I know TIFF has been over for weeks but if you are like me, and you miss those late nights at the Ryerson, you are probably in the midst of the post fest blues. Well fear not as I've got a few places for you to go to let you relive some of the best moments of Midnight Madness 2009! Uber-Video bloggers Sheleigh Bober & Robert Mitchell have some pretty slickly produced wrap-up videos of all 10 Midnight Madness evenings posted on this youtube channel.If you are a fan of the cinematogr...
I must confess that when I first heard of a Bad Lieutenant "remake" directed by Werner Herzog and starring Nicolas Cage as the the titular character I for one was quite skeptical. However, after I saw this new film I can report it has absolutely nothing to do with Abel Ferrara's film. Nothing. In fact the first time I laughed out loud during Port of Call New Orleans there was a slight memory of the Ferrara film and then I thought, "should I even be laughing?" But as the film ...
I needed a few days to recover, but sure enough I'm back to normal. This was my finest year at Tiff because I feel like I know the ways. The film festival is an art, you really need to know how to make the most of it to make anything at all. I saw a total of twelve screenings, one film twice. Year of the Carnivore, The Trotsky, Cleanflix, Les herbes folles, Short Cuts Canada Program 4, Gun to the Head, Cole, La Donation, Excited, Same Same But Different (X2), The Good ...
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
Although the Toronto International Film Festival does not have a official Competition Section (which distinguishes it from events in Cannes, Berlin, Venice and San Sebastian), there are a few awards announcements to close out the 12 day event.
CADILLAC PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS
The Cadillac People's Choice Award is voted on by Festival audiences. This year’s award went to Lee Daniels's Precious: Based on the Novel “Push...
The thing about documentaries is that they always find an audience, no matter how big or small. This year the RTR programme showcased many films with very urgent and timely themes. The political and economic situations in the world today can be worrisome. Some of these films hold a mirror on which we can see the reflection of the world we've created. The ask us to be an active audience. Yet, there were other documentaries that transported us back in time... into...
This year's Canadian award winning movies were announced earlier today. You can read the official press release here. Congrats to all the film makers for there amazing work this year. It's one of the joys of programming to see a film early in its existence and then see it go on to play to crowds and win awards.This was one of the strongest years for Canadian cinema since I've been doing this, and now the challenge is to top it next year. See you then. ...
I was lucky enough to see Ong Bak Muay Thai Warrior at Midnight Madness and Tony Jaa kicking the hell out of people with his legs on fire at the Uptown Theatre on a screen tens of carol's high. I'm looking forward to seeing Tony Jaa's return to Midnight Madness with Ong Bak 2: The Beginning at Ryerson tonight, which he directed, did the action choreography for and dances in. (Yay, Khon!) And I'm happy to close out the Gentlemen of Asskickery with Tony Jaa / Thatchakorn Yee...
Hello friends, I wanted to send out a quick note saying what a pleasure it was to once again watch Canada's best at this years Toronto International Film Festival. From moments that took me deeply into emotions in such films as Crackie and the short, The Spine, to the spunk of Leslie, My Name is Evil and wit of Cooking with Stella; I got to have the privilage to witness so many golden moments on-screen in these past 9 days that I won't soon forget. One thing is sure, Canadians should be ...
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
It's been nearly five years since Todd Solondz, one of American independent cinema's most respected (and controversial) auteurs, has been seen at a film festival. His last film PALINDROMES (2004) premiered at the Venice Film Festival but was roundly hissed by most film critics and its subsequent release was very anemic. After his earlier successes, including his debut WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE (1995), the heartfelt and uncomf...
SAME BUT DIFFERENT (Detlev Buck, Germany)
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
With nearly a third of the films on offer in Toronto coming from the European continent, the Festival is a very important launching pad for both established and emerging talents to make an impression in North America. That is why the support of the European Film Promotion organization, a conglomeration of the governmental promotion offices from across the continent, is so vital ...
Ashton Kutcher and Demi MooreBill MurrayBrenda BlethynChristopher PlummerClive OwenColin FarrellColin FirthDanny BoyleDiablo CodyEdward NortonEllen PageEthan HawkeJeff BridgesJulie Christie
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For the first time, TIFF is awarding a top prize to a Midnight Madness selection. Announced moments ago in a conference room at the Hotel Intercontinental, the recipient of the Midnight Madness Cadillac People's Choice Award is Sean Byrne's The Loved Ones, the 'Dark Horse' of this year's lineup.There was heavy competition, from neo-noir vampires in Daybreakers -- which was the runner-up for the award -- incubated demons in [REC]2, stop-motion toys on amphetamines i...
The midnight madness audience showed some serious love for Australia this year by awarding the first Cadillac People’s Choice Award for Midnight Madness to…THE LOVED ONES!!! With Daybreakers coming in as the runner up. The Loved Ones was Sean Byrne's feature length directorial debut. Congratz all around and watch this space for additional coverage. ...
Leading up to tonight's Midnight Madness screening of Ong Bak 2: The Beginning, I've been posting profiles of some Gentlemen of Asskickery. But with Bitch Slap at Midnight Madness this year, it's time to return to the Ladies of Asskickery. As my blog colleagues have mentioned. Zoë Bell did the fight choreography and was the stunt double for all three women in Bitch Slap. Bell was the stunt double for Lucy Lawless in Xena: Warrior Princess and Uma Thurman's ...
If you talked to me for any length of time since last Tuesday, you've probably been given an earful about Gaspar Noe's Enter The Void, which has turned out to be one of my favourite films at this year's Festival (edged out only slightly by The Road). Since I am in a rush line for the next few hours, I decided to get my Goog on about the movie and was delighted to find out that one half of Daft Punk - Thomas Bangalter - scored the film.Which is not entirely surprising. Noe...
The door is locked, and there's no way to knock it down... Digging around, you manage to find some items: A jar of mayonaise, a broken clock, and some expired lottery tickets. What do you do!? Well not much, because I don't know how to program 3d flash games. But there's still hope.Ever play those room escape games? After watching Hitoshi Matsumoto's latest film, you might be inclined to find your way out of some of these ridiculously intricate point and cli...
Crackie is a beautiful film. I'm not sure how else to begin this article. It's beautiful to look at and beautiful to experience.Set in a tiny coastal town in Newfoundland, the film is, at heart, a love story, or a lack-of-love story, between a girl and her dog.Mitsy (played with complete naturalism by newcomer Meghan Greeley, a Newfoundland theatre student) lives with her overbearing, tough-as-nails grandmother, Bride (played with a terrible force by Canadian comedy queen Mary Walsh, bre...
George Clooney in Jason Reitman's UP IN THE AIR
by Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Dailies Editor
Those attending the Toronto International Film Festival can be excused for a bout with double vision when it comes to a doubleheader of films by the Festival's most papparazzi-friendly presence, George Clooney. The fair-haired actor is the star of two high profile films that made their debuts here earlier this week.
In THE MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, directed by Grant Heslov...
