The Baby Formula
Published June 7, 2009 @ 17:52 in Movies

I attended a screening of a new Canadian film entitled "The Baby Formula" this afternoon at the Drake Hotel. It was part of their First Weekend Club film series. The Drake has this sweet set up where you get a free drink from the bar, watch a cool new film in their ultra cool mini-theatre and then get a Q&A with the director, actors from the film, etc.

All I knew going into "The Baby Formula" was that it was about the first two women in the world to conceive using “female sperm” made from each other’s stem cells. It was surprisingly funny and charming. I laughed out loud several times and, if I were less of a macho man, I could have teared up at a few moving scenes. The pregnant lesbian couple were actually pregnant during filming (but weren't an actual couple), adding to the realism, and it was great to see them at the showing.

This flick was put together for $275,000 CAD. Some big budget films spend more on catering. It's really, really good but there's no money to promote it. AMC is giving it a weekend this month to see if it's worthy of more screen time. If you're looking for a charming as all hell movie that'll make you laugh, see "The Baby Formula" on June 19, 20 or 21 at the AMC at Yonge and Dundas.

Here's the trailer.

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Advanced Screening of Pixar's Up
Published May 27, 2009 @ 14:38 in Movies

Tonight I get to see Pixar's Up before most of you. Nah nah nah nah nah.

Here's the promo blurb I got from Disney Canada.

From Disney•Pixar comes UP, a comedy adventure about 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America. But he discovers all too late that his biggest nightmare has stowed away on the trip: an overly optimistic 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell. From the Academy Award®-nominated director Pete Docter (“Monsters, Inc.”), Disney•Pixar’s UP invites you on a hilarious journey into a lost world, with the least likely duo on Earth. UP will be presented in Disney Digital 3-D in select theatres.

Every parent should be grateful for Pixar. They consistently turn out gold that's equally enjoyable for the kids and adults. That's no easy feat. Tonight, I'm taking my son who's pretty psyched about the 3-D aspect.

So am I...

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The Dark Knight Still Eludes Me
Published May 8, 2009 @ 19:26 in Movies

It's May 2009. Right now. That calendar thingy in the corner of my laptop says it's May 8, 2009.

A year ago, I was anticipating the release of The Dark Knight. Here's my entry in which I get all excited about it. The buzz was off the hizzle, I was already a Batman fan and it was Heath Ledger's final film. The movie was set to open in July and I was ready.

I planned to see it in August. I didn't feel like dealing with the massive July crowds. I'd score babysitting for a night in August and we'd catch the film of the year on the big screen.

It's May 2009, and I still haven't seen The Dark Knight. Amazing reviews, assurances from everyone I trust that I'll love it and a rise to #2 on the all-time box office chart wasn't enough to make it happen.

I really want to see it.

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Unholy Disney Alliance Comes to Full Fruition
Published April 30, 2009 @ 16:58 in Movies

My unholy alliance is finally paying off. Up to now, it's benefited my kids, but not me. I've had media preview screenings of Bolt, Bedtime Stories and Hannah Montana: The Movie. Not quite movies in my wheelhouse, but my daughter got to see Bolt and Hannah Montana while James got to see Bedtime Stories.

Finally, I'm getting sent to a film I actually want to see. I'm getting to see Pixar's Up before it's released wide.

I've referred to Pixar as every parent's saving grace. The last Pixar movie I saw, WALL-E, earned a 9 out of 10 rating from yours truly. Pixar movies aren't consistently good, they're consistently great.

Show time is May 27.

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Nothing New Under the Sun
Published April 4, 2009 @ 15:39 in Movies

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." We learnt this quote from the Book of Ecclesiastes back in high school when we were studying William Shakespeare and his influences. The idea is that everything is adapted and inspired by something else.

I stumbled upon this review of the six Star Wars movies earlier today and liked it very much. Fellow fans of these films, especially the original trilogy I worshipped throughout the 80s, will enjoy this 10-minute tour of the many Star Wars influences that inspired George Lucas.

Related entries:

• Star Wars With A Dallas Opening
• Too Much Of Anything Makes You An Addict
• The Star Wars Kid

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Arcade Fire in Where the Wild Things Are Trailer
Published March 25, 2009 @ 20:12 in Movies

At the end of 2005, I ranked my 10 favourite songs of the calendar year. At the top of that list was "Wake Up" by Arcade Fire.

Here's what I wrote about the tune back then:

1. Arcade Fire's Wake Up
I'm not sure this song qualifies for this list, but it's my site and I'll do as I please! From an album that was released in 2004, this was my favourite song of 2005. I've rambled on about it before. It's a perfect single and still a delight to hear. I see it's finally cracked the top ten of the Thursday 30 at CFNY Edge 102. Reaching #1 is only a matter of time.

I just watched the trailer for Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are, based on the Maurice Sendak children's book of the same name. I was pleased to hear a slowed down version of Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" playing overtop the scenes.

Here's the Where the Wild Things Are trailer, featuring Arcade Fire's "Wake Up."

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Screening One Week
Published February 26, 2009 @ 12:15 in Movies

Back in January, I shared the trailer for One Week. I have a pretty interesting history with the film Saint Ralph, the film Michael McGowan directed prior to this one. Here's how that went...

• August 2005 - I learn there's a cover of Hallelujah by Gord Downie. That's one of my favourite songs covered by the lead singer of my favourite band. I've got to hear this!
• January 2006 - I've been trying to score a copy of this song for almost six months. A post on this blog didn't help, but my Hallelujah hunt continues...
• April 2006 - I finally see Saint Ralph and I love it. It doesn't just have a cool soundtrack but it's a charming as all hell little Canadian flick. I finally hear Downie's Hallelujah and it's better than I had imagined.
• June 2006 - I've got an MP3 of the tune, but it's ripped from the DVD. After a year of hunting, it's the best I can do... This song is nowhere to be found or purchased.
• February 2007 - I have my miracle. The right person has followed my plight and I'm shipped one of only a few copies of the Saint Ralph soundtrack that was never released. I now have two different studio versions of Gord Downie singing Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.
• February 2009 - I'm going to a screening of One Week, which doesn't have a Downie song on the soundtrack but does have a Gord Downie cameo.

That's right, tonight I get to see a screening of One Week. One viewing of the trailer had me hooked. I'm really looking forward to this.

I'll share my review tomorrow. Here's the trailer that spoke to me.

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Planning My Oscar Weekend
Published February 19, 2009 @ 16:03 in Movies

This Saturday I'm planning to catch all five movies nominated for Best Picture at Sunday's Academy Awards. It's AMC's Best Picture Showcase and it kicks off with Milk at 10:30 Saturday morning. I'll be at the Yonge & Dundas AMC here in Toronto.

You can order tickets now at http://www.amctheatres.com/. It's $30 for a collectible pass that lets you come and go as you please. In addition to the five films, you get unlimited large popcorn refills all day.

I've never seen more than two movies in a theatre in a single day, so this will be interesting. Of the five movies, I've already seen Slumdog Millionaire, so I'll probably go out for dinner during that one. I'm thinking the key is getting up for a walk to stretch the legs between films... especially before The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I hear is a long one.

Sunday, of course, is the Oscar telecast. If you haven't yet got to it, my little Oscar pool form is right here.

And yes, I'll Tweet between films... so follow that action at http://twitter.com/torontomike.

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The Trilogy Meter
Published February 18, 2009 @ 11:54 in Movies

You've probably seen this already, but it's The Trilogy Meter by a cat named Dan Meth.

I think it's spot-on, especially The Godfather one.

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AMC's 2009 Best Picture Showcase
Published February 12, 2009 @ 15:38 in Movies

The AMC Yonge & Dundas 24 Theatre is having a great promotion where for one price movie goers are able to see all 5 Best Picture nominees in one day.

That day is Saturday, Feb. 21 and they're sending Toronto Mike, who has only seen one of the pictures nominated for best picture. That's right, I'm now referring to myself in the third person!

The Oscar "Best Picture" nominees, "Milk," "The Reader," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Frost/Nixon," will play in one dedicated auditorium back-to-back throughout the day. Upon arrival to the theatre, guests will receive a souvenir lanyard, which will feature artwork from the five nominated films and give guests the freedom to come and go throughout the event as they please.

Oh yeah, I get a large popcorn with unlimited refills for the entire day. Man, I'm going to feel sick that night...

The press release says you can get an all-day pass to this Best Picture Showcase for $30. If you wanna hang with me and watch Milk through Frost/Nixon, you know where to go...

Oh yeah, don't forget my Oscar pool... make your picks here.

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