Change Your Image
TheWhiteLodge
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
My Winnipeg (2007)
"My Winnipeg", a surreal blurring of myth and reality, of memories and re-imagination; a mesmerizing daydream of a film that defies categorization.
As a Canadian and someone who watches a lot of films, Guy Maddin has been on my radar for some time now, but I did not get around to any of his work until last night. That film was "My Winnipeg", and I was absolutely enthralled by it. Maddin himself describes the film as a "docu-fantasia" and it's an apt description; using home videos, staged reenactments, new and old footage, the film seamlessly blends facts and fantasy, memories and complete re-imaginings. It's about cold, snowy Winnipeg - the center of North America, the heart of the continent - but it's capable of resonating with anyone, because we all come from somewhere. Some of us have long since left, some of us want to but just can't seem to, and some never want to leave, couldn't dream of it.
It's at once a powerful rumination on death - of people, of childhood, of an era - and a celebration of life. A comic yet melancholic, heartfelt meditation on where we come from, and how time and imagination can distort our perception of it. It's about how we mythologize our hometowns, our upbringing, how some memories seem lost forever but can reemerge years later and we can't be quite sure if that's really how they were.
I don't know what it all means but it evoked such a visceral reaction from me. Maybe it's because of where I'm at - recently turned 30, the recent death of my father, living so far away from my hometown, the current state of the world, missing youth - but the film just made me deeply contemplative on life (while also keeping me very entertained - Maddin's hard-boiled, noir-esque narration fits perfectly, and a nice touch was the casting of 1940s film noir icon Ann Savage as his Mother in what would be her final film role).
Roger Ebert (who placed "My Winnipeg' in his top 10 films of the decade) described Maddin's films like "silent movies dreaming they could speak" and wrote "If you love movies in the very sinews of your imagination, you should experience the work of Guy Maddin". I have to agree with him there.
"My Winnipeg" is a poetic celebration of film, creativity, where we come from, and where we want to go.
The Life & Times of Tim (2008)
Underrated comedy; Hilarious
'The Life & Times of Tim' is an original, excruciatingly funny and all-round well executed show, not to mention painfully overlooked. Created, written, directed by and starring Steve Dildarian as the voice of Tim, the series explores the trials and tribulations of a soft-spoken young man named Tim, who lives in a New York apartment with his girlfriend Amy and works an office job for a company called OmniCorp. Tim continually finds himself in extremely awkward social situations, most of the time against his will and of no wrong doing on his part.
The writing is fresh and the dialogue comes off very natural, the comedic timing and chemistry between characters is pitch perfect, the animation is simple but subtle and charming, the swearing/vulgarity is used thoughtfully and is never excessive (though later seasons are more heavy on the profanity, merely an observation, not a complaint), there are so many well-developed secondary characters such as The Boss, Stu, Rodney, Stan, Marie, Helen and The Priest, who have their own unique traits and quirks that make themselves memorable and play off of Tim so well, not to mention the numerable guest appearances including Bob Odenkirk, Aziz Ansari, Alfred Molina, Bob Saget, Jeff Garlin, JK Simmons, Elliott Gould, Philip Baker Hall, Tim Meadows, Fred Williard, Rob Heubel, Will Forte, Lizzy Caplan, Bob Einstein and many more.
'Tim' ranks for me among the best comedies, such as Peep Show, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Party Down, South Park, Arrested Development, The Office UK/Extras, Louie etc and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys these types of shows.
It's true that this type of humour is not for everyone (the best humour never is); it's dry, awkward and inappropriate but if you 'get' this then it is just non-stop hilarity for the whole episode, laughing until it hurts. HBO has something special here and I really hope they hang on to this gem. I cannot recommend this show enough.
Two month-later edit: So yeah, of course HBO cancelled it, again. RIP 'The Life & Times of Tim', here's to hoping it comes back in some form or another.