“Happy-Go-Lucky” played as part of the Cinema of Our Time Series at the 2008 Vancouver International Film Festival.
Most of the films I caught at the 2008 Vancouver Film Fest had political and social justice undertones; important, interesting, but ultimately really serious, and often just plain depressing stuff.
So to start off my Film Fest experience with the UK film “Happy-Go-Lucky” was startling, because it couldn’t have been more different than the others I would soon view.
Frieda Werden reviews Apology of an Economic Hitman, currently screening at the Vancouver International Film Festival...
Feature-length documentary. Airing in the Vancouver International Film Festival. Last showings at Empire Granville 6, Thursday, October 9 - 7:15 pm, and Empire Granville 2, Friday, October 10, 10:15 pm.
Writer/Director Jiri Menzel’s I served the King of England had its western Canadian Screening at 5th Ave Cinemas on Sept 9th. CJSF’s Nick Pannu reviews…
A monster flick with gore? Yes, and CJSF volunteer, Nick Pannu, was there to see it with his own eyes...
Perpetual guts, gore and decapitations can easily jade the contemporary horror fan. Usually raising the bar with… well… with more mutilations, blood spurts screams can succeed in maintaining the niche horror film groupies/enthusiasts. Director, Jon Knautz ventures outside the realm and doses his film with a mix of comedy, crafted special effects and a storyline.
CJSF Volunteer, Rose Marie Borutski, reviews Gonzo: the Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson
I came to this docudrama wondering why yet another. What could possibly be shown and said that had not been previously?
Volunteer, Nick Pannu, documents Film Race 2008...
On June 25, 2008 29 films short films screened at the Ridge theatre for the Vancouver Film Race.
If you were to take an 'American Beauty' DVD, an old, tagged up mixtape, and 'The Kids' on VHS, you'd have a concoction much like 'The Wackness'. CJSF programmer, Nick Routley, reviews…
In the summer of 1994, New York City was a hot, throbbing mass of hip hop mix tapes and drugs, and from the opening drum kick, The Wackness puts you right in the moment. (For the 25 - 35 demographic, this film is chockfull of "oh yeah!" pop culture references)
CJSF volunteer, Kate Lerman, reviews Flight of the Red Balloon as part of the French Film Festival...
Amidst the crass comedy and noisy CGI of summer movies, I found a wonderful oasis: “Flight of the Red Balloon”. It’s the first French-language film from Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao Hsien. The film is loosely based on Albert Lamorisse’s 1956 classic short, “The Red Balloon”, in which a young boy is followed around Paris by a red balloon.
Louis Leterrier's version of The Incredible Hulk brings forth a long awaited screen version of the Big Green that will satisfy comic book fans everywhere. CJSF programmer, Irma Arkus reviews…
Unlike Ang Lee's 2003 version of Hulk, which audience judged to be too dark, dramatic, and yet severely lacking in the elements that made Hulk fun (yes, HULK SMASH!), Leterrier's version of the Big Green delivers a well executed, yet somewhat mediocre revival of a comic book character that could have otherwise gone the way of Catwoman.
