Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!
Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday April 30, 2010! It's a great week for film here in Toronto. Not only has Hot Docs just started but we have 2 Canadian releases hitting screens today. Let's take a look at what's out there.
In limited release this week we begin with Passenger Side, a Canada's Top Ten 2009 selection and it's a unique urban road movie starring Adam Scott and Joel Bissonnette as brothers on an inadvertent joint journey around town. Although set in the States, the dry wit and brilliant dialogue is where it shows it's distinctly Canadian stamp. The humour and dynamic between the two leads is fantastic, I'd recommend checking out Passenger Side while you can. We also have the inspired by true story baseball film The Perfect Game and two films from India: English Butler Masala Chai and Housefull.
In wide release this week we have our second Canadian release of the week with the western/comedy Gunless starring Paul Gross as an American gunslinger who find himself in a Canadian town and no one to pick a fight with. Yes, a western/comedy... haven't seen one of those in a while! Also in wide release if A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), a re-make of Wes Cravens 1984 classic horror film this time starring Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children, The Bad News Bears) as Freddy Kruger and Rooney Mara as Nancy. The horror re-make in the past few years haven't had the results, but I know I'll be giving Nightmare a go because I just can't resist being fond of the original and horror in general. Last up is family comedy Furry Vengeance starring Brendan Fraser as a real estate developer who faces the ultimate protesters - nature itself retaliates, with fur and vengeance.
Be sure to check out my daily coverage of Hot Docs here at Movie Moxie from April 30 - May 9, 2010 for reviews throughout the festival. If you are trying to decide what to go see I've put up a festival preview, reviewed some of the festival films already here and here.
Have a great weekend!
Shannon
Festival Watch
Canadian International Documentary Film Festival
April 29 - May 9, 2010 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
See Movie Moxie coverage of Hot Docs here
Maximum Exposure Film Fest
Ryerson School of Image Arts graduate and end of year show
April 30 - May 2, 2010, at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Friday April 30, 2010 Releases
English Butler Masala Chai
Dir: Maneesh Malhotra
Cast: Tara Joshi, Sachin Sharma, Geoff Hymers, Richard Young
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, No IMDb Page
Dir: Roger Kumble (College Road Trip)
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields, Matt Prokop, Skyler Samuels, Ken Jeong
USA/United Arab Emirates
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Gunless
Writer/Dir: William Phillips (Foolproof, Treed Murray)
Cast: Paul Gross, Seinna Guillory, Dustin Milligan, Tyler Mane, Callum Keith Rennie, Graham Greene
Canada
Official Website, IMDb Page, Trailer
Housefull
Dir: Sajid Khan (Heyy Babyy)
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Deepika Padukne
India
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Dir: Samuel Bayer - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Kellan Lutz, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekkar
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Passenger Side
Dir: Matthew Bissonnette (Who Loves the Sun, Looking for Leonard)
Cast: Adam Scott, Joel Bissonnette
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
The Perfect Game
Dir: William Dear (
Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Cheech Martin, Emilie de Ravin, Moises Arias, Jake T. Austin, Gabriel Morales, Ryan Ochoa, Carlos Padilla, Jansen Panettiere, Mario Quinonez Jr., Anthony Quinonez,
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page
**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of April 30, 2010**
Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!
Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday April 30, 2010! It's a great week for film here in Toronto. Not only has Hot Docs just started but we have 2 Canadian releases hitting screens today. Let's take a look at what's out there.
In limited release this week we begin with Passenger Side, a Canada's Top Ten 2009 selection and it's a unique urban road movie starring Adam Scott and Joel Bissonnette as brothers on an inadvertent joint journey around town. Although set in the States, the dry wit and brilliant dialogue is where it shows it's distinctly Canadian stamp. The humour and dynamic between the two leads is fantastic, I'd recommend checking out Passenger Side while you can. We also have the inspired by true story baseball film The Perfect Game and two films from India: English Butler Masala Chai and Housefull.
In wide release this week we have our second Canadian release of the week with the western/comedy Gunless starring Paul Gross as an American gunslinger who find himself in a Canadian town and no one to pick a fight with. Yes, a western/comedy... haven't seen one of those in a while! Also in wide release if A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), a re-make of Wes Cravens 1984 classic horror film this time starring Jackie Earle Haley (Little Children, The Bad News Bears) as Freddy Kruger and Rooney Mara as Nancy. The horror re-make in the past few years haven't had the results, but I know I'll be giving Nightmare a go because I just can't resist being fond of the original and horror in general. Last up is family comedy Furry Vengeance starring Brendan Fraser as a real estate developer who faces the ultimate protesters - nature itself retaliates, with fur and vengeance.
Be sure to check out my daily coverage of Hot Docs here at Movie Moxie from April 30 - May 9, 2010 for reviews throughout the festival. If you are trying to decide what to go see I've put up a festival preview, reviewed some of the festival films already here and here.
Have a great weekend!
Shannon
Festival Watch
Canadian International Documentary Film Festival
April 29 - May 9, 2010 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
See Movie Moxie coverage of Hot Docs here
Maximum Exposure Film Fest
Ryerson School of Image Arts graduate and end of year show
April 30 - May 2, 2010, at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Friday April 30, 2010 Releases
English Butler Masala Chai
Dir: Maneesh Malhotra
Cast: Tara Joshi, Sachin Sharma, Geoff Hymers, Richard Young
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, No IMDb Page
Dir: Roger Kumble (College Road Trip)
Cast: Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields, Matt Prokop, Skyler Samuels, Ken Jeong
USA/United Arab Emirates
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Gunless
Writer/Dir: William Phillips (Foolproof, Treed Murray)
Cast: Paul Gross, Seinna Guillory, Dustin Milligan, Tyler Mane, Callum Keith Rennie, Graham Greene
Canada
Official Website, IMDb Page, Trailer
Housefull
Dir: Sajid Khan (Heyy Babyy)
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Deshmukh, Deepika Padukne
India
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)
Dir: Samuel Bayer - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Kellan Lutz, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekkar
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Passenger Side
Dir: Matthew Bissonnette (Who Loves the Sun, Looking for Leonard)
Cast: Adam Scott, Joel Bissonnette
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
The Perfect Game
Dir: William Dear (
Cast: Clifton Collins Jr., Cheech Martin, Emilie de Ravin, Moises Arias, Jake T. Austin, Gabriel Morales, Ryan Ochoa, Carlos Padilla, Jansen Panettiere, Mario Quinonez Jr., Anthony Quinonez,
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page
**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of April 30, 2010**
The Booth Brothers as seen on SYFY, EXCLUSIVE- SNEAK PEEK of "The Haunted Boy, The Secret Diary of The Exorcist" at the Queen Con, April 30, May 1st, Many more amazing guest speakers!!!! Go to donnshy.com and click on NEWS and EVENTS for tickets!
Julian Cheung Chi Lam, Shawn Yue Man Lok
Janice Man
Charlene Choi Chuek Yin
Shawn Yue
Anjaylia, Evelyn
Charlene Choi
Charlene Choi
Daneil Lam Siu Ming, Ekin Cheng, Elanne Kong Yuek Lam
Elanne Kong
Michelle Wai (Si Nga), Yumiko Cheng Hei Yi, Daneil Lam, Deep Ng Ho Hong, Mani Lok Man Hei
Tonight is the big opening night for Hot Docs bringing two sure to be crowd pleasing experiences with Babies and Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. I'm saving my strength for the remaining 10 days of the festival where I'm hoping to catch about 30 films. I had the opportunity to sneak in a few films that I couldn't quite fit in my actual schedule, but still I knew I had to see. Here are some highlights from those films. Amazing how a common theme in these films is not only thinking outside the box but also a great combination of awareness of 'the system' and creative ways to work with, without or around it. I like that kind of thinking.
Be sure to also check out my reviews of selections from the NFB films at the festival this year and come back for daily coverage here at Movie Moxie throughout the festival.
Above: Disco and Atomic War
Disco and Atomic War
Dir: Jaak Kilmi
Estonia/Finland
I knew in an instant that I would have to see Disco and Atomic War. Not just because 'disco' was in the title (although, that could easily be enough), but the fact that is set in Estonia and is about highjacking TV signals from Finland during the cold war, I mean who could resist? The Baltic connection is what pulled it from curious to a must-see, being Latvian myself but living in Canada my whole life, I'm always very curious of any films from that region. I'll admit I wish had seen this one with an audience because there is a lovely and dry sense of humour when it comes to portraying the predicament of hijacking Finnish TV signals in Estonia, because we deal with a lot of funky pop culture as well as the beauty of trends that sprout up like weeds regardless of their contraband connection. From Dallas to disco, pop culture is an undeniable treat that people want to and will do their best to acquire. It gracefully blends earnest re-enactments with fantastic archival footage with a homegrown tone that has an understated mischievous tone that keeps you wondering, and smiling, throughout.
Disco and Atomic War plays at Hot Docs on:
Friday April 30, 2010 at 9:15pm at the ROM and Saturday May 1, 2010 at 2pm at Cumberland 2
Above: The Peddler
The Peddler
Dir: Eduardo de la Serna, Lucas Marcheggiano, Adriana Yurcovich
Argentina
This film is the first time heard the terms Handicrafted films. Images of macrame instantly came to mind but only the craftiness of that spirit needs apply, the knots can be left at home. The Peddler shows us one of many journeys with Daniel Burmeister who travels from village to village in Argentina making films in the villages in exchange for room and board. Using locals as the actors, he brings a wonderful enthusiasm to the process of creating the films in and with the town. People light up when they are asked to be included in the film, and even though there are bumps on the road along the way, everyone has a good time being involved. It's a refreshing an open-style film making format that brings so much more out to play than a strict bottom line. Warm & inviting, it brings a wonderful sense of joy from everyone involved.
The Peddler plays at Hot Docs on:
Monday May 3, 2010 at 6:45pm at Innis and Wednesday May 5, 2010 at 1:15pm at Cumberland 2
Above: A Different Path
A Different Path
Dir: Monteith McCollum
USA
I could have sworn this one was Canadian. But, no it's from USA and follows stories from Seattle seniors, Toronto cyclists, to a New Yorker all who have a common goal travelling freedom. Whether it's literally trying to get from A to B in the shortest time, or wanting to empower pedestrians, it all stems from the overwhelming car-focused culture of North American, mostly but not exclusively urban centres. I'm a big fan of power of the pedestrian, and loved seeing the Toronto footage, but that just makes it extra special experience but it's a powerful message and it's inspiriting to see people working towards taking the pavement back. It's told very organically as opposed to a straight-up talking head doc, and is very open to the challenges that you can face in this scenario. I loved the spirit of the film and how it wasn't about purely thinking out of the box, which is really important, but it's also very aware of the box in the room and that you have to deal with that box as a box. It might not be your box, but it's there. This made A Different Path a very refreshing documentary to see, it also used a storytelling style that has a very textural quality to it, incorporating different tones and techniques. In effect, it's walking it's own walk by shaking up the way we see things while at the same time showing us people who are shaking up things themselves. I loved that, not only does it give a creative quality to the film and is visually interesting, but the film resonates with integrity because it brings the same message in multiple formats. Very inspiring.
A Different Path plays at Hot Docs on:
Friday May 7 , 2010 at 7:15pm at Innis and Sunday May 9, 2010 at 6:30pm at Cumberland 3
Above: Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio
Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio
Dir: Sam Wainwright Douglas
USA
Renegade architects. Yes, renegade architects. That is the focus of Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio which shares the vision of the late Samuel Mockbee who founded the Rural Studio, which has a program that works to create housing for people in need and often makes it the shelters through recycled materials and innovative techniques. It's a beautiful portrait and vision that we see continues to carried on through the school. It also looks at architecture from different perspectives from interviews, and reveals that not everyone has the same vision and showcases different elitisms within the field and within housing in general. Housing is one of the few things that in general, everyone needs to have and it has a serious impact on people - it's amazing to see the different points of view from dwellers to builders on what they think and more interestingly can be who knows what's best. Very informative and inspiring.
Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio plays at Hot Docs on:
Saturday May 1, 2010 at 7:15pm at Innis and Tuesday May 4, 2010 at 2pm at the ROM
For more information check the festival schedule or purchase tickets at the online box office.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 29 - May 9, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Tonight is the big opening night for Hot Docs bringing two sure to be crowd pleasing experiences with Babies and Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. I'm saving my strength for the remaining 10 days of the festival where I'm hoping to catch about 30 films. I had the opportunity to sneak in a few films that I couldn't quite fit in my actual schedule, but still I knew I had to see. Here are some highlights from those films. Amazing how a common theme in these films is not only thinking outside the box but also a great combination of awareness of 'the system' and creative ways to work with, without or around it. I like that kind of thinking.
Be sure to also check out my reviews of selections from the NFB films at the festival this year and come back for daily coverage here at Movie Moxie throughout the festival.
Above: Disco and Atomic War
Disco and Atomic War
Dir: Jaak Kilmi
Estonia/Finland
I knew in an instant that I would have to see Disco and Atomic War. Not just because 'disco' was in the title (although, that could easily be enough), but the fact that is set in Estonia and is about highjacking TV signals from Finland during the cold war, I mean who could resist? The Baltic connection is what pulled it from curious to a must-see, being Latvian myself but living in Canada my whole life, I'm always very curious of any films from that region. I'll admit I wish had seen this one with an audience because there is a lovely and dry sense of humour when it comes to portraying the predicament of hijacking Finnish TV signals in Estonia, because we deal with a lot of funky pop culture as well as the beauty of trends that sprout up like weeds regardless of their contraband connection. From Dallas to disco, pop culture is an undeniable treat that people want to and will do their best to acquire. It gracefully blends earnest re-enactments with fantastic archival footage with a homegrown tone that has an understated mischievous tone that keeps you wondering, and smiling, throughout.
Disco and Atomic War plays at Hot Docs on:
Friday April 30, 2010 at 9:15pm at the ROM and Saturday May 1, 2010 at 2pm at Cumberland 2
Above: The Peddler
The Peddler
Dir: Eduardo de la Serna, Lucas Marcheggiano, Adriana Yurcovich
Argentina
This film is the first time heard the terms Handicrafted films. Images of macrame instantly came to mind but only the craftiness of that spirit needs apply, the knots can be left at home. The Peddler shows us one of many journeys with Daniel Burmeister who travels from village to village in Argentina making films in the villages in exchange for room and board. Using locals as the actors, he brings a wonderful enthusiasm to the process of creating the films in and with the town. People light up when they are asked to be included in the film, and even though there are bumps on the road along the way, everyone has a good time being involved. It's a refreshing an open-style film making format that brings so much more out to play than a strict bottom line. Warm & inviting, it brings a wonderful sense of joy from everyone involved.
The Peddler plays at Hot Docs on:
Monday May 3, 2010 at 6:45pm at Innis and Wednesday May 5, 2010 at 1:15pm at Cumberland 2
Above: A Different Path
A Different Path
Dir: Monteith McCollum
USA
I could have sworn this one was Canadian. But, no it's from USA and follows stories from Seattle seniors, Toronto cyclists, to a New Yorker all who have a common goal travelling freedom. Whether it's literally trying to get from A to B in the shortest time, or wanting to empower pedestrians, it all stems from the overwhelming car-focused culture of North American, mostly but not exclusively urban centres. I'm a big fan of power of the pedestrian, and loved seeing the Toronto footage, but that just makes it extra special experience but it's a powerful message and it's inspiriting to see people working towards taking the pavement back. It's told very organically as opposed to a straight-up talking head doc, and is very open to the challenges that you can face in this scenario. I loved the spirit of the film and how it wasn't about purely thinking out of the box, which is really important, but it's also very aware of the box in the room and that you have to deal with that box as a box. It might not be your box, but it's there. This made A Different Path a very refreshing documentary to see, it also used a storytelling style that has a very textural quality to it, incorporating different tones and techniques. In effect, it's walking it's own walk by shaking up the way we see things while at the same time showing us people who are shaking up things themselves. I loved that, not only does it give a creative quality to the film and is visually interesting, but the film resonates with integrity because it brings the same message in multiple formats. Very inspiring.
A Different Path plays at Hot Docs on:
Friday May 7 , 2010 at 7:15pm at Innis and Sunday May 9, 2010 at 6:30pm at Cumberland 3
Above: Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio
Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio
Dir: Sam Wainwright Douglas
USA
Renegade architects. Yes, renegade architects. That is the focus of Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio which shares the vision of the late Samuel Mockbee who founded the Rural Studio, which has a program that works to create housing for people in need and often makes it the shelters through recycled materials and innovative techniques. It's a beautiful portrait and vision that we see continues to carried on through the school. It also looks at architecture from different perspectives from interviews, and reveals that not everyone has the same vision and showcases different elitisms within the field and within housing in general. Housing is one of the few things that in general, everyone needs to have and it has a serious impact on people - it's amazing to see the different points of view from dwellers to builders on what they think and more interestingly can be who knows what's best. Very informative and inspiring.
Citizen Architect: Samuel Mockbee and the Spirit of the Rural Studio plays at Hot Docs on:
Saturday May 1, 2010 at 7:15pm at Innis and Tuesday May 4, 2010 at 2pm at the ROM
For more information check the festival schedule or purchase tickets at the online box office.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 29 - May 9, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The NFB is a true stamp of quality when it comes to Canadian documentary film, a place where we are already had a long history of documentary film. I always look forward to their offerings at festivals and this year with Hot Docs I am once again was extremely satisfied with the the quality, creativity and important stories that resonate in the films they bring to screens. Here are some highlights.
The "Socalled" Movie
Dir: Garry Beitel
Canada
Hearing people talk about The "Socalled" Movie with a joyful enthusiasm let me know that it was one I couldn't miss at the festival. A portrait on the artist (including musician, magician and filmmaker) Socalled, we are privy to performances, jam sessions and interviews where we see things you'd never imagine being put together blend seamlessly together. One of the most prominent pairings is hip hop and klezmer music, which I admit gave me a giggle to think of them together but when you hear it, it's so beautiful you wonder why they ever were apart. The film is filled with personal history, projects, interviews with or about Socalled, where we get to see many different aspects of his creative life and how he has a beautiful curiosity to pull what would normally feel oddly juxtaposed to feel like old friends together again. In part it has a why not? perspective that is truly and inspiring. Why not put klezmer and funk together? Do it & see what happens, because it could be a beautiful thing. What we see over and over again is that it truly is a beautiful thing.
Flawed
Dir: Andrea Dorfman
Canada, 12 minutes
A true gem of a film, exploring one womans journey through her relationship not only with other people but also herself and her own body. The journey is also told visually as we watch stories come to life through ink and paint. Honest and revealing Flawed is absolutely priceless and it's beauty brought me to tears of joy through it's openness and bravery.
See a clip of Flawed here.
Above: Flawed
Namrata
Dir: Shazia Javad
Canada, 9 minutes
A brave and telling journey portrait of a woman who life brings her from India to Edmonton through an arranged marriage to unexpected results. Passionate and personal, it's an inspiring story dealing with both conflict of courage.
Life with Murder
Dir: John Kastner
Canada
Life with Murder follows a very tragic family history. Starting with a very normal family of four, 2 parents and 2 kids, living pretty normal lives until a crime if committed that changes the family unit in a way that is hard to imagine. The suprizing thing about the scenario is it highlights how much can be left unsaid and what this can do to family dynamics. Understaned and respectfully handled, we see how the family actively chooses to deal with a horrifying event. Although the question hovers on if it's patience or denial, it's shows a truly unique perspective on dealing with different kinds of loss. The film comes together as life often does, as the puzzle pieces of life are brought together without starting with the full picture.
Warnings: Life with Murder does include real crime scene photos and footage
Check them out at the festival:
The "Socalled" Movie plays at Hot Docs on:
Sunday May 2, 2010 at 9:15pm at the Bloor and Tuesday May 4, 2010 at 11:30am at ROM
Flawed plays with Small Wonders on:
Friday April 30, 2010 at 9:30pm at Cumberland 2 and Sunday May 2, 2010 at 5pm at Innis
Namrata plays with In the Name of the Family on:
Saturday May 1, 2010 at 7pm at the Royal and Sunday May 9, 2010 at 6:45pm at the Bader
Life with Murder plays at Hot Docs on:
Saturday May 1 at 9:45pm at the Bader and Sunday May 9, 2010 at 3:45 at the Bloor
For more information check the festival schedule or purchase tickets at the online box office.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 29 - May 9, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The NFB is a true stamp of quality when it comes to Canadian documentary film, a place where we are already had a long history of documentary film. I always look forward to their offerings at festivals and this year with Hot Docs I am once again was extremely satisfied with the the quality, creativity and important stories that resonate in the films they bring to screens. Here are some highlights.
The "Socalled" Movie
Dir: Garry Beitel
Canada
Hearing people talk about The "Socalled" Movie with a joyful enthusiasm let me know that it was one I couldn't miss at the festival. A portrait on the artist (including musician, magician and filmmaker) Socalled, we are privy to performances, jam sessions and interviews where we see things you'd never imagine being put together blend seamlessly together. One of the most prominent pairings is hip hop and klezmer music, which I admit gave me a giggle to think of them together but when you hear it, it's so beautiful you wonder why they ever were apart. The film is filled with personal history, projects, interviews with or about Socalled, where we get to see many different aspects of his creative life and how he has a beautiful curiosity to pull what would normally feel oddly juxtaposed to feel like old friends together again. In part it has a why not? perspective that is truly and inspiring. Why not put klezmer and funk together? Do it & see what happens, because it could be a beautiful thing. What we see over and over again is that it truly is a beautiful thing.
Flawed
Dir: Andrea Dorfman
Canada, 12 minutes
A true gem of a film, exploring one womans journey through her relationship not only with other people but also herself and her own body. The journey is also told visually as we watch stories come to life through ink and paint. Honest and revealing Flawed is absolutely priceless and it's beauty brought me to tears of joy through it's openness and bravery.
See a clip of Flawed here.
Above: Flawed
Namrata
Dir: Shazia Javad
Canada, 9 minutes
A brave and telling journey portrait of a woman who life brings her from India to Edmonton through an arranged marriage to unexpected results. Passionate and personal, it's an inspiring story dealing with both conflict of courage.
Life with Murder
Dir: John Kastner
Canada
Life with Murder follows a very tragic family history. Starting with a very normal family of four, 2 parents and 2 kids, living pretty normal lives until a crime if committed that changes the family unit in a way that is hard to imagine. The suprizing thing about the scenario is it highlights how much can be left unsaid and what this can do to family dynamics. Understaned and respectfully handled, we see how the family actively chooses to deal with a horrifying event. Although the question hovers on if it's patience or denial, it's shows a truly unique perspective on dealing with different kinds of loss. The film comes together as life often does, as the puzzle pieces of life are brought together without starting with the full picture.
Warnings: Life with Murder does include real crime scene photos and footage
Check them out at the festival:
The "Socalled" Movie plays at Hot Docs on:
Sunday May 2, 2010 at 9:15pm at the Bloor and Tuesday May 4, 2010 at 11:30am at ROM
Flawed plays with Small Wonders on:
Friday April 30, 2010 at 9:30pm at Cumberland 2 and Sunday May 2, 2010 at 5pm at Innis
Namrata plays with In the Name of the Family on:
Saturday May 1, 2010 at 7pm at the Royal and Sunday May 9, 2010 at 6:45pm at the Bader
Life with Murder plays at Hot Docs on:
Saturday May 1 at 9:45pm at the Bader and Sunday May 9, 2010 at 3:45 at the Bloor
For more information check the festival schedule or purchase tickets at the online box office.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 29 - May 9, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
courtesy of singtao.com
courtesy of takungpao.com
courtesy of singtao.com
courtesy of takungpao.com
courtesy of singtao.com
courtesy of mingpao.com
courtesy of takungpao.com
SHANGHAI BUND
With Hot Docs 2010 starting less than 24 hours, it's hard to believe the that it's been over a month since the original press conference and posting my first preview of the festival. Yesterday I headed up to the box office at Hazelton Lanes and I don't think I had been in there since last years festival! With many of the screenings going rush, it's good to know that some of the festival favourites screenings have been been inked in the schedule for the last weekend of the festival. Also on the schedule are the rooftop screenings, new this year at the festival and sure to be a fun experience complete with pre-show music performances.
I've been busy nailing down the schedule which has got me thinking about documentaries and how and why we pick which docs to see. I find that for me they can often fall into either end of the knowledge spectrum: I love seeing docs on films where I know and enjoy the subject matter, but also love seeing docs where I know absolutely nothing about the subject matter. Along with these types, portrait style documentaries focusing on one person or several with a joint theme or cause can also be very compelling - I know several of these are on my must-see list for this year. Awareness, personal journeys and overcoming challenges are also films that can resonate strongly and be very inspiring, I hope to see several of these this year as well. Now, let's take a look at a few on my must-see list:
Sport-centric
Want to know about the world's third worst rugby team? Time to check out Freetime Machos. Yep. That's a no-brainer. They had me at rugby. Always a fan of sport films but rugby holds a special place in my heart because it's a sport I actually played. Can't wait for this one! B1 centres on a blind professional judo athlete. Yep. Another no-brainer. If that isn't inspirational I don't know what is.
Amazing Women
Two portrait films that I'm very curious about are Anne Perry - Interiors on the mystery writer and comedian Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work. I've heard great things already about Dish: Women, Waitressing and the Art of Service, which may be my lone food related pick this year. Also very curious about the Sundance winning film Space Tourist, following a woman's $20 million trip to space. Wow. Talk about going for what you want.
Compelling
His & Hers program write up states "tells a 90-year love story through the collection voice of 70 Irish women". I can't begin to imagine what this is going to be like, so I know I have to see it. From love to music, another compelling premise comes with The "Socalled" Movie, focusing on musician Josh Dogin who combines funk and klezmer. It has to be seen to be believed.
Clip it to Ya!
There films that make the must-see list are purely due to clips of the films being shown at the press conference, and I'm glad they did because the description alone may not have. First was Nénette focuses on an orangutan, then Steam of Life which is about men talking in saunas and lastly Complaints Choir which is literally about a choir that makes songs from complaints. Every single one charmed me over with the clips of the film.
Personal Connections
Then there are those films that you crave to see because you feel akin to the subject matter. Several of those this year including Disco and Atomic War is set in Cold War Estonia hijacking TV signals from Finland. Being Latvian, anything Baltic is a yes for me! Less personal but very prolific is The People vs. George Lucas, which makes this list as I grew up with Star Wars and it's still, and will likely always be, my favourite movie of all time. Plus I'm always interested in discussions on intellectual property, copyright and access which actually applies to both films. Yep. Learning and fun - you can't go wrong!
Need to plan your festival? It's not to late! Check out the information on the individual programs here or see the festival schedule online at the Hot Docs website.
Opening Night Gala Ticket and festival tickets are available for purchase online.
For more information on ticketing and box office check here on the Hot Docs website.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 29 - May 9, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
With Hot Docs 2010 starting less than 24 hours, it's hard to believe the that it's been over a month since the original press conference and posting my first preview of the festival. Yesterday I headed up to the box office at Hazelton Lanes and I don't think I had been in there since last years festival! With many of the screenings going rush, it's good to know that some of the festival favourites screenings have been been inked in the schedule for the last weekend of the festival. Also on the schedule are the rooftop screenings, new this year at the festival and sure to be a fun experience complete with pre-show music performances.
I've been busy nailing down the schedule which has got me thinking about documentaries and how and why we pick which docs to see. I find that for me they can often fall into either end of the knowledge spectrum: I love seeing docs on films where I know and enjoy the subject matter, but also love seeing docs where I know absolutely nothing about the subject matter. Along with these types, portrait style documentaries focusing on one person or several with a joint theme or cause can also be very compelling - I know several of these are on my must-see list for this year. Awareness, personal journeys and overcoming challenges are also films that can resonate strongly and be very inspiring, I hope to see several of these this year as well. Now, let's take a look at a few on my must-see list:
Sport-centric
Want to know about the world's third worst rugby team? Time to check out Freetime Machos. Yep. That's a no-brainer. They had me at rugby. Always a fan of sport films but rugby holds a special place in my heart because it's a sport I actually played. Can't wait for this one! B1 centres on a blind professional judo athlete. Yep. Another no-brainer. If that isn't inspirational I don't know what is.
Amazing Women
Two portrait films that I'm very curious about are Anne Perry - Interiors on the mystery writer and comedian Joan Rivers - A Piece of Work. I've heard great things already about Dish: Women, Waitressing and the Art of Service, which may be my lone food related pick this year. Also very curious about the Sundance winning film Space Tourist, following a woman's $20 million trip to space. Wow. Talk about going for what you want.
Compelling
His & Hers program write up states "tells a 90-year love story through the collection voice of 70 Irish women". I can't begin to imagine what this is going to be like, so I know I have to see it. From love to music, another compelling premise comes with The "Socalled" Movie, focusing on musician Josh Dogin who combines funk and klezmer. It has to be seen to be believed.
Clip it to Ya!
There films that make the must-see list are purely due to clips of the films being shown at the press conference, and I'm glad they did because the description alone may not have. First was Nénette focuses on an orangutan, then Steam of Life which is about men talking in saunas and lastly Complaints Choir which is literally about a choir that makes songs from complaints. Every single one charmed me over with the clips of the film.
Personal Connections
Then there are those films that you crave to see because you feel akin to the subject matter. Several of those this year including Disco and Atomic War is set in Cold War Estonia hijacking TV signals from Finland. Being Latvian, anything Baltic is a yes for me! Less personal but very prolific is The People vs. George Lucas, which makes this list as I grew up with Star Wars and it's still, and will likely always be, my favourite movie of all time. Plus I'm always interested in discussions on intellectual property, copyright and access which actually applies to both films. Yep. Learning and fun - you can't go wrong!
Need to plan your festival? It's not to late! Check out the information on the individual programs here or see the festival schedule online at the Hot Docs website.
Opening Night Gala Ticket and festival tickets are available for purchase online.
For more information on ticketing and box office check here on the Hot Docs website.
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 29 - May 9, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Don't miss out, get your tickets NOW! This 'All Paranormal' event features the Amazing Booth Brothers! So many amazing guest speakers!!!! Go to donnshy.com and click on NEWS and EVENTS for tickets! April 30- May 1st.
Dir: Jean Yarbrough (Angels in Disguise, She's in the Army, South of Dixie)
Cast: June Lockhart, Sara Haden, Jan Wiley, Don Porter, Lloyd Corrigan, Dennis Hoey, Martin Kosleck, Eily Malyon, Frederick Worlock
USA, 1946
Seen: April 24, 2010
Reason to Watch & Review: For The Wolfathon *
I hadn't heard much abut She-Wolf of London, but it was on the same DVD as Werewolf of London so I thought I would give it a go for The Wolfathon, especially as there don't seem to be to many femme focused werewolf films. The focus here is a lot more on the femme than the werewolfness though, although I appreciated the almost completely female focused of the sotry and characters. The primary cast is a trio of women: the young & engaged Phyllis Allenby (June Lockhart), her aunt Martha (Sara Haden) and Martha's daughter Carol (Jan Wiley) who all live together on the Allenby estate with (gasp!) no men in the house. Shocking, isn't it? Well it did come out in 1946 and they are actually rather playful with the gender dynamics which makes it pretty entertaining.
The ladies are just going about their lives when fear is raised from attacks in a nearby park and the now there is a mystery is on to solve regarding the cause. Intertwined into the mystery are family histories, romances and local folklore. The film feels like serial in a lot of ways, using a lot of the ideas and themes from werewolf films with it's own spin on things but overall doesn't bring too much new to the mix. It actually felt more like a just a straight up drama than a werewolf film, as there wasn't a lot of horror elements or effects involved but rather kept the focus of the mystery side of things while presenting themes of remorse and regret. As a werewolf film, it's not quite up to the others I've seen but it is an enjoyable watch.
Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'll watch it again
I'd recommend it to fans of classic dramas
Return to Film Reviews
© Shannon Ridler, 2010
* The Wolfathon is a marathon exploring werewolf films in anticipation of the 2010 release of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Dir: Jean Yarbrough (Angels in Disguise, She's in the Army, South of Dixie)
Cast: June Lockhart, Sara Haden, Jan Wiley, Don Porter, Lloyd Corrigan, Dennis Hoey, Martin Kosleck, Eily Malyon, Frederick Worlock
USA, 1946
Seen: April 24, 2010
Reason to Watch & Review: For The Wolfathon *
I hadn't heard much abut She-Wolf of London, but it was on the same DVD as Werewolf of London so I thought I would give it a go for The Wolfathon, especially as there don't seem to be to many femme focused werewolf films. The focus here is a lot more on the femme than the werewolfness though, although I appreciated the almost completely female focused of the sotry and characters. The primary cast is a trio of women: the young & engaged Phyllis Allenby (June Lockhart), her aunt Martha (Sara Haden) and Martha's daughter Carol (Jan Wiley) who all live together on the Allenby estate with (gasp!) no men in the house. Shocking, isn't it? Well it did come out in 1946 and they are actually rather playful with the gender dynamics which makes it pretty entertaining.
The ladies are just going about their lives when fear is raised from attacks in a nearby park and the now there is a mystery is on to solve regarding the cause. Intertwined into the mystery are family histories, romances and local folklore. The film feels like serial in a lot of ways, using a lot of the ideas and themes from werewolf films with it's own spin on things but overall doesn't bring too much new to the mix. It actually felt more like a just a straight up drama than a werewolf film, as there wasn't a lot of horror elements or effects involved but rather kept the focus of the mystery side of things while presenting themes of remorse and regret. As a werewolf film, it's not quite up to the others I've seen but it is an enjoyable watch.
Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'll watch it again
I'd recommend it to fans of classic dramas
Return to Film Reviews
© Shannon Ridler, 2010
* The Wolfathon is a marathon exploring werewolf films in anticipation of the 2010 release of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam)
Carrie Lam Lei
Raymond Wong Pak Ming (center) with his children
Donnie Yen and Financial Secretary John Tsang knew each other long ago
courtesy of takungpao.com
Dir: Pierre Laffargue
Cast: MC Jean Gab'1, Carole Karemera, François Levantal, Ibrahima Mbaye
France, 2009
All set for some action? Then get ready because Black is coming your way. A heist action flick that takes us from Paris to Senegal with the premise of the ultimate job takes the heist flick to a whole new level. MC Jean Gab'1 is a charismatic powerhouse as Black, our fearless hero that has a unique sense of style and opportunity. It is a very interesting choice to make a heist film where the main character has a fair range of emotional depth including remorse, this works very well in building unexpected sympathy for a character who is essentially a criminal. The fact that MC Jean Gab'1 exudes intense energy is what truly makes it work - you are always rooting for him no matter what is thrown at him which is anything and everything. Shot on location in Paris and Senegal we see a fantastic array of settings to explore and even with so many standards notes you hit in a heist film, there are so many twists and turns keeping us on our toes the entire time. It was also refreshing to see an action film that didn't play the stereotype for comedy game, but rather present and embrace strong characters of every variety. You certainly don't want to mess with any of them! The film truly has everything - action, totems, snakes, lions, diamonds, guns fights, car chases and the list goes on and on. A wild ride which I'd be happy to ride again.
Original saw the film at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival in 2009 where director Pierre Laffargue and producer Lauranne Bourrachat were in attendance. You can see selections from the Q&A from that screening here.
I'm thrilled that this heist action flick is now available on DVD from Evokative Films. The DVD features French dialogue with optional English subtitles in yellow. The DVD packaging is an environmentally-friendly made of 100% recycled materials & totally sleek. The wrapping is 100% biodegradable cellophane.
DVD Extras: (In French)
Documentary about MC Jean Gab'1 coming to Montreal including interviews and screening (26m)
A Capsule about the Canadian Premiere at Fantasia including footage of screening Q&A, audience reactions and interviews with MC Jean Gab'1, producer Lauranne Bourrachat and director Pierre Laffargue
A Making-of on location with director Pierre Laffargue, producer Marco Cherqui, special effects make-up artist Frédéric Balmer and actors MC Jean Gab'1 & Carole Karemera (25m)
DVD Extras: (In French & English)
The packaging includes a booklet with an director's note and a foreword by Tim League (founder of the Alamo Theatres and co-founder of the Fantastic Fest) and film trailer
Black DVD is available for purchase at the Evokative Films website store, as is the awesome poster for the film
Shannon's Overall View:
I loved it
I own it
I highly & widely recommend it, especially to fans of action & heist films
Return to Film Reviews
© Shannon Ridler, 2009-2010
Originally reviewed for during Toronto After Dark Film Festival - August 19, 2009
