Reviews

An absolutely wonderful documentary which explores the creative process of Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy, whose specialty is making art in the natural environment using natures materials: leaves, rock, twigs etc. By there very nature these works of art he so painstakingly creates are temporary, lasting, in some cases, just a matter of hours.

This wonderful film provides us with many memorable images: a delicate ice structure melting in the early morning sun; a beehive hut constructed on a river bank with the branches of trees, being gently and carefully carried away by the tide. Goldsworthy says he does not see nature as destroying his structures but,rather, extending the process of creation, bringing his work onto another plane.

The only voice we hear is Galsworthy's as he explains his work and his view of the world. It's not all plain sailing; we see his frustration as something he's worked on for hours collapses or is blown away by a gust of wind. On an aesthetic level, the movie is faultless as it gently reveals the artists wondrous view of nature and its beauty. A movie that draws you in as it explores the mysteries of the creative process. A joy to watch. Highly recommended.

I loved this movie. A wonderful examination of parenthood and its responsibilities. Patrick Huard is excellent in the lead as David, a seemingly feckless 40 plus year old who can't seem to face up to his responsibilities in any aspect of life. Until one day a series of sperm donations given many years previously comes back to haunt him and forces him to confront some challenging questions. It's not giving too much away to say he faces up to those questions and answers them.

And it's not just a movie about parenting, its a movie about families: what it means to be part of a family and what is it that a family actually is. It's a movie that redefines the family unit. Julie leBreton is excellent as David's long-suffering girl friend. The movie is beautifully shot and a visual feast. The colors of the movie start in blues and greens and become richer as the central character becomes changed by the situation he finds himself in. And how often do we see a film of such quality set in Montreal? If you love good movie-making, you'll love this.

Bryan Cranston does a good job in this engaging movie about a New York lawyer who has a nervous breakdown and hides in his attic from his family for a year, living on what he scavenges from rubbish bins. The movie is based on a DL Doctorow short story. Jennifer Garner's role as his (sexy) wife is underwritten but she does a good job in the role.It's not a thriller, but it bears comparison to Hitchcock's Rear Window. The movie is essentially a study in urban loneliness and isolation, with just a couple of references to Robinson Crusoe to pin the whole thing down. We don't really learn what triggered the breakdown, just that it happened. I don't think it's too far fetched to suggest that somebody could hide from his family in his attic for so long (my wife never ventures into the garage or the attic!) and anyway the movie makes it seem plausible. I liked it, it engaged me, and I'd recommend it.

I couldn't warm to this movie. The characters were too unlikable (apart from Bloom's wife). There are also a few anomalies in the plot. For example, the family at the center of the movie live in a comfortable, large house yet the husband is a struggling actor who has to rely on his dad to pay his kids school fees; while his wife works in what seems to be a mind-numbing, low-paid job. And as for unlikable characters, don't get me started on Noah! And then there's the confusing time-line. In the morning his dad is talking about going into hospital for specialist cancer treatment; then what seems like that afternoon, he's in hospital with only a short time to live. And you either like the humor or you don't - I didn't. I don't recommend it.