Warrior: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is not something that I particularly like, nor am I very curious about the sport. From what I have seen of it, it looks like a brutal and unforgiving physical competition, leaving permanent external scars on its competitors as if memory aids of each fight. Nor am I huge fan of boxing, but at the very least with boxing, the physical trauma is not always as obvious as it is in MMA. When the film Warrior was announced, it seemed like a film that simply wanted to capitalize on the rising popularity of the sport. A variety of films have tried this before and they generally turned out to flop, because most of the fans of the sport were more interested in the action of the sport, rather than a manipulated backstory to the action. Also, choregraphy of sports action can tend to look just like that...choregraphed.

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Win Win: A film review

 - Vancouver, British Columbia - Win Win is a film by writer/director Thomas McCarthy about the plight of the American family man. Mike Flaherty (Paul Giamatti) is a attorney for the elderly and is in some financial trouble. His practice is in jeopardy and he can't find the courage to tell his wife, Jaki (Amy Ryan) who helps take care of his two young girls. While stressing over his money problems, he overhears a solution. One of his clients, Leo (Burt Young) is succumbing to dementia and now legally requires a guardian to take care of him. Instead of letting the state become his guardian, Mike would take up that responsibility and get paid $1500 a month out of Leo's estate. The plan is supposed to be as easy as that, but in stumbles Kyle (Alex Shaffer), Leo's grandson who is running away from home and seeking refuge with his grandfather, who is now in a home and unable to take him in.

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The Wrestler: A film review

- Vancouver, British Columbia - There were few films that I anticipated more in 2008 than The Wrestler. When I first saw the trailer announcing the film, I immediately knew that it was a film that I wanted to watch. Maybe it was it was idea of Mickey Rourke coming back to play an underdog trying to get his feet back on the ground; maybe it was simply because it was an honest look at the world of wrestling entertainment; or perhaps it was even Bruce Springsteen's haunting track that graced the entire trailer. Whatever it was, I was hooked.

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