Film Fan Fridays for Friday October 7, 2011

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday October 7, 2011!

In limited release this week we have almost all of the releases this week, it's a pack stale from films near and far. Starting both far and a long time ago we have 2 Asian historical epic films: South Korean film Arrow, The Ultimate Weapon a literal bow & arrow action flick set during the Chosun Dynasty and 1911 the Chinese historical epic starring and co-directed by Jackie Chan in his 100th film. Wow. That's epic in a whole new way. We also have the Canadian film French Immersion following four Canadian Anglos and one New Yorker who travel to St. Isidore-du-Coeur-de-Jésus in Northern Québec, to learn French where they learn that they will be learning without using any English at all. I'm very curious to see that one. We also have the Iranian film Circumstance which has a huge subtle racy tone to it, Margaret which deals with themes of grief & responsibility and Joel Schumacher's kidnapping thriller Trespass. And we have two documentaries in this weeks mix with Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow as well as The Interrupters a documentary following violence interrupters in Chicago. Wow. Talk about a powerful thing that makes a difference, I can't even imagine.

In wide release this week we have just two films to choose from including Real Steel the robot boxing film with a spin of sweetness and Hugh Jackman as well as the political drama The Ides of March cented on ambition, power & corruption starring George Clooney & Ryan Gosling. So many films, how will we decide what to watch?

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Toronto Palestine Film Festival
Continues until October 7, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Planet in Focus Film Festival
International Environmental Film and Video Festival
October 12 - 16, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Special Screening

Films in Late Night: Python in Excelsis
The late night Monty Python program kicks off with my favourite of the films: Monty Python and the Holy Grail which screens at TIFF Lightbox on Saturday October 8, 2011 at 11pm. The series runs until until December 10, 2011 showcasing many films of Monty Python and several films directed by Terry Gilliam. Boy, those funny bones are going to get worn out in the best possible way!

Friday October 7, 2011 Releases

1911
Dirs: Jackie Chan (Police Story) & Li Zhang - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Jackie Chan, Joan Chen, Lee Bing Bing, Jaycee Chan, Winston Chao
China/Hong Kong
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Arrow, The Ultimate Weapon
Dir: Han-min Kim (Handphone, Paradise Murdered)
Cast: Hae-il Park, Seung-yong Ryoo, Moon Chae-Won, Mu-Yeol Kim
South Korea
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Circumstance
Writer/Dir: Maryam Keshavarz
Cast: Sarah Kazemy, Nikohl Boosheri, Reza Sixo Safai, Soheil Parsa
France/USA/Iran
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

French Immersion
Dir: Kevin Tierney - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Karine Vanasse, Olunike Adeliyi, Martha Burns, Pascale Bussières, Gavin Crawford, Fred Ewanuick, Colm Feore
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Ides of March
Dir: George Clooney (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Good Night, and Good Luck. )
Cast: George Clooney, Ryan Gosling, Marisa Tomei, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Interrupters
Dir: Steve James (Hoop Dreams, Reel Paradise)
Documentary
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Margaret
Writer/Dir: Kenneth Lonergan (You Can Count on Me)
Cast: Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, J. Smith-Cameron, Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Over Your Cities Grass Will Grow
Dir: Sophie Fiennes (Hoover Street Revival)
Documentary
France/The Netherlands/UK
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Real Steel
Dir: Shawn Levy (Date Night, Night at the Museum)
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo, Evangeline Lilly, Kevin Durand, Anthony Mackie, Hope Davis
USA/India
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Trespass
Dir: Joel Schumacher (The Lost Boys, Flatliners, Tigerland, Number 23)
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Cam Gigandet, Nicole Kidman, Liana Liberato, Ben Mendelsohn, Dash Mihok, Jordana Spiro
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of October 7, 2011**