Monsieur Lazhar

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

Thank goodness for the Oscars. Otherwise, this 2012 best foreign language film of the year nominee (Canada) probably wouldn't have made it to a theatre screen in the Big O.

I want to take Bachir Lazhar (Mohamed Fellag) to dinner. I want to ask him how he had the courage to show up at the school that day and apply for the teaching position. I want to ask him how he could be so generous of spirit with others while so immersed in his own unthinkable circumstances. 

I want to ask director Philippe Farlardeau where he found his child actors. I want him to tell me that when he yelled 'cut,' they ran around like crazy and threw spitballs and annoyed all the adults on set. I want to ask him if Montreal is as multicultural as it appears in his film.

I want to learn more about Algeria. I want today's educational system to loosen some of its form and politics so teachers can care about their students (in an appropriate manner, of course) without fear of recourse. I want to see more films with this one's heart.

Bonus Bones: 0

No dogs, neither Canadian nor Algerian.

The Avengers

3 Paws
Seen recently at Aksarben Cinema

The line was long, and our trio had to split up to find seats once we entered the theater. I ended up sitting next to a man and his daughter, and the little one couldn't have been more than four or five. "How is she going to sit through 142 minutes of this without being annoying?" I asked myself (not out loud, of course).

She was nothing short of charming, and her occasional cheers - along with those from the rest of the audience - really added to the experience. So did the guy in the ripped plaid shirt and purple sweats we saw milling around before the line started to move, although it took me a moment to realize his outfit was an homage to The Hulk.

Speaking of the green guy, he was clearly the audience favorite. Mark Ruffalo, whom I've loved ever since You Can Count on Me, has that kind of quiet humility that made Bill Bixby's Bruce Banner such an endearing character. I'd have to say my favorite in this outing, though, is Chris Evans as Captain America. If I were ever in a jam, I'd want his intelligence, bravery and loyalty in my corner (he's very dog like).

Although I prefer the story lines in the individual superhero films (Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor were reviewed on this blog in 2011), this group effort is a pretty good way to kick off the summer viewing season.

Bonus Bones: 0
No super dogs, villainous or heroic.

Undefeated

3 Paws

Seen recently at Film Streams

I'm a sucker for a good sports movie (Hoosiers is on my Top 10 list of films), and this one delivers. It's got everything you could possibly want - compelling characters, a momentum-building storyline and an ending that's better than anything you could write yourself. The best thing about it - it's all real.

Coach Bill Courtney is not perfect - he yells, he gets exasperated, and he neglects his family during football season. But wow, what a difference he makes in the lives of his players and the school where he volunteers his time. It's pretty inspirational.

I think there are a lot of Bill Courtneys out there, busting their butts in the shadows because it's the right thing to do and because they end up getting as much as they give. It's too bad directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin can't make a documentary about each and every one of them.

Bonus Bones: 1
Coach Courtney has a dog, but he doesn't get much attention, either.