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familycounselling
Reviews
What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004)
this is one good paradigm shift
Such a broad focus - the universe and our relationship to it! - I had anticipated this film might come up short. Instead, I was pleasantly uplifted by the 'experience' of viewing this psycho-documentary.
To appreciate what has been created here, consider the premise; to bring together wisdom from the fields of physics, psychology, and religion, and somewhat find a common thread to unify them. That William Arntz and Betsy Chase were able to pull off that one goal is no small feat. With patience then they slowly laid out a great many insights, increasingly testing our modern age beliefs, as might be gathered from a respected cast of talking heads. What separates this from a quality production made for Nova or The Nature of Things? Not a great deal, and I would not have complained had this $5 MM project ended up on my tele. However, I did spontaneously laugh in unison with a good majority of the audience at the Toronto premiere evoked by some brilliant animation. Both graphics and animation brought life to a simple tale of a young woman dealing with a personal crisis, keeping this cerebral exercise close to the heart and relevant to the walking wounded who might most benefit from seeing What the #$*!. I give it a 9.
Alienated (2003)
what a joy
This show is one well-kept secret that shouldn't be - it's a gem.
As a family counselor, I have had fewer pleasures surfing cable than to happen upon this hilarious west coast comedy about... you guessed it,...family dysfunction. Director Trent Carlson (Delicate Art of Parking), Mark Sawers (Kid's in the Hall) and co-writer Robert Chomiak pack one parenting conundrum after another into each episode with tear-inducing effect. Was there an alien abduction in this quiet little suburban house? Is this the cause of mysterious surges in the sexual urges of daughter, son, dad, and even grandpa? Mom seems immune, but not disinterested. The pace is calculated and the delivery is well timed. With Jonathon Whittaker playing her innocently adolescent husband, Roger, to dead-pan perfection, Sarah-Jane Redmond is a discrete and sober modern wife, responsible yet anxious, the only real adult present. My hat goes off to cast and crew. A thoroughly enjoyable treat.