Cinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.com/media/feedlogo.gifCinematicalhttp://www.cinematical.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Watch This: 'Bunny and the Bull' Trailerhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/02/watch-this-bunny-and-the-bull-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/02/watch-this-bunny-and-the-bull-trailer/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/10/02/watch-this-bunny-and-the-bull-trailer/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Bunny and The Bull

I am obsessed with all things even vaguely related to The Mighty Boosh, a bizarre comedy from the UK that features besties Howard Moon, a gloomy jazz fan, Vince Noir, an androgynous mod, Naboo the shaman, and Bollo the talking gorilla as they go on "a journey through time and space." (Incidentally, the DVDs of the show are finally available for region 1 DVD players!)

There have been rumors of a Boosh movie, and Noel Fielding is also in a bizarro fake documentary called I Spit on Your Rave as the Zombie King. (It's described as "a mockumentary by director Chris Boyle about the first post-apocalypse zombie music festival" and is due out in 2010.) But meanwhile, I'll sate my ravenous hunger for more of the Boosh crew with their new movie, Bunny and the Bull. Boosh director Paul King wrote and directed the screenplay, and fans will be excited to see Boosh regulars Julian Barratt (Howard Moon) and Noel Fielding (Vince Noir) among the cast, as well as Simon Farnaby, who plays Bunny, and Richard Ayoade. It sounds as bizarre and hard to describe as The Mighty Boosh, based on the write-up on the TIFF website.

Continue reading Watch This: 'Bunny and the Bull' Trailer

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]]>Bunny and the BullBunnyAndTheBullEdward HoggEdwardHoggjulian barrattJulianBarrattnoel fieldingNoelFieldingPaul KingPaulKingSimon FarnabySimonFarnabyThe Mighty BooshTheMightyBooshtrailerJenni MillerFri, 02 Oct 2009 19:15:00 ESTGuy Maddin Talks Night Mayors, Filmmaking, and Sissy Boyshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/27/guy-maddin-talks-night-mayors-filmmaking-and-sissy-boys/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/27/guy-maddin-talks-night-mayors-filmmaking-and-sissy-boys/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/27/guy-maddin-talks-night-mayors-filmmaking-and-sissy-boys/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Guy Maddin is not your everyday director. Over the last twenty years, he's made a name for himself with his beautifully hazy black and white shorts and features, from the docufantasia wonder of My Winnipeg to the hops-filled thrills of Isabella Rossellini and The Saddest Music in the World. These projects have inspired many to call him the Canadian David Lynch, but while the two create rich fantasies for their films to thrive in, Maddin's always have a clear-cut narrative. The path might be surreal, strange, and utterly fantastical, but it's also easily understandable. With his latest, Night Mayor, Maddin turned an ode for the NFB's 70th anniversary into the tale of an immigrant who harnesses the power of the aurora borealis to help teach Canadians their national identity.

During TIFF, Cinematical had a chance to talk to the filmmaker about how Night Mayor came to be, Maddin's cinematic process, the magic of collaboration, and his next project (a choose-your-own adventure!). On top of more timely chatter, Guy also took a moment to share the story behind Sissy Boy Slap Party (my favorite guilty pleasure), and how a moment of spite turned into a memorable short.

Continue reading Guy Maddin Talks Night Mayors, Filmmaking, and Sissy Boys

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]]>CinematicalGuy MaddinGuyMaddinNFBNight MayorNightMayortiff09Monika BartyzelSun, 27 Sep 2009 17:02:00 ESTTIFF Shorts Roundup: From Night Mayors to Runawayshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/22/tiff-shorts-roundup-from-night-mayors-to-runaways/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/22/tiff-shorts-roundup-from-night-mayors-to-runaways/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/22/tiff-shorts-roundup-from-night-mayors-to-runaways/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Toronto might have its own short film extravaganza -- the Worldwide Short Film Festival -- a week rife with pithy pieces of cinema. But every year, just a few months later, there's a second serving at TIFF with the collection Short Cuts Canada.

This year, the NFB (National Film Board of Canada) had a bunch of shorts in the mix, and when I got a handful in the mail, it was like an Oscar-led explosion. Talent abounds in these films. That's not entirely surprising considering the fact that we've got the latest from Oscar-winner Chris Landreth and Oscar-nominee Cordell Barker, plus a slew of other notable talent. Talent, I must say, that's topped with Night Mayor, the short the NFB commissioned Guy Maddin to do as part of the board's 70th anniversary.

Read on for the details of Night Mayor, Vive the Rose, The Spine, and Runaway.

Continue reading TIFF Shorts Roundup: From Night Mayors to Runaways

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]]>Bruce AlcockBruceAlcockChris LandrethChrisLandrethCinematicalCordell BarkerCordellBarkerGuy MaddinGuyMaddinNFBNight MayorNightMayorRunawayThe SpineTheSpinetiff09Vive la RoseViveLaRoseMonika BartyzelTue, 22 Sep 2009 18:15:00 ESTToronto in 60 Seconds: The Wrap-Uphttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/toronto-in-60-seconds-the-wrap-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/toronto-in-60-seconds-the-wrap-up/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/toronto-in-60-seconds-the-wrap-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,



After a long week and a half chock full of films and celebrity intrigue, the Toronto International Film Festival has come to an end. And like any good fest, the end means the nice wrapping bow of award-giving (each link is to a review) and final hurrahs.

The Cadillac People's Choice Award: Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
First runner up: Mao's Last Dancer
Second runner up: Micmacs
The New Cadillac People's Choice Award for Documentary: The Topp Twins
First runner up: Capitalism: A Love Story

The New Cadillac People's Choice Award for Midnight Madness: The Loved Ones
First runner up: Daybreakers

FIPRESCI Prize for Discovery: The Man Beyond the Bridge

FIPRESCI Prize for Special Presentations: Hadewijch

Best Canadian Feature Film: Cairo Time

Best Canadian First Feature Film: The Wild Hunt

Best Canadian Short Film: Danse Macabre

Hit the jump for a round-up and the last little bits of TIFF...

Continue reading Toronto in 60 Seconds: The Wrap-Up

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]]>CinematicalreviewsTIFF rounduptiff09TiffRoundupMonika BartyzelMon, 21 Sep 2009 15:03:00 ESTTIFF Review: Mother and Childhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/tiff-review-mother-and-child/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/tiff-review-mother-and-child/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/21/tiff-review-mother-and-child/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In his decade in the storytelling business, Rodrigo García has made a name for himself not only as a notable television director (Carnivale, Six Feet Under, and In Treatment), but also as a filmmaker intensely interested in the lives of women and the intricacies of smaller, often interconnected story lines. It started with Things You Can Tell Just By Looking at Her and Ten Tiny Love Stories, but García really made his mark with 2005's Nine Lives. When he followed it up with the television movie Fathers and Sons, it was inevitable that he would one day take that same theme and apply it to the female characterizations he loves so much. It wouldn't be in the form of Mothers & Daughters, as Carl Bessai* brought that very film to TIFF in 2008. But with a slightly different title, Mother and Child, García jumps leaps and bounds beyond Bessai's take and has created a well-crafted web of female characters and universally engaging storytelling.

*Who, by the way, has his own Fathers & Sons on the way.

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]]>Annette beningAnnetteBeningCinematicalKerry WashingtonKerryWashingtonMother and ChildMotherAndChildNaomi WattsNaomiWattsRodrigo GarciaRodrigoGarciaMonika BartyzelMon, 21 Sep 2009 09:48:00 ESTHow Many Movies Can You Watch in a Row?http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/20/how-many-movies-can-you-watch-in-a-row/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/20/how-many-movies-can-you-watch-in-a-row/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/20/how-many-movies-can-you-watch-in-a-row/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

How Many Movies in a Row? (before they start to blur into one)

How many movies can you watch in a row before they all begin to blur into one? As I'm sure many happy yet weary attendees of the Toronto International Film Festival can testify, it's very tempting to cram as many movies as possible into every viewing period at a festival. Beyond the confines of festivals, movie fans in general want to see as many good movies as possible, and time is short.

I sat through Rainer Werner Fassbinder's epic 15 and 1/2 hour Berlin Alexanderplatz during a very long night and a morning at a theater and felt drained, both physically and emotionally; I've watched seven movies in a row at Fantastic Fest and loved every moment; I've sat through eight movies back to back to back on videocassette in one day while on vacation. Lately, though, I find I'm lucky if I can watch even two movies in a row without interruption. Even if I had more unbroken availability, after two or maybe three movies I feel like I need a break, especially if they were good flicks. I want time to absorb what I've seen and think about them. That's especially true if I plan to write about them; the experiences begin to blend together, fusing themselves into an unholy viewing memory that is sometimes difficult to separate into individual segments.

How about you? I'm not talking about movies playing in the background while you do other things, but films that you're actively engaged in watching, either at home or at a theater. What's the most that you've seen in a row? Are some movies better as part of a double -- or triple or quadruple or whatever -- feature? When do they start to blur?

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]]>berlin alexanderplatzBerlinAlexanderplatzfantastic festFantasticFestfeaturedtoronto international film festivalTorontoInternationalFilmFestivalPeter MartinSun, 20 Sep 2009 15:02:00 ESTReview: Bright Starhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/19/bright-star-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/19/bright-star-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/19/bright-star-movie-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The lasting impact of first love is the subject of Jane Campion's Bright Star, a Palme d'or-nominated film that is at once about, and not merely about, the brilliance of the Romantic poet John Keats. Tossing the usual biopic formula, Campion opts not to retell Keats' entire life, focusing instead on the brief lifespan of his romantic courtship with a young woman named Fanny Brawne in 19th century London -- a relationship that, Campion argues, awakened love in Keats, and in turn, inspired his genius.

As such, what unfolds is less a by-the-numbers examination of the artist, who died a pauper at the age of 25 before any of his poetry was truly appreciated, and more a tribute to the power of the well-documented love that Keats and Brawne shared, partly through letters.

When they first meet, Keats (played marvelously by British actor Ben Whishaw) is a struggling poet with no money to his name. He has a sick and dying brother and no marriage prospects, but he's beloved among a circle of London artist types who look out for him here and there, including fellow poet Charles Armitage Brown (Paul Schneider). Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish), on the other hand, is the eldest daughter of the family next door. A fashionista of sorts, Fanny spends her days sewing and designing her own clothes, and has no interest in things like poetry - that is, until she becomes fascinated with Keats.

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]]>bright starBrightStarjane campionJaneCampionJen YamatoSat, 19 Sep 2009 09:02:00 ESTToronto in 60 Seconds: Friday, September 18, 2009http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/18/toronto-in-60-seconds-friday-september-18-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/18/toronto-in-60-seconds-friday-september-18-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/18/toronto-in-60-seconds-friday-september-18-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,



Celeb Sightings: Most of the celebs wave g'bye by Wednesday or Thursday, but as the packed star-hunting masses slowly peter away from downtown hotel entrances, there's still a little gossip and celebrity news coming in. My favorite: Drew Barrymore supposedly skipped out of her film's afterparty to drink some Pabst at Toronto's Sweaty Betty's. And if you happened to catch the "Tiff at TIFF" headlines earlier in the week -- that was a whole kerfuffle with Jennifer Connelly and some pretty massive foot-in-mouth nastiness directed at her. But in more upbeat news: Joan Baez is taking the stage tonight at Yonge and Dundas Square as part of the festival's joining cinema and live performance -- honoring the world premiere of American Masters featuring Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound. And ever wonder what the stars do with their pets during the fest? It seems they get the hotels to go above and beyond.

Our Coverage: I added a review for Chloe to the TIFF mix -- Atom Egoyan's latest starring Amanda Seyfried, Julianne Moore, and Liam Neeson. While buzz amongst many fest attendees centered on the salacious sex scene between Seyfried and Moore, I noted: "while Chloe might not connect on a personal level, it does trap you into these lurid lives that flirt with every notion of bad behavior."

More Blog News After the Jump


Continue reading Toronto in 60 Seconds: Friday, September 18, 2009

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]]>CinematicalInformantJoan BaezJoanBaezMidnight MadnessMidnightMadnessRoger EbertRogerEberttiff09Monika BartyzelFri, 18 Sep 2009 19:02:00 ESTTIFF Review: Chloehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/17/tiff-review-chloe/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/17/tiff-review-chloe/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/17/tiff-review-chloe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The name of the cinematic game is believing what happens on the big screen, and suspending belief when necessary. It's a particular and difficult game -- one that is, of course, pulled off with varying degrees of success. One person's perfectly natural action is another person's highly irregular one, and there's no set line for what will be stomached, accepted, and believed. In the case of Atom Egoyan's erotic thriller Chloe, Amanda Seyfried, Julianne Moore, Max Thieriot, and Liam Neeson toe the line of believability as they sail through the sticky waters of romantic discontent and mistrust.

Seyfried is Chloe, a young prostitute well-versed in the finer points of subterfuge -- embodying everything her clients dream. And Moore is Catherine, a successful gynaecologist -- the established professional, mother, and aging woman desperately wishing for the lust-filled attentions that her husband David (Neeson) used to heap on her. After he avoids her on his birthday, "missing" a plane (and subsequently a surprise party), she becomes wary. And when he continues to flirt with every young woman he meets, Catherine becomes convinced that he is cheating.

Continue reading TIFF Review: Chloe

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]]>Amanda SeyfriedAmandaSeyfriedAtom EgoyanAtomEgoyanChloeCinematicalJulianne MooreJulianneMooreLiam NeesonLiamNeesonMax ThieriotMaxThieriottiff09Monika BartyzelThu, 17 Sep 2009 11:03:00 ESTToronto in 60 Seconds: Thursday, September 17, 2009http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/17/toronto-in-60-seconds-thursday-september-17-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/17/toronto-in-60-seconds-thursday-september-17-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/17/toronto-in-60-seconds-thursday-september-17-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,



Celeb Sightings: Natalie Portman was spotted about town a little too overdressed (it's not cold yet!) and talking about her love of obscene hip hop. The In-Style bash scaled back this year to only the bare minimum of lavish foods and gifts. At that amfAR benefit, Sarah Maclachlan performed and more than $700,000 CND was raked in. But best of all, the SxSW karaoke party that many film bloggers hit on Tuesday night had a surprise guest: Samantha Morton showed up and belted out Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." And did you know Jay Baruchel is Canadian? Not only that, but he refuses to give up his Montreal home.

Our Coverage: There's one new review to hit the pages of Cinematical in the last 24 hours (but more are on the way!), and that's Todd Gilchrist's view of Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story. He writes: "Capitalism: A Love Story redeems itself because it possesses the same quality that has inspired our country in the last year - hope. In his best moments, Moore is deeply passionate and relentlessly idealistic, but he's an advocate for positivity and redemption, if also for transparency and common decency."

Deals, Tweets and More Blog News After the Jump

Continue reading Toronto in 60 Seconds: Thursday, September 17, 2009

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]]>A Single manASingleManCapitalism: A Love StoryCapitalism:ALoveStoryCinematicalCollapseDon RoosDonRoosSamantha MortonSamanthaMortontiff09Monika BartyzelThu, 17 Sep 2009 09:02:00 ESTTIFF Review: Capitalism: A Love Storyhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/16/capitalism-a-love-story-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/16/capitalism-a-love-story-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/16/capitalism-a-love-story-movie-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,



There is a mentality among some people that suggests our country was and is built upon the idea that if one works hard, is honest, and applies him or herself, he or she will be successful. My own opinion notwithstanding, the basic thread of Capitalism: A Love Story suggests otherwise: Michael Moore would have you believe that the bottom 95 percent of the economic spectrum has so thoroughly bought into the dream they could one day become part of that top five that they themselves essentially reinforce the impossibility of that ever happening. But its theories of institutional corruption and self-fulfilling propaganda notwithstanding, the film's only real leap of logic or falsehood is that audiences not predisposed to agree will want to see it. All of which is why Capitalism is essentially a one-sided love story, even if its message could be truly reciprocal if enough people opened their minds up enough to hear it.

Admittedly, Moore's net is cast wider with this film than in previous ones, and as a result his focus is a little softer. But Capitalism basically examines the ways in which excessive greed and self-interest has eclipsed the ideals of our democratic state, on both sociopolitical and deeply personal levels.

Continue reading TIFF Review: Capitalism: A Love Story

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]]>capitalism: a love storyCapitalism:ALoveStorymichael mooreMichaelMooretiff09Todd GilchristWed, 16 Sep 2009 14:25:00 ESTToronto in 60 Seconds: Wednesday, September 16, 2009http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/16/toronto-in-60-seconds-wednesday-september-16-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/16/toronto-in-60-seconds-wednesday-september-16-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/16/toronto-in-60-seconds-wednesday-september-16-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Celeb Sightings: News is starting to ring in from the movie after-parties, and Eye Weekly's rundown grabbed some interesting bits. Like Sook-Yin Lee, star of Shortbus and director of this year's Year of the Carnivore, was drilling attendees about their first orgasms and bad babysitting experiences. And was George Clooney giving one-on-one lip service to Goats party caterers? Meanwhile ... an Italian film producer lost a load of cash and an important script when his bag was stolen at the Four Seasons, Keanu Reeves got asked for his thoughts on the death of Patrick Swayze, Johnnie To signs autographs, and Lassie got her own red carpet comic.

Our Coverage: We've got two new reviews up in the last 24 hours. First up, Erik Davis' take on Michael Cera and his Youth in Revolt. Erik's a big fan of the book, and he says: "it's practically impossible to smash 499 pages of dark comedic brilliance into an hour and a half on the big screen, and, as such, Youth in Revolt (the film) definitely ends up feeling disjointed and forced in some areas -- but thanks to a wickedly hilarious performance from Michael Cera (easily the best of his career), this brainy teenage sex comedy does manage to dole out a handful of great scenes, making it worthy of your hard-earned box office dollars ... but only if you promise to read the book afterwards." And next, Scott Weinberg caught the absolutely wonderful Get Low, and he said it's "an excellent little dramatic piece that's awash in humanity, warmth, insight, and wit." (Keep an eye out for it!)

Deals, Tweets and More Blog News After the Jump

Continue reading Toronto in 60 Seconds: Wednesday, September 16, 2009

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]]>Cinematicalfeaturedtiff09Torontotoronto dispatchesTorontoDispatchesMonika BartyzelWed, 16 Sep 2009 10:02:00 ESTTIFF Review: Get Lowhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/tiff-review-get-low/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/tiff-review-get-low/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/tiff-review-get-low/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



You never know when you're going to get blindsided by a very good film, especially if you're fortunate enough to attend film festivals like Toronto, Sundance, and/or South By Southwest. Sometimes that "ultra-hot ticket" delivers a big fat dud of a film, and other times you just find yourself sitting in front of a film you know nothing about -- and it's just freakin' great. Such is most certainly the case with Aaron Schneider's Get Low, an excellent little dramatic piece that's awash in humanity, warmth, insight, and wit.

But I lied a little in that last paragraph: Prior to seeing Get Low, I was aware of one thing -- and that was the cast. Like most movie fans of a certain age and attitude, I'll see anything that Bill Murray shows up in. Anything. I also knew that Sissy Spacek and Lucas Black, two very fine actors, were also involved, and that just raised my interest a little more. But the reason I skipped over the Ellen Page roller-derby film and the new Ricky Gervais satire can be summed up in one name: Mr. Robert Duvall.

Continue reading TIFF Review: Get Low

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]]>aaron schneiderAaronSchneiderbill murrayBillMurrayget lowGetLowlucas blackLucasBlackrobert duvallRobertDuvalltiff09toronto international film festivalTorontoInternationalFilmFestivalScott WeinbergTue, 15 Sep 2009 20:02:00 ESTTIFF Review: Youth in Revolthttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/youth-in-revolt-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/youth-in-revolt-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/youth-in-revolt-movie-review/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



As with most of the popular-book-to-film adaptations, you can look at Youth in Revolt a couple of different ways: From the point of view of someone who has read the source material, and (of course) from the point of view of someone who hasn't. C.D Payne's epic, 499-page novel is to teenage angst what the bible is to Christianity -- and it's always sort of reminded me of what a sequel to The Catcher in the Rye might look like if it was set in modern-day (if somewhat outdated) Oakland -- and featured a 14-year-old Frank Sinatra fanatic who would literally destroy an entire city if it meant winning over the girl of his dreams.

The problem with Youth in Revolt (the book) is that it's practically impossible to smash 499 pages of dark comedic brilliance into an hour and a half on the big screen, and, as such, Youth in Revolt (the film) definitely ends up feeling disjointed and forced in some areas -- but thanks to a wickedly hilarious performance from Michael Cera (easily the best of his career), this brainy teenage sex comedy does manage to dole out a handful of great scenes, making it worthy of your hard-earned box office dollars ... but only if you promise to read the book afterwards.

Continue reading TIFF Review: Youth in Revolt

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]]>gustin nashGustinNashmichael ceraMichaelCeraportia doubledayPortiaDoubledaytiff09youth in revoltYouthInRevoltErik DavisTue, 15 Sep 2009 15:32:00 ESTToronto in 60 Seconds: Tuesday. September 15, 2009http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/toronto-in-60-seconds-tuesday-september-15-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/toronto-in-60-seconds-tuesday-september-15-2009/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/15/toronto-in-60-seconds-tuesday-september-15-2009/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Celeb Sightings: The Edmonton Sun threw up some lovely red carpet pictures ranging from Julianne Moore to Atom Egoyan, but nothing beats the stunners from Daily Dose of Imagery. That guy gets drool-worthy pics every year that'll beat the miniscule and blurry pics festgoers get from the back row. Meanwhile, the George Clooney quest for politeness turns out to be a hoax, ohnotheydidn't goes wild for Cillian Murphy, and Jane Fonda re-thinks her signature on the TIFF protest letter.

Our Coverage: Scott Weinberg gave us the low-down on Cleanflix -- the documentary showcasing how much the Mormons love to clean up our favorite Hollywood movies. He said that it's "a film that attempts to tell the whole tale from beginning to end (and mostly does a fine job of it), but also manages to wander way off-track before all is said and done." William Goss wrote about the woes of Creation -- the film that just about everyone seems to be bored with. We got to throw up some exclusive images from Bad Lieutenant, and Eugene Novikov says of Nic Cage: "It's a completely absurd performance -- and, God willing, a way for the actor to let off steam and return to the more nuanced, settled acting he used to do." And I threw in some female flavor with a Girls on Film discussing just how many female directors and femme-centric films are at the fest.

After the jump, Willem Dafoe talks death and more!

Continue reading Toronto in 60 Seconds: Tuesday. September 15, 2009

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]]>CinematicalfeaturedGeorge ClooneyGeorgeClooneyThe Invention of LyingTheInventionOfLyingtiff09Monika BartyzelTue, 15 Sep 2009 10:03:00 ESTGirls on Film: Women, TIFF, and the Futurehttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/girls-on-film-women-tiff-and-the-future/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/girls-on-film-women-tiff-and-the-future/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/girls-on-film-women-tiff-and-the-future/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



There's an interesting phenomenon going on at the Toronto International Film Festival this year. Female filmmakers were a big part of the festival's opening weekend. (The fest might be 9 days long, but that first weekend is the time that packs the punch -- the time when the stars descend, the parties commence, and the big films have their premieres.) But this isn't only relevant to festival goers. These fests showcase tomorrow's films, so in some ways, TIFF is a peek into the future. And it's one where women defy what's expected of them.

At the moment, I'm calling it the Anna Kendrick effect. While she might be one of the youngest Tony Award nominees ever, this actress shot into the public eye with a supporting role in that incessant, sparkly piece called Twilight. Her performance was fine, but she really wasn't given enough for a large buzz to commence, especially while under the shadow of Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. But now she's got a co-starring role in Jason Reitman's new Up in the Air -- a role where she must hold her own against George Clooney and Vera Farmiga. And she does. In fact, she's so good that her performance has been getting a lot of buzz up here in Toronto -- and it's proved one thing: We might see women and blow them off as nothing more than the crazy jealous friend, but there can be a lot of other talent in there if given a solid role to prove it.

Continue reading Girls on Film: Women, TIFF, and the Future

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]]>An EducationAnEducationAnna KendrickAnnaKendrickBright StarBrightStarCinematicalfeaturedGirls on FilmGirlsOnFilmjane CampionJaneCampionLone ScherfigLoneScherfigtiff09Up in the AirUpInTheAirMonika BartyzelMon, 14 Sep 2009 19:30:00 ESTTIFF Review: Cleanflixhttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/cleanflix-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/cleanflix-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/cleanflix-movie-review/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Even if you're not a resident of Utah, you've surely heard of companies like "Clean Flicks" before. Like, for example, in the virtual pages of this very blog. It's a prickly subject among movie fans, and that's probably an understatement. Basically, several companies in Utah have taken it upon themselves to edit all the "objectionable" material out of Hollywood's hottest films, and many in the Mormon community are more than happy to throw those discs into their DVD players, secure in the knowledge that Braveheart will be less bloody, that Forrest Gump never felt a female embrace, and that Sally Albright never had a fake orgasm in a New York deli.

OK, that's the last batch of lopsided editorializing for me, because while (obviously) I am dead-set opposed to censorship in cinema, I can also empathize with a religious culture that wishes to avoid things they find objectionable. And regardless of my oh-so-open-minded belief system, the plain fact is that we're not here to talk about the Clean Flicks companies. The subject this time around is a new documentary called Cleanflix, a film that attempts to tell the whole tale from beginning to end (and mostly does a fine job of it), but also manages to wander way off-track before all is said and done.

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]]>cleanflixdocumentaryedited moviesEditedMoviestiff09toronto film festivalTorontoFilmFestivalutahScott WeinbergMon, 14 Sep 2009 19:02:00 ESTTIFF: 'Creation' Finds No Distribution, Hopes for Controversy to Helphttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/tiff-creation-finds-no-distribution-hopes-for-controversy-to/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/tiff-creation-finds-no-distribution-hopes-for-controversy-to/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/tiff-creation-finds-no-distribution-hopes-for-controversy-to/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Long after his death, Charles Darwin continues to stir up fuss over his landmark theories of evolution, and the producers of TIFF Opening Night Film Creation (watch the trailer after the jump) are clearly hoping to milk said fuss for all the Stateside distribution it's worth.

The Telegraph of the UK has producer Jeremy Thomas on the record as saying, "It has got a deal everywhere else in the world but in the US, and it's because of what the film is about." He then cites early rave reviews, including anonymous word-of-mouth calling it "the best film they've seen all year", the Hollywood Reporter's positive reaction and the Telegraph's own 300-word review -- accessible through the sponsored page of content linked within the article.

But many critics have simply found the film to be too much of a bore to merit controversy. The A.V. Club's Noel Murray said, "for the most part Creation is Biopic 101, earnest and over-explained." Eric Kohn at Indiewire called it "a dry period piece missing crucial information," while Anne Thompson went with "flat, dull, and painful to sit through." And Ebert? Well, he's basically said that he'll hold his opinion until the film opens, a date which remains to be determined.

At least his non-review can claim to run twice as long as the Telegraph's unabashed praise.

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]]>charles darwinCharlesDarwincreationjennifer connellyJenniferConnellyjon amielJonAmielpaul bettanyPaulBettanyWilliam GossMon, 14 Sep 2009 16:15:00 ESTExclusive Images from 'The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans'http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/the-bad-lieutenant-remake-movie-photos/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/the-bad-lieutenant-remake-movie-photos/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/the-bad-lieutenant-remake-movie-photos/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Cinematical has just received these exclusive stills from Werner Herzog's kinda-sorta remake of Abel Ferrara's dirty, foul-mouthed 1992 film starring Harvey Keitel as a sick, sadistic, drug-addicted cop who's investigating the rape of a young nun. Updated for the "We'll Try Anything Twice" generation, Herzog's The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans stars Nicolas Cage as our dirty, violent, sex-charged corrupt cop who's apparently in charge of investigating the killings of five Senegalese immigrants when he's not busy breaking the law in a variety of disgusting and distasteful ways.

The film, which screened at the Telluride Film Festival and is about to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, seems to be drawing a number of fascinating reactions from critics. Our own Eugene Novikov had this to say in his review: "If you're a fan of this genre, this could be your chance to watch a smart filmmaker take it in some strange and interesting directions; if you're not, this is your chance to watch a smart filmmaker make fun of it. If you've been following Nic Cage's increasingly intense scenery-chewing over the last couple years, this is your chance to see it taken to its logical conclusion and beyond. Herzog occasionally makes The Bad Lieutenant feel frivolous, but it's rarely less than fascinating."

Check out a bunch of exclusive images from the film below, and look for it to hit theaters later this year.

Gallery: The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

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]]>cinematicalnicolas cageNicolasCageThe Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New OrleansTheBadLieutenant:PortOfCallNewOrleanstiff09werner herzogWernerHerzogErik DavisMon, 14 Sep 2009 13:37:00 ESTTIFF Review: The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleanshttp://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/the-bad-lieutenant-port-of-call-new-orleans-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/the-bad-lieutenant-port-of-call-new-orleans-movie-review/http://www.cinematical.com/2009/09/14/the-bad-lieutenant-port-of-call-new-orleans-movie-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



It's no secret that Nicolas Cage has been going off the deep end of late. His performances have become increasingly unhinged and harebrained; you never know when the character he's playing will suddenly become apoplectic over something that seems -- no matter what it is, in comparison to the reaction it draws -- relatively minor. This almost singlehandedly ruined this year's Knowing, at heart a decent science-fiction flick rendered nearly unwatchable by Cage's fevered overacting. It's no coincidence that Cage hasn't done a "serious" dramatic performance in more than three years. I shudder to think what that would now look like.

All of which makes me think that Werner Herzog is even smarter than people give him credit for. Having cast Cage in his "remake" of Abel Ferrara's Bad Lieutenant (I put "remake" in scare quotes as Herzog claims to never have seen Ferrara's film, and the new one has nothing to do with it beyond sharing some bare plot elements), he lets the actor go truly all-out. In The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, Cage, playing the titular Lieutenant Terence McDonagh, interrupts himself, has roundtable discussions with himself, cheers himself on, punctuates conversations with non sequitur chuckles and handclaps, and gets hugely angry. It's a completely absurd performance -- and, God willing, a way for the actor to let off steam and return to the more nuanced, settled acting he used to do.

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]]>nicolas cageNicolasCageshea whighamSheaWhighamtelluride film festival 2009TellurideFilmFestival2009the bad lieutenant: port of call new orleansTheBadLieutenant:PortOfCallNewOrleanstiff09toronto international film festival 2009TorontoInternationalFilmFestival2009val kilmerValKilmerwerner herzogWernerHerzogEugene NovikovMon, 14 Sep 2009 11:45:00 EST