My TIFF ‘11 Wrap-Up
Since I began this year with my first trip to Sundance I figured it would be only right to settle into Fall with my first trip to the Toronto International Film Festival. Unlike Sundance which is almost entirely unknown quantities, many of the films that premiere at TIFF have big marketing campaigns, movie stars and are just hoping to pickup some extra buzz here on the long road to the Oscars. Granted you can go off the beaten path if you want to as there are hundreds of films here from all around the world, many of which without US distribution, so there are always chances for a real discovery. I managed to see 10 films during my 4 days at the festival and have ranked them here from most to least favorite.
1. Shame (dir: Steve McQueen) Michael Fassbender (Magneto from “X-Men: First Class”) stars as Brandon, a 30-something sex addict in Manhattan in this powerful, dramatic, sure to be controversial character portrait. Read My Full Review
2. Friends With Kids (dir: Jennifer Westfeldt) Writer/director Westfeldt reunites half the cast of “Bridesmaids” (Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd) along with Adam Scott and Megan Fox for this hilarious comedy about two 30-something friends who decide to have a baby. Read My Full Review
3. Moneyball (dir: Bennett Miller) Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill make a great comic team in this solidly entertaining behind-the-scenes baseball movie perfectly geared towards awards season. Read My Full Review
4. The Ides Of March (dir: George Clooney) This behind-the-scenes look at a political campaign is a perfect popcorn movie for adults with a terrific ensemble cast including Ryan Gosling, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Evan Rachel Wood, Marissa Tomei and director Clooney. Read My Full Review
5. The Descendants (dir: Alexander Payne) Payne is back with his first film in 7 years, a Hawaiian-set dramedy about a land baron (George Clooney) who must reconnect with his daughters after his wife suffers a boating accident. Read My Full Review
6. 360 (dir: Fernando Meirelles) “City Of God” director Meirelles directs this series of interweaving vignettes which take a look at lust and love all across the world, starring an international cast led by Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, Anthony Hopkins and Ben Foster. Read My Full Review
7. Restless (dir: Gus Van Sant) “Alice In Wonderland” actress Mia Wasikowska charms in this so-so emo romance which looks to merge the dark comedy of “Harold & Maude” with the tragedy of “Love Story.” Read My Full Review
8. The Skin I Live In (dir: Pedro Almodóvar) Antonio Banderas reunites with his mentor/director Almodóvar after 20 years in this dark, twisted tale of a plastic surgeon out for revenge. Read My Full Review
9. Take This Waltz (dir: Sarah Polley) The normally fantastic Michelle Williams is forced to play a caricature of a philanderer married to Seth Rogen’s honorable husband in this narratively challenged misfire. Read My Full Review
10. Twixt (dir: Francis Ford Coppola) Once masterful director hits rock bottom with this well meaning but completely amateur ghost story starring Val Kilmer as a second rate horror novelist uncovering a mystery in a small town. Read My Full Review
360 film friends with kids listomania moneyball restless shame take this waltz the ides of march the skin i live in tiff twixt the descendants
