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Week Of September 18, 2006 - Mon / Wed / Fri
September 22, 2006
A TALE OF TWO TORONTOS, PT II, Page I
I decided that Part II of the Toronto Film Festival wrap up will be all about the positives coming out of the fest. And it leaves me thinking that perhaps a Part III that balances the last column and this one might be necessary…
I count 55 films that I either love, like, or have a strong indication that I might like or love if I had only had time to see them. I have to say, after feeling like it was a very soft year in Toronto, looking through the book makes me hungry for another week of screenings from the festival.
There are many more titles that still intrigue me, even though they seem to have landed at the festival with a whimper. But here are the 23 films that I am really still anxious to make time on my schedule to see. Some even got harsh words from some. Still, the fire inside will burn until I actually view:
After The Wedding - Suzanne Bier's latest was a favorite with pretty much every woman I met who saw it.
Bella - A gentle film that won an award from the festival and is repped by the powerful Dart Group… sounds like it's worth the time.
Brand Upon The Brain! - I missed Guy Maddin's screening-with-orchestra-and-castrato because of a last minute scheduling conflict and still regret it. No one was exactly over the moon, except for the overall experience, which I'd still love to have if it ever happens again.
Breaking & Entering - New Minghella. Maybe it's not an Oscar film, but I always want to chew on his work.
The Bubble - This Israeli-made film takes the rare look at youthful urban life in the embattled nation. Lots of raves.
Congorama - Just a few people brought this film up to me, but the passion was undeniable.
El Cantante - Marc Anthony is apparently spectacular here as his superstar wife, J-Lo-Ant, allows herself to ride shotgun to his lead performance. Or so I've heard. Looking forward to seeing it and seeing a great performer work.
Exiled - Johnnie To kicks ass.
Fido - This Canadian zombie/thriller/comedy seemed to linger for people long after you would expect them to stop talking about it.
Ghosts of Cite' Soleil - Strong material raising passions out of Telluride and Toronto.
Jindabyne - Marc Lawrence's film got publicity sidetracked when Laura Linney couldn't get to town to support the film.
Kurt Cobain: About A Son - AJ Schank's film may be for Cobain lovers first and last… but it sounds very interesting.
Manufactured Landscapes - This doc about a photographer seems to have impressed most people who saw it.
My Best Friend - I adore Patrice Leconte's work. Period. Exclamation mark.
Nouvelle Chance - And I find Anne Fontaine terrible underappreciated here too.
Offside - The rights of women in Muslim society gets documented through the prism of futbol.
Paris je 'taime - Lots of little pieces. Bought by First Look, so we'll get another look soon.
Severance - The thriller that surprised Telluride just didn't make my schedule in TO… looking forward to it.
… So Goes The Nation - James D Stern and Adam Del Deo can bring it and the idea of a look at the process of the last election without being overtly on one political side seems like a great idea.
Taxidermia - Another unexpected title that a number of people I trust really liked.
The Namesake - Some say it's Mira Nair's best. Others simply say it is her most commercial. Cool.
The Wind That Shakes The Barley - I didn't get a chance to see Ken Loach's Cannes winner. I should see it.
This Is England - Shane Meadows' film sounds like a harsh version of Bill Forsyth.
HERE are seven films like I liked, but didn't quite go over the moon for…
Big Bang Love, Juvenile A - The new Takashi Miike was in some ways remarkably conventional… and mostly not. I liked it as a movie to watch for the love of movie ideas. But it doesn't quite turn the corner to being really good.
Candy - There is so much to recommend here in the performances of Abby Cornish and Heath Ledger, but the movie was a little too safe for my love to blossom.
The Half Life of Timofey Berezin - A really good HBO movie headed to HBO about a man who gets exposed to radiation and tries to find some way to make it into something other than a complete disaster.
The Last King of Scotland - Good film, just not great. For me, it's all about the lack of responsibility the film foists on the character who works for Idi Amin. But I will take another look soon and… who knows?
London To Brighton - Very gritty, very Loach, very BBC America. 10 years ago, when this kind of film was not so readily available on edgy cable nets, I would have been more taken with it. But the performances are truly excellent.
True North - A tough Scottish film about bad times in the fishing trade and the bad idea to transport human cargo on one journey. Peter Mullen is as outstanding as ever.
Venus - It's a nice movie, but I found myself much more respectful of both O'Toole and the very talented Roger Michel than in love with the movie.
And now, my Top 25 TIFF 2006 films that I actually saw….
E Me.
Week Of April 3, 2006 - Life In the Bubble - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of April 10, 2006 - List Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of April 17, 2006 - Review Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of April 24, 2006 - Overlooked Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 1, 2006 - Mystery Week - Tue / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 8, 2006 - How We Watch Week - Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 15, 2006 - Premature Week - Oscar Mon / Wed / Fri
Week Of May 22, 2006 - B-13 Mon / Inconvenient Wed / Fri
Week Of May 29, 2006 - Wed / Fri
Week Of June 5, 2006 - 666 Tue / Iraq Doc Wed / Seattle Fri
Week Of June 12, 2006 - SIFF Mon / SIFF Wed / Fri
Week Of June 19, 2006 - Cinevegas Mon/Deliver Us Wed/Prada Fri
Week Of June 26, 2006 - Pirates Mon / Super Again Wed / Fri
Week Of July 5, 2006 - Wed
Week Of July 12, 2006 - M. Night Mon | You, Me & Wed | Monster House Fri
Week Of July 17, 2006 - 8 A Year Mon / Water Wed / Revamp Fri
Week Of July 24, 2006 - Comic-Con Mon / Gossip Wed / Fri
Week Of July 31, 2006 - Mel G Mon / Talladega Wed / Fri
Week Of August 7, 2006 - Mon / Wed
Week Of August 14, 2006 - No Column Mon / Wed / Snakes Fri
Week Of August 21, 2006 - Snakey Mon / Anniversary Wed / Scoundrels Fri
Week Of August 28, 2006 - Mon Love / Berloff Wed / Fri
Week Of September 4, 2006 - Thur
Week Of September 11, 2006 - TIFF Mon / Bobby Wed / Fr
