Toronto International Film Festival : Day 6

A very good day of films, both Downfall and Double Dare are going to end up festival favorites. If only DD wasn't playing at the ROM this would hav been a perfect day.

9:15AM - Throw Down

Varsity

To quote a quote: "When you fall down, you should find the courage to get up again. No matter what the outcome is, give everything you have and leave no regret behind. I believe this is the spirit of judo. This is also the way of life." - Johnny To

I couldn't think of any better way to describe this film then rip that quote off the festival guide. This movie shows a dark neaon-lit back-alley Hong Kong where gambling and judo are plentiful. I especially like the Ex-Judo racketeer who will trash-talk a 6 year old in a game of table hockey (brilliant!).

11:45AM - Downfall

Ryerson

Downfall was good, better than I thought it could be. This is a dramatazation of the final days of the Third Reich as mainly told/seen through eyes of Hitler's secretary. Much of the story is available as a matter of public record (go read some history books, or see the film), so I knew most of the outcomes already. As an idea for a story it certainly outranks many of the fictional tales of late (life really is stranger than fiction).

What makes this movie is Hitler. Bruno Ganz is almost eerily perfect in this role, it was hard to believe is wasn't a documentary at points. A really good job was done balancing both kindness and madness to flush out a much more complete image of the man and those around him who were able to enthrall a nation and murder millions. Many stories currently center around the theme of how good people can commit attrocious acts, and there is a thread of a counterpoint in this film. Not to overshadow the rest of the performances, which were very rich and gave depth to those around Hitler, Himmler the schemer and opportunist, Goebbels the zealot. Yet another long film that went by all too fast.

3:00PM - Double Dare

ROM

As soon as I got to the page in the big FilmFest book with this movie on it I knew I had to see it. Double Dare is a film about stuntwomen, specifically Jeannie Epper and Zoe Bell. Jeannie Epper is probably most famous for being the double for Wonder Woman, and Zoe Bell gets a double nod for being both Xena and The Bride.

This was the only documentary I chose and I really liked it, character driven documentary is so much more personal and easy to relate to. The film follows both women's careers over a few years, we're right there as Zoe meets Tarantino and later gets the call that sends her to China. We also get an in-depth look at the history of stunt-personing and the current state of affairs. As of yet there are no women stunt-coordinators, which is what many of the best stuntmen have as an option when they retire from getting banged up.

The relationship that forms between the two carries the second half of the film and came right off the screen as both were in attendance for a QA session after the film. Jeannie is "one of the boys" but also a mother and grandmother, with a tough yet posative demeaner. If you want to know what Zoe Bell is like, you're probably best off reading this BBC Interview. Aside: Zoe Bell is Hot!

The only real downside was that the movie was shown at the ROM Theatre, which is in the basement and everytime a subway train goes by there is a definite rumble, and the seats aren't great either.

Posted at 06:23 PM to Film By: John Fairley