Brock University Film Series

SMALL TOWN MURDER SONGS

2011-03-23T14:30:00.000-04:00

It's another snowy, blowy Wednesday! Tonight at 7, BUFS screens the acclaimed Canadian film, SMALL TOWN MURDER SONGS (Ed Gass-Donnelly, 2010, rated 14A, 75 min.). Starring Peter Stormare, Martha Plimpton and Jill Hennessy and with a thunderous gospel score performed by Bruce Peninsula, this moody crime drama will almost certainly get under your skin. Don't miss it!

March and April at BUFS

2011-03-02T10:07:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe, but there are only five films left in the BUFS winter season!

Tonight we present Peter Weir's first film in eight years, THE WAY BACK, starring Ed Harris, Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, and Saoirse Ronan. It's the story of a group of prisoners who escape a Siberian labour camp and trek across tundra, mountain, and desert to reach India and freedom. Peter Weir is one of my all-time favourite filmmakers, so I personally couldn't be more excited about this one!

Next week, by popular demand, we have ANOTHER YEAR, an Oscar nominee for Best Original Screenplay, starring Jim Broadbent, Ruth Sheen and Lesley Manville. This is the latest film from director Mike Leigh (HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, VERA DRAKE). I've never met a Mike Leigh film I didn't like.

On March 16, BUFS takes a break. We return on March 23 with a title that has yet to be confirmed, so I can't even give you a hint...

But on March 30, with the support of the Centre for Canadian Studies at Brock University, we are pleased to present BARNEY'S VERSION. This film, based on Mordecai Richler's novel, stars Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, and Dustin Hoffman, and got an Oscar nod for Achievement in Make-up thanks to the remarkable aging of Barney Panofsky. Keep an eye out for fabulous Canuck cameos from the likes of Atom Egoyan, Paul Gross, and David Cronenberg.

We close out the season on April 6 with the newest adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's JANE EYRE, cosponsored by the Department of English Language and Literature here at Brock. The script for this adaptation was named by industry insiders as one of the best unproduced screenplays in Britain in 2008, so it promises to be something other than your average costume drama. To boot, it has a stellar cast including Mia Wasikowska (THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT), Michael Fassbender, Jamie Bell, Sally Hawkins, and Judi Dench. Looks pretty brilliant!

Special Treat Tonight!

2011-01-19T11:17:00.001-05:00

BUFS continues the Winter season tonight with the latest film from director Stephen Frears, TAMARA DREWE. Reviews on this film are mixed—even divided—but I'm looking forward to seeing it for many reasons, not the least of which is that Frears is a great director. (You may have seen/loved THE QUEEN, DIRTY PRETTY THINGS, or HIGH FIDELITY.) The cast is fantastic, and the source material (recently loaned to me by a follower of this very blog) is really quite charming.

And we get a special treat tonight—our host, Scott Henderson, has some inside scoop from the set of the film that he'll share before we get started!

Also coming up at BUFS in the next few weeks, we have the fascinating documentary MARWENCOL on January 26, the quirky comedy IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY on February 2, and the talked-about Canadian film INCENDIES on February 9. For details on these films, check out our web site (click on "Films" to see upcoming shows).

November at BUFS

2010-10-29T09:37:00.000-04:00

Plenty of good stuff coming up for you over the next few weeks!

On November 3, we have the acclaimed John Lennon biopic NOWHERE BOY. This presentation is cosponsored by the Two Days of Canada conference on November 4 & 5 at Brock. The following week, November 10, we have Banksy's infamous documentary (or is it?), EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP, cosponsored by Brock's Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture. November 17, in affiliation with Brock International's International Education Week festivities, we have FAREWELL (L'AFFAIRE FAREWELL), based on the true story of KGB informant Sergei Grigoriev and his notorious information-sharing in 1981.

We close out the fall season on November 24 with Mark Romanek's NEVER LET ME GO, based on the brilliant novel by Kazuo Ishiguro and starring Keira Knightley, Carey Mulligan (An Education), and Andrew Garfield (The Social Network). You don't want to miss this one!

WINTER'S BONE and ANIMAL KINGDOM

2010-10-06T11:43:00.000-04:00

BUFS continues the fall season tonight with WINTER'S BONE, which is being called one of the best American films of the year. Based on the novel by Daniel Woodrell, the film is set in the Missouri Ozarks, where a teenaged girl has to track down her wayward father or risk losing her family's home. Jennifer Lawrence's performance has been critically acclaimed across the board, and John Hawkes gives a particularly good turn as her tough, meth-addicted uncle.

Next week, we have David Michod's ANIMAL KINGDOM. You may recall my excitement last year about THE BOYS ARE BACK and BRIGHT STAR, both featuring the cinematography of Greig Fraser. Fraser was also cinematographer on a fantastic short film in 2007, SPIDER, cowritten by—you guessed it—David Michod. (You can watch it here.) Michod is part of the Aussie collective known as Blue-Tongue Films, and they're coming out with all kinds of interesting stuff. For its part, ANIMAL KINGDOM is being hailed by critics worldwide, and won the Grand Jury Prize in the World Dramatic category at Sundance this year. Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Pearce, and Joel Edgerton star.

We're hoping to have a few more titles to announce soon, so stay tuned!

Opening Night!

2010-09-22T15:23:00.001-04:00

Don't forget that BUFS opens the Fall 2010 season tonight with THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT! Passes and tickets go on sale at 6:00 p.m.

Don't miss it!

BUFS kicks off Fall 2010 season on Sept. 22!

2010-09-07T14:50:00.003-04:00

The blog has been hibernating for a while, but we're back with some great news about the Fall 2010 season at BUFS! We open with one of the most acclaimed films of the summer, THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. Then we have Robert Duvall and Bill Murray in GET LOW on Sept. 29, followed by WINTER'S BONE on Oct. 6.

Also coming up this season we have MAO'S LAST DANCER, NOWHERE BOY, and a film I've been looking forward to since I heard it was in development: ANIMAL KINGDOM. We're in the process of booking our last four films for the fall season, so let us know if there's a terrific film coming up that you'd like to see!

Passes go on sale opening night at the Pen Centre. Details on the films are available on the Films page of our web site.

Looking forward to another fantastic season at BUFS!

GOOD HAIR and the rest of the winter line-up

2010-02-03T11:28:00.003-05:00

Join us tonight for the much talked-about documentary, GOOD HAIR. If you haven't already heard the story of how this film came to be, it's this: when his five-year-old daughter asked why she couldn't have "good hair," comedian Chris Rock undertook a mission to understand the hair industry for African Americans. The film features the likes of Maya Angelou, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Ice-T and will keep you laughing all the way out the door.

Need another reason to come to BUFS tonight? How about this: we've confirmed the remaining films in the winter season, and will announce them before the show! We've got several Oscar nominated films and performances coming up over the next few weeks, so you won't want to miss a thing.

(Speaking of Oscar nods, was everyone else as delighted as I was to see A SERIOUS MAN up for Best Picture? Post a comment and let me know!)

2010-01-18T11:32:00.001-05:00

This week, BUFS and the Zonta Club of St. Catharines are proud to present Amreeka, a dramedy about Palestinian immigrants trying to make their way in America in a time of hostility. Cherien Dabis' (The L-Word) feature debut is a critical darling—indeed, the film has already won awards in Cannes, Cairo and Dubai and is nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature.

The story begins in the West Bank, where divorced banker Muna Farah (Nisreen Faour) and her teenaged son, Fadi (Melkar Muallem), decide that their prospects will be better in America. Stateside, they'll stay with Muna's sister Raghda (Hiam Abbass), who has lived in suburban Chicago for several years with her doctor husband and their three girls.

But this is 2003. As the second Iraq war grows more intense, Muna's brother-in-law suddenly finds that he is losing patients to anti-Arab sentiment. Muna is a well-educated, skilled worker, but the only job she can get in Illinois is at a fast-food joint. At school, Fadi quickly becomes the target of classmates who are being all but instructed to suspect anyone from the Middle East.

If you're guessing that the family pulls together and finds a way to cope and maybe even triumph, with a few good laughs along the way, you're making a good guess. But this fairly predictable story manages to overcome its predictability with glowing performances, a frank, unsentimental depiction of xenophobia, and a startling ability to warm your heart.

BUFS kicks off winter season tonight with BRIGHT STAR

2010-01-13T10:52:00.002-05:00

Tonight's winter-season premiere is BRIGHT STAR, the latest film from Jane Campion starring Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw. The film tells the story of the ill-fated love affair between Fanny Brawne and Romantic poet John Keats in early 19th-century England. The screening is cosponsored by the Department of English Language and Literature.

It's a great night to come back to BUFS! Passes for the winter season are still on sale, and I've gotta tell you, BRIGHT STAR was my favourite movie at TIFF this year. You'll also hear more tonight about the first six films in our line-up, which include the new Coen Brothers' movie, A SERIOUS MAN; Chris Rock's acclaimed documentary, GOOD HAIR; and Carey Mulligan's break-out performance in AN EDUCATION.

The show starts at 7--come early to get a good seat!

THE BOYS ARE BACK

2009-11-04T15:55:00.002-05:00

I just got a whole lot more excited about tonight's screening of THE BOYS ARE BACK! Not only is it shot in beautiful South Australia... Not only does it feature a fabulous performance from Clive Owen... Not only is director Scott Hicks the man who brought you SHINE back in 1996... But I've also learned that the cinematographer, Greig Fraser, is also responsible for the beautiful photography in BRIGHT STAR (my favourite film at TIFF this year) and the wicked camera work in SPIDER, Nash Edgerton's widely acclaimed short film.

I know, I know. I had most of you at "Clive Owen." But this really looks like a good one.

IT MIGHT GET LOUD. no, really, it might.

2009-10-28T14:31:00.003-04:00

What a sloppy day outside! Look on the bright side, though–that's all the more reason to come to BUFS tonight. Need another reason? How about the chance to witness the jam session of the year on the big screen?

Jimmy Page, the Edge, and Jack White star in IT MIGHT GET LOUD, a documentary on the history of the electric guitar in rock music from the director of AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH.

is TETRO retro?

2009-10-21T09:19:00.002-04:00

Tonight's screening is the latest from Francis Ford Coppola, TETRO. Some folks are saying that it's his best film in decades. It's the first film he has written and directed since 1974's THE CONVERSATION, and in many ways, TETRO is a very personal film. It's autobiographical in a non-literal way—Coppola says that nothing in the film actually happened, but it's all true.

From what the critics are saying, this is a long-awaited return to fine form. Come and see if they're right!

METROPOLIS this Sunday!

2009-10-15T13:49:00.002-04:00

Tickets are on sale now for the special presentation of METROPOLIS this coming Sunday, Oct. 18 at 3:00 p.m. in the David S. Howes Theatre, Brock University. The screening, presented by BUFS and the Primavera Concert Series, marks the Niagara premiere of the new and innovative score for the film, which will be performed live by Juno-nominated musicians Andrew McPherson and Deliveryboy.

Details on the show (including ticket prices, full description, and a link to the first performance of the score in Dundas Square) are available on the BUFS web site. Tickets are available at the door or in advance from the Brock Centre for the Arts Box Office at 905.688.5550 x3553.

Questions? Call Amanda at 905.688.5550 x3553. Don't miss this unique opportunity to see a classic film in a whole new light!

getting pumped about THE POOL

2009-10-06T10:44:00.004-04:00

This week at BUFS, we have THE POOL, the first non-documentary feature from director Chris Smith, whose previous work includes the acclaimed documentaries THE YES MEN and AMERICAN MOVIE. Smith's feature is based on a short story set in Iowa but shot entirely on location in India.

The film follows a teenager and his young sidekick as they try to make a living in the streets of Panjim, slowly becoming involved with a wealthy father and daughter. The story is fictional, but the two young stars, Venkatesh Chavan and Jhangir Badshah, are real-life street kids who improvise most of their dialogue, much of it based on their own experiences. All of the actors, including veteran Indian actor Nana Patekar, share names and backgrounds with their characters.

By merging documentary and narrative filmmaking, Smith focuses on life, rather than poverty, and people, rather than plot devices. Can't wait for this one!

special ticket offer for PONYO!

2009-09-28T15:39:00.002-04:00

At Wednesday's screening of PONYO, the latest from anime master Hayao Miyazaki, we're offering specially priced children's tickets. For one night only, kids under 13 will be admitted for $5.

I don't know about everyone else, but I'm stoked to see PONYO. When was the last time you saw something animated in 2-D? I think it's going to be out of this world.

For more details on Wednesday's screening, visit www.brocku.ca/bufs.

tonight at BUFS: ADORATION

2009-09-23T11:07:00.002-04:00

Tonight's film is Atom Egoyan's ADORATION, which premiered last year at TIFF. I haven't seen this, but from the sounds of things, Egoyan is back in fine form with this film. The story is complex, just as you'd expect, and the loose ends lead only to questions, and never to answers. But the different aspects of the film's subject matter—post-9/11 anxiety, the vast world of online communication, the difficulties presented by family relationships—make the questions all the more interesting.

Passes will be on sale again tonight, so if you missed out last week, rest assured that it isn't too late to get your hands on one!

Are you following us on Twitter? If not, check out twitter.com/BUFS, where I'm giving away a pair of complimentary tickets every week! Fun movie trivia and a free show—no down side!

THE HURT LOCKER screens tonight

2009-09-16T14:19:00.002-04:00

BUFS opens tonight with THE HURT LOCKER! It's going to be an intense film—by all reports, it's superb—and we're looking forward to seeing plenty of new and familiar faces in the crowd.

We've gotten a number of calls and emails about this film, so it might be a good idea to come early—especially if you're interested in purchasing a multi-film pass. The BUFS box office will open at 6:15 and stay open until 6:55. Please remember that BUFS can only take cash or cheques.

For more info, visit our web site at www.brocku.ca/bufs!

In two short weeks...

2009-09-02T14:21:00.004-04:00

Believe it or not, a great new season at BUFS starts in two short weeks! We open on Wednesday, September 16 with Kathryn Bigelow's widely acclaimed THE HURT LOCKER. The New York Daily News called this one "a movie that deserves to stand as one of the defining films of the decade," and Peter Travers of Rolling Stone calls it "the Iraq war movie for those who don't like Iraq war movies."

I can also let you know that you're able to reserve passes for the fall season as of right now. Visit www.brocku.ca/bufs for details!

And I have one more big piece of news for you... On Sunday, October 18, BUFS is presenting a special presentation of Fritz Lang's Metropolis in the David S. Howes Theatre at Brock University. But it won't be any old screening. Oh, no. We've got Andrew McPherson and Deliveryboy from the Juno-nominated world music project Eccodek coming to perform their score for the film! The score was first performed in Dundas Square in 2008--check out video of the performance on Eccodek's myspace page. This is going to be a really incredible experience. I'll have more details for you soon, but be sure to mark your calendars!

That's a wrap!

2009-04-07T10:27:00.003-04:00

BUFS would like to thank all movie-goers, cosponsors, and volunteers for a successful Winter 09 season. We'd also like to thank the folks at Empire Studio 8 Pen Centre, the Department of Communication, Popular Culture and Film at Brock University, and our friends at the Film Circuit for their assistance and support.

Watch this space for news and updates throughout the summer months as we plan for the Fall 09 season--it's guaranteed to be another good one!

PONTYPOOL changes everything

2009-03-31T13:35:00.005-04:00

BUFS closes out the winter season on Wednesday, April 1 with PONTYPOOL, directed by Bruce McDonald (Hard Core Logo, Roadkill). It's the Canadian director's first horror movie, and many are calling it his best film to date. Stephen McHattie (Watchmen, A History of Violence) stars as Grant Mazzy, a washed-up DJ recently forced to take work at a small-town AM radio station. But something is not quite right in the town of Pontypool. As folks start dying, the skeleton crew holed up at the station has to figure out what, exactly, is going on outside.

Smart, creepy, and Canadian is just the way I like my movies--how about you?

STONE OF DESTINY on March 11

2009-03-09T11:07:00.002-04:00

Who doesn't love a Scottish caper movie? Especially if it has Robert Carlyle? And Pippin? This week's film was the gala closing film for TIFF 08, and has been playing select locations across Canada. It's one of those 'based on a true story (or at least one person's version of something that is said to have happened)' types, but they're the most interesting kind of fact-based movies, don't you think?

And I've already started craving some Irn Bru...

up next... MILK!

2009-03-03T11:44:00.001-05:00

This week's screening of MILK is the first in the Niagara Region, so we're expecting a few people. You might want to turn up early for this one...

I've also got a little bit of news for you: we've just confirmed THE READER for March 25!

I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG

2009-02-26T14:42:00.002-05:00

Last night's movie, I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T'AIME) was about as good as they come. If you weren't able to make it to the screening, it's important that you do two things:

1) make a point of renting the movie when it arrives on DVD; and

2) do not, under any circumstances, read any reviews of the film except David Edelstein's at nymag.com/movies/reviews/51544.

This is the kind of film that you don't want to know much about before you see it. And, maybe, when you're done, you'll want to watch it again.

Next week, join us for Sean Penn's Oscar-winning performance in MILK.

coming up @ BUFS

2009-02-12T15:10:00.002-05:00

At last night's screening of the wildly funny HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, Scott announced the first few films in March. Here's the lineup, for those of you who couldn't make it...

Feb. 18 - No Screening (BUFS takes a break during Reading Week)

Feb. 25 - I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (cosponsored by the Dept. of Modern Languages, Literatures & Cultures)

Mar. 4 - MILK (cosponsored by the Office of Human Rights & Equity Services)

Mar. 11 - STONE OF DESTINY

Mar. 18 - THE WRESTLER

Not too shabby, huh? Post a comment to let us know what you think!

FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING on sunshine

2009-02-04T15:38:00.002-05:00

Another snowy Wednesday, another great screening. FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING is directed by Canadian Kari Skogland, most recently noted for THE STONE ANGEL. Cast looks promising, subject matter looks interesting, and rumour has it that Rose McGowan's version of an Irish accent is worth the price of admission. Should be a good one!

Rachel still Getting Married

2009-01-28T15:01:00.002-05:00

Classes are cancelled tonight, but the BUFS screening is a go! Rachel Getting Married screens tonight at 7:00.

Always a bridesmaid, never a...

2009-01-26T15:22:00.002-05:00

Anne Hathaway has been nominated for a Golden Globe, a SAG award, and an Oscar for her performance in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, this week's BUFS screening. So far, she's 0 for 2, but that hasn't quieted the buzz around the film. I'm looking forward to this one, although I have to admit that it's going to be hard to top JCVD. If it weren't for THE WRESTLER, JCVD would surely be the comeback movie of the year. Am I wrong?

JCVD screening still planned for tonight

2009-01-21T14:06:00.002-05:00

Brock University has closed due to a power outage. The Empire Studio 8 Pen Centre has power, however, and so we expect to hold tonight's screening of JCVD as scheduled. If this changes, we'll be sure to let you know!

Opening Night!

2009-01-14T14:45:00.003-05:00

BUFS starts tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Empire Studio 8 Pen Centre! There are still a limited number of passes available for sale at the door, so come early if you're interested. In fact, I'd recommend that anyone interested in the show come a bit early--based on the response we've gotten so far, we may well sell out. Tickets for non-pass-holders are $10.

Scott Henderson, head of the BUFS committee, visited 105.1 The River this morning to talk about the series. Did anyone catch it?

Gotta say, I'm really looking forward to the film tonight. Joshua Jackson is really impressive in it, and the music and scenery will make you nostalgic for road trip/cottage season. It's going to be cold outside, but it will be all warm and fuzzy in the theatre, so I hope plenty of folks will be able to join us!

BUFS passes now available!

2009-01-05T13:49:00.002-05:00

BUFS multi-film passes are now available, and will be on sale until they are gone or until 6:55 p.m. on opening night--whichever comes first. Pass options are as follows:

Five-film pass: $45 (includes one bring-a-friend-for-free night!)

Ten-film pass: $85 (includes one bring-a-friend-for-free night!)

Student five-film pass: $40.

Pass holders are guaranteed seats until 6:40 p.m., after which seats will be released to pass holders and the ticket line on a first-come, first-served basis.

Passes can be purchased in advance by contacting Amanda Bishop at 905.688.5550 x3553. Please note that BUFS can accept only cash or cheques. A limited number of passes will be available, so be sure to get yours early!

OPENING NIGHT!

2008-12-11T11:18:00.002-05:00

You heard it here first... BUFS opens the Winter 2009 season with a special pre-release screening of Michael McGowan's One Week, a great Canadian road movie in the truest sense. McGowan delighted the BUFS crowd a few years back with Saint Ralph. His latest film, One Week, stars Joshua Jackson (TV's Fringe, Bobby) as Ben Tyler, a young man trying to figure out what to do with his life--now that he's learned it's about to end. Liane Balaban (New Waterford Girl) plays the fiancee, left behind while Ben sets off on a motorcycle ride to the west coast. On his way, he runs into the likes of Gord Downie, the Sudbury Nickel, the Stanley Cup, and others. (Don't be sad, East Coast--Joel Plaskett turns up, too!)

BUFS IS BACK!

2008-12-03T11:57:00.002-05:00

BUFS is back and better than ever--new venue, new night, and fantastic new films! The winter series opens on January 14, 2009. Check back for previews, reviews, news, events, and much more!