The Weekend in Movies: Juno Happens

Every Thursday on the Cinemaphile brings you listings of the new cinema in Victoria, what you should be seeing and mention of notable screenings in the city.

Currently we are in the thick of the Christmas releases, platform openings and yet another new horror remake. Without further ado...

What's New:

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly (****) - One of the 2007's most beautiful and important films, this is director/painter Julian Schnabel's newest masterpiece about Elle Magazine editor Jean Dominique Bauby and his struggle with "Locked-In Syndrome" which resulted in his only communication through his left eye. The film follows his progress of writing a book about his experiences, blinking away to a nurse (Marie Josee Croze)

Features some of the best "shots" I've seen in a film all year. A long, painting like shot of Bauby is his wheelchair outside of his loft in his coastal home. A simple but beautiful scene of Bauby giving his ailing father (Max Von Sydow) a shave. The music of U2 set to a beautiful woman's blowing hair. And in one of the film's final moments, we witness a flashback of Bauby's last drive in the country and the truth about his "breakdown". Add to all of this, the lead performance by legendary Mathew Almaric and the cinematography by Spielberg's regular Janusz Kaminski are quite award worthy.

Note: The first half hour of the film is told entirely through Bauby's single eye point of view and is intentionally problematic with focus, framing and sound. Don't think this is the Vic Theater's business per usual, this is intentional by Schnabel and Kaminski. (Vic)

One Missed Call - Whoopity do, a remake of a Takashi Miike film is upon us. At last, it's been made in English by a major studio so people don't have to read subtitles! And about four gallons of water have been poured on it, so everything is easy to follow and no thinking is required to "enjoy". Oddly enough, the Australian title is "Don't Pick Up The Cell Phone!". How apt.

Also, if you're stupid enough to pay to see this crap, stay away from the opening night shows which no doubt will be filled with natty teenagers running around with their cell phones glowing to their ear. Again, how apt. (Capitol)

What You Should Be Seeing:

Besides Diving Bell, Juno is one of the best films of 2007 featuring a winning Ellen Page and a fantastic screenplay by Diablo Cody. The sharp, multi-layered Atonement is an awards hopeful, as well as the Coen's great No Country For Old Men, all raging on at the Odeon.

If you find yourself out at the Silvercity (I'm sorry to hear that, by the way) and suddenly change your mind about watching National Treasure 2, why not give the wickedly cool musical Sweeney Todd a try? Leave the kids at home and give the throat-slitting, meat pies and Johnny Depp crooning a shot. I think you'll be glad you did.

Screenings:

Michael Clayton & In The Valley of Elah at Cinecenta on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The former is Tony Gilroy's excellent directoral debut featuring George Clooney as a conflicted lawyer, and the latter is Paul Haggis' Iraq war drama.

Watch next week for when The Bucket List and 27 Dresses open.

Showtimes available at tribute.ca