Film Fan Fridays for Friday February 8, 2008!

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday February 8, 2008! This is almost a double issue considering in addition to the films being released today, we also have numerous releases for next Thursday February 14th so that all the lovebirds will have something to watch (or ignore) if they chooose to cuddle in the theatre on Valentine's day.

Starting today we have six films to choose from and with that there is an even split of three limited releases and three wide releases. Two of the limited releases are Canadian and both are heavyweights. First up is Up the Yangtze, a documentary focused on the affect of the Three Gorges Dam and I am most certainly going to see this one, it looks amazing. Our second Canadian film if Normal, a drama by Carl Bessai exploring grief with powerful performances with a cast including Carrie-Anne Moss, Callum Keith Rennie and Kevin Zegers. The third limited release is Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show, a documentary that follows a comedy troupe for 30 shows in 30 days.

Wide releases this week are all comedies of one kind or another, starting with Fool's Gold, the romantic-comedy-adventure film which preview did not impress me at all but Andy Tennant is directing and he did bring us Hitch and Sweet Home Alabama, both of which were quite charming. Next up is In Bruges, a crime-comedy of hitmen on vacation but we all know hitmen are never really on vacation, are they? Last up is Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, the latest Martin Lawrence comedy which I could barely make it through the trailer. Slapstick, physical comedy and many "Oh no you didn't!" moments will be present.

Just before next week's releases we have a slew of wide releases on Valentine's Day. It is a surprize that none appear to be full-on romances. Definitely, Maybe is the closest as a drama focusing on a father/daughter relationship and reminiscing of past loves. It is followed by outr second dance film of the year Step Up 2 the Streets which has almost no recognizable connection to the original Step Up, but I will see nonetheless because, yes, it is a dance film. Next up is Jumper, which looks promising to be a fun spin on action style films, and the last of the Valentine's Day release is the kid's adventure flick The Spiderwick Chronicles.

If that isn't enough, award's season is still in full effect, the BAFTA's (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) will be held this Sunday February 10th, 2008.

Have a great week & a Happy Valentine's Day!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Reel Politik Film Festival
Showcasing political films that address global concerns
February 7-9, 2008 at Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility
1 Devonshire Pl, in the Munk Centre South House, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday February 8, 2008 Releases

Fool's Gold
Dir: Andy Tennant (Hitch, Sweet Home Alabama, Anna and the King, Ever After)
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Alexis Dziena, Ewen Bremner, Ray Winstone
USA
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer shows a fair amount of the movie, you get the gist of if just after the 1/2 way point

In Bruges
Writer/Dir: Martin McDonagh - feature film directorial debut, Oscar winner for short live action film Six Shooter
Cast: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes
UK/Belgium
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer safe til about the 1/2 way point

Normal
Dir: Carl Bessai (Unnatural & Accidental, Severed, Emile)
Cast: Carrie-Anne Moss, Kevin Zegers, Callum Keith Rennie, Tygh Runyan, Camille Sullivan
Canada
Limited Release
Mongrel Media Link, IMDb Page, Unable to locate a trailer

Up the Yangtze/ 沿江⽽上
Writer/Dir: Yung Chang - feature film directorial debut
Documentary centred around the affect of the creation of the the Three Gorges Dam megaproject in China
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free, and captivating

Vince Vaughn's Wild West Comedy Show
Dir: Ari Sandel - feature film directorial debut
Documentary following a 30 city in 30 nights comedy tour featuring Ahmed Ahmed, John Caparulo, Sebastian Maniscalco and Bret Ernst
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Writer/Dir: Malcolm D. Lee (Roll Bounce, Undercover Brother, The Best Man)
Cast: Martin Lawrence, James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Cedric the Entertainer
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free

Thursday February 14, 2008 Releases

Definitely, Maybe
Writer/Dir: Adam Brooks (The Invisible Circus, Almost You)
Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Abigail Breslin, Rachel Weisz, Isla Fisher, Derek Luke, Elizabeth Banks
UK
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer spoiler free to the 1/2 way point

Jumper
Dir: Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Swingers)
Cast: Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Rachel Bilson, Jamie Bell, Diane Lane
USA
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
Premise is unveiled in the first 1/3 of trailer, if you are intrigued I'd say stop watching there and catch the rest in the theatre

The Spiderwick Chronicles
Dir: Mark Waters (Just Like Heaven, Mean Girls, The House of Yes)
Cast: Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger
USA
Official Film Site (autoplays images from film), IMDb Page, Trailer
You get the gist of the film just after the 1/2 way point after which is shows a fair amount of content

Step Up 2 the Streets
Dir: Jon Chu (When the Kids are Away, Silent Beats)
Cast: Briana Evigan, Robert Hoffman, Telisa Shaw, Will Kemp, Adam G. Sevani
USA
Film MySpace Page (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
All the trailer gives away, is that there isn't really much to give away...

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of February 14, 2008**