Film Fan Fridays for Friday July 15, 2011

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday July 15, 2011 aka Harry Potter Finale Day! I can't believe it, it's finally happened. The final film in the epic fantasy series about the boy who lived hits screenes everywhere (and in 3D - odd choice given the rest are 2D, but there you have it!). Everywhere! With it being the 8th film in a extrodinarily sucessful franchise I'm surprized to see a total of 7 releases with week, albeit most of them are limited releases

Speaking of! In limited release this week we have 4 limited releases to choose from including with 3 heartfelt dramas: A Better Life from director Chris Weisz (The Twilight Saga: New Moon), Snow Flower and Secret Fan based on the novel and South Africa/Germany co-production Life, Above All. Rounding out the limited releases is the documentary Blank City.

In wide release this week we have 3 films starring with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 bringing the epic saga to a close with this second part to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, and eighth film in the series based on the books by J.K. Rowlings. It really feels like it's going to be the final battle between Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) & Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) with all the film regulars included in the cast (Rupert Grint, Emma Watson). I'm really surpized to see the hand drawn animated Winnie the Pooh film on this weeks roster as it's animated and kid-centric which seems close in audience with Harry Potter, but perhaps the Hogwarts kids have grown up and out of the tales of Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Kanga, Roo and Christopher Robbins (although, I don't think we ever grow up and out of any great stories). Last up for wide releases is the Bollywood film Zindagi Na Mileqi Dobara.

If Harry Potter isn't your summer hero of choice, you may be pleased to hear that Captain America: First Avenger which is out next weeks will have late night screenings on Thursday July 21, 2011 if you *need* to see it as soon as (augmentally) humanly possible.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Shinsedai Cinema Festival
The New Generation of Japanese Film Festival
July 21 - 24, 2011 at The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday July 15, 2011 Releases

A Better Life
Dir: Chris Weitz (The Golden Compass, The Twilight Saga: New Moon)
Cast: Demian Bichir, Jose Julian, Dolores Heredia, Joaquin Cosio, Carlos Linares
USA
Limited Release
Official Facebook Page, IMDb Page, Trailer

Blank City
Dir: Celine Danhier - feature film directorial debut
Documentary
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Dir: David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1)
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Ralph Fiennes
UK/USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Life, Above All
Dir: Oliver Schmitz (Paris, je t'aime)
Cast: Khomotso Manyaka, Lerato Mvelase, Harriet Manamela, Keaobaka Makanyane, Aubrey Poolo
South Africa/Germany
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Snow Flower and Secret Fan
Dir: Wayne Wang (A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, Maid in Manhattan, The Joy Luck Club)
Cast: Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun, Vivian Wu
China/USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Winnie the Pooh
Dir: Stephen J. Anderson (Meet the Robinsons) and Don Hall (directorial debut)
Voices: Jim Cummings, Tom Kenny, Craig Ferguson, Travis Oates, Bud Luckey, Jack Boulter, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Wyatt Hall, John Cleese
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Zindagi Na Mileqi Dobara
Dir: Zoya Akhtar (Luck By Chance)
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, Katrina Kaif
India
Official Film Site, IMDb Page

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of July 15, 2011**