The Imposter DVD box set: unbelievable

The Imposter is documentary of Bart Layton, but in fact, is a movie.

Nicholas Barclay disappeared from his family home in San Antonio, Texas at the tender age of thirteen. Three years and four months later, an unaccompanied 16-year-old boy is found in France. When circumstances lead French authorities to believe he is Nicholas Barclay, he’s swiftly returned to a concerned family who welcome him all too easily. However, as the FBI and a sole private investigator notice subtle differences that, for some reason, have been overlooked by the family, it soon becomes clear that so-called Nicholas Barclay is in fact impostor Frédéric Bourdin (portrayed in interviews by Bourdin himself and in dramatisations by actor Adam O’Brian).

The real-life story of Bourdain who was, at the time of his eventual imprisonment, dubbed by many sources “The Chameleon”, The Imposter DVD box set mixes a concoction of styles and elements synonymous with the documentary genre in bold and interesting new ways. It’s a technique that, through writer and director Bart Layton’s meticulous attention-to-detail and obvious personal curiosity in the horrifying situation, creates an intoxicating atmosphere in which the audience is entirely immersed from start to finish.

In lesser hands, such technique might feel like a cheat. After all, documentaries are about establishing the truth, however ugly, not colluding in a fantasist’s beautiful cruelties.

But this is a documentary about fabricating stories, the allure of deception and how quickly the facts can vanish into the ether.

The effect of Layton’s efforts is to give credence to each of the claimants, so it’s possible to feel sorry for Frédéric even as the horrendous weight of his actions hits home.

Wonderful movie: Buy This Waltz DVD box set

Having known the movie-Take This Waltz DVD box set is that I watched its Theatrical Trailer at theater. All of lens in the movie and the unique personal performance of Michelle Williams remind me of another film, the Blue Valentine’s Day that really leave me deep impression.

The film is seen almost entirely from the point of view of Margot, a 28-year-old freelance journalist, and Michelle Williams, one of the cinema's most versatile performers (her recent roles have included a troubled working-class woman in Blue Valentine, Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn and a pioneer wife in the realistic western Meek's Cutoff) brings an extraordinary depth and complexity to the character.

She's been married for five years to Lou (Seth Rogen touching in one of his more serious films), a cheerful, humorous, slightly overweight cook currently writing a book on different ways of preparing chicken, and they live in the attractive Portugal Village in downtown Toronto, a distinctively old-fashioned, quasi-bohemian area far removed in tone from the gleaming skyscrapers that define the appearance of Canada's largest and most prosperous city.

The movie proceeds by parallel events that echo each other – jokily conducted sex with Lou, for instance, is followed shortly thereafter by truly arousing virtual sex with Daniel who sits in a bar describing in erotic detail his desire for Margot. The reality of modern Toronto is contrasted with the romanticism of the idyllic recreated Nova Scotia, and the allure of the latter provokes Margot into taking the momentous decision to follow the compass of her uncertain heart.

To sum up, the movie is truthful and honest. Like the Cohen song, Polley's movie touches on familiar feelings and evokes common experiences in a way that goes beyond what can be explained. Needless to say, at the silent afternoon, watch the kind of movie, it’s very enjoyable. 

Laurence Anyways DVD box set, 2012

Laurence Anyways in 2012 is a highly unconventional romance and the quirk of the story.

We follow Laurence Alia (Melvil Poupaud) and Fred Belair (Suzanne Clément), a happy couple whose relationship takes a turn after Laurence announces his wish to become a woman. While he faces problems with his decision from work and family, Fred struggles under the pressure of other’s opinions, and confusion over her own desires in life. Their relationship eventually falls apart, but their unresolved issues and lingering love for each other sends them on a tumultuous journey that spans a decade.

Over the ten year period that unravels through Dolan’s expansive narrative (the run time clocks in at a hefty, yet involving 161 minutes), Laurence and Fred drift in and out of one another’s lives and encounter many issues, from prejudice (a scene in which Fred stands up to a nosey waitress in a small-town café is among the film’s best) to new relationships and sorrowful isolation. It’s a time period that allows for such cumbrous issues to be probed in thorough fashion, as Laurence’s mindset contradicts with those on the outside. Over the decade, the love between Fred and Laurence continues to haunt them and it is only a matter of time before they meet again.

As you would expect from Dolan, Laurence Anyways DVD box set is art directed up the wazoo. He mixes up contemporary and retro music video tableau with youthful vigour and energy. The club scenes are a hot mess of shocking pinks and neon blues. And in a couple of explicit 80s homages, he really does give great euro-ponce.  It will be fantastically irritating if you aren’t attuned to the sensibility. If you are, various scenes will leave you swooning with delight.