jmlesfesses-1 Reviews

La rage de l'ange (2006)

Good movie, dialogs... so-so

[6/10 · 12 April 2006]

I had a good time seeing this one... But the dialogs left a sour taste in my mouth.

Dan Bigras (writer/director) is a singer here in Québec, and I think this was the one thing that hurts the movie most: The dialogs ain't real, it's almost prose, I can't relate to that. That's it.

I mean, I would expect a movie talking about the hard life in the streets to speak the language of the streets, but I didn't feel that. But, the more the movie goes, the less I felt this prose talking (I think he wrote that chronologically, getting better and better as he wrote, but maybe some external reviews would have been a good idea).

Beside this, it's a good flick. I liked how Bigras developed the characters (he didn't focus only on the two main ones, which is a big plus for me). I had the feeling he had to cut down a lot of scenes (mostly in the beginning), but nothing too exaggerated.

So, go see it, but don't expect realistic dialogs...

Dodging the Clock (2005)

Refreshing movie

[8/10 · 8 August 2005]

DIALOGS... That's what it takes. At least it's a big part of the credibility a movie can offer. And this one has it. We, québécois, suffer of one major handicap when it comes to movies: we have to do a movie where all the characters are going to talk with a french (from France) accent, 'cause it's gonna be international, it's gonna be huge, it's gonna represent what we are...

Bulls*** Horloge Biologique speaks the same language I use with my friends, speaks the same language I use in bed with my girl. This detail gives so much more reality and credibility to the characters that you're connected with them from the start.

Beside the language, there's the story. Boy, the script writers and director simply ask this question: what is it with men (from 25 to 35, i would say) in the 2000s? Where do we go? And mostly why the hell do we have to go somewhere in the first place, when staying right here feels just fine? A real funny movie with a dramatic (and quite unexpected but highly efficient) twist.

Not a pretentious non credible piece of crap like Maman Last Call (using France french), but a real, real look on what is going on with us, males.

go see it.

Battle of the Brave (2004)

Pretentious film

[2/10 · 4 August 2005]

This is the one major problem with this film, along with a good deal of québecois' biggest movies: Done in a pretentious way by pretentious people.

It's really sad, but "big shots" movie makers (driving Dodge Stratus...) from this province believes They Got the Thruth, They Know What the Little People Like.

We're not a rich province, every time a big movie like this (30 millions?!!?) is made, it's cutting off a lot of others who won't see their movie made because of lack of governmental help. So it generates mediocrity; only movies from "friends of the family" are going to be made.

I sound angry and I am. I went see Nouvelle-France expecting a journey in the lives of my ancestors, but i found myself stuck in a pool of inconsistencies: french accent (we gotta please our cousins, so f*** our québecois' language)and lack of historical research is only a few. Add a campy love story and the same music score playing again and again and dumb québecois' viewer is gonna open up and ask for more. I'm glad this pretentious piece of s*** didn't do as planned by the Dodge stratus Big Shots... It's gonna help movie makers who aren't in the very restrained "movie business" of Québec.

Rent Cruising Bar instead and have a real good time.

PS: I'll never forgive them for ruining such an awesome title.