Film Fan Fridays for Friday November 20, 2009

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday November 20, 2009! Big week this week with highly anticipated releases which all have ridiculously long film titles: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire and even The Twilight Saga: New Moon. What a mouthful! It's also a big week for animation with the claymation film Mary and Max, family film Planet 51 and Wes Anderson's jump into animation with Fantastic Mr. Fox.

In limited release this week we have three films to choose from, Let's start with Mary and Max an animated film that tells the story of friendship between unlikely friends half way across the world from each other voiced by Toni Collette and Philip Seymour Hoffman. We also have Werner Herzog's latest, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans remake the 1992 Bad Lieutenant but this time starring Nicolas Cage. Last up for limited releases is the hit from Sundance, People Choice Winner at TIFF'09 and Oscar buzz film Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire starring Gabourey Sidibe as a struggling teen for which all hope looks lost. I admit, the trailer for Precious got me teary eyed. Sigh.

In wide release this week we have the based on a true story heartfelt but also looks like it could be cheesy The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock, family animated film Planet 51 which looks like a similiar concept to Planet of the Apes except it's comedy and animated. But the heavy hitter this week is The Twilight Saga: New Moon, sequel to Twilight and based on the book of the same name my Stephanie Meyers which continues the complicated journey of when humans and vampires fall in love.

With American Thanksgiving headed out way we have a several mid week releases set for next Wednesday November 25, 2009. I'm most curious to see Ninja Assassin starring Rain and looks like a crazy mix of action, vengeance and general ninja-ness. combining trainer and trainee. Also out will be the adaptation of the Roald Dahl novel Fantastic Mr Fox from Wes Anderson and buddy comedy Old Dogs.

Have a great weekend and a lovely Thanksgiving to those who will be celebrating!

Shannon

Festival Watch

aluCine
Toronto Latin Media Festival
Continues until November 28, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Breast Fest
Film festival dedicated to breast cancer awareness
November 20 - 22, 2009 at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canadian Labour International Film Festival
November 23 - 25, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

European Film Festival
Continues until December 3, 2009 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday November 20, 2009 Releases

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Dir: Werner Herzog (Encounters at the End of the World, Grizzly Man)
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Michael Shannon
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Blind Side
Writer/Dir: John Lee Hancock (The Alamo (2004), The Rookie)
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Quinton Aaron, Tim McGraw, Jae Head, Lily Collins, Ray McKinnon, Kathy Bates
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Mary and Max
Writer/Dir: Adam Elliot - feature film directorial debut
Voices: Toni Collette, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Eric Bana, Barry Humphries
Australia
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Planet 51
Dirs: Jorge Blanco and Javier Abad - feature film directorial debuts
Voices: Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Seann William Scott, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, John Cleese
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Dir: Lee Daniels (Shadowboxer)
Cast: Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'nique, Mariah Carrey, Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Dir: Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass)
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Michael Sheen, Dakota Fanning, Rachelle Lefevre, Jamie Campbell Bower, Christopher Heyerdahl, Daniel Cudmore, Charlie Bewley, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz, Ashley Greene
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Wednesday November 25, 2009 Releases

Fantastic Mr. Fox
Dir: Wes Anderson (Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums)
Voices: George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Anjelica Huston
USA/UK
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Ninja Assassin
Dir: James McTeigue (V for Vendetta)
Cast: Rain, Sung Kang, Randall Duk Kim, Naomie Harris
USA/Germany
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Old Dogs
Dir: Walt Becker (Wild Hogs, Van Wilder)
Cast: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Matt Dinnon, Seth Green, Bernie Mac
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of November 25, 2009**