By Sean Kelly
I saw a whopping 14 films during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, which is actually quite small when you consider the fact that the most hardcore festival-goers tend to see up to 50 films. Still, I saw an average of three films a day, with screening days starting at noon and ending around 11:30. As such, while I would have loved to write full reviews for all the films I’ve seen, it was pretty much impossible. Now with the festival over, I’d like to touch on the remaining films I saw this year.
Submarine
Directed by Richard Ayoade
UK
Part of the Special Presentations Programme.
As the film begins with the main character imagining the increasingly extravagant ways he would like to be remembered if he died, I knew this film was going to be special. This is one smart and funny British comedy about a 15 year old boy, who sees the world in his own ironic way. I definitely consider this to be one of the highlights of this year’s festival and if you love the films of the UK, you are sure to love Submarine.
Le Jeu de la Mort (The Game of Death)
Directed by Christophe Nick, Thomas Bornot
France
Part of the Real to Reel Programme.
Inspired by the increasingly violent nature of reality television, this documentary takes the 1960s Migram Experiments (where subjects were told to give – simulated – electric shocks for every wrong answer to a questionnaire) and updated it to a game show format. The film analyzes how people are compelled to obey authority figures and the amount of people who played until the end (despite the cries from the actor being shocked) was quite high. Definitely a very thought-provoking film.
Henry’s Crime
Directed by Malcolm Venville
USA
Part of the Special Presentations Programme.
A heist comedy, which features Keanu Reeves as a man who was falsely jailed for robbing a bank, but decided to rob it for real when he is released. The film features great supporting performances by the likes of Vera Farmiga and James Caan and it has a fun subplot with Reeve’s character acting in a play within the film (with a hilarious performance by Peter Stormare as the controlling director).
Ceremony
Directed by Max Winkler
USA
Part of the Discovery Programme.
One of the most notable elements of this film is that it is the directorial debut of Max Winkler, who is the son of Henry Winkler (the Fonz). It’s a fairly straight-forward story about a small-time writer (Michael Angarano), who crashes the wedding of an older woman (Uma Thurman), who he was having an affair with – and believes that he loves. It’s a fun little film and it features a funny performance by Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) as Thurman’s filmmaker fiancé.
The High Cost of Living
Directed by Deborah Chow
Canada
Part of the Canada First Programme.
I just found out that this film won the award for the best film in the Canada First programme and I can see why. The film is about an American drug dealer living in Montreal (Zach Braff), who accidently runs over a pregnant woman (Isabelle Blais), which results of the loss of her baby. Feeling guilty, Braff’s character befriends the woman, though she remains oblivious to the fact that he was the driver who ran her over. It was definitely well worth seeing.
Dirty Girl
Directed by Abe Sylvia
USA
Part of the Discovery Programme.
I would call this film a throwback to teen comedies from the 1980s. Danielle (Juno Temple) is a very sexually promiscuous girl, who is forced to team with a closeted homosexual boy for a school project. Together they decide to take a road trip in order to locate Danielle’s birth father. The film has a great supporting cast which includes Milla Jovovich, William H. Macy, Mary Steenburgen, and Dwight Yoakam. This was definitely one of the lighter selections in what was a very serious festival and I thought it was a joy.
Insidious
Directed by James Wan
USA
Part of the Midnight Madness Programme.
This is a haunted house film that seems partially inspired by horror films from the 1950s, especially through its full-screen title card and a score full of screeching violins. The film follows a family who moves into a new house and finds they are being haunted. The film may have a bit of a reliance on jump scares (though there are no “fake” jumps) and it gets a bit ridiculous towards the end, but I still found this a fun old-school haunted house film.
Girlfriend
Directed by Justin Lerner
Canada
Part of the Discovery Programme.
This is definitely a film that will pull at your heartstrings. The film follows a man with Down’s Syndrome, who is attempting to begin a relationship with a woman he really likes, even though she is not too receptive to the idea. It’s definitely a touching film that explores the challenges people with mental disabilities face in having the same types of relationships that “normal” people have.
Amigo
Directed by John Sayles
USA
Part of the Special Presentations Programme.
John Sayles is known as one of the top independent filmmakers in the US and his latest film deals with the US occupation of a Filipino town in 1900. The film centres on the leader of the town (nicknamed “Amigo”), who was forced to help both the American soldiers, as well as guerrilla freedom fights (which includes his own brother). The film runs a bit long for me, however it was still an intriguing film.
Griff the Invisible
Directed by Leon Ford
Australia
Part of the Discovery Programme.
This film stars Ryan Kwanten (True Blood) as a man who believes he is a superhero. While this initially sounded like a Defendor knock off, the film evolves to be more about accepting your perception of reality, no matter how askew it may seem. I found this to be quite a funny film and it was great way for me to end my festival experience.
I saw Submarine! I really liked it! Agreed with what you said.