Film Fan Fridays for Friday November 4, 2011

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday November 4, 2011!

In limited release we have 5 films to choose from starting with an interesting duo with family ties in film with Emilio Estevez directing Martin Sheen in the emotional journey/family drama The Way where a man walks the El camino de Santiago in honour of his son. We also have the highly acclaimed films Le Havre and Billy Bishop Goes to War. I'm curious about the indie-feel romance Like Crazy staring Anton Yelchin who continues to prove that he is quite an impressive actor. And rounding out the selections we have An Insignificant Harvey, which has the special treat of Q&A's with director at weekend evening screenings at AMC Yonge & Dundas.

For wide release we only have 2 titles to choose from, both comedies. In theory, I feel like I shouldn't the Harold & Kumar movies being not the biggest fan of comedy but there is just something about them that makes me laugh and the whole idea of releases a premature Christmas film in early November really showcases the gutsy nerve the films have. Now, will I actually go see A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas? I'm not sure. But the preview did make me laugh. A lot. Who knows, could be a non-traditional Christmas gem in the making! Our second wide release of the week is Tower Heist starring Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy & Gabourey Sidibe and to be honest, the only thing that imprints on me from the film is how ridiculous inappropriate it was to have the trailer shown in front of The Help.

Ticket Giveaway: Immortals!
If you can't wait until the official release of Immortals, entry this giveaway I'm hosting for tickets to advance screening of Immortals on Thursday November 10, 2011 at Scotiabank theatre. Good luck!

Festival-ness
As one ends another begins! Last week we saw the Toronto After Dark Film Festival come to a close for another year and it was 8 awesome nights of mayhem with a whopping 18 features with 15 Q&As and plethora of awesome shorts. It was a stellar year of amazing films & memories and you can read all about it with my festival wrap up where I name the Best of the Fest and also check out full coverage list where I have links to all reviews, Q&A's and vlogs throughout the festival. Just as I hand up my press pass for one festival, I'm already getting ready for another as the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival begins this Tuesday November 8, 2011 and I'll be covering it all week long next week. Look for my preview on Monday! Lots of exciting film from Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, China and here in Canada as well. I can't wait!

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Found Footage Festival
Wednesday November 9, 2011 at The Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

International Diaspora Film Festival
November 1 - 6, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Regent Park Film Festival
9th annual free event with complimentary childcare
November 2 - 5, 2011 at Lord Dufferin Public School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival
Films focusing on mental health and addiction
November 4 - 12, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
November 8 - 13, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
November 18-19, 2011 in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Special Screenings

Lars von Trier: Waiting for the End of the World
In anticipation for the November 18, 2011 release of Lars von Trier's new film Melancholia there is a retrospective of his work starting next week at TIFF Bell Lightbox. His work is both controversial & groundbreaking and every film fan should see & decide for themselves how they feel about his work - and this is a great opportunity to do so. The retrospective includes Breaking the Waves, The Element of Crime, The Idiots, Europa (new print), Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, and also includes the new release of Melancholia which releases at Lightbox starting Friday, November 18.
Lars von Trier: Waiting for the End of the World runs from November 9 - 19 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Friday November 4, 2011 Releases

Billy Bishop Goes to War (2011)
Dir: Barbara Willis-Sweete (Perfect Pie)
Cast: John Gray, Eric Peterson
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

Le Havre
Dir: Aki Kaurismäki
Cast: André Wilms, Kati Outinen, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Blondin Miguel
Finland/France/Germany
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

An Insignificant Harvey
Writer/Dir: Jeff Kopas - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Jordan Prentice, Art Hindlem Kristin Adams
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Like Crazy
Dir: Drake Doremus (Spooner, Douchebag)
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlie Bewley
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Tower Heist
Dir: Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand, Rush Hour)
Cast: Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Téa Leoni, Gabourey Sidibe, Casey Affleck, Stephen Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Michael Peña, Alan Alda
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas
Dir: Todd Strauss-Schulson (Private High Musical)
Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Way
Writer/Dir: Emilio Estevez (Bobby, Men at Work)
Cast: Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Deborah Kara Unger
USA/Spain
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 November 4, 2011**