GOON
Starring Seann William Scott, Liev Schreiber
Directed by Michael Dowse
Anyone whos ever been subjected to Don Cherry prattling on about the fineries of hockeys warrior code has likely gleaned the inherent ridiculousness of the games unwritten rules of engagement. And while director Michael Dowse (FUBAR) certainly exploits the absurdity of the mores that govern on-ice pugilists, he also pays heartfelt tribute to the sacrifices demanded of these marginalized gladiators.
After being caught on film violently defending his gay brothers honour, Doug Glatt (Seann William Scott) a goodhearted simpleton whos been touched by the fist of God rides his talent for trading blows up the lower rungs of hockey. Dougs essential decency drives his every action thereafter, with him willing to do whatever is required by his motley collection of teammates, few of whom display the same devotion for him.
While Evan Goldberg and Jay Baruchels script boasts a surplus of quotable lines, its Scotts puppy-dog-in-a-pitbulls-body turn that drives the film. Despite the carnage he instigates, your heart aches for him when he endures his parents scolding or finds himself stapled to the bench, stealing pleading glances at his coach like a mutt looking to go for a walk.
Everybody loves their soldiers until they come home and stop fighting, Doug is cautioned by a feared rival (Liev Schreiber) in Goons most incisive, cinematic scene. The harsh realities of the sport are again confronted in a perfectly executed climax that, rather remarkably, reads as both an endorsement of the pugilists influential role and a clear-eyed acknowledgement that Doug is destined to be left bloodied, beaten, and forgotten by the game he loves. Curtis Woloschuk
THE FLOWERS OF WAR
Starring Christian Bale, Ni Ni
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Boasting the virtuoso visuals readily associated with Zhang Yimou thanks to action epics like House of Flying Daggers The Flowers of War would qualify as glorious to behold if it werent so gallingly wrongheaded. In dealing with the notorious Nanking Massacre, Zhang doesnt so much sugarcoat an atrocity as drench it in saccharine.
Consequently, its rather appropriate that the narrative centres on John Miller (Christian Bale), an American mortician who values putting a pretty face on death. Holing up in a Catholic church with demure convent students and brash prostitutes, the rogue embarks on his own pillaging campaign before the pangs of conscience inevitably set in. With occupying Japanese soldiers circling the virginal students, John and Yu Mo (Ni Ni) the working girls de facto leader must devise an elaborate escape plan for the girls.
Likewise, the film itself feels calculated and contrived at every turn, frequently employing the flimsiest of excuses to put characters in peril. (Can you really sympathize with someone who braves death to retrieve their earrings?) And when death inevitably arrives, it does so with style (and slow motion) to spare as bodies dance balletically amidst a hail of bullets or a paper factory explodes into a rainbow of colours. What should rightfully be a visceral experience is quickly reduced to vacuous spectacle.
Ultimately, the only horrifying thing about Flowers grisly climax is how completely bungled it is in terms of tone. Granted, what else would you expect from a film that explicitly champions turning a blind eye to grim realities and embracing fantasy instead? CW
ACT OF VALOR
Starring Roselyn Sanchez, Alex Veadov, Nestor Serrano
Directed by Mike McCoy and Scott Waugh
The promotional ads for Act of Valor stress that the movie features active duty U.S. Navy SEALs. The directors claim it was to ensure the necessary realism, but the more plausible explanation is to dissuade critics from writing negative reviews for fear of being labelled unpatriotic. Remember Freedom Fries?
Supposedly inspired by true events, i.e. 99 per cent fiction, the story follows a SEAL team as it tries to repatriate a CIA operative (Roselyn Sanchez) who is kidnapped by an arms merchant (Alex Veadov). In the process, the unit uncovers an Armageddon-style plot against the U.S. that threatens to make 9/11 look like a rush-hour fender-bender, leading to a globe-hopping manhunt.
Made with the full cooperation of the US Navy (including the use of multiple aircraft, and a submarine), Act of Valor is little more than a bad recruitment ad, beginning with the cringe-inducing philosophizing that masquerades as narration. Despite the writers feeble attempt to hammer home the notion of brotherhood, the SEALs are essentially faceless characters with zero chemistry and no backstory so youre never invested in their fate. The villains include wide-eyed spittle-spewing Muslims and a disposable army of moustachioed sunglass-wearing narcotraffickers all of whom look like they just walked out of central casting
But for some decent cinematography and a decent car chase/firefight sequence, Act of Valor is a woefully predictable third-rate action flick that is poorly executed and suprisingly dull. A paranoids wet dream, Valor may fare well with Tea Party supporters and gamers aged 18-25. Greg Ursic
