Beautiful Boy
Director: Shawn Ku
Stars: Maria Bello, Michael Sheen
Country of Origin: US
Why I Chose this Film: Maria Bello, horribly underrated, is an actress who chooses daring, dark work. If you haven't seen her in fare like Downloading Nancy, 2008 or The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, 2009, seek them out.
The Rundown: And Ms. Bello doesn't disappoint here. Married to Sheen, they play a couple whose college age son is responsible for a violent rampage on a college campus killing several people and then killing himself. Focusing on the aftermath of an incident like this on the unassuming parents, Sheen and Bello anchor this moving and thought provoking film. The film is subtle, and kudos for director Ku for not making a film that could easily have been cliche. And Ms. Bello deserves an Oscar nod. As usual, she'll probably be neglected in the US come awards season, but she's extremely compelling to watch here. 8/10
Incendies
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Stars: Lubna Azabal
Country of Origin: Canada
Why I Chose this Film: Villeneuve has developed quite a reputation with his two previous films, Maelstrom, 2000, and Polyechnique, 2009, neither of which I've had the opportunity to see.
The Rundown: I must say, after seeing this film, I know I must see this director's previous films. Concerning a pair of fraternal Canadian twins whose mother dies leaving ominous instructions to her boy and girl to travel to the Middle East to find their father and a long lost brother. On their journey, they discover some shocking secrets about her, and their origins. With music by Radiohead (which I personally loved), the film is not what you think it's going to be. A dark, moving surprise, Incendies features a terrific performance from Lubna Azabal---if you see it, you won't forget it. 10/10
The Housemaid
Director: Im Sang-soo
Stars: Jeon Do-yeon
Country of Origin: South Korea
Why I Chose this Film: I'm not familair with Sang-soo's work, though I've been eager to see his past features, such as The President's Last Bang, 2005. Also, he cast Jeon Do-yeon, Best Actress winner at Cannes for Secret Sunshine, 2007. This is a remake of the 1960 film from Kim Ki-young.
The Rundown: On the surface, this film looks like a suspense thriller about a conniving young woman hired as a maid for a very rich and manipulative family. She gets pregnant by the man of the house, which quickly sours her relationship with the mistress of the house and the bitchy mother of the mistress. While the film was more of a social commentary piece, you won't soon forget the conclusion, with an entertaining performance form Do-yeon, though the woman that hires her, steals the show. Slightly trashy but entertaining, it's a film to look for. 8/10
In a Better World
Director: Susanne Bier
Stars: Ulrich Thomsen, Mikael Persbrandt
Country of Origin: Denmark
Why I Chose this Film: Susanne Bier. If you haven't seen her work, check it out, favorites being the original Brothers, 2004 and After the Wedding, 2006. And I'd even champion her unfairly maligned American film, Things We Lost in the Fire, 2007.
The Rundown: A very compelling film and well made, In a Better World tells the story of two Danish families whose lives collide when two young boys become friends. The film depicts dangerous ideations of outcast and depressed children, and really speaks volumes about parenting and education. While not my favorite entry from Bier, it's worth watching. 8/10
Good Neighbours
Director: Jacob Tierney
Stars: Emily Hampshire, Jay Baruchel, Scott Speedman
Country of Origin: Canada
Why I Chose this Film: I haven't seen Tierney's much hailed 2009 film, The Trotsky, but the plot and cast sounded like a must see.
The Rundown: I was surpised to see Emily Hampshire (who played Sigourney Weaver's daughter in the excellent 2006 film, Snow Cake) looking so grown up---at first I thought she must be the daughter of Ally Sheedy. Good Neighbours is set during a snowy Canadian winter, where a serial killer is ravenously killing young women and three neighbours in an old apartment complex slowly find out strange things about one another. This is a bare bones synopsis, but this is a delightful dark comedy with Hampshire giving a hugely entertaining performance. 9/10
Insidious
Director: James Wan
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey
Country of Origin: US
Why I Chose this Film: While I don't particularily find James Wan (responsible for directing the first Saw, 2004) an intriguing director, the plot and principal cast sounded awesome.
The Rundown: I loved it. Completely creepy in the first half, and comical and entertaining in it's second, Wan described the film as this generation's Poltergeist, and I'd have to agree. I'm sure it will be released theatrically sometime soon and I highly recommend not reading anything about the film and just go see it. 9/10
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