Review - Fall on Your Knees

Written by Ann-Marie MacDonald
Published by Vintage Canada

If taking a Canadian literature course this year has taught me two things, here they are:

1.) The "Canadian experience" cannot be examined holistically until one rejects the notion of a homogenous culture and recognizes that it is comprised of a wide variety of diaspora and traditions.

2.) Canadian literature is fucked up.

I don't mean to bash my Home and Native Land with the second point, or suggest that those who provide Canada's literary output are themselves dysfunctional; no country ever fully works out its issues. But we Canadians seem to have a knack for piecing together narratives rich, fascinating and macabre. Ann-Marie MacDonald's Fall on Your Knees is no exception to the rule.

Review - The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call, New Orleans

Directed by Werner Herzog
Written by William F. Finkelstein, based on the earlier screenplay by Victor Argo, Paul Calderon, Abel Ferrara and Zoe Lund
Starring Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner, Brad Dourif

Werner Herzog's The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call, New Orleans is an archetypal example of Absurdist cinema. Its characters are constantly seeking clarity, fulfilment and answers and never truly obtain them. It has one of the most unexpected "happy endings" I've ever seen a flick end on and yet one that still leaves its titular character spent and looking utterly lost. His last word to the camera is not so much a word as it is a syllable, a single, knowing "Heh" uttered possibly to himself, possibly to whomever is watching.

It is also incredibly absurd. In its nearly two hour running time there was no shortage of moments where I couldn't decide whether to gasp or burst out laughing, though most of the time I instinctually ended up doing the latter. Its latter half is rife with hallucinations, ranging from a pair of placid of undeniably sinister-looking iguanas to a dead debt collector's breakdancing soul. In fact, I have my doubts that the aforementioned obscenely happy ending isn't some massive drug-fueled delusion. As blasphemous as it sounds, I've never previously seen any of Herzog's films but I have a funny feeling the man likes to fuck with his audience, because that's the distinct impression I got from watching this film.

Rant - Me and Inland Empire

Being a functioning member of society, I'm often asked what I've been up to as of late. Given my sedentary lifestyle, I'll likely respond, "Nothing much. Caught a movie." The other party will then inquire, "Cool. Which?" From then on in, the conversation proceeds in one of two possible directions:

Case the First

Me

[insert name of film]

Other guy

What's that about?

Me

[tentative pause]

or

Case the Second

Me

The Dark Knight. Again.

Other guy

Fucking awesome, is it not?

Me

In-fucking-deed.

Both parties then proceed to bump fists or exchange an intricately detailed handshake whilst quoting lines from the movie.

Nine times out of then it's Case the First (I'm not that sad, folks). The pause noted above is in reference to an ongoing internal debate on my part--that being exactly how to answer the question posed. You'd think this would be easy, but seeing as how I'm a film geek rather than a productive member of society I have a propensity to watch films that make answering this question all the more difficult. Thus, with Case the First, I end up facing another two-pronged dilemma: do I tell them what it's about on a literal level, or do I describe its overarching themes, issues, etc.? Again, an issue that's almost entirely nonexistent for normal people but a likely occurrence for me.

Review - Batman: Arkham Asylum

Developer: Rocksteady Studios
Publisher: Eidos Interactive
Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, PS3

I'm a Batfan, this cannot be denied. I've had a near-lifelong love for the Bruce Timm/Paul Dini animated series, but my fandom really began back in 2005 with the release of Batman Begins. I spent the next 4-5 years amassing a shocking number of Batman TPBs, hardcovers, and the like. So, upon discovering that Eidos would be publishing an immensely faithful video game adaptation of the series, I was understandably joyful. Bat-games have an unfortunate history, it should be said, but even from the first screens it was obvious that Arkham Asylum would be nothing short of the Dark Knight distilled to his purest elements.

Review - Dead Space

Developer: EA Redwood Shores
Publisher: EA Games
Platform(s): PC, Xbox 360, PS3

My list of favourite movies has been consistently evolving over the past couple of years, but to my memory I don't think there's been a moment since 2004 where Alien hasn't been at the very top. The movie does everything right in all respects: the plot rarely if ever gives into cliche, the acting is totally natural and most of the effects still hold up to today's standards - if not better at times; most of the dialogue is improvised, familiar and seamless; the score is wonderfully composed and arranged, the titular creature magnificently designed and executed, and the entire film radiates with haunting, claustrophobic paranoia.