The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom (DVD Review)

Writer/Dir: Tara Johns - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Macha Grenon, Julia Stone, Gil Bellows, Rebecca Croll, Trevor Hayes and the voice of Dolly Parton
Canada, 2011

Reason to see: Canadian & coming of age film is a yes/yes for me!

I’ve been aching to see The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom ever since it released here in Toronto almost a year ago, as I’ve realized I love the genre and we’ve had a really great run of young coming of age films recent that truly speak to and of the experience of young girls and women. It’s so refreshing to see moments of young girls depicted with an true, emotional resonance. The awkward stages of life, the changing wave of friendships during puberty, the realness of life and how the whole world of emotions that surface with fierce intensity at a time that can often be shown as just fun and games. Those of us that go through it know better, and it’s shown bravely in The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom.

I adored this film. It’s a Canadian film set in the early 1970’s about a girl who thinks Dolly Parton could be her mom. It really has the very young coming of age vibe perfectly, and I love when films get that right (see also Grown Up Movie Star). There is always a kitsch appeal for films set in the 60s and 70s and even now in the 80s and it’s lovely to see them get the time period so well in an earnest in true sense over flamboyant flavour appeal. The film actually makes interesting commentary on style and changing of the times in a way I’ve not seen before, which was very impressive.

The emotional journey of young protagonist Elizabeth (Julia Stone) is where the film really hits home, her struggle, her searching and her creating her possible past to make sense of her present self is a beautiful and often heart breaking story to see. She’s a great character, both unique and accessible, whom we live with and thrugh during the film. I loved many of the characters in the film, including her Phil (Gil Bellows in another fantastic performance) and Marion (Macha Grenon completely wowed me), and I especially loved the Stella (Rebecca Croll), the free-thinking, feminist hairdresser/friends mom who lives across the street. Who couldn’t love Stella? We all need a Stella in our lives, she was fantastic.

The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom was a complete treat. I’ve really come to cherish seeing young female protagonist stories, especially when they are journey film like this with have strong acting and interesting characters. It felt so real. Beautiful & daring, I highly recommend it.

DVD Extras:
Trailer

The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom is available on DVD as of January 24, 2012. Check it out over at Amazon.ca & Amazon.com

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I'll watch it again
I highly recommend it

Return to Film Reviews or see more DVD Reviews

Also see my review of The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom on Episode 59 of the Movie Moxie Podcast:


© Shannon Ridler, 2012

Fright Night (2011) Review 2-Disc BluRay Combo Pack with BluRay & DVD

DVD/BluRay Review of the coming of age vampire horror comedy Fright Night starring Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Imogen Poots and David Tennant


Dir: Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, Mr. Woodcock)
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, Imogen Poots, David Tennant, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Toni Collette
USA/UK, 2011

Reason to see: Vampire Films are pretty much always a go, plus the casting is awesome

Going into Fright Night (2011) I was hyped to see a vampire film, but not having seen the original I didn't have much more than that to go on other than hesitation as recent track record for horror remakes have not been. Low and behold, I am happy I took the plunge and dived in as the film is fabulous! It has a great story, charismatic characters and an insightful look at power dynamics and relationships. All of that set in outside-Vegas suburbia, giving it a prime opportunity to play into high school insecurity drama and lots of beautiful people.

The film follows Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin of Star Trek, Terminator Salvation & The Beaver) who is a pretty average guy for all intents and purposes, but gets trapped in between social crowds of his new girlfriend Amy (Imogen Poots) and trying to avoid his old geek friends including Ed (Christopher Mintz-Plasse of Kick-Ass), who suspects neighbour Jerry (Colin Farrell of In Bruges, Triage) of being a vampire. I was honestly already sold at the 'possible vampire neighbour Jerry', but as an added bonus we get a complex dynamics of social groups, awkwardness and power dynamics on many levels. I loved the power play in the film which is present at all times, especially between Charley and Jerry, the tense yet subtle negotiation as well as dancing around predator behaviour at every step.

The cast really makes the film a cut above. Anton Yelchin & Colin Farrell play off each other very well in creating the power struggle between their characters, which is something I didn't expect but also adds a great coming of age quality to it. We've actually seen several male coming of age stories in film this year with Stake Land & Bellflower, but those both lost me somewhere and Fright Night kept me in at every moment. Perhaps it's the comedic elements, and considering it's written by 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' veteran Marti Noxon was the magic touch as that show always finessed that beautiful balance between horror, comedy and pop culture. Another huge highlight of the film is David Tennant (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 'Doctor Who') as Vegas illusionist Peter Vincent, whose performance alone is worth seeing the film as he's over the top in all the right ridiculous ways. I also loved that even though it has lots of comedy in it, it still is a true horror film where horrific things happen. I was literally shocked several times during the film, which isn't an easy feat, and they were all true to story or character moments - no pop scare or no cheap shots, but all truly great moments.

Overall it's a great vampire film, horror film and coming of age film and it's got a great sense of humour as sensational performances. Fright Night (2011) will definitely be one of my faves of 2011.

DVD Extras:

• Bloopers (3 minutes) includes practical goofs & mishaps, flubbed lines, extended reaction shots and lots of brilliant & awkward moments.
• Squid Man – Extended & Uncut (2 Scenes, 3 minutes) Awesome footage home video style of the superhero/role-playing of Adventures of Squid Man, Kid Comeback and Gladiator Boy full on with practical effects and creative editing.
• Kid Cudi Music Video (uncensored version) “No One Believes Me” (5 minutes) movie tie in video set in the tone and setting of the film.
  

BluRay Extras
All DVD extras of Bloopers, Kid Cudi Music Video (uncensored version) “No One Believes Me” and Squid Man – Extended & Uncut (noted above) plus:

• Peter Vincent: Swim Inside My Mind
• The Official “How to Make a Funny Vampire Movie” Guide
• Frightful Facts & Terrifying Trivia
• 5 Deleted Scenes with intros by Director Craig Gillepsie (Ride to School; Neighborly; Once A Freak, Always A Freak; Midori & Kerosene; and Back at the Penthouse)
  

Fright Night (2011) is available on DVD as of December 13, 2011. Check it out over at Amazon.ca & Amazon.com

Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I'll watch it again, repeatedly
I highly recommend it to vampire film fans and horror comedy fans

See also: Fright Night Review on the Movie Moxie Podcast, All 2011 Films Reviewed, All Film Reviews and DVD Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2011

Tanner Hall (DVD Review)

DVD Review of the boarding-school set coming of age drama Tanner Hall starring Rooney Mara, Georgia King, Brie Larson & Amy Ferguston

Image Courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment

Writers/Directors: Tatiana von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini - feature film directorial debuts
Cast: Rooney Mara, Georgia King, Brie Larson, Amy Ferguston, Shawn Pyfrom, Amy Sedaris, Chris Kattan, Tom Everett Scott
USA, 2010

Reason to see: I'm always up for a female ensemble-cast coming of age film

Set in a New England boarding school, Tanner Hall follows Fernanda (Rooney Mara of ... and the upcoming US Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) and her group of friends as they enter their senior year of school. Of course there is trouble and shenanigans to be had by the group, not so much by Fernanda and artist buddy Lucasta (Amy Ferguston), but more so by friends like the flirtatious Kate (played by the fearless Brie Larson) who constantly culls the attention of the one male teacher at the school. The spirit of all of the girls is really in an exploration to find themselves by gently pushing the boundaries of the contained world around them, while always having their own friendships to fall back on for support as well as laughs & tears.

Things start to get a little more real with the arrival of Fernanda's childhood friend, or more succinctly daughter of her mothers friend, Victoria (Georgia King) who brings her own demons and furious energy that unbalances the good trouble of the group into potentially bad trouble but adding a layer of deception, playing favourites, invoking jealously and all of the not-so-nice things that can happen between friends. But what I loved about the film was that it really did show an interesting, layered viewpoint of female friendships at this age, when so many things are changing and people are pushing the boundaries & exploring their own power as they come into their own. I loved how it finessed the layers of grey, the mistakes and mishaps be they serious or subtle they always felt real with a great sense of emotional rawness.

The young cast does a great job portraying the girls on the verge of womanhood and although it's a school setting as opposed to camp, I couldn't help but be reminded by the classic coming of age film Little Darlings, as they both show old friends and new trying relationships and the messy, emotional jumble that happens when they collide. I loved that you can feel that it's a story from a female perspective, and it's exciting to see more female voices in films out there. I will look forward to seeing what else co-writers/co-directors (and best friends!) Tatiana von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini have up their sleeves.

DVD Extras:

• Feature Commentary with writers/producers/directors Tatiana von Furstenberg and Francesca Gregorini on the themes & bond of friendship (and how they are the two directors are both friends & met at school), the music, the locations, casting process including people who actually auditioned for different parts, the complex portrayal of multiple emotions at once, folkloric touches in the film, working with Rooney Mara in her first leading role, the incredible improving between Amy Sedaris & Chris Kattan, the theme and analogy of midlife crisis to coming of age, explanation of the absence of extras, the tonal shifts & how they work with the ensemble cast, shooting sequences, how they aligned the filming experience for the actors to mimic the themes of the film, lots of shout outs to filming in Providence, the stories and anecdotes from the film that are from their own lives, making a film about adolescence and the complicated nature of everything at that time, how amazing & trusting the actresses are, the creative efforts made as the film was low budget and the complicated emotions & relationships in the film.
• Trailer

Tanner Hall is available on DVD as of December 13, 2011. Check it out over at Amazon.ca & Amazon.com

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'd watch it again
I strongly recommend it fans of coming of age films & films centred on friendships, especially between girls

Return to Film Reviews or see more DVD Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2011