Sunday, September 9, 2012
#TIFF12 movie reactions - End of Watch, Cloud Atlas, Men At Lunch, etc.
Day three (Saturday!) was the first day I didn't have to go into work, which meant I could focus entirely on films. I dove right in, seeing five movies, all of which I enjoyed to at least some degree.
Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story:
Don't even ask me about this movie - I will gush so hard you will make fun of me or accuse me of hyperbole. If you get a chance to see this inventive and delightful documentary, do not miss it. I will post a longer review at some point, once I have finally picked my jaw up off the floor 'cause holy shit.
All That Matters Is Past
Love me some Norwegian films, y'all. This wasn't necessarily the best one I've ever seen, but it was certainly worthy of a viewing. Star crossed lovers since birth, Janne and William, reunite after a long period of separation, only to find that the demons haunting them in the past are very much real and very much present. I enjoyed the disjointed narrative structure that revealed key motivations slowly, maximizing intrigue and character development. There were a number of highly disturbing, graphic images. Which were no doubt necessary/symbolic, but still, whoa. Lots of grimacing on my part. Again, totally worth seeing.
Men At Lunch
You know that famous photo of the eight construction workers eating lunch on a beam high above Manhattan, from the late 20's? Did you ever want to know more about that photo? If so, look no further than this documentary, Irish-made (which makes more sense when you consider the men were all Irish immigrants) and narrated by Fionnula Flanagan. I am glad I saw this, if for my love of NYC history and all the shots of Rockefeller center today, which is very near my office. But I also kind of felt like I was watching what would be the product of a high school senior's History final paper, but set to film, and produced by PBS or something. The film spent 20-30 minutes hammering home poetic comparisons about the city's immigrant past, when I'm sure everyone got the point after about 60 seconds. I imagine a much tighter, more effective and ultimately engaging film would have been made if they'd brought it in at about 30-40 minutes instead of a full-length documentary feature.
Cloud Atlas
I don't see too many big-budgut, action/epic/adventure/time travel/sci-fi stuff and though I did like The Matrix (the first one) I would not call my self a Wachowski fangirl. Actually, Cloud Atlas wasn't even on my list of vaguely interesting films intil I read the New Yorker profile of the Wachowskis and the trajectory of making this film, at which point I became a lot more curious about how it ended up. Still, I probably would have been content to wait til theaters, were I not a total sucker for seeing buzzed movies early in order to be part of the conversation.
But what can I add to the dialogue here, I guess, really? I'm not sure I am the film's target audience - although actually now that I think about it, who is the films target audience? That said, I really enjoyed it. The reason I point out that I don't often see movies like this is because I'm not convinced that I could actually know the difference between good and bad with a film of its scale. All I can tell you is that I bought it all, and I was captivated/invested throughout.
I was most surprised by how well Tom Hank's familiar face pulled off all the different roles - stuff we've never seen him do before. I would have expected to roll my eyes.
It was pretty cool how versatile the different roles were that each actor played. Hugo Weaving as a militant nurse? Almost unrecognizable. Actually no - totally unrecognizable.
I'm super curious to see how this one does. I wonder if audiences will even know what to do with it.
End of Watch
Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are both great actors, but I wasn't too psyched about this movie ahead of time 'cause I'd read some average to below average Twitter reviews of the thing. I suppose it helped to go in with low expectations because I ended up being surprised that it didn't suck at all. I'm not sure it changed my life in any meaningful way, but it held my attention, and was pretty decently acted.
I can't remember the last time I saw suuuuuch a pro-police film, though, which was totally confirmed in the Q&A when the director started out by saying "We approach our military professionals all the time and thank them for their service - why don't we ever do that to cops?" Huh. Interesting dialogue I guess.
The Q&A was mercifully awful. To the point where I wish TIFF would do something about it. I don't know what could be done, I suppose. Maybe say something about how people should keep their questions centered on the film, and should make sure they're actually asking a question, not just jockeying for the ear of a celebrity. At any rate - unbearable, guys.
Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story:
Don't even ask me about this movie - I will gush so hard you will make fun of me or accuse me of hyperbole. If you get a chance to see this inventive and delightful documentary, do not miss it. I will post a longer review at some point, once I have finally picked my jaw up off the floor 'cause holy shit.
All That Matters Is Past
Love me some Norwegian films, y'all. This wasn't necessarily the best one I've ever seen, but it was certainly worthy of a viewing. Star crossed lovers since birth, Janne and William, reunite after a long period of separation, only to find that the demons haunting them in the past are very much real and very much present. I enjoyed the disjointed narrative structure that revealed key motivations slowly, maximizing intrigue and character development. There were a number of highly disturbing, graphic images. Which were no doubt necessary/symbolic, but still, whoa. Lots of grimacing on my part. Again, totally worth seeing.
Men At Lunch
You know that famous photo of the eight construction workers eating lunch on a beam high above Manhattan, from the late 20's? Did you ever want to know more about that photo? If so, look no further than this documentary, Irish-made (which makes more sense when you consider the men were all Irish immigrants) and narrated by Fionnula Flanagan. I am glad I saw this, if for my love of NYC history and all the shots of Rockefeller center today, which is very near my office. But I also kind of felt like I was watching what would be the product of a high school senior's History final paper, but set to film, and produced by PBS or something. The film spent 20-30 minutes hammering home poetic comparisons about the city's immigrant past, when I'm sure everyone got the point after about 60 seconds. I imagine a much tighter, more effective and ultimately engaging film would have been made if they'd brought it in at about 30-40 minutes instead of a full-length documentary feature.
Cloud Atlas
I don't see too many big-budgut, action/epic/adventure/time travel/sci-fi stuff and though I did like The Matrix (the first one) I would not call my self a Wachowski fangirl. Actually, Cloud Atlas wasn't even on my list of vaguely interesting films intil I read the New Yorker profile of the Wachowskis and the trajectory of making this film, at which point I became a lot more curious about how it ended up. Still, I probably would have been content to wait til theaters, were I not a total sucker for seeing buzzed movies early in order to be part of the conversation.
But what can I add to the dialogue here, I guess, really? I'm not sure I am the film's target audience - although actually now that I think about it, who is the films target audience? That said, I really enjoyed it. The reason I point out that I don't often see movies like this is because I'm not convinced that I could actually know the difference between good and bad with a film of its scale. All I can tell you is that I bought it all, and I was captivated/invested throughout.
I was most surprised by how well Tom Hank's familiar face pulled off all the different roles - stuff we've never seen him do before. I would have expected to roll my eyes.
It was pretty cool how versatile the different roles were that each actor played. Hugo Weaving as a militant nurse? Almost unrecognizable. Actually no - totally unrecognizable.
I'm super curious to see how this one does. I wonder if audiences will even know what to do with it.
End of Watch
Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are both great actors, but I wasn't too psyched about this movie ahead of time 'cause I'd read some average to below average Twitter reviews of the thing. I suppose it helped to go in with low expectations because I ended up being surprised that it didn't suck at all. I'm not sure it changed my life in any meaningful way, but it held my attention, and was pretty decently acted.
I can't remember the last time I saw suuuuuch a pro-police film, though, which was totally confirmed in the Q&A when the director started out by saying "We approach our military professionals all the time and thank them for their service - why don't we ever do that to cops?" Huh. Interesting dialogue I guess.
The Q&A was mercifully awful. To the point where I wish TIFF would do something about it. I don't know what could be done, I suppose. Maybe say something about how people should keep their questions centered on the film, and should make sure they're actually asking a question, not just jockeying for the ear of a celebrity. At any rate - unbearable, guys.
#TIFF12 - End of Watch premiere photos of Jake Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick, Michael Pena, and America Ferrera
I saw and liked End of Watch. It wasn't the best, but it wasn't bad at all.
The actors were there for a Q&A, which is evidenced here in this very long list of more photos than anyone could ever reasonably want to see.
I will say that the Q&A was super awkward and annoying - someone asked if they could take a picture with Anna Kendrick, someone later asked the entire cast if they were already preparing their Oscar speeches, etc. C'mon people.
As you can see, the actors remained charming and calm. Me, cringing in my seat, cursing my fellow moviegoers? Not so much.
Here are the photos....
The actors were there for a Q&A, which is evidenced here in this very long list of more photos than anyone could ever reasonably want to see.
I will say that the Q&A was super awkward and annoying - someone asked if they could take a picture with Anna Kendrick, someone later asked the entire cast if they were already preparing their Oscar speeches, etc. C'mon people.
As you can see, the actors remained charming and calm. Me, cringing in my seat, cursing my fellow moviegoers? Not so much.
Here are the photos....
Saturday, September 8, 2012
#TIFF12 - Some snapshots from the CLOUD ATLAS premier - Tom Hanks, the Wachowskis, Tom Tykwer, Susan Sarandon, Halle Berry
I took a few pictures from my faraway balcony seat at the Cloud Atlas premiere.
By the way, I really enjoyed the movie! I actually changed my schedule in order to go to it, and I am so glad I did.
Anyway, the photos....
By the way, I really enjoyed the movie! I actually changed my schedule in order to go to it, and I am so glad I did.
Anyway, the photos....
Friday, September 7, 2012
#TIFF12 day two thoughts - Imogene, The Place Beyond The Pines, The Master
I only saw three movies today because I also went to work today.
The three went from OK to GOOD to AMAZING.
Imogene - starring Kristen Wiig & Annette Bening. My pals and I talked about this afterwards and we all agreed that the actual script was pretty "meh" and that the reason it was enjoyable on any level was due to the cast. I didn't hate it, but I would not actively recommend it.
The Place Beyond the Pines - the new one from the director of Blue Valentine. This was not originally on my list, but everyone seemed so psyched about it so I added it. I was super into it for almost all of it, but the damned thing went on and on.. I suspect there is a pretty decent movie somewhere inside of those 2 hours and 20 minutes, and that a couple rounds of testing will help it out a great deal. But the second half got real, real heavy-handed. Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Gosling's performance get a big seal of approval from me. But honestly it was one of the first "longer" movies in a long time that not only felt long - it felt about twice as long as it actually was.
The Master - THE MASTER! Despite a stressful pre-show seating situation, I was SO jazzed when the black screen showed the simple white text of the title. Couldn't believe I was finally sitting down to see one of my most anticipated films not just of TIFF but of the year. It doesn't disappoint. Everything I'd heard about the performances was dead on. I don't really know what else to say other than I was delightfully in awe of every last frame. I am in utter agreement with everyone who is motivated to see it a second time. Also I am bummed there was no Q&A.
Tomorrow is going to be crazy. Waking up in six hours to go to a 9:30 film which will be the first of five. If I am lucky I will also find some time to eat food tomorrow. Today was not so great on that front. Oops.
YAY TIFF!
The three went from OK to GOOD to AMAZING.
Imogene - starring Kristen Wiig & Annette Bening. My pals and I talked about this afterwards and we all agreed that the actual script was pretty "meh" and that the reason it was enjoyable on any level was due to the cast. I didn't hate it, but I would not actively recommend it.
The Place Beyond the Pines - the new one from the director of Blue Valentine. This was not originally on my list, but everyone seemed so psyched about it so I added it. I was super into it for almost all of it, but the damned thing went on and on.. I suspect there is a pretty decent movie somewhere inside of those 2 hours and 20 minutes, and that a couple rounds of testing will help it out a great deal. But the second half got real, real heavy-handed. Ben Mendelsohn and Ryan Gosling's performance get a big seal of approval from me. But honestly it was one of the first "longer" movies in a long time that not only felt long - it felt about twice as long as it actually was.
The Master - THE MASTER! Despite a stressful pre-show seating situation, I was SO jazzed when the black screen showed the simple white text of the title. Couldn't believe I was finally sitting down to see one of my most anticipated films not just of TIFF but of the year. It doesn't disappoint. Everything I'd heard about the performances was dead on. I don't really know what else to say other than I was delightfully in awe of every last frame. I am in utter agreement with everyone who is motivated to see it a second time. Also I am bummed there was no Q&A.
Tomorrow is going to be crazy. Waking up in six hours to go to a 9:30 film which will be the first of five. If I am lucky I will also find some time to eat food tomorrow. Today was not so great on that front. Oops.
YAY TIFF!
Photos from the #TIFF12 American Beauty table read - Christina Hendricks, Bryan Cranston, Adam Driver, Jason Reitman, etc.
Here are a few snapshots from the event, if you're into that sort of thing. But you have to select "Read More."
Thursday, September 6, 2012
#TIFF12 Thoughts on American Beauty Table Read
How strange to have my first TIFF movie... not be a movie at all! I'd originally planned to see Toronto's official opening night movie Looper but when I heard the Surprise Event at the Ryerson playing against it was in fact a Jason Reitman table read, I changed my mind.
I'd never gone to any of these that he's done in LA or the one in NY, but had it on pretty good authority that they rule. I bought a ticket but was on the fence as they slowly announced cast members - that is, until they got to who would play Carolyn and Lester Burnham -Christina Hendricks and Brian Cranston! AMC darlings that they are. Yep, good plan.
The event was pretty neato. Cameron Bailey introduced Jason whose allegiance to TIFF was evident in his exclamation "the fuckin' Ryerson, man!" which was a reference to many of his films premiering there - all but Young Adult, I think.
I enjoyed the experience. I am not an American Beauty hater. On the contrary. It was pretty interesting to hear the familiar words read by new faces, equally familiar but from other projects.
Some basic impressions:
* It seemed like the guy playing Colonel Fitts was doing a bit of a Chris Cooper impression, which was something I was actually expecting to see more of, but actually didn't
* Brian Cranston was just made for that role in one way or another. The audience totally ate up his every expression. His portrayal highlighted the humor more than I had remembered.
* Christina Hendricks had some big shoes to fill in my opinion, and she managed to make her individual mark on ground Bening had tread so well before. From the sex scenes with "the king" to the "I will sell this house today," she got tons of laughs and found a side to those lines that I hadn't seen before. When she cried out "Fuck me, your majesty!" Reitman even interjected "Worth the price of admission!" (Totally true.)
* There's a part where the stage direction describes Colonel Fitts leaning to kiss Lester. There was a person in the audience who let out a huge gasp when Reitman read that part. Then everyone started giggling, because really - who didn't see that coming? Was there actually someone at that reading who had never seen American Beauty?
* Adam Driver playing Ricky Fitts was eh. He got a huge applause from the ladies when he joined. But beyond that he was real monotone, and a bit disturbed. Which maybe was what he was going for. Eh.
* Overall, the tone was quite different from the movie. There was constant laughter, which sort of surprised me - even though I was laughing too. I realized that's because one key element of the film was absent here - the music. It didn't make it worse, just very different.
I took a ton of pictures at the beginning before they started reading, so perhaps I will post those tomorrow.
I'd never gone to any of these that he's done in LA or the one in NY, but had it on pretty good authority that they rule. I bought a ticket but was on the fence as they slowly announced cast members - that is, until they got to who would play Carolyn and Lester Burnham -Christina Hendricks and Brian Cranston! AMC darlings that they are. Yep, good plan.
The event was pretty neato. Cameron Bailey introduced Jason whose allegiance to TIFF was evident in his exclamation "the fuckin' Ryerson, man!" which was a reference to many of his films premiering there - all but Young Adult, I think.
I enjoyed the experience. I am not an American Beauty hater. On the contrary. It was pretty interesting to hear the familiar words read by new faces, equally familiar but from other projects.
Some basic impressions:
* It seemed like the guy playing Colonel Fitts was doing a bit of a Chris Cooper impression, which was something I was actually expecting to see more of, but actually didn't
* Brian Cranston was just made for that role in one way or another. The audience totally ate up his every expression. His portrayal highlighted the humor more than I had remembered.
* Christina Hendricks had some big shoes to fill in my opinion, and she managed to make her individual mark on ground Bening had tread so well before. From the sex scenes with "the king" to the "I will sell this house today," she got tons of laughs and found a side to those lines that I hadn't seen before. When she cried out "Fuck me, your majesty!" Reitman even interjected "Worth the price of admission!" (Totally true.)
* There's a part where the stage direction describes Colonel Fitts leaning to kiss Lester. There was a person in the audience who let out a huge gasp when Reitman read that part. Then everyone started giggling, because really - who didn't see that coming? Was there actually someone at that reading who had never seen American Beauty?
* Adam Driver playing Ricky Fitts was eh. He got a huge applause from the ladies when he joined. But beyond that he was real monotone, and a bit disturbed. Which maybe was what he was going for. Eh.
* Overall, the tone was quite different from the movie. There was constant laughter, which sort of surprised me - even though I was laughing too. I realized that's because one key element of the film was absent here - the music. It didn't make it worse, just very different.
I took a ton of pictures at the beginning before they started reading, so perhaps I will post those tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
#TIFF Schedule: 48 films in 10 days. Crazy? Not for me.
Here is the list of films I am planning to see in Toronto. The ones in red I do not have tickets for.
Thursday 9/6:
Jason Reitman's table read of American Beauty
Rust and Bone
Friday 9/7:
Imogene
The Place Beyond the Pines
The Master
Saturday 9/8:
Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story
Stories We Tell
Men at Lunch
Cloud Atlas
End of Watch
Sunday 9/9:
Watchtower
Ginger and Rosa
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Eat Sleep Die
Yellow
Hellbenders
Monday 9/10:
The Act of Killing
At Any Price
Writers
Foxfire: Story of a Girl Gang
Iceman
Tuesday 9/11:
Byzantium
Detroit Unleaded
No Place on Earth
Sightseers
Wednesday 9/12:
Disconnect
Lore
Tower
Beyond the Hills
Thursday 9/13:
Shepard & Dark
Our Little Differences
Dormant Beauty
Reality
Friday 9/14:
In the Fog
The Attack
White Elephant
Do Not Disturb
Artifact
Saturday 9/15:
What Richard Did
Jackie
Argo
Everybody Has a Plan
The Time Being
Sunday, 9/16:
First Comes Love
Everyday
What Maisie Knew
Picture Day
Eagles
Thursday 9/6:
Jason Reitman's table read of American Beauty
Rust and Bone
Friday 9/7:
Imogene
The Place Beyond the Pines
The Master
Saturday 9/8:
Far Out Isn't Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story
Stories We Tell
Men at Lunch
Cloud Atlas
End of Watch
Sunday 9/9:
Watchtower
Ginger and Rosa
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God
Eat Sleep Die
Yellow
Hellbenders
Monday 9/10:
The Act of Killing
At Any Price
Writers
Foxfire: Story of a Girl Gang
Iceman
Tuesday 9/11:
Byzantium
Detroit Unleaded
No Place on Earth
Sightseers
Wednesday 9/12:
Disconnect
Lore
Tower
Beyond the Hills
Thursday 9/13:
Shepard & Dark
Our Little Differences
Dormant Beauty
Reality
Friday 9/14:
In the Fog
The Attack
White Elephant
Do Not Disturb
Artifact
Saturday 9/15:
What Richard Did
Jackie
Argo
Everybody Has a Plan
The Time Being
Sunday, 9/16:
First Comes Love
Everyday
What Maisie Knew
Picture Day
Eagles
Sunday, September 2, 2012
#TIFF12 - The Toronto International Film Festival may just be the best film festival out there, & here's why I say so:
'Tis the season! Hold off on the chestnuts, and throw water on
that open fire. It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year, but I'm not talking about mistletoe, and Cameron Bailey is no Santa
Claus - although, that becomes less true the more I paw through the TIFF film
guide like an eight year old expectantly shaking each present under the
Christmas tree.
I've attend my fair share of film festivals. I got the bug when I was 18 -- some 500 years ago as a new resident of Los Angeles, obsessed with Clea Duvall (seriously) and hell-bent on seeing her new film, premiering at Sundance the next weekend. "Couldn't I just go?" my naive but adventurous teenage self pondered, to no one in particular. Priceline and a cheap flight to SLC was all the confirmation I needed (though remind me to blog about how my "oh I'll just find a hotel once I get there" plan ended up), and I was well on my way to a life-long devotion two the perfect combination of my two passions - travel and movies.
Fall 2006 found me less than a year into my love affair with NYC. Living a mere seven-hour drive from Toronto, still having a car and a serious affinity for all things John Cameron Mitchell (which in fact was very few things at the time) meant it was a no-brainer to load up my Saturn with fellow film fan friends for the premiere of Shortbus at the Ryerson. Once we got all the Sundance comparisons out of our system ("WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO FREE SHUTTLE"), and despite the serious misstep of staying out by the airport, we found a giddy, "omg why haven't we done this before" appreciation for the great Canadian movie geek-out that has become my most recommended festival experience for the past eight years.
Skip ahead to today, <coughwouldn'
Here are six reasons why.
I've attend my fair share of film festivals. I got the bug when I was 18 -- some 500 years ago as a new resident of Los Angeles, obsessed with Clea Duvall (seriously) and hell-bent on seeing her new film, premiering at Sundance the next weekend. "Couldn't I just go?" my naive but adventurous teenage self pondered, to no one in particular. Priceline and a cheap flight to SLC was all the confirmation I needed (though remind me to blog about how my "oh I'll just find a hotel once I get there" plan ended up), and I was well on my way to a life-long devotion two the perfect combination of my two passions - travel and movies.
Fall 2006 found me less than a year into my love affair with NYC. Living a mere seven-hour drive from Toronto, still having a car and a serious affinity for all things John Cameron Mitchell (which in fact was very few things at the time) meant it was a no-brainer to load up my Saturn with fellow film fan friends for the premiere of Shortbus at the Ryerson. Once we got all the Sundance comparisons out of our system ("WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NO FREE SHUTTLE"), and despite the serious misstep of staying out by the airport, we found a giddy, "omg why haven't we done this before" appreciation for the great Canadian movie geek-out that has become my most recommended festival experience for the past eight years.
Skip ahead to today, <coughwouldn'
Here are six reasons why.
The weather
They could hold a film festival in the frickin' Arctic circle and if Lili Taylor were starring in a movie there and I could get the time off of work, I'd be packing my warmest coat without hesitation. The more people I meet, though, the more I find that most sane folks have a breaking point when it comes to the elements.
If you're adverse to heatstroke and frostbite, never fear. Cram your most comfortable cardigan into your carry-on, guys. TIFF is the festival for you.
Wide Variety of Films
People always ask me what TIFF is known for. What makes it different. Probably because a lot of my non-moviegoer friends understand Sundance's iconic position amongst the American indie film lexicon. But TIFF doesn't have that name recognition yet - not with my co-workers, my cousins, etc.
As much as TIFF has become synonymous with Oscars in recent years, this isn't TIFF's legacy, not entirely. "There's something there for everyone," I tell the inquisitor each time. "They've got it all." The film festival with multiple personalities – each as dominant as the next! I could meet someone every day there who says “I come here because TIFF is the best place to see documentaries” or “You just can’t beat their selection of international films.” Even the teenagers standing by red carpets would swear that TIFF caters specifically to them. And you know what – they’d be right, all of them.
Midnight Madness
Ask anyone - I hated horror movies. Gore or violence in general? Not for me.
Disturbing in any way? Huh uh. Didn't even see Requiem for a Dream,
for example, until a couple years ago.
To what do I owe the sudden acceptance, the total 180? Video games? No, I don't play them. Desensitization - sure, I'm sure that happened. But it's more than that.
I suppose I can thank one Colin Geddes for my relatively newfound love of all things
bloody, twisted, shocking, and fucked up. My first
midnight madness movie was probably something easy on the blood and guts - maybe
A Town Called Panic. Though, what I was exposed that night to was more than
just the delightfully twisted world of Belgian animation. I discovered a
place where you can go and be surrounded by hundreds of similarly dorky,
offbeat, night owls who oh yeah just happen to love genre films.
"This is awesome," said I. "I can withstand my
squeamishness," said I. "I'll just cover my eyes if things get really
scary," said I.
Then what happened? With all the pirate "ARRRRRRR!!"ing and the blow-up-doll-beach-ball-
To what do I owe the sudden acceptance, the total 180? Video games? No, I don't play them. Desensitization - sure, I'm sure that happened. But it's more than that.
I suppose I can thank one Colin Geddes for my relatively newfound love of all things
bloody, twisted, shocking, and fucked up. My first
midnight madness movie was probably something easy on the blood and guts - maybe
A Town Called Panic. Though, what I was exposed that night to was more than
just the delightfully twisted world of Belgian animation. I discovered a
place where you can go and be surrounded by hundreds of similarly dorky,
offbeat, night owls who oh yeah just happen to love genre films.
"This is awesome," said I. "I can withstand my
squeamishness," said I. "I'll just cover my eyes if things get really
scary," said I.Then what happened? With all the pirate "ARRRRRRR!!"ing and the blow-up-doll-beach-ball-
Ease of ticketing
I have few marketable skills. One of them is getting myself and my friends into
sold-out events. Hustling. Working it. Making it happen. Whatever you
call it - I don't take no for an answer and I am rarely turned away.
That said, most people don't have the level of comfort I do to show up without a ticket. I would not send them to Sundance (fun, but hard as hell to get into). SXSW would be a sheer impossibility. But TIFF might as well have a statue with "Give me your ticketless" engraved. Stress-free, options a-plenty, and kind-hearted Canadians with extra tickets, around every corner? Yes, please.
That said, most people don't have the level of comfort I do to show up without a ticket. I would not send them to Sundance (fun, but hard as hell to get into). SXSW would be a sheer impossibility. But TIFF might as well have a statue with "Give me your ticketless" engraved. Stress-free, options a-plenty, and kind-hearted Canadians with extra tickets, around every corner? Yes, please.
The Lightbox
"I get around," I like to say, a play on words that is as purposely
questionable as it is ultimately true. You'd rack up more than one stamp
on your passport visiting my top five movie theaters in this world, and one of
those pitstops would be the corner of King and John, at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
This mecca of film past, present and future seems custom-built for someone like me - a voracious consumer of movies, not to mention my love of merchandise, good wine, comfortable seats, pretty things, and popcorn topped with real butter.
This mecca of film past, present and future seems custom-built for someone like me - a voracious consumer of movies, not to mention my love of merchandise, good wine, comfortable seats, pretty things, and popcorn topped with real butter.
The film community
Having grown up in the Twin Cities, I always knew of the thing called
"Minnesota Nice," I just didn't realize until a few years ago that we may
actually get that from our proximity to Canada.
Canadians have The Kindness to them. On top of that, they love the hell
out of some movies. Go to enough Q&As and you'll memorize the
filmmakers' mantra: "there's no better audience than the Toronto Film
Festival."You won't feel out of place here even if you're not wearing black and sporting sunglasses indoors. This festival, unlike other top tier festivals, doesn't judge you by your IMDB page or how many Facebook friends you have in common with Harvey Weinstein.
What's more, I am convinced that the love of film and the
communal experience of appreciating it is one that is just as palpable long after
the orange signage has come down.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
A Happy Cinematic Accident - Somewhere In Between
I woke up early this Saturday morning to welcome the weekend with a much-anticipated screening of the 1940 Hitchcock classic, REBECCA, a film as yet unseen for me.
In yet another display of reckless disregard for even the most important of details, I walked straight into the wrong theater. "Theater number two," the ticket taker instructed. Yet I wandered straight into the theater where I saw the last few Hitchcock films they show every weekend at 11 AM, caring not for the number four prominently displayed on the door, and obviously checking my twitter up to 15 minutes after my movie was to begin.
When the movie did finally start - in full color, and clearly a documentary - I knew I couldn't commit a cardinal sin by going into REBECCA late. What else could I do but watch the movie unfolding before my eyes, even though I'd heard absolutely nothing about it?
That movie was SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton, and bookended by her personal experience adopting a daughter from China.
The cool thing about storytelling is how many different angles any topic really has. I know alarmingly little about the history or culture of China leading up to the climate that devalues girls and leads to countless stories like the this. I further would have been sufficiently captivated hearing about the undoubtedly excruciating bureaucratic odyssey on which hopeful adoptive parents must embark. But that's not the story Goldstein Knowlton wanted to tell, and boy am I glad.
Instead, she chose to shine a spotlight on teenage girls who 10-15 years earlier had been adopted into US families. I was treated to 90+ minutes with a cross-section of the bravest, smartest and most articulate young women captured in a non-fiction film. From "Jenni" or Fang, whose Berkeley mom learned Mandarin a year before she finally met her 5-year old daughter to Haley, growing up in a conservative Christian Nashville household and competing in beauty pageants, these girls and their families boldly took the audience on an emotional journey that was most unexpected to me.
I have ties neither to adoption nor Chinese culture, so at first I was surprised by how moved I was by this movie. Of course I found the story totally engrossing, as one young women begins an impossible quest to find her birth parents, and another champions for the US adoption of a toddler with cerebral palsy that she met on one of her many trips back to China.
No, the facts of these histories, as compelling as they were, couldn't possibly have resonated with my own past. But the overlying themes of identity, of unconditional love, of family - that's what hit me the hardest, what moved me and motivated me.
How did it motivate me? Out of nowhere, I felt myself in total awe of these young ladies, wishing that at more than twice their age, I were half as strong and articulate as they are. Wanting to be part of something meaningful, to do some good somewhere. And mostly - and perhaps least surprisingly, the movie did what only the very best documentaries do. It desperately made me want to watch more documentaries.
In yet another display of reckless disregard for even the most important of details, I walked straight into the wrong theater. "Theater number two," the ticket taker instructed. Yet I wandered straight into the theater where I saw the last few Hitchcock films they show every weekend at 11 AM, caring not for the number four prominently displayed on the door, and obviously checking my twitter up to 15 minutes after my movie was to begin.
When the movie did finally start - in full color, and clearly a documentary - I knew I couldn't commit a cardinal sin by going into REBECCA late. What else could I do but watch the movie unfolding before my eyes, even though I'd heard absolutely nothing about it?
That movie was SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN, directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton, and bookended by her personal experience adopting a daughter from China.
The cool thing about storytelling is how many different angles any topic really has. I know alarmingly little about the history or culture of China leading up to the climate that devalues girls and leads to countless stories like the this. I further would have been sufficiently captivated hearing about the undoubtedly excruciating bureaucratic odyssey on which hopeful adoptive parents must embark. But that's not the story Goldstein Knowlton wanted to tell, and boy am I glad.
Instead, she chose to shine a spotlight on teenage girls who 10-15 years earlier had been adopted into US families. I was treated to 90+ minutes with a cross-section of the bravest, smartest and most articulate young women captured in a non-fiction film. From "Jenni" or Fang, whose Berkeley mom learned Mandarin a year before she finally met her 5-year old daughter to Haley, growing up in a conservative Christian Nashville household and competing in beauty pageants, these girls and their families boldly took the audience on an emotional journey that was most unexpected to me.
I have ties neither to adoption nor Chinese culture, so at first I was surprised by how moved I was by this movie. Of course I found the story totally engrossing, as one young women begins an impossible quest to find her birth parents, and another champions for the US adoption of a toddler with cerebral palsy that she met on one of her many trips back to China.
No, the facts of these histories, as compelling as they were, couldn't possibly have resonated with my own past. But the overlying themes of identity, of unconditional love, of family - that's what hit me the hardest, what moved me and motivated me.
How did it motivate me? Out of nowhere, I felt myself in total awe of these young ladies, wishing that at more than twice their age, I were half as strong and articulate as they are. Wanting to be part of something meaningful, to do some good somewhere. And mostly - and perhaps least surprisingly, the movie did what only the very best documentaries do. It desperately made me want to watch more documentaries.
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