film

Interview: TIFF Cinematheque Programmer Brad Deane

We talk to TIFF Cinematheque programmer Brad Deane about the classic films playing for free at this year's Toronto International Film festival, how the Cinematheque sources their prints, why he feels strange watching things on his computer, which film he’s most excited to share this year, a bit about this year’s line-up, a few tidbits about TIFF’s upcoming David Cronenberg retrospective, and what films he would love to see restored so he can share them in the future with festival audiences.

TIFF 2013: Focus On: Short Cuts Canada

We turn the TIFF 2013 spotlight on the Short Cuts Canada program, looking at all but one of the shorts showing across all six programs designed to bring the best in Canadian short form filmmaking to festival audiences.

TIFF 2013: Like Father, Like Son Review

Like Father, Like Son Special Presentation Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda Ryota (Masaharu Fukuyama) and Midori Nonomiya (Machiko Ono) are a hard working professional couple who live with their only child, Keita, in a modern Tokyo high-rise. After the hospital delivers the shocking truth about their son being switched at birth, the Nonomiyas suddenly find their lives […]

TIFF 2013: Only Lovers Left Alive Review

Only Lovers Left Alive Special Presentation Director: Jim Jarmusch It’s easy to get lost in a song, which explains why it’s so easy to immerse yourself in Jim Jarmusch’s wandering snow globes. From the Memphis ghosts of Mystery Train to the street bred samurai of Ghost Dog, Jarmusch embraces musical influence in a very literal […]

TIFF 2013: The Great Beauty Review

The Great Beauty Special Presentation  Director: Paolo Sorrentino We all get something different out of art. Some escape their regular lives for intervals of drifting into the others’ work, some have cocooned themselves with it, and some couldn’t give a shit. In Sorrentino’s newest, Jep Gambardella (Gomorra and Il Divo’s Toni Servillo), an acclaimed writer […]

TIFF 2013: Burt’s Buzz Review

Burt’s Buzz TIFF Docs Director: Jody Shapiro You’ve likely had that moment. Crawling through the Shoppers Drug Mart aisle, scanning the shelves for where the toothpaste begins. Eventually your eyes cross the rack of Burt’s Bees products, the massive yellow skin-care care brand, marked with the face of a hirsute woodsman. Maybe not each time, […]

TIFF 2013: Blue is the Warmest Color Review

Blue is the Warmest Color Special Presentation Director: Abdellatif Kechiche This year’s Palme d’Or winning film at Cannes (which was awarded the prize thanks to a Steven Spielberg headed jury), unfolds as a love story between two French girls: high schooler Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos) in and fine arts student Emma (Léa Seydoux). As their relationship […]

TIFF 2013: The Animal Project Review

The Animal Project Contemporary World Cinema Director: Ingrid Veninger It’s unfortunate that Ingrid Veninger’s new film, The Animal Project, is ultimately unsuccessful as a larger piece, because the scattered moments of human observation that make up the film are almost always careful and poignant. Sadly, the situation created to spark all these moments feels out […]

TIFF 2013: Stay Review

Stay Contemporary World Cinema Director: Wiebke von Carolsfeld Stay, based on the novel by Aislinn Hunter, tells the story of a historian, Dermot (Aidan Quinn), living in a small coastal village in Ireland with his much younger lover, Abbey (Taylor Schilling). Early in the film, the two learn that Abbey is pregnant, causing a rift […]

TIFF 2013: The Lunchbox Review

The Lunchbox Gala Director: Ritesh Batra There’s nothing wrong with a charming little drama, especially when it stars the brilliant Irrfan Khan in the lead role. The Lunchbox is about Saajan (Khan), a widower on the verge of retirement who begins receiving a lunchbox delivery from the wrong place. The woman sending the lunches everyday, […]

TIFF 2013: Philomena Review

Philomena Special Presentation Director: Stephen Frears Based on the true story of Philomena Lee, an elderly Irish woman who became pregnant as a teenager and had her child taken away from her by the Catholic Church and sold for adaption, Philomena, manages a curious balance of tones, both comedic and dramatic. Co-written by Steve Coogan […]

TIFF 2013: At Berkeley Review

At Berkeley TIFF Docs Director: Frederick Wiseman At over 80 years old and delivering a film over four hours in length, renowned observant documentarian Wiseman shows no signs of slowing down, delivering an immersive look at the inner workings of one of the world’s top universities. While the focus at times gets placed squarely on […]

TIFF 2013: The Dick Knost Show Review

The Dick Knost Show Contemporary World Cinema Director: Bruce Sweeney TIFF favourite Sweeney comes back with one of his better films in quite some time in this behind the scenes look at a sports radio talk show and its host going through simultaneous amounts of humorous turmoil. Tom Scholte stars as the titular blowhard who […]

TIFF 2013: Man of Tai Chi Review

Man of Tai Chi Special Presentation Director: Keanu Reeves Although heavily westernized, Reeves’ directorial debut will hold some thrills and excitement for those who aren’t too picky about their martial arts epics. Humble courier Tiger Chen has been on the road to become a master of Tai Chi, a martial art known more for defensive […]