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FILM / NOW PLAYING
Selected mini-reviews, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, by Rick Groen and Liam Lacey. Full reviews appeared on the dates indicated.
HIGHLIGHT / SUPERBAD
The traditional male rite of passage theme is sharply skewered in this profanely juvenile teen comedy. This generation's version of Revenge of the Nerds , the 2007 feature was written by Canadians Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who began working on the script when they were 13-year-old schoolmates in Vancouver. Hence, the story's lead characters are named Evan - portrayed by Arrested Development 's Michael Cera, another Canuck - and Seth, played by the scene-stealing wiseacre Jonah Hill. As the saga opens, the best friends and social outcasts are rounding out their final year of high school and on the verge of leaving for separate colleges. At the seductive behest of classmate Jules (Emma Stone), the pair become convinced that the act of procuring alcohol for her upcoming year-end party will allow one or both of them to experience carnal delight. After trying to buy booze with phony ID, the pair are befriended by a pair of wildly irresponsible cops, played by Rogen and Saturday Night Live 's Bill Hader, who were clearly geeks themselves as teenagers. The story thereafter is partly road picture and partly coming-of-age story, but the reason to watch is the mile-a-minute dialogue and the oddly moving friendship between the story's two lovable losers. Misery really does love company.
'It's just an incredible series of events'
rmvaughan@globeandmail.com
ewan
Ewan McGregor has starred in both indie success stories such as Trainspotting and Star Wars blockbusters. But he's still unspoiled enough to be thrilled by beingin the same movie as George Clooney, Gayle MacDonald writes
David Suzuki: a man of science revealed
Move over Al Gore. The Canadian scientist and broadcaster is moving to the big screen, shooting a feature documentary about his life and ideas
Film
A Christmas Carol
Jim Carrey takes a turn as Scrooge in the latest adaptation of the Dickens classic
Mark your calendar:
FILM / NOW PLAYING
Selected mini-reviews, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, by Rick Groen and Liam Lacey. Full reviews appeared on the dates indicated.
HIGHLIGHT / THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
Let's do the time warp again. Shrewdly scheduled for Halloween viewing, this campy British rock-musical has been completely remastered and should look glorious in high-definition. Based on the stage musical by Richard O'Brien, the 1975 feature spoofs every known horror-movie convention and still endures as a cult classic at midnight screenings this time of year. For those who have never had the pleasure, the story begins on a dark and stormy night with the naive young couple Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) unavoidably stranded at the castle of Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), a mad scientist who would not appear out of place in any forties-era Universal horror movie (except for his makeup, leather jacket and fishnets). The wide-eyed innocents are promptly initiated into sexual awakening by the mad doctor and entranced by a series of dazzling production numbers, most notably Time Warp, Hot Patootie and Sweet Transvestite . Although the rambling plotline of Rocky Horror has more holes than Furter's stockings (so which ones were the aliens?), the best advice has always been to sit back and surrender to the bizarre experience. Don't dream it, be it.
THE NUMBERS
For Halloween, here are Moviefone Canada's 10 Worst Horror Movies of all time. Be afraid.
That championship season
Kristopher Belman had access to the players, the superstar and the coach on their road to hoops glory
They're sincere, but they're still cliches
More Than a Game
Michael Jackson's concert movie definitely isn't it
This Is It Directed by Kenny Ortega
Whistler Film Festival to honour Ivan Reitman
The Whistler Film Festival is doffing its cap to Canadian producer and director Ivan Reitman, treating him to a special tribute for his life's work on Dec. 4.
Toronto, Vancouver cited as good filmmaking locales
Canada's moviemaking locales received honourable mentions in Variety's latest survey of the favourite shooting locations of Hollywood location managers, film directors and cinematographers. Montreal and Toronto received honourable mentions for their strong production resources, such as special-effects companies and vibrant production communities. Vancouver received special mention for support provided by the B.C. Film Commission.
Midnight screening of Jackson concert film
The tickets for tonight's special midnight screenings of Michael Jackson: This Is It aren't nearly as hot as the actual concerts the last entertainer had planned in London. But sales are said to be good. Part documentary, part feature-length promo film, the movie shows the rehearsals for Jackson's 50 concerts in London's O2 Arena, billed as his swan song and which had been scheduled to begin last July, but were cancelled after Jackson died in June.
THE MONDAY Q&A / KENNY ORTEGA
Michael Jackson's long-time friend reveals the King of Pop's creative fuel and what to expect from his concert documentary This Is It
BOX OFFICE / ON THE WEEKEND
$22-million The film: Paranormal Activity , made for $15,000 (U.S.).
NOW PLAYING
Selected mini-reviews, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, by Rick Groen, Liam Lacey and Stephen Cole. Full reviews appeared on the dates indicated.
The flawed character who made stars out of other flawed characters
Elias Kazanjoglou was born in Turkey in 1909, and he would change more than his name in America. Elia Kazan transformed movies and made stars of Marlon Brando and James Dean while introducing the troubled anti-hero to film. Half man, half casting couch, the director also wooed starlets from Marilyn Monroe to Theresa Russell. In spite of all his success and plunder, however, he remained Elias Kazanjoglou, an immigrant kid who resisted the melting pot.
Groups chosen for first Telefilm comedy lab
Five filmmaking teams have been chosen to participate this fall in the inaugural Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab, this country's first professional program designed to develop and package theatrical feature-length comedies.