TIFF BITS: Saturday, September 11

Another day, another birthday.  Today, I want to give a big birthday shout out to my friend, Trista.  She is an editor extraordinaire who also just happens to just be a great person.  Not that I want to divert too much traffic from my site but in the interest of spreading the love, check out her site, Toronto Film Scene, for more excellent TIFF coverage.

Another day also means more TIFF Bits from Black Sheep to make your TIFF experience that much easier.  I have to get a move on as I need to catch the new Will Ferrell film this morning, EVERYTHING MUST GO, directed by Dan Rush.  This is because I am interviewing them both this afternoon.  I am also interviewing Nigel Cole this afternoon.  Cole directed the delightful MADE IN DAGENHAM and I think that would be the perfect segue to move into today's TIFF Bits ...

MADE IN DAGENHAM

Visa Screening Room - 6:00

It plays light but it packs a big punch.  In 1968, a group of 187 female workers at a Ford car plant in Dagenham, decided to strike for equal pay and by the time they got through with their struggle, they had changed the world.  It is the true story of how equality acts were ushered in across the world in many countries and Cole tells it perfectly.  Sally Hawkins stars ... and shines.

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY

Ryerson - 9:00

From Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, the genius directors behind HALF NELSON, comes this new mental ward comedy featuring Zach Galifianakis.  I caught this last night and I cannot tell you what a disappointment it was.  Not only is it mostly unfunny but it is also fairly misguided.  A mental hospital is not a place to come of age.

THE KING'S SPEECH

Ryerson - 12:00

If you missed this film at it's gala premiere last night, check it out today if you can get your hands on tickets.  I loved this Colin Firth film and you need to see it.   Click for my review from yesterday.

TRUST

Visa Screening Room - 11:00

David Schwimmer directed this film about a 14-year-old girl who gets involved a much older man on the internet.  Catherine Keener and Clive Owen star as her parents and this is another case where I am warning you to steer clear.  Schwimmer brought nothing new to this important subject but did pull out every cliche he could think of.  Shame.

TIFF is presenting the big gala premiere of Ben Affleck's THE TOWN tonight at Roy Thompson Hall. The Black Sheep review is just below.  The Robert Redford film, THE CONSPIRATOR, which I have not seen, also premieres tonight.  And finally, Philip Seymour Hoffman is in conversation tonight.

Oh, and I just noticed, EASY A is playing.  Hilarious.  Don't miss it.  Seriously, so funny.

Speaking of funny, I must get ready for Will Ferrell now.

Have a great day!

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TIFF'D: Friday, September 10

Hey and welcome to the first ever Black Sheep Reviews video blog.  Each day during TIFF, or at least each day that doesn't end with me passed out and forgotten in some theatre somewhere, I will be posting a video blog about my day at the Toronto International Film Festival.  No sense in writing anything really past that.  I'll just let myself do the talking instead ...

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TIFF BITS: Friday, September 10

Today marks two very important things.  The first important thing about today is that it is my friend, Christopher's birthday.  I wish I could be spending it with him but he is far and there is the whole matter of the second important things about today that is getting in the way.  Today marks the first full day of screenings at TIFF.  So, I wish you well, Christopher, but duty calls.

The duty I am referring to specifically is my obligation to attend the a screening of Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN this morning.  I could not be more excited about that.  Hopefully, it lives up to my expectations.  Past that, I am interviewing the director of BIUTIFUL, Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu today. I'm a wee bit nervous for this given that he is such a prolific director; this is the man who gave us AMORES PERROS and BABEL after all.  As if that weren't enough, I am also interviewing the film's star, Javier Bardem, the Academy Award winning actor of NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. Be sure to check out my TIFF'd video blog this evening for a full recap.

Now, as for you all, here's what you can expect at TIFF today.  Tonight's big galas are for Tom Hooper's THE KING'S SPEECH and David Schwimmer's TRUST, starring Catherine Keener and Clive Owen.  My full review for THE KING'S SPEECH is posted below and I am only seeing TRUST tomorrow morning so I can't really help you out there.  I can make these suggestions though:

BIUTIFUL

Winter Garden Theatre - 8:00

It isn't always easy to interview people when you don't like their movie.  Fortunately for me, I thoroughly enjoyed this Spanish language film.  Like most of Inarritu's work, it focuses on death and the kinds of perspective it gives you on your life.  Bardem is brilliant in the film and it lives up to its mispelled name in terms of aesthetics.  Both director and star are expected to attend this North American premiere.

I'M STILL HERE

Varsity Theatre - 10:00

I'm going to have to sleep on this one before I make up my full mind about it.  This is the Joaquin Phoenix documentary about his quitting acting and becoming a hip hop recording artist, as lensed by brother-in-law, Casey Affleck.  This documentary could be a hoax but the beauty of it is that you can never be sure as to whether it is or not.  It is vulgar, offensive, uncomfortable and oddly enlightening on the subjects of celebrity, ego and opportunity.  It will be released in theatres soon but check it out at TIFF if you get a chance.

Don't forget to check Black Sheep back at the end of the day for TIFF'd, a video blog about how the whole day went.  Please note that yesterday's TIFF'd had to come down due to some issues I was having with it.  They have been worked out though and video blogging commences again, if that's possible, today!

Bon cinema and happy TIFF!

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