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The week of January 30th, 2010

To “Whip It”. Because Whip It’s good.

I know. Obvious one there. Couldn’t be helped. But the charms of the film are obvious as well: a coming of age tale, Ellen Page, and hot, sweaty female roller derby…what else do you need ? Another obvious thing: Ricky Gervais is one funny sonnovabitch. While it’s been a bit difficult to prove that in his movies so far, “The Invention of Lying” is a good step closer. And it’s a pretty subversive. Always a good thing.

We’ve got some new TV shows to help you catch up with your favourite a) Nasty Lawyers (“Damages” season 2), b) British Special Service Agents (“MI-5″ volume 7), c) MILF-y drug dealer (“Weeds” season 5). Seems like all side of the law are taken care of there. We also have a new bit of very funny stand-up from TV star (see what I did there?) Aziz Ansari.

We recently brought in “Facing Ali”, and now “Soul Power” leads a new selection of documentaries this week. “Soul Power” is a document of the 1974 concert that was put on at the same time Ali fought Foreman in Zaire (The “Rumble in the Jungle”) and features such hotness as James Brown, The Spinners, Bill Withers and BB King. Five years earlier, The Rolling Stones played a free show at Altamont Speedway near San Francisco, where 4 people lost their lives. The brilliant documentarians The Maysles Brothers captured the last 10 days of The Rolling Stones American tour, including that fateful final show. This film. “Gimme Shelter” has been available for some time from the Criterion Collection, but is now available on glorious Blu-ray.

Going forward 40 years, to 2009: Michael Jackson, attempting a comeback, rehearsed at the Staples Center in LA for several days to put the finishing touches on a show that would wow London audiences. We all know how things went. The rehearsals were all filmed, with MJ’s final days captured for posterity. “This Is It” has a quality to it that makes it hard to turn away: from the lavish sets and filmed set pieces to the dancers and Michael’s surprisingly strong voice. Speaking of strong voices, the final new doc this week is the follow-up from “Manufactured Landscapes” director Jennifer Baichwal, “Act of God”, in which she talks to people whose lives have seemingly been changed forever after being hit by lightning. You can add your own joke here…

Another quick word about The Criterion Collection. In addition to “Gimme Shelter”, we have also brought in a couple more recent titles, “Downhill Racer” starring Robert Redford, “The Golden Age of Television”, a 3 disc collection of live American television plays of the 1950s, starring the likes of Paul Newman, Mickey Rooney, Rod Steiger, Julie Harris, and Piper Laurie. And last but not least, we have “Che”, both parts, now on glorious Blu-ray! Each of the two parts contain a boatload of special features, and couldn’t look and sound more stunning.

So, the Olympics. I’ve finally discovered some good things it has brought our fair town, and you can check them out now before the crowds come a-crowdin’: The Vancouver Art Gallery has“Cue: Artists’ Videos” showing on a giant screen on the Robson side of their building until March 21. They range in length and theme, but from what I’ve seen so far, they are very compelling. Of interest is a 1997 short made by “Hunger” director Steve McQueen.

The other is something very special: former Vancouver resident (and friend of The Bat) Etienne Zack is turning one of his paintings into a three-dimensional sculpture. The work, which consists of a wooden structure wrapped in canvas, links the factory-like production processes underlying the cultural and sporting industries. It can be viewed at 560 Seymour St until Feb 28. Etienne is one of the most friendly, talented artists we’ve ever met, so drop by for something you’ve never seen before. Then drop by the Bat to rent something you’ve never seen before.

Whip It
(Widescreen)
Rated: PG13
Also available in bruising Blu-ray!