If you are like most Torontonians, and have rather limited time to spend watching movies, we are here to help! We are doing this by sharing the few movies we think you could not possibly do without. Keep in mind that this is just a small part of our coverage for TIFF and that our team we will continue to keep you updated on both the movies and all the wonderful and diverse talent involved. Without further delay here are the top choices:
Agora
A film By Alejandro Amenábar
126 minutes /Drama
Starring Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella and Oscar Isaac
There are a few movies at TIFF this year with an epic feel. But Agora is for my money the more relevant one. The stunning Rachel Weisz plays one the last defenders of the Ancient Alexandria Library Hypatia, who was both a mathematician and an astronomer. Ultimately murdered by the same kind of mob, who might in this day and age, delight in burning books, and that not too far back liked burning free spirited women as witches! For those of us who believe that “girl power” was just a cheap marketing ploy, here is the story of a truly powerful woman who gave her life for the right to question accepted theology. It has an epic feel and good performances as well as an interesting look at a transitional period of Egyptian history.
Chilean born, Oscar winning Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar (The Sea Inside) directs with an eye to the old epic Hollywood productions, but also with an intense modern sensibility that seems to suggest we haven’t moved forward much from those dark times.
Saturday September 12/01:30pm/ ROY THOMSON HALL (Gala)
Monday September 14/05:00pm/ SCOTIABANK THEATRE 1
Here is the trailer:
Also an exclusive clip from the movie!
Antichrist
A film by A film by Lars von Trier
104 minutes /Drama
Starring Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg
If controversial/extreme yet beautiful cinema appeals to you, the “Antichrist” it’s your ticket. Dutch bad boy director Lars von Trier presents a movie that is literally screaming “cult classic”. Not for every taste, this allegory is filled with stunning visuals and some provocative ideas. Not for the faint of heart, it is nonetheless fairly provocative and courageous cinema.
Thursday September 10/09:00 pm/ RYERSON
Saturday September 12/09:00 pm/ SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2
Here is the trailer:
Bitch Slap
A film by Rick Jacobson
104 minutes/ Action
Starring: Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo, Michael Hurst, Ron Melendez, Lucy Lawless
A buzz worthy film for the “Midnight Madness” legions! This one is the thinking man’s “B” movie, as well as a gentle parody of the same. If you ever liked Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill this is most definitely a film you will appreciate, “Bitch Slap” has got to the one of most playful movies at TIFF this time around. Just imagine 3 bad girls, a REALLY mean crime lord and ungodly amounts of cleavage, with a lot of diamond money in between.
By the way the director Rick Jacobson originally worked on the cult series “Xena: Warrior Princess”!
Monday September 14/11:59pm/ RYERSON
Wednesday September 16/03:15pm/ SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3
Here is the raunchy trailer:
Capitalism: A Love Story
A Film by Michael Moore
105 minutes/ Documentary
Michael Moore has by now made a name for himself as a documentarian who likes to get in your face. The scourge of corporate America has been his nom de guerre. You would think that the corporate demonization campaign that followed his most recent movies would have slowed him down, but nothing seems further from the truth as Mike, this time around, challenges the very nature of the economic system under which we all live, and whose contradictions were brutally exposed by the current economic meltdown.
What Michael Moore does in this film is nothing short of challenging what even a decade ago was unthinkable to question: The superiority of Capitalism as the engine of economic progress, which as we all know is nearly gospel in North America. Be prepared to have heated discussions after this film!
Sunday September 13/09:00pm/ VISA SCREENING ROOM (ELGIN)
Tuesday September 15/03:45pm/ SCOTIABANK THEATRE 1
Here is the funny trailer:
George Romero’s Survival of the Dead
A Film by George Romero
90 minutes/ Horror
Starring: Alan Van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh, Devon Bostick, Richard Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Munroe
Because we all love “Midnight Madness” around here, we had to mention a master of the horror genre. This is Romero’s next entry into a legendary career making zombie movies. The enduring legacy of Romero’s work has a lot to do with the fact he truly invented the modern zombie, but beyond that, also how he used his zombies to bring up a lot of social subtext.
For those that love zombies let me warn you that this movie is also a satirical subversive take on westerns, and is laced with a pervasive sense of humor.
Saturday September 12/11:59pm/ RYERSON
Monday September 14/12:30pm/ SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2
Clip from the film:
La Donation (The Legacy)
A Film by Bernard Émond
96 minutes/ Drama
Starring: Élise Guilbault, Jacques Godin, Éric Hoziel, Françoise Graton, Angèle Coutu
Are you looking for Canadian content of Quebec persuasion? You could hardly go wrong with this humanistic story about a small town in Quebec that has seen better days, and the quest by an old doctor to find a replacement. If you can handle a bit of a slumbering pace, you will find yourself rewarded by a film with incredibly good performances and a profound question at its heart. What is the true value of human connections? And how far are you willing to change your life for those that need you?
Tuesday September 15/09:30pm/ JACKMAN HALL – AGO
Thursday September 17/03:00pm/ SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4
Here is the French Trailer:
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
A Film by Terry Gilliam
122 minutes / Drama
Starring: Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Andrew Garfield, Verne Troyer, Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell
It is fair to say that there is likely no other filmmaker quite like Terry Gilliam out there. “Doctor Parnassus” certainly proves this point. Incredible, vivid colour and surrealism are all over in this rather convoluted story about a deal with the devil. Viewers will note that this was Heath Ledger’s last unfinished film due to his tragic passing. Director Gilliam struggled a long time on how to proceed, finally settling by bringing 3 of his more talented peers, particularly outstanding in this role, Johnny Depp.
If you prefer the Terry Gilliam of “Baron Munchhausen” as opposed to his darker films like “Tideland” you will be in for a treat. Nonetheless, I suspect the jury will be divided on this movie but it is certainly worth a look.
Friday September 18/06:30pm/ ROY THOMSON HALL
Saturday September 19/02:30pm/ VISA SCREENING ROOM (ELGIN)
Here is the fantastic trailer:
And here an exclusive clip:
Vincere
A Film by Marco Bellochio
128 minutes/ Drama
Starring: Giovanna Mezzogiorno, Filippo Timi, Corrado Invernizzi, Fausto Russo Alesi
This is the incredible true story of Mussolini’s secret wife and son. Benito Albino was born, acknowledged and then denied as the political fortunes of Mussolini rose. I have always been a fan of those details that history leaves off and this is most certainly one of them. It is also an interesting study on how very powerful man and in this case real mass murderers like Mussolini can have such a magnetic appeal on some.
You may also ask yourself while watching this why we should care about the pain of two people, while the whole of Italy was under the boot of Mussolini. I leave that as a possible conversation topic. It is certainly worth a good discussion. Also, if this reminds you a touch of Berlusconi well…
Tuesday September 15/05:30pm/ VARSITY 8
Friday September 18/08:30am/ SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2
Here is the Italian trailer: