So when Jesse’s high school grades started to drop and his enthusiasm for school was at a complete and utter standstill, Gilmour asked his son a question that would forever change both of their futures. “Jesse,” he said. “Put down your pen. Stop for a second please.”

“What?” Jesse responded.

Gilmour continued, “I want you to do me a favor. I want you to think about whether or not you want to go to school.”

Like many people, Gilmour too had hated his time in high school. I personally feel the same way. Looking back now, I don’t know how I survived it. But Gilmour was brave enough to give his son the option of dropping out of school, living at home for free, and not forcing him to get a job – as long as he agreed to watch three movies a week with his father. Jesse agreed and dropped out of school shortly thereafter.

Now dropping out of school isn’t for everyone, but for some people I do believe it is a good option. In Jesse’s case, I couldn’t say (You’ll have to read the book). But as The Film Club’s story progresses, Gilmour and his son watch a plethora of films. They don’t watch the latest Hollywood trash, but instead, most of their time is spent on the classics and rarely seen goodies of the past.

As time goes on, the book becomes less and less about film and more and more about girls, drugs and the life of a father who is working to do the best he can for himself and his family.

The book chronicles Jesse’s ongoing girl problems and his encounters with alcohol, drugs, and emotionally abusive relationships.

Time slips by and Gilmour and his son grow close but at the same time are very much growing apart. Jesse is looking for freedom and independence, while Gilmour is simply savoring these ;ast precious moments with his son – a son who is quickly becoming a man.

In the end, The Film Club is not about a boy who drops out of school and watches movies all day. Instead, it is the story of a father, fighting to keep his son on a positive life path. Instead of speaking to his son through a raised voice and a hardened hand, Gilmour speaks to his son through the movies he chooses to watch each week. In each film is a lesson and it is placed there, in front of Jesse, for him to soak up, absorb, and take with him as he moves from one place in his life to the next.

To order a copy of David Gilmour’s The Film Club, please click here.

Just like my list of favorites, this list contains some films that were not actually released in 2008, but are simply on my list because I didn’t get around to watching them until this year. That being said, you should also know that the films listed here are not necessarily the worst films I saw this year (although one of them is), but instead, films that I was looking forward to and was severely disappointed by. So here’s the list (in no particular order):

Where In The World Is Osama Bin Ladin?

Morgan Spurlock was the creative mind behind the hit documentary Super Size Me and the “30 Days” TV series in which Morgan and other normal people try living the life of completely different individuals for 30 days straight. Morgan’s past successes had me really looking forward to his release of Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden – a somewhat similar take on Michael Moore’s Roger And Mein which Spurlock travels the world asking people to get down to the heart of the war in the middle east and at the same time, trying to find terrorist #1 – Osama Bin Laden. Sadly, as much as I was looking forward to the film, I finished it having not remembered much of what happened. And when you finish a film and can’t remember what happened, you know it isn’t very good! Super Size Memade the viewer leave the theatre and never look at a McDonalds in the same way again. But this most recent work of Spurlock’s left no such affect.

The Fall

The Fallis a film directed by Tarsem Singh, the same man who directed Jennifer Lopez in The Cell, which released in the year 2000. Because of the huge success of The Cell, I was looking forward to The Fall and was severely bummed at its end result. I knew the film would be strange and maybe even difficult to comprehend, but in the end, the story was just plain boring. I was impressed by some of the special effects and cinematography, but the story (like many bad films) was lacking. I didn’t care about the characters and therefore, didn’t care about the film.

Across The Universe

This was the film I was probably looking forward to most of all. I imagined it as a cross between The Beatles classic rock songs and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge! But sadly, Across The Universe was a huge disappointment. It had its moments, but overall, it was a gigantic letdown. Where Moulin Rouge! acts as an actual story propelled by song, Across The Universe seemed more like a two-hour music video that just seemed to go on and on and on. I kept waiting for it to end… and thankfully, it finally did. Whew! What a letdown!

The Golden Compass

Now here’s a film that I wasn’t necessarily looking forward to per say, but it is a film that is marketed in such a way that you half way expect the film to be pretty good. With Nicole Kidman playing a lead role, you’d think it’s gotta be half way decent. But like too many films lately, there are too many special effects and too little story. Once again, I didn’t care about the main characters and actually became a bit angry when the film just suddenly ended by eluding to a sequel (which I pray they do not create!).

Rocket Science

Rocket Science was a film that appeared, to me at least, to be a story meant to ride the waves of success that Napoleon Dynamite created in 2004. The story revolves around a stuttering young man who joins his school’s debate team. On a whole, the movie isn’t half bad. But when you compare the film with its rival Napoleon Dynamite, it doesn’t even come close.

Hairspray

As I discussed in my previous article on The Little Mermaid being moved to the stages of Broadway, there is a huge movement right now to take the best Broadway hits and transform them into Hollywood products. It’s a quick and easy model for making successful movies, but as I’ve stated before, “Some things are best left in their original formats.” In the case of Hairspray, there’s nothing technically wrong with the film. The story is strong (but predictable), the music is good (not great), and it is a film in which you actually care about the characters. However, I’m not impressed by most Broadway productions on a two dimensional screen. They just don’t have the same pizazzas they do when performed live right before your eyes. Sometimes it’s the stage on which the real “magic” happens.

Slipstream

Finally, Slipstream isn’t a film I was ever looking forward to. I’m throwing it in here simply because it is possibly the worst film I have EVER seen. In fact, I had never heard of it before I rented it. But a film directed by world-renowned actor, Anthony Hopkins, has got to be pretty good, right? WRONG! This movie SUCKED! And it sucked big time! I turned it off after about 10 minutes and have never been happier to return such a piece of shit to the rental store. Wow, do I want my ten minutes back. Imagine the worst film student movie you’ve ever seen and multiply that by 150. That’s Slipstream.

What films were you severely disappointed by this year? Or which ones do you think just plain sucked? I’d be curious to hear what you have to say.

When Brook Silva-Braga left his job as an Emmy-Award winning TV producer for HBO to spend more than 11 months traveling around the world, his co-workers didn’t know what to think. Carrying 5 pounds of clothing and more than 30 pounds of video equipment in a backpack, Brook would spend the next year traveling through 26 different countries and 4 different continents… recording his journey on tape as he went along.

Upon his return to the United States, Brook moved in with his parents and spent the next few months editing his footage into the award winning film, A Map For Saturday.

After just a few short months, Brook was able to sell the film to MTV in over 20 different countries and the money he received was enough to fund his next year of travel and filmmaking endeavors.

What’s most remarkable about Brook’s story is not that he created an incredible film which he shot almost entirely by himself, but the fact that he was able to use his experience in the entertainment industry to sell his film and finance his another year of travel.

Unfortunately, A Map For Saturday is not available in stores and you have to purchase the DVD directly from the website at www.amapforsaturday.com. However, I can tell you that purchasing and watching this movie is totally worth the price!

It honestly is one of the best independent films I have ever seen. Sadly, it is these types of stories, which despite being incredibly well done, are not widely known about.

So watch the trailer above, buy the film, and help to spread the word. Because one day, you might just be able to follow in Brook’s footsteps and piggyback on the success of this young, ingenious filmmaker.

Have you seen A Map For Saturday? What did you think?

The Sundance Film Festival is currently underway in Park City, Utah and as usual, Sundance has released a select group of short films from this year’s festival and shared them online – for free!

To download this year’s Sundance shorts, go to: http://itunes.com/Sundance

One of the films you just gotta download and watch is called “I Live In The Woods“.

It’s a three minute stop-motion animated film shot largely outdoors (which is atypical for stop motion animation) and it’s the story of well… a strange little creature with a purple beard who lives in the woods.

Like many short films, this is one you just gotta watch for yourself. Prepare to laugh, cry, and be thoroughly disgusted!

And if, after watching the film you are interested in seeing how Max Winston, the film’s creator, made such an incredible piece of work, watch the short video below. Enjoy!

I live in the Woods TIME LAPSE! from Max Winston on Vimeo.

Yesterday I picked up a copy of “The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” which as you may or may not know, is the second of three films in the “Chronicles of Narnia” series.

I recall reading “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” when I was younger, but now that I’m older I don’t recall much of the story except for the fact that our four young heroes walk into a wardrobe  and come out on the other side in a land called, “Narnia”.

I watched the first film in the “Chronicles of Narnia” series – appropriately named, “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe”, but the film didn’t leave any sort of impression on me. Too many special effects and not enough story.

Then, when I picked up “Prince Caspian” last night, I wasn’t surprised to discover that the second film gave very few hints or clues as to what had happened in the first film. To put it short, I didn’t know what the heck was happening, who these characters were, or why this story was even taking place. After two attempts at the first hour of the film I finally pressed “stop” and went to sleep. I don’t have time to waste on films such as this.

The problem with the Narnia film series, much like the problem with most sequels, is that you either love the first film and don’t need a recap during the second and third films… or you have no idea what happened in the previous film and therefore, you have no idea what is actually happening in the film you are currently watching.

Therefore, the filmmaker has to make a choice.

1) You can either spend some time in the beginning of the sequel to get the rest of the audience (not the raving fans) caught up on the story…

2) Or you can skip the recap all together and simply cross your finger that the audience can figure out what is going on.

Frankly, I’d prefer the recap. Even as a raving fan I wouldn’t mind seeing a glimpse back at what has happened in a previous film. And the audience whom is unfamiliar with the story will appreciate knowing what’s actually taking place.

The problem with the recap is it takes work and money, both of which seem to be in short supply these days. But if you want to make a good film and have it pay off at the box offices, I think the recap is ultimately important.

What do you think? Do you think sequels to films should include a short recap at their beginnings? How would you get audience members caught up on a story that happened in a previous edition of the film?

The following is my list of 11 films I recommend you see if you haven’t done so already:

Delirious

Steve Buscemi stars as Les, a small-time paparazzi photographer desperate to make it big. Les is soon introduced to Toby (Michael Pitt), a homeless young man with no direction in life except a vague desire to become an actor. But when Toby becomes romantically involved with K’Harma Leeds (Alison Lohman), the hottest pop star of the moment, Les grows jealous and plots revenge.

Interview

Another Steve Buscemi film, Interview was an official selection at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and the winnter of several other prestigious awards and nominations. Pierre (Buscemi) is a political reporter, assigned to write a fluff piece on Katya (Sienna Miller), a blond slasher movie actress and TV sitcom starlett. The interview between the two at a restaurant goes badly: she’s late, he’s unprepared and rude. After leaving, he bangs his head in a fender bender and she takes him to her loft to clean the wound. Lubricated by alcohol and competitive natures, the interview resumes. She takes phone calls from her fiancé, Pierre reads her diary on her computer. They discuss wounds, he expresses concern, father-daughter feelings arise. Out come camcorders to tape their darkest secrets. Is friendship or more in the offing?

The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill

The Wild Parrots Of Telegraph Hill tells the true story of a bohemian St. Francis and his remarkable relationship with a flock of wild red and green parrots. Former street musician and San Francisco dharma bum Mark Bittner falls in with the flock as he searches for meaning in his life, unaware that the parrots will bring him everything he seeks.

Goya’s Ghosts

Goya’s Ghosts is the story of the painter Goya (Stellan Skarsgård) who becomes involved with the Spanish Inquisition when his muse, Ines (Natalie Portman), is arrested by the church for heresy. Her father, Tomás (José Luis Gómez), comes to him hoping that his connection with Brother Lorenzo (Javier Bardem), whom he is painting, can secure the release of his daughter. Goya’s Ghosts is a tragic reminder of what can happen when you try and help people and get involved in other business you have no right being a part of.

Into the Wild

Based on a true story and the book by Jon Krakauer, Into The Wild is the story of Christopher McCandless, an Emory University graduate, who in 1992, abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters who shape his life. Tragically, McCandless life is drawn short during a brutal Alaskan winter. If you’ve ever dreamt of a grand adventure, then this film is for you!

Lars and the Real Girl

In this comedy, Lars Lindstrom (Ryan Gosling) is an awkwardly shy young man in a small northern town who finally brings home the girl of his dreams to his brother and sister-in-law’s home. The only problem is that she’s not real – she’s a sex doll Lars ordered off the Internet. But sex is not what Lars has in mind. Instead, he dreams of nothing more than a rather a deep and meaningful relationship. His sister-in-law is worried for him, his brother thinks he’s nuts, but eventually the entire town goes along with his delusion in support of this sweet natured boy for whom they’ve always loved.

For The Bible Tells Me So

In this thought-provoking documentary, we are introduced to five Christian families, each with a gay or lesbian child. The film discusses what these families went through when as learned about homosexuality members in their families and the lessons they learned along the way. More importantly, however, the film takes a deep look into the Christian Church and how the Bible has been used throughout the ages to mislead followers, deny modern science and embrace quack psychology.

The Strangers

I’m not a fan of horror movies, but The Strangers isn’t a horror movie like any one I’ve ever seen in the past. In a bad mood over some kind of fight held during the wedding reception they attended earlier in the day, our main characters, James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) and Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) return to an isolated vacation home and shortly thereafter receive a knock at the door in the middle of the night. What ensues afterward is both frightening and realistic. With an excellent score, terrifying sound design, and an A-list ensamble, The Strangers is the one of the scariest films you’ll ever see. For ideal viewing conditions, watch at midnight when you’re home all alone. 

Be Kind Rewind

Be Kind Rewind is the story of Jerry (Jack Black), a junkyard worker who attempts to sabotage a power plant he suspects of causing his headaches. In his efforts, he inadvertently causes his brain to become magnetized, leading to the unintentional destruction of all the movies in his friend’s video store. In order to keep the store’s one loyal customer, the pair re-create a long line of films including: The Lion King, Rush Hour, Ghostbusters, When We Were Kings, Driving Miss Daisy, and Robocop. They make the films by acting themselves and later casting local townspeople. And while their home made movies are likely not to fool their most loyal customer, they strike gold and quickly become the biggest stars in their neighborhood. A must-see film for any up and coming filmmaker.

Juno

If you’ve seen any of the films on this list thus far, Juno is the one you’ve likely already seen. Juno (Ellen Page) is a 16-year-old high-school junior in Minnesota who discovers she’s pregnant after one event in a chair with her best friend, Bleeker. In the waiting room of an abortion clinic, the quirky and whip-sharp Juno decides to give birth and to place the child with an adoptive couple. She finds a couple in the PennySaver personals, contacts them, tells her dad and step-mother, and carries on with school. The chosen parents, upscale yuppies (one of whom is cool and laid back, the other meticulous and uptight), meet Juno, sign papers, and the year unfolds. Will Juno’s plan work, can she improvise, and what about Bleeker?

Smart People

Dennis Quaid stars as Lawrence Wetherhold, a miserable and misanthropic man: he’s a widower, a pompous professor at Carnegie Mellon University, an indifferent father to a college student and a high-school senior, and the reluctant brother of a ne’er-do-well who’s come to town. A seizure and a fall send Lawrence to the emergency room where the physician, a former student of his, ends up going on a date with him. His daughter, Vanessa (Ellen Page), lonely and friendless, who’s been bonding with his brother, tries to sabotage dad and the doctor’s relationship, but Lawrence is good at that without help. Is there any way these smart people can get a life? Can happiness be pursued beneath layers of irony?

The film starts with a narrator who proclaims, “What you are about to see is inspired by true events. According to the F.B.I. there are an estimated 1.4 million violent crimes in United States of America each year. On the night of February 11, 2005 Kristen McKay and James Hoyt went to a friend’s wedding reception and then returned to the Hoyt family’s summer home. The brutal events that took place there are still not entirely known.”

In a bad mood over some kind of fight held during the wedding reception they attended earlier in the day, our main characters, James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) and Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler) return to an isolated vacation home and shortly thereafter receive a knock at the door in the middle of the night. What ensues afterward is both frightening and realistic.

What makes The Strangers stand out from other horror films is threefold.

For one, it consists of an all-star cast. Liv Tyler’s performance is remarkably fear-provoking and Scott Speedman performs well as the Tyler’s love interest.

Secondly, the events that take place in the film are entirely plausible – unlike many other horror pictures. As you watch the film, you feel like the event that are happening to Speedman and Tyler could happen to you at that same moment… or any time after. It’s these sensations that make the film stick with you long after you’ve finished viewing it. Like most things in life, the things that happen in real life are a lot scarier than anything that could ever be made up in the Hollywood studios.

Not only did the Speedman’s and Tyler’s performances have me hiding behind my couch and making me think I was seeing black figures move around in my living room, but the sound design and music for the film was really quite impressive. Sound is often times an element that is overlooked in horror films (and in most films for that matter), but the sound design in The Strangers was obviously something that a great deal of thought was put into before production began. Sharp piercing alarms, loud blaring music, and dead quiet moments where all you can hear is the beating of your own heart make the sound design of The Strangers one of the best I’ve seen this year.

If you’re looking for a film that not only scares you, but also gets you thinking, then The Strangers is a film you just must experience for yourself.