Preview: The Moth Diaries

I wasn't really going to post this preview but I am a sucker, no pun intended, for any vampire story. But I know many are sick and tired of them. But, I watched The Moth Diaries and this one looks "slightly" different so I thought I would share it. Not sure about it but will give this one a shot. Due out in April 2012.

The Sweet Hereafter

Directed (screenplay) by Atom Egoyan, Alliance Communications Corporation, 1997.

Starring: Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Tom McCamus, Gabrielle Rose and Bruce Greenwood.

Genre: Drama

Usually I start off my reviews with a question in order to evoke some sort of correlation that people may have with a plot line. This is done to entice them to watch the film or have some understanding of the story. For me, I see many correlations to my life in the movies I view. But I just finished The Sweet Hereafter and I am almost dumbfounded, paralyzed by this story that I can't ask a question without getting overly emotional. That is not to say I connected to anything specific with this movie, which I didn't; but this was just not a happy story and it did not have a Hollywood ending, if you catch my meaning. So I am skipping the question section this time.

I'm almost at a loss on where to start, but I suppose I could tell you where I first heard about The Sweet Hereafter. A couple of months ago it was time to discuss soundtracks on my blog. You know the top 100 list that I randomly post? I ended up looking at the next soundtrack on the list and did a posting after hearing some of the songs and researching the film. There was one song in particular - "Courage" - that really stood out for me. The Sweet Hereafter. (soundtrack link)

After listening to the song I put it on my Netflix queue immediately. It finally arrived on Saturday. I watched it the next day but now I am mulling over on how to describe this film. Why?  First, I don't usually review movies older than a few years and The Sweet Hereafter came out 1997. Second, I alluded to this earlier but it is a heavy subject matter that I hope no one can relate to because the thoughts this one could bring up in others is something I would never wish on anyone.

In simple terms, The Sweet Hereafter shows the aftermath of a tragic school bus accident that took place in a rural Canadian community where most of the children in the town are killed; but I will say there was so much more than that. Yes, the accident was a hard enough topic but once that happened more is revealed with the people in the community and with the lawyer who comes to town to initiate a lawsuit.

We, as audience members, are witnesses to the lawyer's family issues throughout the movie, which are destroying him. Then we also see a few of the town's family secrets. One particular family had a secret so horrible that I feel I have to warn you - if you are of a weak disposition you might want to skip this movie. However, except for a brief scene there isn't much shown but the implications are horrendous. On the flip side, there was some sort of vindication, I think.

All-in-all I enjoyed, if that is the appropriate term, The Sweet Hereafter. The acting was superb and the story telling puts your emotions through a tumble but with restraint and finesse that you rarely witness on screen. Many films pull you into the sadness or pain of the characters but then helps you back out of their darkness. However, like real life, sometimes the darkness stays with you for the long haul.

Will this review make you want to see this film? I do not know; but I do realize sometimes it is worth seeing film-makers tackle subject matters that are normally taboo with such respect and authenticity. Too often in modern cinema stories are portrayed falsely or so overwrought with emotional details that it seems insincere. This film did not. For that alone I recommend The Sweet Hereafter.

Based on the novel by Russell Banks. He also wrote Affliction, which also became a movie starring Nick Nolte.

My favorite thing: The use of the story of The Pied Piper spoken throughout the entire film. Plus, Ian Holm's and Bruce Greenwood's performances were outstanding.

My least favorite thing: The relationship between one father and his daughter.

Rating: R
Length: 112 minutes


Review: 9 out of 10

Click below to view film or order soundtrack:
 

Rabbit Hole

Directed by John Cameron Mitchell, Olympus Pictures, 2010. Starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Sandra Oh and Dianne Wiest.

Genre: Drama

Question: When you are sad, do you hate it when people tell you how to feel and act so you are no longer sad?

Rabbit Hole, starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, takes on a family's tragedy and it's aftermath with how the mother (Nicole Kidman) copes with the death of her 4 year-old son. Not a light subject but I was thoroughly engrossed with this woman's plight and how she handled it all. I found it fascinating that everyone around her kept telling her how to feel and react to get over "it". Her reactions, to the constant barrage of advice, was not something I have seen on film much. For that alone I recommend this film.

I cannot relate to the specific tragedy this woman (couple) must go through but everyone has been sad at one time or another. We have all had things in our lives that take us on a course down a dark road of uncertainty. Clawing back to the light to what feels normal and safe is difficult especially when friends abandon you, others try to relate their experiences to yours and all you want to do is curl up in a ball and be left alone. The film shows that not everyone handles other's grief well or with respect sometimes.

Does Rabbit Hole give any sort of advice on how to handle the overwhelming sadness, emptiness or helplessness? You will have to see for yourself, but it did show that everyone deals with their pain and suffering differently. How and when they begin to get past their loss is as individual as the person. Not only had Nicole Kidman's character have something bad happen to her world but their were other characters in Rabbit Hole that also conveyed how people deal with consequences that are thrust upon them.

Rabbit Hole was a tender and poignant film. Nicole Kidman with Aaron Eckhart did a fantastic job at exposing the underbelly of how a couple handles the tragic death of their child. Anger, resentment and the search for closeness with others in order to feel something other than pain are all present in this story. There were times of humor and a cathartic need to take a large sigh during some scenes. But above all, the overwhelming sadness that had taken over the grieving mother (Nicole Kidman) and then her pursuit to be left alone to discover her own path out of her darkness was awe-inspiring. Kidman outdid herself on keeping the subject matter palpable and relatable even if you have never lost a child.

Does this film have a happy ending? Well, I won't say but the journey that was exposed was worth watching because how authentic the story was portrayed.

My favorite thing: Nicole Kidman's performance.

My least favorite thing: Can't really think of anything at the moment.


Rating: PG-13
Length: 91 minutes

Review: 8 out of 10

Click on film poster below to watch instantly: