate hatred for the subject in this horror-thriller.
The film begins with a nurse asking a well-dressed man in a business suit what he is doing in an abortion clinic and calls for the doctor. The doctor come out and starts asking the man questions and they begin to converse. The man in the suit proceeds to shoot the doctor in the head, and falls to his knees with a rendition of the song "Amazing Grace". Right away this film does not shy away from the realism of gratuitous and senseless violence.
Angela (Sarah Smyth) is a healthcare counsellor who runs a Planned Parenthood clinic out of her home. Being the last pro-abortion consoler in the town, she becomes the target of a fanatic, anti-abortion Evangelical movement lead by Jeremiah Baarker (Shane Twerdun). By his side are Caleb (Andrew Dunbar) and Rebecca (Missy Cross), who feel that procreation is the highest purpose for humankind, and Rebecca's recent miscarriages are God's punishment for allowing Angela to continue her practice. The peaceful and unrestful protests take a darker tone when it is discovered that Jeremiah's battered and bruised wife, who is using birth control, sought refuge in the clinic. Rebecca receives a sign from above that they must purify the town with the most powerful cleanser, fire, for she (Angela) must burn for her sins.
The disturbing part of the film is how it showcases the extreme positions of the anti-abortion movement. Given Kent's history of making films that challenge controversial subjects, She Who Must Burn seems as if the conflict between the anti and pro-abortion movements is a taboo subject that can be ignited at any moment if either side of the debate becomes radicalized. I do not intend to give a star rating for this form of artistic expression. It is not for the faint of heart, even though the film is aesthetically pleasing with great shots of natural surroundings. The work is cringe-worthy at the same time, as the camera does not shy away from the violence. However, if you are looking for film that brings a darkened reality to this controversial subject, She Who Must Burn is definitely worth seeking out.
--Tune in to At the Movies with Iconic Sounds every Tuesday at 8 AM with your host, Remi! Only on CJLO 1690AM and cjlo.com.
CJLO wants you to see Motley Crue
CJLO likes to give you a chance to go to smaller shows, but we also love to give people the opportunity to see huge spectacles. That's why, through Evenko, we're going to be giving you a chance to win tickets to see Motley Crue on their final tour when they come by the Bell Centre with the legendary Alice Cooper on Monday, August 24th. We have four pairs of tickets to give out, and four ways to win. First, listen in to these shows and have our request line ready (514-848-7471) so you can call or text in for a chance to win:
BVST - Wednesday, August 19 from 7 - 9PM
Hooked On Sonics - Thursday, August 20 from 6 - 8PM
Nozin' Around - Friday, August 21 from 2 - 3PM
If you're stuck working or generally not rocking during those times, you can also go on our Facebook page and find the post about the contest, like it, and tell us what's your favorite album by the Crue.
So keep it locked to CJLO for all the chances to win and check out an amzing show.
P.S. Apparently Tommy Lee has built a roller coaster for his drum set that moves while he's drumming live... not saying... just saying.
News for August 19th, 2015
LOCAL
by Saturn de Los Angeles
Quebec's slow implementation of a bill intended to work in favor of transgender people is leaving the community in limbo.
In a report by CBC News, Bill 35 is supposed to allow transgender-identified people to legally change their gender marker on official documents without going through reassignment surgery.
However, due to a delay with the legislation review at the National Assembly, Transgender advocate Caroline Trottier-Gascon says that the longer the wait, the more difficult the obstacles transgender Quebeckers will have to face, most notably with discrimination and transphobia.
Quebec Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée wrote in an email that the government is determined to honor its commitment to facilitate the dealings of transgendered people with the province,
NATIONAL
by Tom Matukala
On Tuesday, hackers of the cheating website AshleyMadison.com kept their word on a threat to release a huge stash of on-line data stolen roughly a month ago.
The hacking team responsible for the leak, The Impact Team, were quoted as saying that they had explained the stupidity, fraud and deceit of the sites Toronto-based parent company, Avid Life Media, and since they failed to take down AshleyMadison.com, everyone can now see their data.
INTERNATIONAL
by Patricia Petit Liang
Video footage of a terrorist in Thailand’s capital of Bangkok has emerged.
According to BBC News, recordings taken by a CCTV camera show a man leaving a backpack full of explosives at a Hindu shrine that would later go on to kill 20 people and injure 120 others on Monday.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters that the government is on the verge of finding the suspect, and considers this bombing to be the worst attack to have ever taken place in Thailand.
On Tuesday, another explosive device was detonated at a pier in Bangkok, but had fallen into the water, injuring no one.
August 19th, 2015
Hosted by: Catlin Spencer
Stories by: Saturn de los Angeles, Tom Matukala, Patricia Petit-Laing
Produced by: Emeline Vidal
News for August 17th 2015
LOCAL
by Saturn de Los Angeles
A campaign to strengthen the provinces anti-smoking regulations is underway.
According to CBC News, a group representing 174 municipalities across Quebec -including Montreal- passed a resolution on Sunday, urging the province to push the regulations on public smoking even further.
As consultations on Bill 44 begin this week, topics on the table will include a crack down on tobacco and e-cigarettes, prohibiting smoking on terraces, in vehicles in the presence of 16 year olds and the sale of flavoured tobacco.
The municipalities are calling to have Quebec's smoking rate drop by 10 per cent over the next 10 years as well.
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NATIONAL
by Patricia Petit Liang
A new learning movement is gaining popularity in different parts of Canada as students prepare to head back to school.
According to CTV News, students watch online lessons and do their homework at school as part of a new teaching method called the “flipped classroom”.
A high school in Ontario flipped their classrooms- but required all students to have a laptop or tablet in order to watch the lessons, making it difficult for low-income students who may not be able to afford their own laptops.
However, flipped classrooms seem to have a positive influence on students.
About two-thirds of Ontario students interviewed said they preferred learning in class and doing homework at home instead.
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INTERNATIONAL
by Catlin Spencer
A drinkable book has proved effective in it's first field trials in filtering contaminated drinking water.
According to the BBC, the books pages can be torn out and used to filter up to 100 litres water each, as the pages contain silver or copper nano-particles that kill bacteria.
The book was developed and tested by Doctor Teri Dankovich of the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
The paper successfully removed over 99 per cent of bacteria at 25 contaminated water sources located in South Africa, Ghana and Bangladesh.
While it is still unclear whether the paper can remove other disease-causing microorganisms, Dr Dankovich says she hopes to see results for removing protozoa and viruses in the future.
Monday, August 17th 2015
Hosted by Danny Aubry
Stories by Saturn de Los Angeles, Patricia Petit Liang & Catlin Spencer
Produced by Catlin Spencer
News for August 14th, 2015
According to the Gazette, the creation of more than 20,000 jobs was not enough to counter multiple recent layoffs, especially when it comes to high-paying offers.
Analysts say that Quebec's focus on the primary sector may be a factor, as well as the slow rate of job creation compared to the increase in Montreal's population.
Quebec's Council of employers remains optimistic, noting that the current slump in oil prices should attract investors to the province.
Explosions in Tiajin, China set warehouses full of hazardous chemicals ablaze, causing fireballs to shoot across the sky and damaging buildings within a 3 kilometer radius on Wednesday.
According to CNN, the cause of the explosions is still unknown and 50 people have died while more than 500 people have been hospitalized.
The executives of the company keeping the dangerous chemicals in their warehouse have been taken into custody.
The magnitude of one explosion reach 2,9 on the richter scale, leaving entire areas of the city devastated, and citizens face the lasting consequences of the chemicals released by the explosions.
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