Movie Box Review

Dir: David Yates (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Regular Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Matthew Lewis
Additional Cast: Jim Broadbent, Jessie Cave, Freddie Stroma, Helena Bonham Carter, Evanna Lynch, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Frank Dillane
UK/USA, 2009

Originally Seen: July 17, 2009 at the Empire Studio 7 in Nova Scotia

The wait is finally over for the latest instalment in the Harry Potter series and the film wastes no time letting us know we are stepping into new territory in the Harry Potter film world. Previous established patterns are out the window as the Muggle and Magic world continue to collide.

The characters are the true stars of the sixth instalment. Kudos to Daniel Radcliffe for bringing a strong and varied performance as we Harry continue to grow into and become more of a leader in an amazing way. This is done creatively and not always above board which nicely bridges family mischievous to that of his father James and even godfather Sirius Black. But the troublemaking isn't left to just Harry, the trio is completed with strong performances by both Rupert Grint as Ron finding his own feet and Emma Watson as the head and heart strong Hermione. On the flip side to these characters who continue to grow in their skills and friendship, we see the anguish of Draco's unique growing pains through a formidable performance by Tom Felton.

In the fifth film, The Order of the Phoenix, we saw a theme of students versus teachers and with The Half-Blood Prince we see that line pushed even further as the world because more focused on actions and allegiances rather than rules and roles. The timing for this shift is spot on with the characters as they approach adulthood and the film intensifies this timing with shifting to romantic endeavours at any opportunity it can, but I feel in doing so we are left with not as much attention to the plot of this film (think of the title) nor the overarching plot of the series. There are even a few threads are also left hanging, including a new character with no formal introduction. Perhaps splitting the final book into two films allows time for these gaps to be filled in the future along with the exploration of the remainder of the story.

Concerned I was getting hung up on the book to film changes, I trekked out to the theatre for a second viewing after which I will concede that all of the changes work, and even enhance the world. One example of this is the depth and perspective given to the characters Professor Slughorn played sweetly by Jim Broadbent. But, just like The Order of the Phoenix there were certain scenes in the book I had hoped to see on film that like were not included. Considering it is must have been a mammoth task of condensing such a large text, it is understandable. The changes and additions were mostly along the lines of the hormones a-raging tempo, which do lead to beautiful moments of realism with relationships, romances, unwanted advances and even isolation. The series continues to blend a brilliant combination of the trials and tribulations of everyday growing pains and triumphs alongside the magical world that becomes more dangerous and powerful in each instalment.

Although I have reservations over some of the changes and choices, it is wonderful to see a see a series that is so rich with story, characters, themes that develop over time and to see the actors grow as the roles become richer and complex.

Now, the big questions is do I re-read the entire series in anticipation of Deathly Hallows Part I, to be released November 18, 2010? I bet I will. Will you?

Shannon's Overall View:
I know I will grow to love it
I'll buy it
I'd recommend it to fans of to fans of magic, fantasy and adventure

10 minutes of preshow including 2 commercials and 6 previews: G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Fame, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Sherlock Holmes, Shorts and Where the Wild Things Are

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2009

In anticipation of the release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince I went through a weekly countdown of watching & reviewing the five Harry Potter films. You can watch my vlog about the experience or read the individual reviews here:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Poster at Nova Scotia theatre (which has the Friday as a release date):


Poster at Toronto theatre:


Toronto theatre was all decked out in HP character cut outs:


Along with character banners:


Even the coffee place next door was playing along with us Muggles:

courtesy of takungpao.com

The film POKER KING yesterday shot in Macau Star World Hotel and Casino. Actors included Louis Koo Tin Lok, Lau Ching Wan, Jo Kuk Cho Lam. The hotel loaned a new casino area for the shoot. Goo Jai two nights ago began the shoot early in the morning. He pointed out that lately he has been constantly working overnight. Sometimes he would work over ten hours a day. Yesterday he was coughing a little. Goo Jai said that he had a sore throat because he constantly flew around and did not have time to rest. He said that although working all night was tough, it was better than working outside. In the film he played a poker expert. Would he imitate God Of Gamblers' look? He expressed in the past God of Gamblers would slick his hair back and wear a long coat, but now he would wear a hat and a medical mask.

Lau Ching Wan did not enjoy gambling. Even when he was not in a scene he would not try his luck. Earlier his wife came to visit the set and he took her around to sight see. Kuk Cho Lam and Ching Wan in the film had an awkward relationship, for now they still do not have any intimate scene. She joked perhaps under the table she would ask the director to add a little.

Eileen Chang once wrote, "Beijing Opera is very complex. Even the art of a few costumes is enough for you to study for a lifetime." No wonder Jackie Chan frankly states that Beijing Opera has no future in Hong Kong.

Speaking of how to spread the potential of Beijing Opera from Master Yu Jim Yuen, Jackie Chan helplessly says, "Beijing Opera used to be popular because at the time people didn't have much entertainment. Now with so many choices, who would watch Beijing Opera? Beijing Opera could
sing 'How are you' for full fifteen minutes. Walking from backstage to the stage could take half a hour. Who today has the patience to watch you?"

Times Changed, Stifle National Treasure

Jackie Chan is not pouring cold water on Beijing Opera. When Beijing Opera fell to this cultural desert of Hong Kong, few could relate to it. Once assisted with the Hong Kong Beijing Opera Club Bau Yau Dip points out, Beijing Opera's development in Hong Kong faces two difficulties. "Beijing Opera, when performed poor, loses its flavor. When you listen you listen to that flavor. On stage a melody can take half a day. One note can be sung for three minutes. Outsiders who don't
understand would scratch their head open!"

In today's fast food culture, the vision of Beijing Opera development seems too extravagant. Jackie Chan says, "Honestly, few truly has the vision. Times changed, no one in Hong Kong watches Beijing Opera. In the Mainland only people in their 40s or 50s would. Younger
generation wouldn't be interested in learning Beijing Opera, it's too tough! After they complete their study they have no future either. I feel Beijing Opera has to change, it can't be this way for several decades."

Jackie Chan recalls a personal experience and cites that for Beijing Opera to develop it has to change. He says, "Beijing Opera background is helpful to action films but depends on the situation. Ten years ago when I made SHANGHAI NOON, I invited a Shanghai wushu team to
make the movie in the U.S. They played Indians in below zero temperature and were very professional, but their gestures and concerns were still the stage type. No Indian would look at people like the veteran operas with the eyes wide open! Thus I say you can't take the Beijing Opera ways and force them into film in the same manner."

Cultivate Talent, Bloom And Blossom

Jackie Chan even cites himself as an example as he proudly says, "Like me, after completing my apprenticeship I went to study boxing, Hapkido, Taekwondo, karate, Wing Chun; speaking of which, I am somewhat lucky that back the school wasn't an authentic drama school so I got to
learn Northern style, Southern style, even English. These basics were very helpful in my future development. If you ask me do I want to open a school, I dare to say that everyone who has followed Yu Jim Yuen would, but over the years, Jackie Chan stuntman association and Sammo Hung stuntman association both have cultivated talent. Take a look at today's film industry, we trained many of its people!" (39)

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

courtesy of singtao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

The Media Asia invested, Milky Way Image produced, Soi Cheang Po Shui directed and Johnnie To Kei Fung produced film ACCDIENT (YI OI) is selected for competition at this year's Venice Film Festival. Louis Koo Tin Lok and Richie Jen (Yam Yin Chai) star. To Kei Fung praises both actors' performance as outstanding. Goo Jai is currently working on a movie in Macau and is very happy to receive the news. He points out that this film took a long time to make so the selection was worth the effort. He would like to be able to attend the film festival. As for To Kei Fung's praise for his and Siu Chai's performance, Goo Jai says, "Really? I am confident but will have to see the jury taste." Siu Chai points out that this film to him is a challenge as he uses an interpretation that he has never tried before. He says that he was very involved in the shoot but it was very tough. Cheang Po Shui expressed joy over the selection and thanked boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok. He never attended a large scale film festival so he was very glad to have a chance. Because the film took almost a year of hard work, he was very pleased with the selection.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT! Continue at your own risk...


For photo please click
here. Courtesy of takungpao.com

Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) in OVERHEARD (SIT TING FUNG WON) not only had an acting duel on screen but also risked their lives in chase scenes. Each suffered during the shoot.

To coordinate with a truck chase injury scene, Goo Jai suffered the pain of "bending". The memory was still fresh on his mind. "In this scene after Ching Wan, Daniel and I accidentally overheard a financial market scandal, due to greed I invested all of my life saving and even borrowed money, got swept into the financial market storm and even became the target of a hit. Finally even my family suffered. Because my right arm and leg were broken, I had to act with both limps bent. The feeling of being 'bent' was hard to take. I was aching a little. I thought it would be no different than a fight scene, actually sometimes when you are acting in a bed it is not necessarily a good thing."

Lau Ching Wan not only had romantic scenes with Zhang Jingchu but also gunplay scenes. Not only the prop gun burnt his hand, Au Kam Tong also buried him alive. Because of this scene he had to "eat dirt". Later Ching Wan said, "In the film I became involved because of two buddies Goo Jai and Daniel, so the biggest lesson this time is 'making friends with the wrong people'."

It's the time of year where we keep a close eye on the TIFF site as news and more titles are released all the time, including todays announcement of 8 more titles, 4 Galas and 4 Special Presentations.

The Gala titles include two sport films with the upcoming UK football film The Damned United starring Martin Sheen (see trailer) and Dil Bole Hadippa which is a musical romantic comedy in the world of cricket and a woman who disguises herself as a man to play on the team. We also will be getting a few laughs in with comedies on the line up including crime/comedy Micmacs from director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and a new film from Jason Reitman called Up in the Air starring George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Jason Bateman.

Gala

The Damned United
Dir: Tom Hooper
Cast: Martin Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent
United Kingdom

Dil Bole Hadippa
Dir: Anurag Singh
Cast: Rani Mukherjee, Shahid Kapoor
India

Micmacs
Dir: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Cast: Dominique Pinon, Dany Boon, Yolande Moreau
France

What's Your Raashee?
Dir: Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast: Harman Baweja, Priyanka Chopra
India

Special Presentation

The Good Heart
Dir: Dagur Kári
Cast: Paul Dano, Brian Cox, Isild Le Besco
Iceland

The Hole
Dir: Joe Dante
Cast: Chris Massoglia, Nathan Gamble, Haley Bennett, Teri Polo
USA

Soul Kitchen
Dir: Fatih Akin
Germany

Up in the Air
Dir: Jason Reitman
Cast: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman, Anna Kendrick
USA

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 - 19, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

It's always a happy day when more news about the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. Today the remaining titles have been announced along with the program schedule. It starts off with a bang with the Opening Night Gala: Black Dynamite which looks straight out of the 70's from the trailer but it's new and all the rage from the cool cats. Closing Night Gala will be the previously announced zombie baby film Grace.

We have lots of scares coming out way starting with the The Dark Hour, a Spanish film that looks freaking creepy and and has not only a horror but also a sci-fi feel to it. I think there is a new side genre in horror of creepy kid films and those little shoes this year are filled by The Children. More niches get carved out that you can shake a stick at with Must Love Death, blending torture porn with rom com. Yep, that certainly is a new one.

As always we have a zombie night on Sunday August 16, 2009 and it starts off with Dead Snow, the Norwegian nazi zombies that has been winning over hearts and brains of film fans everywhere - I really can't wait to see this one. Second in the double bill is The Revenant, which is a different kind of undeadness being a vampire buddy flick. Another vampire film has been added to the program this year with the horror comedy Strigoi which plays on Monday August 17, 2009 along with previously announced Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl.

Looking for some action? Check out the South Korean Rough Cut (aka A Movie Is a Movie and also aka Yeong-hwa-neun yeong-hwa-da) which looks freaking awesome, not only is it action it gets meta all over us showing the chaos of what happens when a actor playing a gangster and a gangster playing an actor butt heads. If you are aching some something to take you back in time, check out the epicness of The Warlords starring no other than Jet Li.

Shorts are also on the menu this year with the Shorts After Dark, an International short film showcase slated for Sunday August 16, 2009 at 1:30 PM.

It's going to be another rockin' year in the dark. Check out the Toronto After Dark website for more information on the festival including full schedule, box office & ticket information or buy tickets online.

Lets take a look at the details of each new title announced.

Black Dynamite **Opening Night Gala**
Dir: Scott Sanders (Thick as Thieves)
Cast: Michael Jai White
USA
TADFF Page & Trailer, Official Website, IMDb Page

The Children
Dir: Tom Shankland (The Killing Gene / W Delta Z)
Cast: Eva Birthistle, Stephen Campbell Moore, Jeremy Sheffield, Rachel Shelley
UK
TADFF Page & Trailer, Official Website, IMDb Page

The Dark Hour / La hora fría
Dir: Elio Quiroga (The Beckoning / No-Do)
Cast: Omar Muñoz, Silke, Pepo Oliva, Julio Perillán
Spain
TADFF Page, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

Dead Snow / Død snø
Dir: Tommy Wirkola
Cast: Vegar Hoel, Stig Frode Henriksen, Charlotte Frogner, Lasse Valdal, Evy Kasseth Røsten, Jeppe Laursen, Jenny Skavlan
Norway
TADFF Page, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

Must Love Death
Dir: Andreas Schaap
Cast: Manon Kahle, Lucie Pohl, Katjana Gerz, Sami Loris, Jeff Burrell, Peter Farkas, Philipp Rafferty, Tobias Schenke
Germany
TADFF Page & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Revenant
Dir: Kerry Prior
Cast: David Anders, Chris Wylde
USA
TADFF Page, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

Rough Cut / Yeong-hwa-neun yeong-hwa-da
Dir: Jang Hun
Cast: Hong Su-hyeon, Kang Ji-Hwan, Ko Chang-Seok, So Ji-seob
South Korea
TADFF Page & Trailer, Japanese Website, IMDb Page

Strigoi
Dir: Faye Jackson (Resurrecting Bill)
Cast: Constantin Barbulescu, Catalin Paraschiv
UK/Romania
TADFF Page, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Warlords / Tau ming chong
Dir: Peter Chan (The Love Letter, He's a Woman, She's a Man / Gam chi yuk sip)
Cast: Jet Li, Andy Lau, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Jinglei Xu
China/Hong Kong
TADFF Page, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2009 runs from August 14-21, 2009 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

If someone is like me, unless there are two me the world does not have a second Jackie Chan. Yet Jackie Chan has been someone else's me. He once tried his luck with the name Yuen Long but without any success. Finally he knew that in order to succeed in the film industry he had to make a name for himself.

Jackie Chan was originally named Chan Kong Sun, family name Fong Si Lung. Reportedly he was the descendant of the famous Tang Dynasty official Fang Xuanling. During the Seven Little Fortunes era, Master Yu Jim Yuen named him Yuen Lau. When eldest brother Sammo Hung Kam Bo's apprenticeship ended and gave up the name of Yuen Lung, Jackie Chan took the name to make something of it.

Years In The Business, Once Play Dead

Jackie Chan said, "When I made movies I used the name Yuen Long. I saw Hung Kam Bo didn't use it so I used it. At the time I was still young. (Corey) Yuen Kwai was assistant director under Tsui Siu Ming. Yuen Biao developed better than me. I too made POLICE WOMAN (NUI GAING CHAT) and EAGLE SHADOW FIST (DING TIN LAP DEI), but I wasn't the lead."

Back then Jackie Chan played small roles at Shaw's. Soon Bruce Lee passed away and martial art film box office was severely impacted and reduced production. His career ran into its first obstacle.

Jackie Chan recalls, "I was in the film industry for several years, from corpse, minor stuntman to lead then back to stuntman, and action director. I became less and less interested in film, so I returned to Australia to rest a little. One day, I received director Lo Wei's call to tell him to come back and make NEW FIST OF FURY (SUN JING MO MOON). Because of this film I changed my name."

After returning to Hong Kong, Lo Wei felt Yuen Lung did not sound like a good stage name and asked what kind of name Jackie Chan wanted. The brain trust after long consideration still could not come to an agreement, as they lingered on several names.

Jackie Chan says, "Siu Lung was dead so the name was unlucky, Dai Lung didn't sound good at all. I liked Zhao Zilong, but they said Zilong represented very small and turned it down. I also liked Yunlong, they said it would be hard to find. Later someone told me to use the name Sing Lung, I thought I would more likely become a bug than a dragon. At first I didn't dare to use this name but I didn't have a choice."

Snake In Eagle's Shadow, From Bug To Dragon

After changing his name, Jackie Chan almost "got his wish" and became a bug. Like being jinxed he did not have any luck at all. Jackie Chan says, "After changing to this name, I wasn't busy at all. No one saw my movies, the box office was poor. I was very disillusioned. I said I would give myself two years. If I really couldn't make it then I would return to Australia. A friend gave me ten Australian dollars to wish me success. Coincidentally, after two years, someone offered me SNAKE IN EAGLE'S SHADOW (SEH YING DIU SAU), even Lau Ka Leung praised my performance. For this film I was the lead, assistant director and stunt double of many. I was paid for the double work too and luck started to come. Since then I have used this name for thirty years, only now I realize this name sounded pretty good." (38)

Daniel Wu and William Chan

Zhang Jingchu

Louis Koo and Lau Ching Wan

courtesy of on.cc

courtesy of singtao.com

Michael Wong and wife Janet Ma

Anita Yuen and Christine Ng

Lau Ching Wan and wife Amy Kwok

Zhang Jingchu

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Lau Ching Wan, Alex Fong Chung Shun, Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho), Louis Koo Tin Lok, Zhang Jingchu and Michael Wong Man Tak starred in OVERHEARD (SIT TING FUNG WON), which held a premiere two nights ago. Guest stars William Chan Wai Ting, Queenie Chu Wai Man and Sharon Lok Si Wan also attended. Aside from directors Alan Mak Siu Fai and Felix Chong Man Keung, Derek Yee Tung Sing, Fiona Sit Hoi Kei, Wilfred Lau Ho Lung, Anita Yuen Wing Yi and Bernice Liu Bik Yi attended as well. The guest raised a toast last night, the lead Lau Ching wan, Fong Chung Shun, Koo Tin Lok and Ng Yin Cho all deferred the center spot. Finally Wong Man Tak and Zhang Jingchu stood in the center.

Chan Wai Ting earlier while promoting the film with Ng Yin Cho was accused of being displeased with Daniel and supported his rumored girlfriend Angelababy to be attler than Daniel and could be a model. He immediately wanted to clarify that everything was fine. They were good friends and were only joking that day. Everyone knew that Baby would not be taller than Daniel. As for explaing to Ng Yin Cho, Chan Wai Ting praised he as a very nice elder who already exceeded being a gentleman. With his great experience, Daniel was more gracious than him.

Ng Yin Cho was asked whether he and Chan Wai Ting had any problem. He repsonded that nothing was wrong and the media made it up. He praised Chan Wai Ting for his hard work and for paying attention to others' acting, which was rare among new comers. "I didn't deliberately teach him, I just told him to relax a little. If he was too tense in his firstmovie his performance would be poor." OVERHEARDS after four days in release in the Mainland already made 30 million yuan. He expressed that he was very happy but he did not consider whether he would win any award.

Ng Yin Cho expressed that his girlfriend Lisa S. could not attend due to work, but would watch his new film later. He said that earlier she was very mad after watching SHINJUKU INCIDENT (SUN SHOOK SI GEIN). She scolded him for letting her watching a movie with such a brutal ending for him. "My girlfriend cried after watching. Mommy also doesn't want to watch my last scene." As for a couple scene with his girlfriend, he expressed that she was not too interested and in heels she was taller than him. After the interview, Ng Yin Cho and Chan Wai Ting posed for pictures without any issue.

Lau Ching Wan and his wife Amy Kwok Oi Ming attended the event. Ching Wan said that he still has not seen the entire film but was very satisfied with it. Did he feel this film can be an "award winning" film? He expressed that he did not deliberately think about winning award and said that everyone performed well in the film. He also said that he did not mind the comparison between four actors as everyone had his own specialty. He joked that he did not feel he would win and never thought about it. Ching Wan expressed that recently he has been working on his new film POKER KING in Macau. As for young model guest appearance, he joked that he did not see any and that he would pay more attention nexttime.

Koo Tin Lok was also busy with POKER in Macau. Two nights ago he took a helicopter to Hong Kong for premiere, after which he would return to work in Macau. Goo Jai knew about the film's great Mainland box office but was not worried about any comparison between the four male leads. He has worked with Ching Wan and Ng Yin Cho before so they had chemistry. Goo Jai's film FOR HIS MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (DAI NOI MUK TAM LING LING GAU) will soon open, was he worried about competing with himself? He said that FOR will be released a week later and believed that the two different genre films would not affect each other. He also said that he did not think about winning an award with OVERHEARD, as being able to make a good fil mwas already enough.

Zhang Jingchu also was very happy about the film's Mainland performance. As for winning an award, she only said that this film was lighter than BEAST STALKER (JING YUN) and PROTEGE (MOON TOH) as the film had more romantic scenes. She praised the four male leads for their fabulous performance and hoped that each would be able to receive a nomination. Zhang Jingchu expressed that she would stay in Hong Kong for two to three days.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince still tops both the Canadian and UK charts this week, I know I went back for second helpings. North American chart this week had those crazy guinea pigs from G-Force in the number one spot. I'm impressed to see The Hurt Locker continues to climb up on the Canadian and North American charts as the weeks go by, it truly is a great film. Lars von Trier's Antichrist debuts on the UK charts this week after many tours on the festival circuit, no word yet on a Canadian release date for it yet.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the July 24, 2009 weekend
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. The Ugly Truth *
3. G-Force *
4. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
5. Orphan *
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
7. De père en flic
8. The Proposal
9. The Hangover
10. Brüno
11. Public Enemies
12. The Hurt Locker
13. Up
14. My Sister's Keeper
15. Under the Sea 3D
16. (500) Days of Summer
17. OSS 117: Rio ne répond plus *
18. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
19. Millenium
20. Star Trek

Top 20 Movies in North America for the July 24, 2009 weekend
1. G-Force *
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
3. The Ugly Truth *
4. Orphan *
5. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
7. The Hangover
8. The Proposal
9. Public Enemies
10. Brüno
11. Up
12. (500) Days of Summer
13. The Hurt Locker
14. My Sister's Keeper
15. I Love You, Beth Cooper
16. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
17. The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
18. Star Trek
19. Moon
20. Under the Sea 3D

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the July 24, 2009 weekend
1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
2. The Proposal *
3. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
4. Brüno
5. The Hangover
6. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
7. Public Enemies
8. My Sister's Keeper
9. Moon
10. Antichrist *

* indicates opening weekend in noted location, red text indicates Canadian film release

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info

Alan Mak Siu Fai (top), Felix Chong Man Keung
courtesy of singtao.com

On screen wearing headphones for surveillance are Lau Ching Wan, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Ch); off screen, as wearing headphones for playbacks are two directors -- Alan Mak Siu Fai and Felix Chong Man Keung

Text: Ben, Interview: Gum Sing, Ringo & Ben, Photo: Alan
(J: JET, C: Chong Man Keung / M: Mak Siu Fai)

Right Is Right, Wrong Is Wrong

J: What does OVERHEARD (SIT TING FUNG WON) want to express the most?

C: At first we only want to shoot a story about several cops who get into a lot of trouble due to a moment of greed. Later we discover, we want to say the most that for something we think is right initially, as soon as many people have opinions about it, we gradually believe it is wrong. The opposite is the same. The frightening part is we are already used to it, self evaluation is the best example.

M: The film mainly talks about greed and crime. Everyone may notice, every few robberies take place. Instead commercial crimes, like fixing the market and reporting false earning, are more and more common. They involve astronomical numbers. Even when found guilty, the punishment would not be too severe. Yet before their crimes are discovered, these people are still successful people in the society. In the end what is a crime? Which crime should be considered severe?

J: How do you determine right and wrong? In today's world, is there absolute right and wrong?

C: Absolute right and wrong are ideals, they may not be practical and people can only try their best. For example you should not cross the road on a red light, but when you are in a hurry you cross anyway. On many occasions we know something is wrong, but if we do not affect others we would lower our standards and do it.

M: This type of standard would change with the times. Particularly in the past ten years or five years it has become stranger and stranger.

C: When we studied the story, if we are the three protagonists in the film, would we break the law too? I definitely would! After making OVERHEARD, I have an understanding of what is moral. All along, we would only use moral on others or as a tool of judgment. Now I understand, real moral is used on myself.

Nonstop Speculation

J: Why would you choose an insider trading case as the story background?

M: We created this story in 07, when the Hang Seng Index headed for 35,000 and everyone was speculating stock. At the time a certain Kowloon Tong kindergarten was distributing enrollment forms and reporters interviews parents. One of the parents wished that after their children got into that kindergarten they could become an investment banker when they grew up, it was very frightening. Incredibly, now some people already treated stock speculation as achievement.

C: We came up with the story at the Koo Tai Place downstairs coffee shop. People who went to work there should be all telecommunication and advertising company people. I seriously eavesdropped. They never talked about work or gossip. Every table actually was talking about stock and investment strategy! That moment was quite stimulating. Greed is forever. When you see how much others make everyday, you are somewhat tempted and start to invest. Gradually you forget about your real job and start to pursue without end.

People are Working, People Are Listening

J: In your research, which are the most popular eavesdropping devices now?

C: I did the research before the shoot. The top technology at the time after the shoot ended could all be purchased on Ap Liu Street. Online there are many sites about eavesdropping and video surveillance. Adultery catching is popular in Taiwan so (the technology) was the most advanced. They even state that it is the seventh generation of the model that caught Chu Mei-Fang, it's very outrageous!

I have a few research sources. Every time I talk with him we have to go to places with people, like the park. Right away he removes the mobile phone sim card and battery, then he starts talking. Actually the currently eavesdropping technology sometimes doesn't need a machine. All you need to aim the receiver from the building across the street to the glass window. Glass curtain wall is the best. When people speak inside the building, they caused turbulence in the air that when transmitted to the glass they can be heard.

M: Eavesdropping is too easy. The more everyday an item is the better. The most common are microphone hiding light switches and electrical sockets. We asked a current police officer. The devices that he uses are so high tech that no one would believe it if they are used in a movie. He says that a needle sized device that has to be stuck on the wall only requires a receiver to be able to what everyone says next door.

Surveillance Men

J: Among the three lead actors, Lau Ching Wan's abilities are publicly recognized. When he performs does he elevate others' performance?

C: Smart actors understand very much that actors need mutual assistance. They know hot to let other people act. Ching Wan and (Tony) Leung Chiu Wai are this type of actors. Every drop of Ching Wan's acting method starts from the character, which may be the dumbest way since it takes a lot more work. In the past he mostly played heroes who are always very brave. This time I want him to play a cowardly figure. By the last scene he still is daft.

M: We of course know he is a great actor, but we didn't expect him to be so great. He would analyze the character's background, and motivation in extreme details, which is quite amazing! He knows how to, without influencing us, discuss with us, slowly study and even be willing to change character motivation, to accommodate what we asked of the performance.

J: This time Koo Tin Lok had to gain weight and dye his hair white. Why such an image?

C: At the first press conference, he grew a face full of beard and asked whether we could use it, haha. He is an actor who services the story, very willing to change his look. Only that we never thought of a suitable image until that morning when work began when I was able to find a reference. When I showed him that photo, he was surprised because that was (Benny) Chan Muk Sing, haha! Benny is a homebody who would cook in the office. He is the most capable of representing the character.

M: Koo Tin Lok's impression of cool is too strong. His bronze tan, thick hair are hard to break through. Before the shoot we were worried. After seriously talking and working together, he is the complete opposite of how I imagined him. He may be the one with pleasantly surprised me the most.

J: Ng Yin Cho is the most righteous, in the film what kind of person is he?

C: He represents the new generation that mocks the poor instead of the whore. In their world, all value system can break down into money and numbers. They are absolutely connected to material, their moral value can be relaxed at any time. I am not tailoring the story for Daniel, but since his addition he has such an effect. His image is the most handsome and innocent, but the worst words would come from his mouth.

Directors' Third Party

J: This time you are working for third time as directors. When two directors work together, what is the most obvious advantage?

M: One director has too many problems to resolve. Every decision may affect the film's quality. With another person around, it is more comfortable. The best part is the ability to mutually stimulate. Sometimes through discussion we would get a better understanding into the entire matter.

C: This is the reason that Hong Kong film professionals cannot successfully break into Hollywood. Most local film professionals are used to relying on natural talent and are reluctant to discuss. They often forget that several smart brains can serve the one plus one equals three effect.

J: (Derek) Yee Tung Sing is the producer. Did he participate in the production process and the shoot? What did he help with the most?

C: Yee Tung Sing did the job that we wanted to do the least, like looking for bosses and actors. He understood the script very well. During post production he provided a lot of great suggestions so the film maintained its original dramatic flavor.

M: Due to the sensitive subject, ultimately a story about police breaking the law, we couldn't find investors. Yee Tung Sing was familiar with the Mainland inspection so I asked him to take a look at the script. He even took the initiative and suggested helping us with the financing search. Creatively, he provided a lot of ideas, but also respected our creative freedom a lot.

J: After hits like INFERNAL AFFAIRS (MO GAN DOH) and INITIAL D (TAU MAN JI D), you still have a hard time with investors. Do you feel common ground is hard to find?

C: The world is very fair. Success this time, no matter how talented you are, does not represent the same success this time. When I finish a script, I feel very satisfied. By the time the film performs, it is already too far off. This is film's most interesting part.

M: I am more or less upset, but it has more advantage than disadvantage. At least it gives us a chance for examination and give the script a second thought. Otherwise every time is (Andy) Lau Tak Wa and Leung Chiu Wai, then ask the boss for 50 million. How much fun would that be?

courtesy of mingpao.com

courtesy of takungpao.com

Like Mainland writer Yu Hua's novel BROTHERS, Jackie Chan who was bald when he was young was like the book's Baldy Lee. He peeked at woman's body, the result of course was the inevitable Yu Jim Yuen punishment. Young Jackie Chan like Baldy Lee peeked at woman not because of lust but actually because of curiosity.

Jackie Chan claimed innocence in this matter. If it coordinated with his autobiography I AM JACKIE CHAN's description, you would have a deeper understanding of the matter. Jackie Chan wrote, "You may think we are too naive, actually not knowing anything about men and women and sex. Even at that time, most 12 year old children had certain understanding of the male and female biological structure. Yet, we didn't go to school or have time to explore. In addition, who would resolve our curiosity? Thus most doubts about men and women we could only rely on ourselves to answer."

Examining Opposite Sex, Ends In Failure

Actual practice is the hard reason. Who does not learn from failures in the matter of men and women? Only Jackie Chan's mistake was beyond wrong. He says. "I already decided to get to the bottom of the matter between men and women. That day, (Corey) Yuen Kwai and I got a few buddy brothers and plotted. We didn't let Yuen Lung or other older brothers know because they would heartlessly scoff at our folly. 'Hey, hurry and turn around.' Yuen Kwai said as he pushed forward for a clearer look. I immediately pushed him from behind. At that time Yuen Kwai already saw the face of the girl who was bathing."

Who was this girl? The answer made Jackie Chan "dare not have any thought of female for a long time after the failure of this opposite sex understanding exploration adventure".

"'God! It's Si Mo.' Yuen Kwai trembled and whispered to us. Yet Si Mo already heard the voice. In order to scare us off, she began to scream. The next day, Yuen Kwai and I trained as usual, but not because our bruises have already healed. It was because yesterday we got a spanking and training while seated hurt even more."

Blasphemy, Endless Consequences

Women sometimes are indeed very holy, impurity against them was like blasphemy. The result was asking for trouble. Jackie Chan says, "I have tried to put the school's spirit tablets and statues on the ground and wiped them with wet cloth. It's much quicker than using a feather duster, but then for days I made mistakes in my performance: falling off the stage, hanging a pair of jeans on the banner, fake beard on fake beard that reached the ground, crushing my hand on the table. Fortunately, with the injured hand I didn't have to train."

While training could wait, fortune seldom repeats. Jackie Chan wrote in his autobiography, "After repeated mistakes, Master pushed me in front of the altar and gave me 20 lashes. That night I had a hard time finding a sleeping posture that did not touch the wound. I stared at the altar and asked, 'Now are we even?'" (37)

courtesy of takungpao.com

On the night of the 27th, a film that celebrate the 60th anniversary of the new China, RENMING RU TIAN, held its premiere at the Henan's People Hall. Director Sun Tie and other members of the production team attended the event.

The film was a Henan Film and Television Group production, a feature film that brought the July 29 2007 rescue. A coal mine was flooded as 69 miners were trapped below. Miner formed volunteer rescue teams after 72 hours saved all 69 miners.

Evening gowns, or hard hats because the announcement today has heavy hitters added to this years line up at TIFF'09. First and foremost I'm thrilled to hear that Drew Barrymore's directorial debut Whip It is headed to TIFF, I wrote about it last week and since then the trailer has been released and it looks like roller derby loads of fun. Speaking of trailers, just yesterday Screen Rant shared the trailer for Dorian Gray and now it is revealed it will be at TIFF, how mysteriously delicious! The UK film is directed by Oliver Parker, stars Ben Barnes as Dorian Gray and Colin Firth as Lord Wotton and is included in the Gala programme.

We can welcome back many familiar names to the festival with lots of returning directors such as Werner Herzog with Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans a remake of the 1992 film, Pedro Almodóvar returns with new film Broken Embraces and Michael Moore with previously-untitled-now-revealed film Capitalism, A Love Story (which over at Apple Trailers currently still says "Michael Moore The New Movie"). It is thrilling to hear that Ian Fitzgibbon is back at the festival this year with Perrier's Bounty starring Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Jim Broadbent and Jodie Whittaker. After seeing th dark and comedic A Film with Me in It from Ian Fitzgibbon last year at TIFF, I'm certainly game to see more of his work.

Let's take a look at the new titles added today, along with the Special Presentations titles added last week and films previously announced including the opening night selection: Creation.

Gala

Creation **Opening Night Selection**
Dir: Jon Amiel
Cast: Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly
UK

Dorian Gray
Dir: Oliver Parker
Cast: Ben Barnes, Colin Firth
United Kingdom

Get Low
Dir: Aaron Schneider
Cast: Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black
USA

Max Manus
Dir: Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg
Norway/Denmark/Germany

Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
Dir: Lee Daniels
USA

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
Dir: Rebecca Miller
Cast: Robin Wright Penn, Alan Arkin
USA

Special Presentation

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans
Dir: Werner Herzog
Cast: Nicolas Cage
USA

The Boys Are Back
Dir: Scott Hicks
Cast: Clive Owen
Australia/United Kingdom

Bright Star
Dir: Jane Campion
Cast: Ben Whishaw, Abbie Cornish
United Kingdom/Australia

Broken Embraces
Dir: Pedro Almodóvar
Cast: Lluís Homar, Penélope Cruz
Spain

Capitalism: A Love Story
Dir: Michael Moore
USA

City of Life and Death
Dir: Lu Chuan
China

Cracks
Dir: Jordan Scott
Cast: Eva Green
Ireland/United Kingdom

An Education
Dir: Lone Scherfig
United Kingdom

The Front Line
Dir: Renato De Maria
Italy

Glorious 39
Dir: Stephen Poliakoff
United Kingdom

Harry Brown
Dir: Daniel Barber
Cast: Michael Caine
United Kingdom

Hadewijch
Dir: Bruno Dumont
France

The Informant!
Dir: Steven Soderbergh
Cast:Matt Damon,
USA

The Invention of Lying
Dir: Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson
USA

Kamui
Dir: Yoichi Sai
Cast: Kenichi Matsuyama
Japan

Leaves of Grass
Dir: Tim Blake Nelson
USA

Life During Wartime
Dir: Todd Solondz
Cast: Allison Janney, Ciarán Hinds
USA

London River
Dir: Rachid Bouchareb,
United Kingdom/France/Algeria

Mao's Last Dancer
Dir: Bruce Beresford
Australia/USA/China

Moloch Tropical
Dir: Raoul Peck
Haiti/France

Mother
Dir: Bong Joon-ho
South Korea

Ondine
Dir: Neil Jordan
Cast: Colin Farrell, Alison Barry, Alicja Bachleda
Ireland/USA

Partir
Dir: Catherine Corsini
Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Sergi López
France

Perrier's Bounty
Dir: Ian Fitzgibbon
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent, Brendan Gleeson, Jodie Whittaker
Ireland/United Kingdom

A Prophet
Dir: Jacques Audiard
France

Scheherazade Tell Me a Story
Dir: Yousry Nasrallah
Egypt

The Secret of Their Eyes
Dir: Juan José Campanella
Argentina/Spain

A Serious Man
Dir: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
USA

Solitary Man
Dirs: Brian Koppelman and David Levien
Cast: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary Louise Parker, Jenna Fischer
USA

Triage
Dir: Danis Tanovic
Cast: Colin Farrell
Ireland/Spain

Valhalla Rising
Dir: Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast: Mad Mikkelsen
Denmark/United Kingdom

Vengeance
Dir: Johnnie To
Cast: Johnny Hallyday
Hong Kong/France

The Vintner's Luck
Dir: Niki Caro
New Zealand/France

Whip It
Dir: Drew Barrymore
Cast: Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis, Zoe Bell, Drew Barrymore
USA

Women Without Men
Dir: Shirin Neshat
Germany/France/Austria

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 - 19, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The TIFF announcements continue with more film titles release in the Discovery and Vanguard programmes. We also have lots of documentaries titles to explore, the majority of which are in the Real to Reel programme but jump into other programmes such as The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights, a documentary that follows Jack and Meg White of The White Stripes on their cross Canada tour which is included in Vanguard, Good Hair which is a Special Presentation and Turtle: The Incredible Journey included as a Sprockets Family Zone title. For fans of film, rating and legalities Cleanflix looks interesting, a doc on 'clean' versions of Hollywood films inspired by the religious preaching. We also have the directorial debut from actor Samantha Morton with The Unloved. The Vanguard program is certainly bringing us cinema on the edge including unconventional crime film Accident directed by Soi Cheang and produced by Johnnie To, going apocalyptic with Luis Ortega's The Dirty Saints and down the rabbit hole following a drug dealer with Gaspar Noé's Enter the Void.

Lets take a look at the titles, organized by program.

Discovery

The Angel
Dir: Margreth Olin
Cast: Maria Bonnevie
Norway/Sweden/Finland

Applause
Dir: Martin Pieter Zandvliet
Cast: Paprika Steen
Denmark

Bare Essence of Life
Dir: Satoko Yokohama
Cast: Kenichi Matsuyama
Japan

Beautiful Kate
Dir: Rachel Ward
Australia

A Brand New Life
Dir: Ounie Lecomte
South Korea/France

The Disappearance of Alice Creed
Dir: J. Blakeson
Cast: Eddie Marsan, Martin Compston, Gemma Arterton
United Kingdom

Eamon
Dir: Margaret Corkery
Ireland

Every Day Is a Holiday
Dir: Dima El-Horr
France/Germany/Lebanon

Five Hours from Paris
Dir: Leon Prudovsky
Israel

Heliopolis
Dir: Ahmad Abdalla
Egypt

The Day Will Come
Dir: Susanne Schneider
Germany/France

Le Jour où Dieu est parti en voyage
Dir: Philippe van Leeuw
Belgium

Last Ride
Dir: Glendyn Ivin
Australia

My Dog Tulip
Dir: Paul Fierlinger and Sandra Fierlinger
Animated
Voices: Christopher Plummer, Isabella Rossellini
USA

My Tehran for Sale
Dir: Granaz Moussavi
Australia/Iran

Northless
Dir: Rigoberto Perezcano
Mexico/Spain

La Soga
Dir: Josh Crook
Dominican Republic/USA

Shirley Adams
Dir: Oliver Hermanus
South Africa/USA

Toad's Oil
Dir: Koji Yakusho
Japan

Together
Dir: Matias Armand Jordal
Norway

The Unloved
Dir: Samantha Morton
United Kingdom

Real to Reel

The Art of the Steal
Dir: Don Argott
USA

Bassidji
Dir: Mehran Tamadon
Iran/France/Switzerland

Cleanflix
Dirs: Andrew James and Joshua Ligairi
USA

Collapse
Dir: Chris Smith
USA

Colony
Dirs: Carter Gunn and Ross McDonnell
Ireland

Google Baby Zippi
Dir: Brand Frank
Israel

How to Fold a Flag
Dirs: Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein
USA

L'Enfer de Henri-Georges Clouzot
Dirs: Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea
France

The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Dir: Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
USA

Presumed Guilty
Dirs: Roberto Hernández and Geoffrey Smith
Mexico

Schmatta: Rags to Riches to Rags
Dir: Marc Levin
USA

Snowblind
Dir: Vikram Jayanti
USA/United Kingdom

The Topp Twins
Dir: Leanne Pooley
New Zealand

Videocracy
Dir: Erik Gandini
Sweden

Special Presentation

Good Hair
Dir: Jeff Stilson
USA

Sprockets Family Zone

Turtle: The Incredible Journey
Dir: Nick Stringer
United Kingdom/Austria/Germany

Vanguard

Accident
Dir: Soi Cheang
Hong Kong, China

The Ape
Dir: Jesper Ganslandt
Sweden

Bunny and the Bull
Dir: Paul King
United Kingdom

The Dirty Saints
Dir: Luis Ortega
Argentina

Enter the Void
Dir: Gaspar Noé
France/Germany/Italy
North American Premiere

Hipsters
Dir: Valery Todorovsky
Russia

The Misfortunates
Dir: Felix Van Groeningen
Belgium/Holland

My Queen Karo
Dir: Dorothée van den Berghe
Belgium

Spring Fever
Dir: Lou Ye
China

The White Stripes Under Great White Northern Lights
Dir: Emmett Malloy
USA

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 - 19, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Last week while in Nova Scotia I saw the trailer for The Twilight Saga: New Moon up on the big screen in the theatre, as it played in front of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Now November doesn't seem that far away!

Comicconalicious
Last week was Comic Con 2009 and if you missed the New Moon panel in Hall H it is available online at You Tube in 7 parts. The panel included director Chris Weisz along with cast members Robert Pattinson (Edward), Taylor Lautner (Jacob), Kristen Stewart (Bella) and Ashley Greene (Alice). The first two parts include a lot of screaming and a few obstucted moments but that does calm down. Both Chris Weisz and Kristen Stewart provide great insights into the upcoming film and the process. Pretty spoiler free as well! Since it took me ages of clicking around to find all the parts I've lined them up for easy viewing:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Fellow Vampire Films
It's been announced that Daybreakers has been selected as a part of the Midnight Madness program for TIFF'09 which means it will be in Toronto in September 2009, way before the 2010 release date. Daybreakers stars Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe in a new spin in the vampire genre. Chan-wook Park's Thirst / Bakjwi is officially an upcoming 2009 release with theatrical set for August 7th, 2009 here in Toronto - I'm SO excited, I thought this one would only get to us via festival but I'm more than happy to plop down in a regular theatre to get my fill of vampire/priest/medical experiment-gone-wrong ness. Need to jog your memory on the film? Check out the trailers for Thirst over at Twitch.

It's time to take a look at the craziest program at TIFF: Midnight Madness. Last week I shared the announcement while I was over in Nova Scotia but now it's time to take a real look at what's coming to Toronto for the late night fanatics this year at TIFF.

First off, we have to take a moment to squeal over sequels. First is [REC] 2, sequel to the powerhouse Spanish horror film [REC] which is one of the scariest horror films in recent years. Next we have Ong Bak 2: The Beginning which promises a lot Muay Thai goodness just like the original Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior.

We have some excellent monsterlicious selections with year including vampires and zombies! Daybreakers is vampire film that takes a new spin on the idea of vampires facing self extinction and stars Ethan Hawke and Willem Dafoe. Although Daybreakers has an upcoming release set for early 2010 I sure as heck going to check it out this September at the festival. Moving along to more monsters with George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead for you've guessed: zombie goodness. Word is that it follows a character from George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead which was at the festival 2 years ago in 2007.

Can the ladies in the house say hell ya? Hell ya. The program kicks off Opening Night with Jennifer's Body, directed by Karyn Kusama (Girlfight) and written by Diablo Cody (Juno) and starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in a high school trouncing blood and madness. We also have Bitch Slap with a Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill like caper feel that looks pulls a few cards from the heist film deck. I'm not super keen on the introduction to characters cleavage first, but at least it is up front about it!

Trekking round the planet we have Aussie creepiness of The Loved Ones which leads us into a prom of nightmares. Japanese Symbol / Shinboru looks so bizarre you need to make up new words to describe it, but what else would be expect from director Hitoshi Matsumoto who brought us the mammothly crazy DAINIPPONJIN. Soloman Kane stars James Purefoy in the titular role, and there isn't much infomation out yet about the film however with heavy hitters Pete Postlethwaite and Max von Sydow among the cast it sounds very well worth checking out.

No documentary in the set this year but we do have the stop-motion animated film A Town Called Panic / Panique au village based on the Belgian TV series from 2000-2003. Does anyone else keep hearing the song "Town Called Malice" when hear this title?

Great line up this year, I'm really looking forward to checking out the films especially the sequels, monster films and the bizarreness of Symbol which is certainly going to freak me out. It's shaping up to be yet another great year at TIFF!

Here are the details on each of the films with corresponding links to info on the TIFF site, IMDb, Trailers and Official Websites if available. Schedule is still to be announced other than Jennifer's Body opens the program on Thursday September 10, 2009.

[REC] 2
Dirs: Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza ([REC])
Spain
TIFF Page, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

Bitch Slap
Dir: Rick Jacobson
Cast: Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olvio, Minae Noji, Kevin Sorbo
USA
TIFF Page, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

Daybreakers
Dir: Michael Spierig & Peter Spierig (Undead <2003>)
Cast: Ethan Hawk, Willem Dafoe, Isabel Lucas, Claudia Karvan, Sam Neill
Australia/USA
TIFF Page, Trailer, IMDb Page

Jennifer's Body **Opening Night Selection**
Dir: Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Æon Flux)
Cast: Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Adam Brody, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris, Kyle Gallner
USA
No TIFF Page Yet, Official Website & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Loved Ones
Dir: Sean Byrne
Cast: Victoria Thaine, Jessica McNamee, Xavier Samuel, Richard Wilson, John Brumpton, Robin McLeavy
Australia
TIFF Page, IMDb Page

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning
Dir: Tony Jaa
Cast: Tony Jaa, Sorapong Chatree, Sarunya Wongkrachang, Nirut Sirichanya, Primorata Dejudom, Santisuk Promsiri
Thailand
TIFF Page, Official Website, Trailer, IMDb Page

Soloman Kane
Dir: Michael J. Bassett (Wilderness, Deathwatch)
Cast: James Purefoy, Pete Postlethwaite, Max von Sydow
France/Czech Republic/UK
No TIFF Page Yet, IMDb Page

George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead
Writer/Dir: George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead <1968>, George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead)
Cast: Alan Van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh, Kathleen Munroe, Joris Jarsky
Canada
TIFF Page, IMDb Page

Symbol / Shinboru
Writer/Dir: Hitoshi Matsumoto (DAINIPPONJIN)
Cast: Hitoshi Matsumoto
Japan
TIFF Page, Teaser Trailer, IMDb Page

A Town Called Panic / Panique au village
Dirs: Stéphane Aubier & Vincent Patar
Animated
Belgium/France/Luxembourg
TIFF Page, Trailer, IMDb Page

Source: TIFF Midnight Madness, here and here

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 - 19, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.