noisy_mouse

I'm glad that I had the opportunity to watch My Last Confession during a Calgary film festival. I've been sitting here trying to think of something clever and insightful to say about this film, but I can't. It is amazing, and that is all I can say.

The writing is witty and interesting, delivered effortlessly by the talented cast. The lighting is gorgeous, the cinematography is interesting, and it all comes together to tell a subtle, surprising, and powerful story.

A treat to watch. Amazing. It's as simple as that. If you ever get the opportunity to see this film, I heartily recommend it.

I snagged this movie because I am a huge Frankenstein fan and thought I'd be in for an entertaining little Halloween film. Instead I got the driest remake of a favorite story of mine that I've ever seen.

The characters are poorly developed, their motivations are poorly explained, and therefore, I don't care about any of them. I didn't get INTO any of them. The movie drags and drags. I found myself falling asleep. The only nice thing I can say is that it featured some great shots of some beautiful mountains. But should that be the highlight of a Frankenstein movie??

The only interesting thing which kept me watching this as long as I did was the unusual take on Frankenstein's creature. Instead of a large, ugly, intimidating yet intelligent creature, we get a skinny black-haired pop star (the actor is a pop star) who cries as he destroys the people in Frankenstein's life. Sheesh.

I tried very hard not to compare it to the older movie by Kenneth Branagh, but the two are so similar that I couldn't help thinking every five minutes, "this was better in the other movie" or "this was more interesting in the other movie". Don't bother with this one: just go rent Kenneth Branagh's version.

At first glance, I wasn't sure if I would like this movie. The "miracles DO happen on Christmas" cliché is very boring and I typically don't enjoy movies that employ it, but this is a very different kind of Christmas movie.

We are given three homeless characters with complex personalities and backgrounds, who are as endearing as they are repellent. They take up the task of caring for a baby they found in the trash, and trying to bring it back to its mother. We learn the secrets that made these people homeless, we learn about the workings of human shame and desperation, and we learn that "miracles DO happen on Christmas." But in the least cheesy way possible!

The plot is very slow-moving, but still, it is interesting and very carefully laid out. This would be a very compelling live-action movie, but the use of animation adds so much visual interest, particularly the expressive (and sometimes hideous!!) face of Hana, the gangly transvestite. The choice of music is unique and very fitting: the song played during a walking-around-the-city montage is reminiscent of Clockwork Orange.

Interesting and careful story, complex and realistic story, tremendous visual appeal and excellent music. I guess this movie pretty much has it all!