Film Fan Fridays for Friday June 3, 2011

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday June 3, 2011! It's so weird not to be in Toronto while chatting Friday releases, but I'm just about to embark in the World Domination Summit in Portland! Exciting times. When I come back I know I'll be looking forward to checking out some of this weeks release (*cough*cough*X-Men*cough*cough), that is if I don't somehow find myself at a theatre here!

In limited release this week we have a fantastic set of films to explore. I'm stoked to check out Good Neighbours which teams up writer/director Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) & Jay Baruchel together again for a crime/comedy/thriller set in an apartment complex in Montreal during the winter of 1995 where a string of murders terrorizing the community. I'm also quite looking forward to The Princess of Montpensier, a 16th century set historical romance with the one heck of a heated love triangle that plays with power, duty and passion; directed by Bertrand Tavernier. In limited release we also have the Italian drama Le Quattro Volte following a shephard, Chinese historical drama Empire of Silver / Baiyin diguo set in 1899 and Woody Allen's latest film Midnight in Paris starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen and Kathy Bates.

In wide release this week it's all about X-Men: First Class. Yep. Mutants for the win. I'm a big fan of X-Men back from the Phoenix Saga graphic novel and animated series days and have enjoyed most of the films immensely. I can't wait to see the early days of Xavier & Magneto, played by James McAvoy (Wanted & The Last Station) and Michael Fassbender (Jane Eyre (2011) & Fish Tank) respectively, and although it's a prequel so in-the-know-fans know where it's going, it will hopefully go there well. It also has a freaking impressive cast including Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Bryne, January Jones, Oliver Platt and Kevin Bacon and is directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake). I hope it's awesome. Also in wide release this week is Bollywood film Ready (2011).

I also highly recommend checking out the Worldwide Short Film Festival which runs until June 5, 2011 and has an amazing selection of short films to savour.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Worldwide Short Film Festival
Continues until June 5, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Subtle Technologies Festival
14th year of exploring questions and inspire work at the intersection of art, science and technology.
May 28 - June 5, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday June 3, 2011 Releases

Empire of Silver / Baiyin diguo
Dir: Christina Yao - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Aaron Kwok, Lantian Chang, Zhicheng Ding, Lei Hao, Shih Chieh King, Jonathan Kos-Read
China/Taiwan/Hong Kong
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Good Neighbours
Writer/Dir: Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky)
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Scott Speedman, Emily Hampshire
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Midnight in Paris
Writer/Dir: Woody Allen (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Manhattan, Annie Hall)
Cast: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates
Spain/USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Princess of Montpensier
Dir: Bertrand Tavernier (Ça commence aujourd'hui, In the Electric Mist)
Cast: Mélanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson, Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet
France/Germany
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Le Quattro Volte
Writer/Dir: Michelangelo Frammartino (Il dono)
Cast: Giuseppe Fuda, Bruno Timpano, Nazareno Timpano
Italy/Germany/Switzerland
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Ready (2011)
Dir: Anees Bazmee (Thank You, No Problem, Singh is Kinng)
Cast: Salman Khan, Asin, Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Dutt, Zarine Khan, Paresh Rawal
India
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

X-Men: First Class
Dir: Matthew Vaughn (Kick-Ass, Stardust, Layer Cake)
Cast: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicholas Hoult, Rose Bryne, January Jones, Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of June 3, 2011**