Z's 1st Annual #It'sAbouttheFilms Final Weekend Sleeper #TIFF11 Picks for true TIFFheads

The first weekend has passed and most of the celebrities are long gone, guess they're is no point in talking about the Toronto International Film Festival anymore is there.

Wrong.

Like the tag-line of our #TIFF11 site trumpets: It's about the films.

So in that same vein, I happily present to you my 1st Annual It's About the Film Sleeper #TIFF11 Picks for true TIFFheads.

Snows of Kilimanjaro (Neiges du Kilimandjaro)  - Z's Top Pick
dir â€" Robert Guédiguian, France
North American Premiere

Despite losing his job, Michel lives happily with Marie-Claire. They have been in love for over thirty years. Their conscience is as clear as their view of life. This happiness will be shattered by two young men, armed and masked, who beat them, tie them up and snatch their money to go for a trip to Kilimanjaro.

Why See it?
I managed to catch this before the festival and even after all of the movies that I have seen since, it has stayed with me.  It starts one way and ends up in a magnificent place.  Probably the best depiction of love I have ever seen on the screen. And for me that is worth not only my money..but my time.

When is it Playing
Saturday September 17
TIFF Bell Lightbox 4
6:00pm

A Simple Life
dir â€" Ann Hui, Hong Kong, China
North American Premiere

Based on real people and events. Ah Tao was born in Taishan, China. She works as a servant for 60 years and has been serving four generations of the Leung family. For the past decade, Ah Tao lived with Roger, the only family member left in Hong Kong. Stars Andy Lau, Deanie Ip, Wang Fuli and Qin Hailu.

Why See It?
Based on the trailer and the buzz from folks leaving the screening, there seems to be gentle elegance that this film conveys. The actors are some serious heavyweights in Asian Cinema and Deanie Ip walking away with the Best Actress Prize at the Venice Film Festival definitely backs that up.

When is it Playing?
Sunday September 18
Scotiabank Theatre 2
9:45am

 

Tyrannosaur
dir â€" Paddy Considine, United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere

Joseph is a man plagued by violence and rage that is driving him to self-destruction. As Joseph’s life spirals into turmoil, a chance of redemption appears in the form of Hannah, a Christian charity shop worker. Their relationship develops to reveal that Hannah is hiding a secret of her own which has devastating results on both of their lives. Starring Peter Mullanand Olivia Colman.

Why See It?
Anyone who is a fan of British cinema a la Layer Cake and Snatch will love this gritty, intimate film pairing two of the best of that genre of British cinema. Paddy Considine is a great actor who is now on the other side of the camera with his friend Peter Mullan. Together they seemed to have put together a pretty powerful performance to drive an extremely interesting film.

When is it Playing?
Saturday September 17
Isabel Bader Theatre
4:00pm

Gerhard Richter Painting
dir â€" Corinna Belz, Germany
International Premiere

Gerhard Richter, one of the internationally most significant contemporary artists of our times, granted filmmaker Corinna Belz access to his studio in the spring and summer of 2009 where he was working on a series of large abstract paintings. In quiet, highly concentrated images, the film gives us a fly-on-the-wall perspective of a very personal, tension-filled process of artistic creation. In her intelligent and perceptive film, Corinna Belz brings us closer to the complex processes of artistic creation. Gerhard Richter Painting is the penetrating portrait of an artist at work â€" and a fascinating film about the art of seeing.

Why See It?
If there is a movie that correctly captures the essence of one of the last genius painters, it is this one. The trailer is beautiful, Gerhard Richter is a living legend and a treasure and being able to watch a master work is a true joy.

Need I say more?

When is it Playing?
Sunday September 18
Jackman Hall â€" AGO
3:15pm

Michael
dir â€" Ribhu Dasgupta, India
World Premiere

Michael, an ex-cop, lives with his 11-year-old son and works in a theatre as a projectionist pirating DVDs for a living. When he starts receiving death threats for his son from someone in his past, he gets caught up in a complex web of his own impending blindness comprised of his insecurities. First-time director Ribhu Dasgupta teams up with India’s guru of independent cinema, producer Anurag Kashyap, and veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah for this character-driven, psychological drama.

Why See It?
Naseeruddin Shah 
is a living legend. From great, captivating performances in gems like Amal to more western fare like League of Extraordinary Gentleman, he always delivers. He is best in these small indie-types films and that is exactly what this is. The story is great and you will not be disappointed in anything Shah does.

When is it Playing?
Sunday September 18
Scotiabank Theatre 2
7:00pm

 

Snowtown
dir â€" Justin Kurzel, Australia
North American Premiere

When 16-year-old Jamie is introduced to a charismatic man, a friendship begins. As the relationship grows so do Jamie’s suspicions, until he finds his world threatened by his loyalty for, and fear of, his newfound father-figure John Bunting, Australia’s most notorious serial killer. Starring Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris.

Why See It?
There is something very odd about this trailer. Something  very off-putting and that is what l love about it. There has been a ton of criticial acclaim for this film in Australia. And I mean a lot. Some have even dubbed it the best Australian film this year. Between that and the subject matter, your time will definitely be well spent.

When is it Playing? 
Saturday September 17
Scotiabank Theatre 4
10:00pm

 

The Skin I Live In
dir â€" Pedro Almodóvar, Spain
North American Premiere

Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault. In addition to years of study and experimentation, Robert needed a further three things: no scruples, an accomplice and a human guinea pig. Scruples were never a problem. Marilia, the woman who looked after him from the day he was born, is his most faithful accomplice. And as for the human guinea pig… Stars Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Blanca Suárez and Jan Cornet.

Why See It?
Almodovar and Banderas back together again. That should be enough...and really it is. If you are going to see this because of their history together, than you know you are in for a wild, weird and wonderful ride. This film definitely delivers and not in the way that you might hope for. Once you realize the twist, you might either love me or hate me for recommending this too. I loved it and I am betting that you will  as well.

When is it Playing? 
Saturday September 17
TIFF Bell Lightbox 2
9:30am

Filed under  //  film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
Posted

Z's 1st Annual #It'sAbouttheFilms Final Weekend Sleeper #TIFF11 Picks for true TIFFheads

The first weekend has passed and most of the celebrities are long gone, guess they're is no point in talking about the Toronto International Film Festival anymore is there.

Wrong.

Like the tag-line of our #TIFF11 site trumpets: It's about the films.

So in that same vein, I happily present to you my 1st Annual It's About the Film Sleeper #TIFF11 Picks for true TIFFheads.

Snows of Kilimanjaro (Neiges du Kilimandjaro)  - Z's Top Pick
dir â€" Robert Guédiguian, France
North American Premiere

Despite losing his job, Michel lives happily with Marie-Claire. They have been in love for over thirty years. Their conscience is as clear as their view of life. This happiness will be shattered by two young men, armed and masked, who beat them, tie them up and snatch their money to go for a trip to Kilimanjaro.

Why See it?
I managed to catch this before the festival and even after all of the movies that I have seen since, it has stayed with me.  It starts one way and ends up in a magnificent place.  Probably the best depiction of love I have ever seen on the screen. And for me that is worth not only my money..but my time.

When is it Playing
Saturday September 17
TIFF Bell Lightbox 4
6:00pm

A Simple Life
dir â€" Ann Hui, Hong Kong, China
North American Premiere

Based on real people and events. Ah Tao was born in Taishan, China. She works as a servant for 60 years and has been serving four generations of the Leung family. For the past decade, Ah Tao lived with Roger, the only family member left in Hong Kong. Stars Andy Lau, Deanie Ip, Wang Fuli and Qin Hailu.

Why See It?
Based on the trailer and the buzz from folks leaving the screening, there seems to be gentle elegance that this film conveys. The actors are some serious heavyweights in Asian Cinema and Deanie Ip walking away with the Best Actress Prize at the Venice Film Festival definitely backs that up.

When is it Playing?
Sunday September 18
Scotiabank Theatre 2
9:45am

 

Tyrannosaur
dir â€" Paddy Considine, United Kingdom
Canadian Premiere

Joseph is a man plagued by violence and rage that is driving him to self-destruction. As Joseph’s life spirals into turmoil, a chance of redemption appears in the form of Hannah, a Christian charity shop worker. Their relationship develops to reveal that Hannah is hiding a secret of her own which has devastating results on both of their lives. Starring Peter Mullanand Olivia Colman.

Why See It?
Anyone who is a fan of British cinema a la Layer Cake and Snatch will love this gritty, intimate film pairing two of the best of that genre of British cinema. Paddy Considine is a great actor who is now on the other side of the camera with his friend Peter Mullan. Together they seemed to have put together a pretty powerful performance to drive an extremely interesting film.

When is it Playing?
Saturday September 17
Isabel Bader Theatre
4:00pm

Gerhard Richter Painting
dir â€" Corinna Belz, Germany
International Premiere

Gerhard Richter, one of the internationally most significant contemporary artists of our times, granted filmmaker Corinna Belz access to his studio in the spring and summer of 2009 where he was working on a series of large abstract paintings. In quiet, highly concentrated images, the film gives us a fly-on-the-wall perspective of a very personal, tension-filled process of artistic creation. In her intelligent and perceptive film, Corinna Belz brings us closer to the complex processes of artistic creation. Gerhard Richter Painting is the penetrating portrait of an artist at work â€" and a fascinating film about the art of seeing.

Why See It?
If there is a movie that correctly captures the essence of one of the last genius painters, it is this one. The trailer is beautiful, Gerhard Richter is a living legend and a treasure and being able to watch a master work is a true joy.

Need I say more?

When is it Playing?
Sunday September 18
Jackman Hall â€" AGO
3:15pm

Michael
dir â€" Ribhu Dasgupta, India
World Premiere

Michael, an ex-cop, lives with his 11-year-old son and works in a theatre as a projectionist pirating DVDs for a living. When he starts receiving death threats for his son from someone in his past, he gets caught up in a complex web of his own impending blindness comprised of his insecurities. First-time director Ribhu Dasgupta teams up with India’s guru of independent cinema, producer Anurag Kashyap, and veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah for this character-driven, psychological drama.

Why See It?
Naseeruddin Shah 
is a living legend. From great, captivating performances in gems like Amal to more western fare like League of Extraordinary Gentleman, he always delivers. He is best in these small indie-types films and that is exactly what this is. The story is great and you will not be disappointed in anything Shah does.

When is it Playing?
Sunday September 18
Scotiabank Theatre 2
7:00pm

 

Snowtown
dir â€" Justin Kurzel, Australia
North American Premiere

When 16-year-old Jamie is introduced to a charismatic man, a friendship begins. As the relationship grows so do Jamie’s suspicions, until he finds his world threatened by his loyalty for, and fear of, his newfound father-figure John Bunting, Australia’s most notorious serial killer. Starring Lucas Pittaway, Daniel Henshall, Louise Harris.

Why See It?
There is something very odd about this trailer. Something  very off-putting and that is what l love about it. There has been a ton of criticial acclaim for this film in Australia. And I mean a lot. Some have even dubbed it the best Australian film this year. Between that and the subject matter, your time will definitely be well spent.

When is it Playing? 
Saturday September 17
Scotiabank Theatre 4
10:00pm

 

The Skin I Live In
dir â€" Pedro Almodóvar, Spain
North American Premiere

Ever since his wife was burned in a car crash, Dr. Robert Ledgard, an eminent plastic surgeon, has been interested in creating a new skin with which he could have saved her. After twelve years, he manages to cultivate a skin that is a real shield against every assault. In addition to years of study and experimentation, Robert needed a further three things: no scruples, an accomplice and a human guinea pig. Scruples were never a problem. Marilia, the woman who looked after him from the day he was born, is his most faithful accomplice. And as for the human guinea pig… Stars Antonio Banderas, Elena Anaya, Blanca Suárez and Jan Cornet.

Why See It?
Almodovar and Banderas back together again. That should be enough...and really it is. If you are going to see this because of their history together, than you know you are in for a wild, weird and wonderful ride. This film definitely delivers and not in the way that you might hope for. Once you realize the twist, you might either love me or hate me for recommending this too. I loved it and I am betting that you will  as well.

When is it Playing? 
Saturday September 17
TIFF Bell Lightbox 2
9:30am

Filed under  //  film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
Posted

Shahid shakes a leg in Mausam!


I am quite excited just thinking about Mausam as it looks like a beautiful love story that was ready to take the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival by storm, until it was announced that its premiere and screenings were being canceled - why? Censorship. Don't ask me! It seems the only thing stopping a film from being released in Bollywood these days is censorship. Oh well!

I am a fan of Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Two young Bollywood starlets, popular and talented in their own right.

Now, I'm not sure whether this love story will play out over all four seasons or OVER DECADES, because Shahid Kapoor is dancing to quite a modern, techno flavored beat while sporting the look of a Pilot from the 1920's, but enough!  This is a Bollywood film, so the love story, the music and the color matter most. Well, at least in this case!

Song Trailer - Mallo Malli

Source: Bollywood Hungama

Posted

Katrina-Imran. Bollywood's Hot new pair!

It was only a matter of time before Bollywood lovers saw the pairing of Katrina Kaif and Imran Khan.

Both actors have enjoyed a successful run in the land of Bollywood so far and their coming together in a Yash Raj Films outing seems fitting. I must say, I never thought of them working together, it just never crossed my mind. However, now that I see them together, they look good and they have great chemistry from what can be seen from the trailers and movies reviewers have been raving about their on screen chemistry.

Mere Brother Ki Dulhan translates into English as "My Brother's Wife"! Scandalous, I know! After having watched Bollywood films for, well, my entire life and being familiar with the films that are churned out of Yash Raj Films...I don't think this film is going to be much of a scandalous affair - it's Bollywood after all. The posters are colorful and the trailer seems pleasing.

Let's hope this turns out to be a hit instead of a poorly scripted Bollywood affair as we are unfortunately used to seeing from the leading production house these past few years.

Theatrical Trailer

Posted

Outtakes/gag reel from 'Bridesmaids'

I still think Bridesmaids was the biggest piece of crap to come out this year however based on the Xavierpop twitter feed there are a few of you who might enjoy this.

So in our never-ending pursuit of journalistic duty, I give thee The Bridesmaids outtakes/gag reel.

I'll tell you something, this gag reel further backs up my opinion of the movie as it is quite funny and worth it just to see Jon Hamm do his thing.

enjoy:

source - FirstShowing.net.

Filed under  //  Al Pacino   Animation   Arts   Bloopers and Outtakes   Multimedia   Outtake   Scarface   Voice Actors   film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
Posted

Facebook goes BOLLYWOOD!

Yes, it's true...Facebook goes Bollywood, but not in the way some of us may think!

Popular production house Yash Raj Films recently launched Y-Films, its production and distribution division focused on creating films for youth by challenging norms and denoting boundaries - and it's pretty clear with their latest offering.

Mujhse Fraaanship Karoge brings together the world of Bollywood cinema, today's youth and technology driven Indian society and the culture of Facebook together on screen - for the first time!

This seems like it's going to be a very interesting watch. At this point, the main draws for this film are its Facebook inspired theme and script and its appeal to the youth. The cast of newbies may or may not be a draw too!

To be short, good films can make huge stars out of newcomers in Bollywood, and bad movies...well, in most cases have you saying "Goodbye" sooner than you expect. So far, Mujhse Fraaanship Karoge only screams WIN-WIN!

Totally love the way they incorporated the credits in the trailer with familiar Facebook features and pages. The first look poster is awesome too!

Source: The Daily Honey

Posted

Outtakes/gag reel from 'Bridesmaids'

I still think Bridesmaids was the biggest piece of crap to come out this year however based on the Xavierpop twitter feed there are a few of you who might enjoy this.

So in our never-ending pursuit of journalistic duty, I give thee The Bridesmaids outtakes/gag reel.

enjoy:

source - FirstShowing.net.

Filed under  //  Al Pacino   Animation   Arts   Bloopers and Outtakes   Multimedia   Outtake   Scarface   Voice Actors   film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
Posted

Bollywood's Bodyguard creates Box-Office history!

All of Bollywood is buzzing with the latest Salman Khan starrer, Bodyguard with its much anticipated release this past weekend. The film has created box-office history by grossing nearly 88.75 crores in its 5 day opening weekend.

It may echo the name of the Whitney Houston starrer The Bodyguard in Hollywood territory, but let me tell you, Salman Khan's film is much, much different. To eliminate any confusion, Bodyguard is in no way a remake or version of The Bodyguard. They are two totally different films, that happen to have a similar name.

Lately, Salman Khan's film have been these fantastical, over the top, action packed thrillers that harp back to the retro-Bollywood days. While its great to see Salman Khan on screen, as he is one of Bollywood's leading actors, his films require a lot of patience - especially during the moments where the buttons on his shirt magically pop off and his shirt mysteriously tears away from his body revealing his six-pack abs - similar to what we would see in an animated version of Hulk (Dabanng, anyone?).

In Bodyguard, we see his shirt zapped off too. Also note: the jumping biceps in the song trailer below. Classic Salman.

Regardless of these Bollywood antics, Bodyguard is entertaining, it has great music, co-stars Kareena Kapoor and has an appearance by Katrina Kaif. So, no complaints!

 

Posted

Xavierpop's MovieJay runs down his picks for #TIFF11

When the morning air gets that familiar autumn crisp, for movie-lovers in Toronto, that can only signal one thing: the start of the good movie season. A time where sequels and TV remakes give way to more thoughtful movies, many of which will premiere at the most important film festival on the planet for movies - the Toronto International Film Festival.

Over 300 feature films will play over 11 days during this, the 36th edition of the festival, (and my 17th personally).

My first TIFF movie?

"Leaving Las Vegas" at Roy Thomson Hall. That's when TIFF showed movies on a dozen screens. Just two years later I saw "Life Is Beautiful" at the magnificent Elgin Theatre. Within a couple of years after the Elgin opened for TIFF movies, the Varsity Cinemas expanded and became the home of press/industry screenings while the multiplex Scotiabank Theaters entered the fray along with the Isabel Bader Theatre. This year the Prince ss of Wales Theatre has been tapped to open several big opening-weekend movies, adding more lustre to an already huge and exciting ten day extravaganza.

Like most festival veterans, I seem to be forever tinkering with my schedule, trying to fit in all the movies I want to see only to get sidetracked when the buzz starts to swell on a particular movie just when I feel like my schedule was settled. I always start with looking at the director vs the actor and then just grow my list from there as various factors come into play.

So after all my research/frustration/enjoyment, I now give you my movies to look for this year, all of which I can't wait to see and will write more about on our sister site http://xavierpopdoestiff.com as the festival gets going this Thursday:

Probably the most anticipated film of the festival is Drive, and it's also an exception to the rule I just wrote about for selecting movies as director Nicolas Winding Refn is coming off of Valhalla Rising, a movie that is presently scoring a 5.8/10 at imdb.com. It stars Ryan Gosling as a Hollywood stunt man and has a lot of hype coming from Cannes as Refn walked away with the directing prize.

Also from Cannes is the Artist about silent-era film star George Valentin starring the French actor Jean Dujardin (who you may remember from last year's wonderful family drama Little White Lies). Dujardin comes to Toronto having taken the actor prize at Cannes.

On the hometown front, Sarah Polley and David Cronenberg are the two heavyweights with their new films Take This Waltz and A Dangerous Method, but look out for my dark horse Philipe Falardeau's Monsieur Lazhar, which is hot off of two big wins at the Locarno festival, Guy Maddin's Keyhole with Jason Patric and Isabella Rosselini and Cafe De Flore, the new drama with warm advance buzz that brings Jean-Marc Vall ee back to the familiar territory we discovered in his 2006 festival hit C.R.A.Z.Y.

Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road, Bug) is an expert at portraying disturbed men and Take Shelter is being talked-up as his best performance yet, his time in another small-town southern drama from the director of the powerful Shotgun Stories (which also starred Shannon as the eldest brother on one side of a bitter family feud).

Albert Nobbs is no ordinary butler in a movie where Glenn Close appears to have the early lead among the lady thesps for Oscar gold. Directed by Rodrigo Garcia, who made the wonderful Nine Lives and last year's Mother & Child, (one of the most unfairly neglected films of 2010). Garcia specializes in humanist movies that depend on the attention paid to his characters, particularly women, so it's no surprise that Close's performance here is being hyped as one of her very best.

Steve McQueen scored a huge hit a couple years back with the intense prison-strike film Hunger and his new film Shame is about to put him on the A-list. Opening to rave reviews at Telluride over Labor Day weekend, Shame stars Michael Fassbender as a sex addict.

Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud were the directing team that brought us the inspired tale based on Satrapi's younger life and portrayed unforgettably in the animated Persepolis in 2007. They're back with their second feature Chicken With Plums, another big Telluride opener that recently scored terrific buzz. I have no idea what the film is about however Persepolis and a warm opening for this new one is enough for me to have it in my schedule.

From Colombia in Maria Full of Grace to Albania in the Forgiveness of Blood, Joshua Marston from California stays in foreign film territory. It isn't about the drug trade so it may not find the audience that Maria had however the Forgiveness of Blood is just as good. Marston is an assured director who involves us so deeply within his characters that the plot becomes secondary to us. Caught this one at a pre-fest screening and it's one of the year's best films, even if it doesn't break through the way Maria did.

The docs I'm looking forward to most are Into the Abyss from Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn, Cave of Forgotten Dreams), a director who has never made an unworthy film; Pina, the modern-dance doc from Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas), and the Last Gladiators from Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side and Client 9 director Alex Gibney.

TIFF runs from Sep. 8-18 this year, and don't worry, if the movie you wish to see is blotted out in red on the big boards, same-day tickets are typically released for over 80% of all films for those who can get to the festival box office well before it's 7 a.m. opening. Barring that, there is always the Rush lineup, where it is advised by me to find yourself about 90 minutes before showtime.

Enjoy the festival and make sure you check us out at xavierpopdoestiff.com for all of the reviews you need for people by people so that we actually understand what is going on.

Posted

Xavierpop's MovieJay Runs down his picks for #TIFF11

When the morning air gets that familiar autumn crisp, for movie-lovers in Toronto, that can only signal one thing: the start of the good movie season. A time where sequels and TV remakes give way to more thoughtful movies, many of which will premiere at the most important film festival on the planet for movies - the Toronto International Film Festival.

Over 300 feature films will play over 11 days during this, the 36th edition of the festival, (and my 17th personally).

My first TIFF movie?

"Leaving Las Vegas" at Roy Thomson Hall. That's when TIFF showed movies on a dozen screens. Just two years later I saw "Life Is Beautiful" at the magnificent Elgin Theatre. Within a couple of years after the Elgin opened for TIFF movies, the Varsity Cinemas expanded and became the home of press/industry screenings while the multiplex Scotiabank Theaters entered the fray along with the Isabel Bader Theatre. This year the Prince ss of Wales Theatre has been tapped to open several big opening-weekend movies, adding more lustre to an already huge and exciting ten day extravaganza.

Like most festival veterans, I seem to be forever tinkering with my schedule, trying to fit in all the movies I want to see only to get sidetracked when the buzz starts to swell on a particular movie just when I feel like my schedule was settled. I always start with looking at the director vs the actor and then just grow my list from there as various factors come into play.

So after all my research/frustration/enjoyment, I now give you my movies to look for this year, all of which I can't wait to see and will write more about on our sister site http://xavierpopdoestiff.com as the festival gets going this Thursday:

Probably the most anticipated film of the festival is Drive, and it's also an exception to the rule I just wrote about for selecting movies as director Nicolas Winding Refn is coming off of Valhalla Rising, a movie that is presently scoring a 5.8/10 at imdb.com. It stars Ryan Gosling as a Hollywood stunt man and has a lot of hype coming from Cannes as Refn walked away with the directing prize.

Also from Cannes is the Artist about silent-era film star George Valentin starring the French actor Jean Dujardin (who you may remember from last year's wonderful family drama Little White Lies). Dujardin comes to Toronto having taken the actor prize at Cannes.

On the hometown front, Sarah Polley and David Cronenberg are the two heavyweights with their new films Take This Waltz and A Dangerous Method, but look out for my dark horse Philipe Falardeau's Monsieur Lazhar, which is hot off of two big wins at the Locarno festival, Guy Maddin's Keyhole with Jason Patric and Isabella Rosselini and Cafe De Flore, the new drama with warm advance buzz that brings Jean-Marc Vall ee back to the familiar territory we discovered in his 2006 festival hit C.R.A.Z.Y.

Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road, Bug) is an expert at portraying disturbed men and Take Shelter is being talked-up as his best performance yet, his time in another small-town southern drama from the director of the powerful Shotgun Stories (which also starred Shannon as the eldest brother on one side of a bitter family feud).

Albert Nobbs is no ordinary butler in a movie where Glenn Close appears to have the early lead among the lady thesps for Oscar gold. Directed by Rodrigo Garcia, who made the wonderful Nine Lives and last year's Mother & Child, (one of the most unfairly neglected films of 2010). Garcia specializes in humanist movies that depend on the attention paid to his characters, particularly women, so it's no surprise that Close's performance here is being hyped as one of her very best.

Steve McQueen scored a huge hit a couple years back with the intense prison-strike film Hunger and his new film Shame is about to put him on the A-list. Opening to rave reviews at Telluride over Labor Day weekend, Shame stars Michael Fassbender as a sex addict.

Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud were the directing team that brought us the inspired tale based on Satrapi's younger life and portrayed unforgettably in the animated Persepolis in 2007. They're back with their second feature Chicken With Plums, another big Telluride opener that recently scored terrific buzz. I have no idea what the film is about however Persepolis and a warm opening for this new one is enough for me to have it in my schedule.

From Colombia in Maria Full of Grace to Albania in the Forgiveness of Blood, Joshua Marston from California stays in foreign film territory. It isn't about the drug trade so it may not find the audience that Maria had however the Forgiveness of Blood is just as good. Marston is an assured director who involves us so deeply within his characters that the plot becomes secondary to us. Caught this one at a pre-fest screening and it's one of the year's best films, even if it doesn't break through the way Maria did.

The docs I'm looking forward to most are Into the Abyss from Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn, Cave of Forgotten Dreams), a director who has never made an unworthy film; Pina, the modern-dance doc from Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas), and the Last Gladiators from Oscar-winning Taxi to the Dark Side and Client 9 director Alex Gibney.

TIFF runs from Sep. 8-18 this year, and don't worry, if the movie you wish to see is blotted out in red on the big boards, same-day tickets are typically released for over 80% of all films for those who can get to the festival box office well before it's 7 a.m. opening. Barring that, there is always the Rush lineup, where it is advised by me to find yourself about 90 minutes before showtime.

Enjoy the festival and make sure you check us out at xavierpopdoestiff.com for all of the reviews you need for people by people so that we actually understand what is going on.

Filed under  //  film   nerdiness   pop-culture   tumblrize   xavierpop  
Posted