I decided way back in June that I'd probably end up taking a pass on the Toronto International Film Festival this year. It has gotten very expensive, more than $20 a film depending on what pass you buy. This year I just think if I'm going to take some vacation it needs to be somewhere there's a reef of some kind. As much as I love watching oodles of movies crammed back-to-back, it just doesn't cut it this year. Plus I'd rather spend that money on other things, or not spend it. As well I'm taking care of someone's cat, and not being home except to sleep for 5 hours a night for a week doesn't seem fair.
To all going to TIFF this year, have a great time and maybe next year I'll be back.
To this point it's been an up and down festival. There has really only been one dog: The Last Winter. I'm not even sure what in the description made me think this was good, but once again the great and mysterious Festival Book strikes again. The worst part was the Festival director for the series The Last Winter was in was all raving about it. It made me want to grab him and shake some sense in to him when I saw him the next day. I think it's a really bad sign when the number of film crew in the movie equal the number of attendees.
Aside from that, the other movies were all great. More about those after the jump.
Continue reading... | Posted 10:28 PM to Film
Since I'm seeing so few films this year I thought I'd break down my reports into larger intervals. This then is the 1st quarter report. So far so good, no really great films but nothing that put me to sleep. I ended up skipping Ten Canoes in favour of some much-needed rest. So far I'd rate the best film as Slumming, which just edges out Suburban Mayhem.
It's a lot different going back to a work+festival schedule this year. A lot more time between films and I can actually get enough time to have a slightly improved diet. The Festival weight loss plan is not in effect. For slightly longer reviews/thoughts on the films seen so far, continue reading...
Continue reading... | Posted 09:52 PM to Film
This year I was in Box 11, which turned out to be not so bad a box (at least for me). I didn't get 2 of my 20 picks, and both weren't really surprises as they were popular films: "Paris j'taime" and "Jade Warrior".
I'm actually feeling pretty good about my relaxed schedule as it will hopefully allow me to appreciate the films I do see more. Also I'm hoping I can remember more than a handful this year. Something else that will be new is the ability to actually stay afterwards and listen to the directors etc.. speak about the film. This is something I have been sorry about in the past years as my need to line-up and get good seats supersedes my need to get the scoop.
Continue reading for my complete list of films.
Continue reading... | Posted 10:51 PM to Film
