Shadows and Fog (1991)

Shadows and Fog

Call No: TEMP 1706

Many consider Woody Allen to be one of the great filmmakers of our time. This makes me wonder why I haven’t seen very much of his work, considering how much I enjoy watching the styles and direction of any number of filmmakers. The first and only movie that I’d seen of his (until now) was The Purple Rose of Cairo, and the only reason for that was because (a) it was about the love of movies and (b) I needed a fifth movie for a blowout sale at the CNE. I thoroughly enjoyed the film, so when one of my housemates told me that she would be watching Shadows and Fog, I tagged along for the visual ride.

Somewhere in the mist and fog of the night hides a killer, and timid bookkeeper Kleinman has been dragged out by a team of vigilantes to help in the hunt. On the other side of town, Irmy leaves her cheating boyfriend Paul and the circus she calls home to find something better. Soon these two strangers will meet in the shadows and hopefully find a way to help each other with their problems. But they had better hurry, because when you spend any time in the fog, the killer can’t be far behind.

Vampires Week: Blade Trilogy (1998, 2002, 2004)

This whole week of reviews was inadvertently started by my housemate. We were reading over my list of possible films to review when she said, “We should watch Blade.” She hadn’t seen it in years and I’d never seen any of them. Always up for a new movie experience and being a big fan of both action films and comic books (on which Blade is based), I named this week “Vampire Week” and we checked out all three Blade movies with which to marathon. I have to say, I was not disappointed. I’ll comment on all three movies here as simply and succinctly as possible.

Blade

Call No: PN1997 .B5738 2001

The movie that starts it all. Basic rundown? Blade is the half mortal, half vampire protector of the human race. Known as the “Daywalker” because of his ability to walk during the day while having the healing and strength of a vampire, Blade must take down vampire baddie Deacon Frost with the help of his mentor Whistler.

First of all, props to Kris Kristofferson for not only managing to appear threatening at his age, but to do it in a leg brace. The storyline is tight and suspenseful, easily driven by the equal combination of action and drama (and by drama, I mean scenes where Blade doesn’t look like he’s going to kill someone and the other characters share memories and emotions). While the manner by which some mild gore was executed turned my timid stomach while eating (my own fault), I’d watch this film again in a heartbeat.

12 Angry Men (1957)

12 Angry Men

Call No: PN1997 .T82 2001

I need to start this review by saying that 12 Angry Men is my favourite film of all time, so I have a bit of a bias. I’ve lost count of the number of times I have seen it. I promise that this isn’t going to become a “Drop everything and see it now!” kind of review. Nor do I guarantee that this movie will change your life. It won’t. You’ll be the same person when you finish it. It won’t rattle your worldview or shake your ideologies or make you want to run out and save the planet. But if some of you see it, and I hope you will, you will be, at the very least, enjoying a good film.

The premise of 12 Angry Men, based on the play of the same name by Reginald Rose, is fairly simple. A boy is being tried for murder for stabbing his father. In order to pass a verdict of guilty, everyone must vote the same. Except that one man votes not guilty. As the eleven try to change his mind, evidence is reviewed, prejudices come to light, and it soon becomes evident that the verdict isn’t as simple as everyone thought.