Double bill at the single screen cinema
The reason may be demographic, or economic, but locally we cannot go to the cinema and watch “original language version” films, if the language happens to be English. Unlike other areas of the world, where a sub-titled version is acceptable, here we have a dubbing industry to protect. No matter what actor or actress is on the screen, a small set of voices from a studio in Montreal cover all the bases. Pathetic.
Happily, most rental DVDs are multilanguage, so we can still fire up the carbon arc in the living room to watch recent blockbusters. This weekend brought two, the choices of notable film critic son #3. And here are my reactions.
Shown on screen #1 was Eagle Eye, a sci-fi movie from last autumn. This is a look at society under surveillance, in a manner that recalled Minority Report. Within minutes, it is clear that someone (or something) has our protagonists in view, and the movie does a decent job of holding our interest until the end. I’d watch this one again, just for the special effects. Billy Bob Thornton is every bit as acerbic as in past, and Shia LeBeouf actually can act.
Also on screen #1 (this is a small home cinema) was In Bruges, another release from 2008. This time around, some big name talent, in Colin Farrell and Ralph Fiennes. Clemence Poesy (another Potter alumnus) has an infectious laugh. The plot involves a pair of hitmen on hiatus in Belgium. The disdain that the lad from big town Dublin holds for small town Bruges provides much of the humour, but the film is one of the darkest comedies I’ve seen in years. Still, worth watching a second time. And, some others agree; the Golden Globes are sending some of their statuary in this direction, as I write.
