Movie Box Review

This week on the Movie Moxie Podcast I share spoiler-free reviews of Paranormal Activity 3 & The Muppets as well as update on my Owned/Unseen challenge and check out some DVD releases including the fabulous Finnish film Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.

And again I'm podcasting on the fly with a happy cat beside me who decided to purrs through what feels like the entire episode! Apologies if it's distracting, but better a happy cat than a grumpy cat....

0:00 - 6:30 Intro, CASTies & Canada's Top Ten
6:30 - 10:00 Paranormal Activity 3
10:00 - 17:10 The Muppets
17:10 - 18:45 Owned/Unseen: Moonlight and Holiday movie watching segue
18:45 - 23:30 DVD Releases: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, The Debt & The Help
23:30 - 24:49 Outro

• I mention The CAST Awards, Canada's Top Ten & My Owned/Unseen List
• I mention Guy Maddin's films: Brand Upon the Brain!, The Saddest Music in the World, and My Winnipeg
• DVD Reviews mentioned: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, The Debt & The Help
• I mention Book to Film Club selections of both The Help & Hugo
• I also mention that my plan is to start releasing the podcast on Fridays
  

Movie Moxie Podcast - A 100% spoiler-free film review podcast
You can also subscribe to the Movie Moxie Podcast here:
Subscribe through iTunes here.

I'll be back next week with more spoiler-free film reviews and more owned/unseen goodness. As I mentioned on the podcast my plan is to start releasing them on Fridays and for next week I'll be talking Hugo & possible more new releases.

This week on the Movie Moxie Podcast I share spoiler-free reviews of Paranormal Activity 3 & The Muppets as well as update on my Owned/Unseen challenge and check out some DVD releases including the fabulous Finnish film Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.

And again I'm podcasting on the fly with a happy cat beside me who decided to purrs through what feels like the entire episode! Apologies if it's distracting, but better a happy cat than a grumpy cat....

0:00 - 6:30 Intro, CASTies & Canada's Top Ten
6:30 - 10:00 Paranormal Activity 3
10:00 - 17:10 The Muppets
17:10 - 18:45 Owned/Unseen: Moonlight and Holiday movie watching segue
18:45 - 23:30 DVD Releases: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, The Debt & The Help
23:30 - 24:49 Outro

• I mention The CAST Awards, Canada's Top Ten & My Owned/Unseen List
• I mention Guy Maddin's films: Brand Upon the Brain!, The Saddest Music in the World, and My Winnipeg
• DVD Reviews mentioned: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, The Debt & The Help
• I mention Book to Film Club selections of both The Help & Hugo
• I also mention that my plan is to start releasing the podcast on Fridays
  

Movie Moxie Podcast - A 100% spoiler-free film review podcast
You can also subscribe to the Movie Moxie Podcast here:
Subscribe through iTunes here.

I'll be back next week with more spoiler-free film reviews and more owned/unseen goodness. As I mentioned on the podcast my plan is to start releasing them on Fridays and for next week I'll be talking Hugo & possible more new releases.

Canada's Top Ten for 2011 was announced yesterday and it's fitting that the 2011 films are it's 11th Year. Wow, has it really been that long? I love how Canada's Top Ten celebrates & honours Canadian film each and every year and I always look forward to pouring over the title, noting how many I've seen, loved and looked forward to throughout the year. For this years installment I think I'd best be attending this screening series and I've seen a lonely 1 title for the list and it's the extreme-violence fest of Hobo With a Shotgun from director Jason Eisener (Treevenge) starring Rutger Hauer. And how amazing is it that a film that extreme is in the Top Ten? Gotta love it. I also love that Guy Maddin's Keyhole is on the list and I missed it at TIFF this year and I've heard such good things about Jean-Marc Vallée's Café de flore that it's been firmly planted on my to-see list for weeks. It's also an exciting opportunity to see Sarah Polley's Take This Waltz before it's May 2012 theatrical release and the I'm sure David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method will be a big draw as well. I also love that the list always brings new films to my attention, often Quebec cinema, and this year those new & exciting titles are Marécages and Le Vendeur, both of which are feature film directorial debuts. Often I head out to a few of the films, but I think this year I might have to wild and see them all. It's great timing to as it runs so early in the year when we don't get too many regular theatrical releases to choose from. Just hope for good weather!

Canada's Top Ten will play at TIFF Bell Lightbox from January 5 - 15, 2012, and in addition to the film series, there will be a Filmmaker Panel Discussion: A Canadian Gangster on Saturday, January 7, 2013 with Guy Maddin, Nathan Morlando and Jason Eisener to discuss their crime/gangster films.

Canada’s Top Ten 2011 (Feature Films)

Café de flore
Dir: Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y.)
Cast: Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Hélène Florent
Release Date: November 2011

A Dangerous Method
Dir: David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, eXistenZ, Naked Lunch, Dead Ringers)
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortenson, Keira Knightley, Vincent Cassel
Release Date: January 2012

Edwin Boyd
Writer/Dir: Nathan Morlando - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Scott Speedman, Brian Cox, Kevin Durand, Kelly Reilly

Hobo With a Shotgun
Dir: Jason Eisener (Treevenge)
Cast: Rutger Hauer, Gregory Smith, Robb Wells, Molly Dunsworth, Brian Downey, Nick Bateman
Release Date: March 2011 (also available on DVD)

Keyhole
Dir: Guy Maddin (rand Upon the Brain! , The Saddest Music in the World, My Winnipeg)
Cast: Isabella Rossellini, Jason Patric, Udo Kier

Marécages
Writer/Dir: Guy Édoin - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Pascale Bussières, Gabriel Maillé, Luc Picard

Monsieur Lazhar
Writer/Dir: Philippe Falardeau (C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It's Not Me, I Swear!)
Cast: Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron
Release Date: January 2012

Starbuck
Dir: Ken Scott (Les doigts croches)
Cast: Patrick Huard, Julie LeBreton, Antoine Bertrand
Release Date July 2011 (also available on DVD)

Take This Waltz
Dir: Sarah Polley (Away From Her)
Cast: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman, Aaron Abrams, Luke Kirby, Jennifer Podemski
Release Date: May 2012

Le Vendeur
Writer/Dir: Sébastien Pilote - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Jean-François Boudreau, Jean-Robert Bourdage, Nathalie Cavezzali
Release Date: February 2012

Canada’s Top Ten 2011 (Short Films)

Choke
Dir: Michelle Latimer

Doubles With Slight Pepper
Dir: Ian Harnarine

The Fuse: Or How I Burned Simon Bolivar
Dir: Igor Drljaca

Hope
Dir: Pedro Pires (Phi Group)

No Words Came Down
Dir: Ryan Flowers and Lisa Pham

Ora
Dir: Philippe Baylaucq

Rhonda's Party
Dir: Ashley McKenzie

La Ronde
Dir: Sophie Goyette

Trotteur
Dir: Arnaud Brisebois and Francis Leclerc

We Ate the Children Last
Dir: Andrew Cividino

Curious to know how it all works? Here is the skinny on the nitty-gritty:

Film Qualifiers:
Canada’s Top Ten films are chosen from features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental films. Each film must have premiered at a major film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in 2011. The filmmaker must be a Canadian citizen or resident, and have a history of working in Canada or on Canadian-financed films.

Who chooses the films:
Films are chosen by a national panel of filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industry professionals.

2011 Features Panel
Meaghan Brander, Jacqueline Brodie, Helen Faradji, Marc Glassman, Peter Howell, Brenda Lieberman, Andrew Murphy, Patricia Rozema, José Teodoro and Blaine Thurier

2011 Shorts Panel
Manon Dumais, Yves-Etienne Massicotte, Peter Knegt, Karina Rotenstein and Barbara Shrier

Canada's Top Ten will play at TIFF Bell Lightbox from January 5 - 15, 2012 with public screenings with intros and Q&A's with filmmakers plus panel discussion. Select films will also screening in major cities including Vancouver’s Pacific Cinematheque, Edmonton’s Metro Cinema and Ottawa’s ByTowne Cinema.

Pricing: 10 Screenings plus panel discussion $90 for evening screenings & $65 for day screenings, two shorts programmes for $18; single tickets of film, shorts programme or panel are $12.

Packages & tickets go on sale to TIFF Members on Wednesday December 7, 2011 and then go on sale for non-members on Wednesday December 14, 2011. You can by online at tiff.net, by phone Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET at 416-599-TIFF or 1-888-599-8433, and in person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Box Office at 350 King St. West from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

Canada's Top Ten for 2011 was announced yesterday and it's fitting that the 2011 films are it's 11th Year. Wow, has it really been that long? I love how Canada's Top Ten celebrates & honours Canadian film each and every year and I always look forward to pouring over the title, noting how many I've seen, loved and looked forward to throughout the year. For this years installment I think I'd best be attending this screening series and I've seen a lonely 1 title for the list and it's the extreme-violence fest of Hobo With a Shotgun from director Jason Eisener (Treevenge) starring Rutger Hauer. And how amazing is it that a film that extreme is in the Top Ten? Gotta love it. I also love that Guy Maddin's Keyhole is on the list and I missed it at TIFF this year and I've heard such good things about Jean-Marc Vallée's Café de flore that it's been firmly planted on my to-see list for weeks. It's also an exciting opportunity to see Sarah Polley's Take This Waltz before it's May 2012 theatrical release and the I'm sure David Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method will be a big draw as well. I also love that the list always brings new films to my attention, often Quebec cinema, and this year those new & exciting titles are Marécages and Le Vendeur, both of which are feature film directorial debuts. Often I head out to a few of the films, but I think this year I might have to wild and see them all. It's great timing to as it runs so early in the year when we don't get too many regular theatrical releases to choose from. Just hope for good weather!

Canada's Top Ten will play at TIFF Bell Lightbox from January 5 - 15, 2012, and in addition to the film series, there will be a Filmmaker Panel Discussion: A Canadian Gangster on Saturday, January 7, 2013 with Guy Maddin, Nathan Morlando and Jason Eisener to discuss their crime/gangster films.

Canada’s Top Ten 2011 (Feature Films)

Café de flore
Dir: Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y.)
Cast: Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Hélène Florent
Release Date: November 2011

A Dangerous Method
Dir: David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, eXistenZ, Naked Lunch, Dead Ringers)
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortenson, Keira Knightley, Vincent Cassel
Release Date: January 2012

Edwin Boyd
Writer/Dir: Nathan Morlando - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Scott Speedman, Brian Cox, Kevin Durand, Kelly Reilly

Hobo With a Shotgun
Dir: Jason Eisener (Treevenge)
Cast: Rutger Hauer, Gregory Smith, Robb Wells, Molly Dunsworth, Brian Downey, Nick Bateman
Release Date: March 2011 (also available on DVD)

Keyhole
Dir: Guy Maddin (rand Upon the Brain! , The Saddest Music in the World, My Winnipeg)
Cast: Isabella Rossellini, Jason Patric, Udo Kier

Marécages
Writer/Dir: Guy Édoin - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Pascale Bussières, Gabriel Maillé, Luc Picard

Monsieur Lazhar
Writer/Dir: Philippe Falardeau (C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It's Not Me, I Swear!)
Cast: Mohamed Fellag, Sophie Nélisse, Émilien Néron
Release Date: January 2012

Starbuck
Dir: Ken Scott (Les doigts croches)
Cast: Patrick Huard, Julie LeBreton, Antoine Bertrand
Release Date July 2011 (also available on DVD)

Take This Waltz
Dir: Sarah Polley (Away From Her)
Cast: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Sarah Silverman, Aaron Abrams, Luke Kirby, Jennifer Podemski
Release Date: May 2012

Le Vendeur
Writer/Dir: Sébastien Pilote - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Jean-François Boudreau, Jean-Robert Bourdage, Nathalie Cavezzali
Release Date: February 2012

Canada’s Top Ten 2011 (Short Films)

Choke
Dir: Michelle Latimer

Doubles With Slight Pepper
Dir: Ian Harnarine

The Fuse: Or How I Burned Simon Bolivar
Dir: Igor Drljaca

Hope
Dir: Pedro Pires (Phi Group)

No Words Came Down
Dir: Ryan Flowers and Lisa Pham

Ora
Dir: Philippe Baylaucq

Rhonda's Party
Dir: Ashley McKenzie

La Ronde
Dir: Sophie Goyette

Trotteur
Dir: Arnaud Brisebois and Francis Leclerc

We Ate the Children Last
Dir: Andrew Cividino

Curious to know how it all works? Here is the skinny on the nitty-gritty:

Film Qualifiers:
Canada’s Top Ten films are chosen from features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental films. Each film must have premiered at a major film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in 2011. The filmmaker must be a Canadian citizen or resident, and have a history of working in Canada or on Canadian-financed films.

Who chooses the films:
Films are chosen by a national panel of filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industry professionals.

2011 Features Panel
Meaghan Brander, Jacqueline Brodie, Helen Faradji, Marc Glassman, Peter Howell, Brenda Lieberman, Andrew Murphy, Patricia Rozema, José Teodoro and Blaine Thurier

2011 Shorts Panel
Manon Dumais, Yves-Etienne Massicotte, Peter Knegt, Karina Rotenstein and Barbara Shrier

Canada's Top Ten will play at TIFF Bell Lightbox from January 5 - 15, 2012 with public screenings with intros and Q&A's with filmmakers plus panel discussion. Select films will also screening in major cities including Vancouver’s Pacific Cinematheque, Edmonton’s Metro Cinema and Ottawa’s ByTowne Cinema.

Pricing: 10 Screenings plus panel discussion $90 for evening screenings & $65 for day screenings, two shorts programmes for $18; single tickets of film, shorts programme or panel are $12.

Packages & tickets go on sale to TIFF Members on Wednesday December 7, 2011 and then go on sale for non-members on Wednesday December 14, 2011. You can by online at tiff.net, by phone Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET at 416-599-TIFF or 1-888-599-8433, and in person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Box Office at 350 King St. West from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

On this week's episodes of the Movie Moxie Podcast it's getting to look at lot like holiday and awards season! We've got the Canada's Top Ten to explore, Golden Globe nominations to enjoy plus reviews of The King's Speech and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. All that and a genre look at family films and even a brief chat about holiday films. And as always it's 100% spoiler-free.

Movie Moxie Survey for looking ahead to 2011
Please take a few moments to fill out this survey and help me find out what you would be most interested in hearing about in the upcoming year of film. Thanks!

0:00 – 1:30 - Introduction
1:30 – 11:50 – News: Canada’s Top Ten & Golden Globe Nominations
11:50 – 15:30 – The King’s Speech Review
15:30 – 22:00 – Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader Review
22:00 – 24:00 – Blue Valentine Trailer
24:00 – 40:00 – Family Films as a Genre
40:00 – 54:40 – Holiday Films Bonus
54:40 – 55:40 – DVD releases
55:40 – 56:40 – Upcoming up Next Week
56:40 – 57:30 – Outro

Show Notes:

• I mention the Canada’s Top Ten 2010
• I mention the Golden Globe noms – see detailed list, list by film and nominations detailed and film list
• I mentioned my Most Anticipated Films of 2010 (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Reviews of films mentioned this years Canada’s Top Ten: Trigger, Splice and previous years: J’ai Tue Ma Mere, The Wild Hunt, Pontypool and Polytechnique
• Reviews of Golden Globe nominee’s mentioned: Inception, The Social Network, Animal Kingdom
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader review
• I mention chatting about Fantasy Films on Ep 15 of the podcast where I also review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
• DVD Release this week listed here

Family Film Show Notes

• Family Film definition per Wikipedia: A family film is a film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families. To attract these diverse audiences, film makers often create works that operate simultaneously on several levels of appeal.[citation needed] Comic songs might appeal to younger children, for example, while wittier jokes and pop culture references attract adults
• Switched my thinking on family films: 17 Again
• Family Films in the Franchise Variety: Toy Story, Muppet Movies, Back to the Future and Pirates of the Caribbean
• Family Films in the Studio Variety: Disney & Pixar
• Family/Fantasy: Narnia series, The Golden Compass, Labyrinth, Star Wars, and at least the first three Harry Potter films.
• 2010 Family Films: Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Despicable Me, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Furry Vengeance, How to Train Your Dragon, The Karate Kid (2010), Marmaduke, Nanny McPhee Returns, Ramona and Beezus, A Shine of Rainbows and The Tooth Fairy
• Holiday Family Film: Christmas Story
• Fave Family films of 2010: How to Train Your Dragon, Despicable Me and The Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Fave Film Reviewed: Don't have one! Shock!
• Recent Family Films on DVD: The Secret of Moonacre and Skellig: The Owl Man
• Oops! One I forgot one family film from 2010: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
• List of All Family Films reviewed

Holiday and not-so-holiday Film Recommends Notes

• Films with Snow = Holidays: Chronicles of Narnia series, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Golden Compass
• Happy Nostalgia Times = Holidays Film: Star Wars, King Arthur (2004), Elf, Bewitched
• Classic Holiday Films: It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Bishop’s Wife
• Actually Holiday Films, but New-ish: A Christmas Story, Bridget Jones Diary
• Holiday Set But Not Holiday Spirit for the Curmudgeons: Die Hard, Gremlins, The Ref
• Holiday Feel Films although Not really Holiday films: Going My Way, The Bells of St. Mary’s, Meet Me in St. Louis and The Dog Who Stopped the War aka La guerre des tuques
• Oddly not really christmasy Holiday films Ones: White Christmas and Holiday Inn
• Never Seen List: Babes in Toyland, Bad Santa and Love, Actually

Blue Valentine Trailer


IMDB Top 50 Family Films (as of December 15, 2010)
1. Toy Story 3 (2010)
2. Spirited Away (2001)
3. WALL·E (2008)
4. Happy Days (1978)
5. Back to the Future (1985)
6. Up (2009)
7. The Kid (1921)
8. The Gold Rush (1925)
9. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
10. The Lion King (1994)
11. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
12. Toy Story (1995)
13. The Cameraman (1928)
14. Tonari no Totoro (1988)
15. Finding Nemo (2003)
16. The King and the Mockingbird (1980)
17. Gol Maal (1979)
18. Ratatouille (2007)
19. Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (1973)
20. Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta (1986)
21. Tangled (2010)
22. The Princess Bride (1987)
23. I Remember Mama (1948)
24. The Incredibles (2004)
25. The Diamond Arm (1968)
26. A Christmas Story (1983)
27. Children of Heaven (1997)
28. Our Hospitality (1923)
29. The Little Fox (1981)
30. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
31. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
32. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
33. Toy Story 2 (1999)
34. Hachiko: A Dog's Story (2009)
35. Seven Chances (1925)
36. Whisper of the Heart (1995)
37. Shrek (2001)
38. Girl Shy (1924)
39. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
40. The Circus (1928)
41. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
42. Finding Neverland (2004)
43. The Iron Giant (1999)
44. Captains Courageous (1937)
45. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
46. My Fair Lady (1964)
47. How Green Was My Valley (1941)
48. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
49. The Sound of Music (1965)
50. Majo no takkyûbin (1989)

On this week's episodes of the Movie Moxie Podcast it's getting to look at lot like holiday and awards season! We've got the Canada's Top Ten to explore, Golden Globe nominations to enjoy plus reviews of The King's Speech and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. All that and a genre look at family films and even a brief chat about holiday films. And as always it's 100% spoiler-free.

Movie Moxie Survey for looking ahead to 2011
Please take a few moments to fill out this survey and help me find out what you would be most interested in hearing about in the upcoming year of film. Thanks!

0:00 – 1:30 - Introduction
1:30 – 11:50 – News: Canada’s Top Ten & Golden Globe Nominations
11:50 – 15:30 – The King’s Speech Review
15:30 – 22:00 – Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader Review
22:00 – 24:00 – Blue Valentine Trailer
24:00 – 40:00 – Family Films as a Genre
40:00 – 54:40 – Holiday Films Bonus
54:40 – 55:40 – DVD releases
55:40 – 56:40 – Upcoming up Next Week
56:40 – 57:30 – Outro

Show Notes:

• I mention the Canada’s Top Ten 2010
• I mention the Golden Globe noms – see detailed list, list by film and nominations detailed and film list
• I mentioned my Most Anticipated Films of 2010 (Part 1 and Part 2)
• Reviews of films mentioned this years Canada’s Top Ten: Trigger, Splice and previous years: J’ai Tue Ma Mere, The Wild Hunt, Pontypool and Polytechnique
• Reviews of Golden Globe nominee’s mentioned: Inception, The Social Network, Animal Kingdom
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader review
• I mention chatting about Fantasy Films on Ep 15 of the podcast where I also review Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
• DVD Release this week listed here

Family Film Show Notes

• Family Film definition per Wikipedia: A family film is a film genre that is designed to appeal to a variety of age groups and, thus, families. To attract these diverse audiences, film makers often create works that operate simultaneously on several levels of appeal.[citation needed] Comic songs might appeal to younger children, for example, while wittier jokes and pop culture references attract adults
• Switched my thinking on family films: 17 Again
• Family Films in the Franchise Variety: Toy Story, Muppet Movies, Back to the Future and Pirates of the Caribbean
• Family Films in the Studio Variety: Disney & Pixar
• Family/Fantasy: Narnia series, The Golden Compass, Labyrinth, Star Wars, and at least the first three Harry Potter films.
• 2010 Family Films: Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore, Despicable Me, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Furry Vengeance, How to Train Your Dragon, The Karate Kid (2010), Marmaduke, Nanny McPhee Returns, Ramona and Beezus, A Shine of Rainbows and The Tooth Fairy
• Holiday Family Film: Christmas Story
• Fave Family films of 2010: How to Train Your Dragon, Despicable Me and The Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Fave Film Reviewed: Don't have one! Shock!
• Recent Family Films on DVD: The Secret of Moonacre and Skellig: The Owl Man
• Oops! One I forgot one family film from 2010: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
• List of All Family Films reviewed

Holiday and not-so-holiday Film Recommends Notes

• Films with Snow = Holidays: Chronicles of Narnia series, Lord of the Rings Trilogy, The Golden Compass
• Happy Nostalgia Times = Holidays Film: Star Wars, King Arthur (2004), Elf, Bewitched
• Classic Holiday Films: It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Bishop’s Wife
• Actually Holiday Films, but New-ish: A Christmas Story, Bridget Jones Diary
• Holiday Set But Not Holiday Spirit for the Curmudgeons: Die Hard, Gremlins, The Ref
• Holiday Feel Films although Not really Holiday films: Going My Way, The Bells of St. Mary’s, Meet Me in St. Louis and The Dog Who Stopped the War aka La guerre des tuques
• Oddly not really christmasy Holiday films Ones: White Christmas and Holiday Inn
• Never Seen List: Babes in Toyland, Bad Santa and Love, Actually

Blue Valentine Trailer


IMDB Top 50 Family Films (as of December 15, 2010)
1. Toy Story 3 (2010)
2. Spirited Away (2001)
3. WALL·E (2008)
4. Happy Days (1978)
5. Back to the Future (1985)
6. Up (2009)
7. The Kid (1921)
8. The Gold Rush (1925)
9. The Wizard of Oz (1939)
10. The Lion King (1994)
11. How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
12. Toy Story (1995)
13. The Cameraman (1928)
14. Tonari no Totoro (1988)
15. Finding Nemo (2003)
16. The King and the Mockingbird (1980)
17. Gol Maal (1979)
18. Ratatouille (2007)
19. Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (1973)
20. Tenkû no shiro Rapyuta (1986)
21. Tangled (2010)
22. The Princess Bride (1987)
23. I Remember Mama (1948)
24. The Incredibles (2004)
25. The Diamond Arm (1968)
26. A Christmas Story (1983)
27. Children of Heaven (1997)
28. Our Hospitality (1923)
29. The Little Fox (1981)
30. Beauty and the Beast (1991)
31. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
32. Monsters, Inc. (2001)
33. Toy Story 2 (1999)
34. Hachiko: A Dog's Story (2009)
35. Seven Chances (1925)
36. Whisper of the Heart (1995)
37. Shrek (2001)
38. Girl Shy (1924)
39. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
40. The Circus (1928)
41. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
42. Finding Neverland (2004)
43. The Iron Giant (1999)
44. Captains Courageous (1937)
45. Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
46. My Fair Lady (1964)
47. How Green Was My Valley (1941)
48. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
49. The Sound of Music (1965)
50. Majo no takkyûbin (1989)

Above: Curling

Yesterday the 10th annual Canada's Top Ten was announced, celebrating Canadian feature & short film alike. I love seeing the Canada's Top Ten list, and each year I hope that I've seen more films on the list when it's released than the year before. Not so much this year as I've sadly only seen three films so far with Last Train Home, Splice and the phenomenal Trigger. But seeing the list is a great way to hone in on some of the fantastic Canadian film that is offered every year, and it's also a great way to see some of the Québécois which sadly we don't often get to see on Ontario screens. I'm thrilled to see Denis Côté's film Curling makes the list this year as he creates uniquely beautiful films like Carcasses and Nos vies privées / Our Private Lives, and I can't wait to see Curling as well. More familiar titles include Les Amours imaginaires / Heartbeats from Xavier Dolan (J'ai tué ma mère), the compelling drama Incendies from Denis Villeneuve (Polytechnique) and just about to be released Barney's Version. And that is just a selection of the features - see full list of all the features and shorts below.

This year's panel discussion is Cast This!: The ins and outs of casting a movie offers insight into the art of casting. Panelists include Denis Côté, Deborah Chow, Ingrid Veninger, John Buchan, Jason Knight, Leonard Farlinger & Jennifer Jonas and will be moderated by Damon D’Oliveira.

Screenings of the features, shorts and a panel discussion will take place from January 20 – February 1, 2011 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto and select films will be toured in Canada in early 2011 including Pacific Cinematheque (Vancouver) and Canadian Film Institute (Ottawa). See more information on scheduling and tickets here (on sale now). The packages are a great deal and new this year you can choose buys tickets to either 9 evening screenings or day screenings plus the panel. Both packages indicate 9 screenings, is you are wondering about that 10th film it's Barney's Version which will not be screened with the Top Ten as it will be in wide release.

Canada’s Top Ten 2010 (Feature Film)

Les Amours imaginaires / Heartbeats
Dir: Xavier Dolan (J'ai tué ma mère)
Cast: Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Niels Schneider
Available on DVD

Barney’s Version
Dir: Richard J. Lewis (Whale Music)
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Dustin Hoffman, Rachelle Lefevre, Scott Speedman
Release date: December 2010

Curling
Dir: Denis Côté (Carcasses, Nos vies privées / Our Private Lives)
Cast: Emmanuel Bilodeau, Philomène Bilodeau, Sophie Desmarais
Release Date: March 2011

The High Cost of Living
Dir: Deborah Chow
Cast: Zach Braff, Isabelle Blais, Patrick Labbé
Release Date: Spring 2011

Incendies
Dir: Denis Villeneuve (Polytechnique)
Cast: Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Rémy Girard
Release date: January 2011

Last Train Home
Dir: Lixin Fan
Documentary
DVD release February 22, 2011

MODRA
Dir: Ingrid Veninger
Cast: Mathieu Chesneau, Branislav Dugovic, Cyril Dugovic
Release Date: February 2011

Splice
Dir: Vincenzo Natali (Cube)
Cast: Sarah Polley, Adrien Brody, Delphine Chanéac
Available on DVD (see DVD review)

Trigger
Dir: Bruce McDonald (This Movie Is Broken, Pontypool, Highway 61)
Cast: Tracy Wright, Molly Parker, Don McKeller, Sarah Polly, Callum Keith Rennie

Trois temps après la mort d’Anna / Mourning for Anna
Dir: Catherine Martin
Cast: Denis Bernard, Denise Gagnon, Sheila Jaffe

Canada’s Top Ten 2010 (Short Film)

Above the Knee
Dir: Greg Atkins

Les Fleurs de l'Age
Dir: Vincent Biron

I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors
Dir: Ann Marie Fleming

The Legend of Beaver Dam
Dir: Jerome Sable

The Little White Cloud That Cried
Dir: Guy Maddin

Lipsett Diaries
Dir: Theodore Ushev

Marius Borodine
Dir: Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais

Mokhtar
Dir: Halima Ouardiri

On the Way to the Sea
Dir: Tao Gu

Vapor
Dir: Kaveh Nabatian

Canada's Top Ten was established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group to honour excellence Canadian film. See more information on the feature films, short films, panel discussion, ticketing and schedule.

Who chooses the films?
Films are chosen by national panels of filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industry professionals.

2010 Feature Film panel:
Liane Balaban, Linda Barnard, Matt Bissonnette, Fil Fraser, Teri Hart, Peter O'Brian, Kari Skogland, Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo, Bruce Sweeney and Kim Yutani

2010 Short Film Panel:
Deborah Chow, Philippe Gajan, John Greyson, Allison Mack and Sudz Sutherland

What films qualify?
Canada’s Top Ten lists are chosen from features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental films. Each film must have premiered at a major film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in 2010. The filmmaker must be a Canadian citizen or resident and have a history of working in Canada or on Canadian-financed films.


Above: The Little White Cloud That Cried

Above: Curling

Yesterday the 10th annual Canada's Top Ten was announced, celebrating Canadian feature & short film alike. I love seeing the Canada's Top Ten list, and each year I hope that I've seen more films on the list when it's released than the year before. Not so much this year as I've sadly only seen three films so far with Last Train Home, Splice and the phenomenal Trigger. But seeing the list is a great way to hone in on some of the fantastic Canadian film that is offered every year, and it's also a great way to see some of the Québécois which sadly we don't often get to see on Ontario screens. I'm thrilled to see Denis Côté's film Curling makes the list this year as he creates uniquely beautiful films like Carcasses and Nos vies privées / Our Private Lives, and I can't wait to see Curling as well. More familiar titles include Les Amours imaginaires / Heartbeats from Xavier Dolan (J'ai tué ma mère), the compelling drama Incendies from Denis Villeneuve (Polytechnique) and just about to be released Barney's Version. And that is just a selection of the features - see full list of all the features and shorts below.

This year's panel discussion is Cast This!: The ins and outs of casting a movie offers insight into the art of casting. Panelists include Denis Côté, Deborah Chow, Ingrid Veninger, John Buchan, Jason Knight, Leonard Farlinger & Jennifer Jonas and will be moderated by Damon D’Oliveira.

Screenings of the features, shorts and a panel discussion will take place from January 20 – February 1, 2011 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto and select films will be toured in Canada in early 2011 including Pacific Cinematheque (Vancouver) and Canadian Film Institute (Ottawa). See more information on scheduling and tickets here (on sale now). The packages are a great deal and new this year you can choose buys tickets to either 9 evening screenings or day screenings plus the panel. Both packages indicate 9 screenings, is you are wondering about that 10th film it's Barney's Version which will not be screened with the Top Ten as it will be in wide release.

Canada’s Top Ten 2010 (Feature Film)

Les Amours imaginaires / Heartbeats
Dir: Xavier Dolan (J'ai tué ma mère)
Cast: Xavier Dolan, Monia Chokri, Niels Schneider
Available on DVD

Barney’s Version
Dir: Richard J. Lewis (Whale Music)
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Dustin Hoffman, Rachelle Lefevre, Scott Speedman
Release date: December 2010

Curling
Dir: Denis Côté (Carcasses, Nos vies privées / Our Private Lives)
Cast: Emmanuel Bilodeau, Philomène Bilodeau, Sophie Desmarais
Release Date: March 2011

The High Cost of Living
Dir: Deborah Chow
Cast: Zach Braff, Isabelle Blais, Patrick Labbé
Release Date: Spring 2011

Incendies
Dir: Denis Villeneuve (Polytechnique)
Cast: Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Rémy Girard
Release date: January 2011

Last Train Home
Dir: Lixin Fan
Documentary
DVD release February 22, 2011

MODRA
Dir: Ingrid Veninger
Cast: Mathieu Chesneau, Branislav Dugovic, Cyril Dugovic
Release Date: February 2011

Splice
Dir: Vincenzo Natali (Cube)
Cast: Sarah Polley, Adrien Brody, Delphine Chanéac
Available on DVD (see DVD review)

Trigger
Dir: Bruce McDonald (This Movie Is Broken, Pontypool, Highway 61)
Cast: Tracy Wright, Molly Parker, Don McKeller, Sarah Polly, Callum Keith Rennie

Trois temps après la mort d’Anna / Mourning for Anna
Dir: Catherine Martin
Cast: Denis Bernard, Denise Gagnon, Sheila Jaffe

Canada’s Top Ten 2010 (Short Film)

Above the Knee
Dir: Greg Atkins

Les Fleurs de l'Age
Dir: Vincent Biron

I Was a Child of Holocaust Survivors
Dir: Ann Marie Fleming

The Legend of Beaver Dam
Dir: Jerome Sable

The Little White Cloud That Cried
Dir: Guy Maddin

Lipsett Diaries
Dir: Theodore Ushev

Marius Borodine
Dir: Emanuel Hoss-Desmarais

Mokhtar
Dir: Halima Ouardiri

On the Way to the Sea
Dir: Tao Gu

Vapor
Dir: Kaveh Nabatian

Canada's Top Ten was established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group to honour excellence Canadian film. See more information on the feature films, short films, panel discussion, ticketing and schedule.

Who chooses the films?
Films are chosen by national panels of filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industry professionals.

2010 Feature Film panel:
Liane Balaban, Linda Barnard, Matt Bissonnette, Fil Fraser, Teri Hart, Peter O'Brian, Kari Skogland, Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo, Bruce Sweeney and Kim Yutani

2010 Short Film Panel:
Deborah Chow, Philippe Gajan, John Greyson, Allison Mack and Sudz Sutherland

What films qualify?
Canada’s Top Ten lists are chosen from features, shorts, documentaries, animation and experimental films. Each film must have premiered at a major film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in 2010. The filmmaker must be a Canadian citizen or resident and have a history of working in Canada or on Canadian-financed films.


Above: The Little White Cloud That Cried

Golden Globes Awards (see winners)
Canada's Top Ten 2009: The Wild Hunt, J'ai tué ma mère / I Killed My Mother, The Trotsky
Theatrical: Crazy Heart, The Book of Eli, A Prophet (see trailer here)
101 in 1001: Mon oncle Antoine
Sword & Sandal: Spartacus

Golden Globes Awards (see winners)
Canada's Top Ten 2009: The Wild Hunt, J'ai tué ma mère / I Killed My Mother, The Trotsky
Theatrical: Crazy Heart, The Book of Eli, A Prophet (see trailer here)
101 in 1001: Mon oncle Antoine
Sword & Sandal: Spartacus

Canada's Top Ten 2011
Canada's Top Ten 2010
Canada's Top Ten 2009
Canada's Top Ten 2008
Canada's Top Ten 2007
Canada's Top Ten 2006

Canada's Top Ten was established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group to honour excellence Canadian film.

Canada's Top Ten 2011
Canada's Top Ten 2010
Canada's Top Ten 2009
Canada's Top Ten 2008
Canada's Top Ten 2007
Canada's Top Ten 2006

Canada's Top Ten was established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group to honour excellence Canadian film.

It's always exciting news when Canada's Top Ten is announced. I love hearing which films have been picked and having the opportunity to see great Canadian film, especially films from Quebec which rarely hit Toronto screens but with the Top Ten they are all shown in January at the Cinematheque in Toronto.

This year is an interesting first when reading the list as I recognized each and ever one of the films. One of the heavy hitters this year are Xavier Dolan's J'ai tué ma mère which has kicked up a storm and received huge acclaim everywhere it's played. Two films on the list that actually did make it to Toronto theatres are drama/romance Cairo Time starring Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig and Polytechnique Denis Villeneuve's film based on the 1989 Montreal Massacre. I'm thrilled to see La Donation included in the ten, it is Bernard Émond's his third film in his humanist trilogy exploring Faith (La neuvaine), Hope (Contre toute espérance) and now Charity and the film is absolutely astounding. I'm over the moon excited to see that Alexandre Franchi's The Wild Hunt has been selected, it's a fascinating (fictional) film that explores when real life and LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) collide. I saw The Wild Hunt at TIFF this year and have been aching to see it again since then. But it's not just features, the shorts program is also impressing including the award winning and haunting Danse Macabre, jovial Runaway and many more.

Screenings of the features, shorts and a panel discussion will take place from January 14 – 21, 2010 at Cinematheque Ontario in Toronto. See more infomation on scheduling and tickets here (it's one of the best deals in town).

List of Canada's Top Ten 2009 (Feature Film)

Cairo Time
Dir: Ruba Nadda
Cast: Patricia Clarkson, Alexander Siddig, Tom McCamus, Elena Anaya, Amina Annabi

Carcasses
Dir: Denis Côté
Cast: Jean-Paul Colmor, Étienne Grutman

Crackie
Dir: Sherry White
Cast: Mary Walsh, Meghan Greeley, Cheryl Wells, Joel Thomas Hynes

Defendor
Dir: Peter Stebbings
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas, Kat Dennings, Sandra Oh, Michael Kelly

La Donation
Dir: Bernard Émond
Cast: Élise Guilbault, Jacques Godin, Éric Hoziel, Françoise Graton, Angèle Coutu

J'ai tué ma mère
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Cast: Xavier Dolan, Anne Dorval, Suzanne Clément, François Arnaud, Patricia Tulasne

Passenger Side
Dir: Matthew Bissonnette
Cast: Adam Scott, Joel Bissonnette, Robin Tunney

Polytechnique
Dir: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Maxim Gaudette, Karine Vanasse, Sébastien Huberdeau, Evelyne Brochu

The Trotsky
Dir: Jacob Tierney
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Liane Balaban, Colm Feore

The Wild Hunt
Dir: Alexandre Franchi
Cast: Mark A. Krupa, Ricky Mabe, Tiio Horn, Trevor Hayes, Nicolas Wright, Terry Simpson, Claudia Jurt

List of Canada's Top Ten 2009 (Short Film)

The Armoire
Dir: Jamie Travis

The Cave
Dir: Helen Haig-Brown

Danse Macabre
Dir: Pedro Pires

Five Hole: Tales of Hockey Erotica
Dir: Cam Christiansen

Naissances
Dir: Anne Émond

Out in that Deep Blue Sea
Dir: Kazik Radwanski

Runaway
Dir: Cordell Barker

The Spine
Dir: Chris Landreth

La Vie commence
Dir: Émile Proulx-Cloutier

Vive la rose
Dir: Bruce Alcock

Canada's Top Ten was established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group to honour excellence Canadian film. See more information on the feature films, short films, panel and schedule.

Who chooses the films?
Films are chosen by national panels of filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industry professionals.

Feature Film panel:
Craig Adlard, Bart Beaty, Karen Bruce, Jerry Ciccoritti, Tom McSorley, Nicole Robert, Dr. Julietta Sichel, Jay Stone, Ingrid Veninger and Norman Wilner

Short Film Panel:
Shane Belcourt, Michèle Maheux, Adam Nayman, Shane Smith and Sherry White

What kind of films are they?
Features and shorts are selected among narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental films.

What films qualify?
Features Films must have either premiered at a major Canadian film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in the relevant calendar year.

Short Films are selected from among narrative, documentary, animation and experimental films. Each film must have premiered at a major Canadian film festival in the relevant calendar year.

It's always exciting news when Canada's Top Ten is announced. I love hearing which films have been picked and having the opportunity to see great Canadian film, especially films from Quebec which rarely hit Toronto screens but with the Top Ten they are all shown in January at the Cinematheque in Toronto.

This year is an interesting first when reading the list as I recognized each and ever one of the films. One of the heavy hitters this year are Xavier Dolan's J'ai tué ma mère which has kicked up a storm and received huge acclaim everywhere it's played. Two films on the list that actually did make it to Toronto theatres are drama/romance Cairo Time starring Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig and Polytechnique Denis Villeneuve's film based on the 1989 Montreal Massacre. I'm thrilled to see La Donation included in the ten, it is Bernard Émond's his third film in his humanist trilogy exploring Faith (La neuvaine), Hope (Contre toute espérance) and now Charity and the film is absolutely astounding. I'm over the moon excited to see that Alexandre Franchi's The Wild Hunt has been selected, it's a fascinating (fictional) film that explores when real life and LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) collide. I saw The Wild Hunt at TIFF this year and have been aching to see it again since then. But it's not just features, the shorts program is also impressing including the award winning and haunting Danse Macabre, jovial Runaway and many more.

Screenings of the features, shorts and a panel discussion will take place from January 14 – 21, 2010 at Cinematheque Ontario in Toronto. See more infomation on scheduling and tickets here (it's one of the best deals in town).

List of Canada's Top Ten 2009 (Feature Film)

Cairo Time
Dir: Ruba Nadda
Cast: Patricia Clarkson, Alexander Siddig, Tom McCamus, Elena Anaya, Amina Annabi

Carcasses
Dir: Denis Côté
Cast: Jean-Paul Colmor, Étienne Grutman

Crackie
Dir: Sherry White
Cast: Mary Walsh, Meghan Greeley, Cheryl Wells, Joel Thomas Hynes

Defendor
Dir: Peter Stebbings
Cast: Woody Harrelson, Elias Koteas, Kat Dennings, Sandra Oh, Michael Kelly

La Donation
Dir: Bernard Émond
Cast: Élise Guilbault, Jacques Godin, Éric Hoziel, Françoise Graton, Angèle Coutu

J'ai tué ma mère
Dir: Xavier Dolan
Cast: Xavier Dolan, Anne Dorval, Suzanne Clément, François Arnaud, Patricia Tulasne

Passenger Side
Dir: Matthew Bissonnette
Cast: Adam Scott, Joel Bissonnette, Robin Tunney

Polytechnique
Dir: Denis Villeneuve
Cast: Maxim Gaudette, Karine Vanasse, Sébastien Huberdeau, Evelyne Brochu

The Trotsky
Dir: Jacob Tierney
Cast: Jay Baruchel, Emily Hampshire, Liane Balaban, Colm Feore

The Wild Hunt
Dir: Alexandre Franchi
Cast: Mark A. Krupa, Ricky Mabe, Tiio Horn, Trevor Hayes, Nicolas Wright, Terry Simpson, Claudia Jurt

List of Canada's Top Ten 2009 (Short Film)

The Armoire
Dir: Jamie Travis

The Cave
Dir: Helen Haig-Brown

Danse Macabre
Dir: Pedro Pires

Five Hole: Tales of Hockey Erotica
Dir: Cam Christiansen

Naissances
Dir: Anne Émond

Out in that Deep Blue Sea
Dir: Kazik Radwanski

Runaway
Dir: Cordell Barker

The Spine
Dir: Chris Landreth

La Vie commence
Dir: Émile Proulx-Cloutier

Vive la rose
Dir: Bruce Alcock

Canada's Top Ten was established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group to honour excellence Canadian film. See more information on the feature films, short films, panel and schedule.

Who chooses the films?
Films are chosen by national panels of filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industry professionals.

Feature Film panel:
Craig Adlard, Bart Beaty, Karen Bruce, Jerry Ciccoritti, Tom McSorley, Nicole Robert, Dr. Julietta Sichel, Jay Stone, Ingrid Veninger and Norman Wilner

Short Film Panel:
Shane Belcourt, Michèle Maheux, Adam Nayman, Shane Smith and Sherry White

What kind of films are they?
Features and shorts are selected among narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental films.

What films qualify?
Features Films must have either premiered at a major Canadian film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in the relevant calendar year.

Short Films are selected from among narrative, documentary, animation and experimental films. Each film must have premiered at a major Canadian film festival in the relevant calendar year.

The big news around here is getting a new TV. It's almost as big as me! Well the box is almost as tall as me. That being said, I didn't even make it out to the theatre this week! I've been gazing misty eyed at that screen for days. I wish I could share a pic of how clear it is but y'know... copyright is there for a reason.

Since I didn't see anything new, we can double back a bit to Canada's Top Ten as a bit of catch up. It's perfect timing with the Genie nominations as there is a lot of crossover. Out of the top then films I loved Maman est chez le coiffeur / Mommy Is at the Hairdresser’s, which turns out that it is based on the same family as C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It’s Not Me, I Swear!. Both films are based on memoirs family members so there are similar themes between the film but they hold up as their own stories as well. It was great to see the full house for Adoration, followed by a Q&A with director Atom Egoyan. There were quite a few Q&A's over the series including after Pontypool, the small town Ontario zombie-ish film with director Bruce McDonald in in attendance. Many of the films now have 2009 release dates, you can check out the upcoming film schedule here.

This week is all about the mad dash to see what I can left for Oscar nominated films. I have been resisting this year, feeling more drawn to 2009 releases. But, I can't imagine not seeing at least all the best picture nominees and since I'm only at 2/5 that is the task of the week to see the remaining 3 (Milk, Frost/Nixon and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button).

If you need to catch up and are free on Feb 21 you are lucky lucky as AMC theatres are showing all 5 of the best picture nominees at a steal of a price: $30. If you have a Movie Watcher card it's only $25. Either way you get to see all the films plus unlimited refills on a free large popcorn. More info on that here.

Canada's Top Ten 2008 films have been announced, including 10 features and 10 short films. After catching up with all the features from last years Top Ten, I found them to be some of the best films I've seen in the past year therefore this is one list to keep an keep handy as a recommendation films.

Having already had a chance to catch up with C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It’s Not Me, I Swear! and Pontypool during TIFF'08 I can say we are in for a treat with the remaining 8 features.

The films will be shown at Cinematheque in Toronto from January 30 - February 7, 2009.
Prices: All 10 features + 2 shorts screenings: $65*
Single Tickers to film, shorts programme or panel: $8*
* plus services charges

Not in Toronto? Have no fear, a selection of the films will tour to Vancouver’s Pacific Cinematheque and Ottawa’s Canadian Film Institute in early 2009.

Tickets are available for purchase online, by phone at 416-968-FILM (toll-free 1-877-968-FILM) or at the year-round box office’s new location at 2 Carlton Street (West Mezzanine, operating hours are Monday to Friday, 10AM to 7PM).

For more information check out the Canada's Top Ten website.

List of Canada's Top Ten 2008 (Feature Film)

Adoration
Dir: Atom Egoyan
Anticipated Release Date: May 2009

Before Tomorrow
Dirs: Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu
Anticipated Release Date: February 2009

Ce qu’il faut pour vivre / The Necessities of Life
Dir: Benoit Pilon

C'est pas moi, je le jure! / It’s Not Me, I Swear!
Dir: Philippe Falardeau

Fifty Dead Men Walking
Dir: Kari Skogland
Anticipated Release Date: Spring 2009

Heaven on Earth
Dir: Deepa Mehta
Toronto Release Date: October 24, 2008

Lost Song
Dir: Rodrigue Jean

Maman est chez le coiffeur / Mommy Is at the Hairdresser’s
Dir: Léa Pool

La Mémoire des anges / The Memories of Angels
Dir: Luc Bourdon

Pontypool
Dir: Bruce McDonald
Anticipated Release Date: March 2009

List of Canada's Top Ten 2008 (Short Film)

La Battue - Guy Édoin
Block B – Chris Chong Chan Fui
Drux Flux – Theodore Ushev
Ghosts and Gravel Roads – Michael Rollo
Green Door – Semi Chellas
Next Floor – Denis Villeneuve
Nikamowin / Song – Kevin Lee Burton
Passages – Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre
Princess Margaret Blvd – Kazik Radwanski
Mon nom est Victor Gazon – Patrick Gazé

Canada's Top Ten was established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group to honour excellence Canadian film.

Who chooses the films?
Films are chosen by national panels of filmmakers, journalists, programmers and industry professionals.

Feature Film panel: Ann Marie Fleming, Cameron Bailey, Camelia Frieberg, Damon D'Oliveira, Glenn Sumi, Jim Brown, Joanne Senécal, Jody Shapiro, Matthew Hays and Yung Chang.

Short Film Panel: Alex Rogalski, Daniel Cross, Deco Dawson, Gisèle Gordon and Katherine Monk.

What kind of films are they?
Features and shorts are selected among narrative, documentary, animation, and experimental films.

What films qualify?
Each film must have either premiered at a major Canadian film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in 2008. The filmmaker must be a Canadian citizen or resident and have a history of working in Canada or on Canadian-financed films.