Well, all right. Here we are, not even halfway in and I'm already completely bagged. This is what happens when you are completely insane and think it's feasible to work a full time job (no days off for this poor lass), see 22 films and maintain some semblance of normal life. From all accounts thus far, the normal life and "work" the full time job will have to take a back seat. Not really a big surprise - priorities, right?
I'm thinking, though, that perhaps my feelings of exhaustion aren't really due to the physical, but actually the emotional. I've seen so many heartwrenching films in these past few days, they have left me somewhat numb, worse still, they are all based on real life events so you can't pass the stories off as 'well, yeah, that sucks but it could never really happen', because all this stuff did. Note for next year: more comedies!
In the interest of my own sanity, I'm going to pump out my reviews out as I can rather than post daily this year. It's too much, lovebugs! It's just TOO MUCH!
12 Years A Slave - Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lupita Nyong'o
Perhaps the most buzzed about film coming to TIFF this year, we knew 12 Years wasn't going to be easy. At the hands of Steve McQueen, this historical drama depicting the most stunning 12 years in the life of Solomon Northrup, a free man living his life in Saratoga, New York deceptively kidnapped and sold into slavery in the mid 1800's, is brutal and hard to watch and cringe worthy and awful. And absolutely one of the best films I've seen at TIFF. The topic of slavery is rarely dealt with in American cinema (ironic that two films on the topic have been released in short time), perhaps for fear of not being respectful or maybe more so of not wanting to bring up the past. This was a disgusting time in American history - selling deeds of ownership on human beings, whippings, hangings, the list of humiliations goes on and on - why drudge? But we have to. We have to know what was done to make sure it's not done again. To know that it's over and it was wrong and now things are markedly different. There is no better person to bring these themes to the screen than director McQueen. He holds uncomfortable subject matter in such a fine balance that as an audience you are at once repulsed and yet are eager to see, learn and know more. He did it in Hunger, in Shame and now 12 Years. With all stories of human suffering, we need to feel a hope even within the most deep pits of despair and for this we turn to Chiwetel Ejiofor, playing Northrup (and Platt, the name he was given when he was sold). This performance was measured, tight and raw. We felt his rage, his grief, his sorrow - but always within that, a small sliver of maybe. Maybe this is not the end. Joining Chiwetel in groundbreaking performances are Michael Fassbender, McQueen's partner in crime who seems to get better and better in every role he's in. Here, playing a vile slave owner, he is a bastard of the highest order and it's magnetic. In a surprise, Sarah Poulson is equally diabolical as his wife torturing and taunting Lupita Nyong'o's Patsy with such inner glee you really see the meaning of the word evil.
The entire cast was on hand at the Q&A,and this is why I love TIFF. A team of collaborators on stage, proudly talking about their work and taking questions from a raptured audience. McQueen spoke of the distinction between an artist and an actor - stressing that here, everyone on screen was an artist. We all agreed.
Parkland - Paul Giammati, Billy Bob Thorton
You win some, you lose some. This one goes decidedly in the loss column. Detailing the stories of real life people who witnessed and were involved in the Kennedy assasination seems like a new twist on a very well trodden story. Unfortunately, this film left like a Grade 12 history project. It lacked focus and was full of head shaking scenes, melodramatic music and flat acting. The only bright spots were Jacki Weaver and James Badge Dale playing Lee Harvey Oswald's mother and brother respectively.
The Railway Man - Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman
This is a beautiful, yet harrowing, story of suffering and forgiveness. Colin plays real life Eric Lomax, a man caught in a Japanese POW camp during WW2. He is mercilessly tortured during his time there, and is plagued with this torment for most of his adult life. It is through the love of his wife, Patsy, played with perfect resolve and sympathy by Nicole, that he is able to overcome these inner demons and finally live his true life. The film deals with the worst and best of humanity. It is richly shot, well scored and brilliantly acted - Colin & Nicole, we know, are incredible but the young Jeremy Irvine, equally shines playing the young Eric. On hand at the Q&A are the principle cast, director, writer and also Patsy Lomax. Sadly, Eric Lomax died in 1992 and was not able to see the final film. Director Jonathan Tepiltzsky remarked that it was okay - there was nothing in this film that Eric did not know. He lived it.
Labor Day - Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin
Adapted for the screen and directed by Jason Reitman, this was a unique love story about two very different lost souls looking for a fresh start. The film is somewhat of a departure for Jason as it isn't biting or wry. It's real and emotional, and with patience very rewarding. Apparently, Jason waited a year for Kate to be available to play the depressed Adele and good on him for doing so - she was really stellar as was Josh. We learn at the Q&A that he makes a damn good pie. Like, we really needed more?! Come. On.
Dallas Buyers Club - Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner
Another real life story here, this one based on the life of Ron Woodroof. A hard nosed homophobe bull rider who contracts AIDS and sets up an elaborate drug smuggling enterprise to get him - and his fellow AIDS sufferers - much needed unapproved and therefore unavailable medications to treat the disease. Overall, the film dragged a bit but it was saved by the stellar performances of Matthew & Jared. These past few years have seen Matthew transform his career from 'that romantic comedy guy' to a solid actor taking chances. Good for him. He's the real deal, and in this performance maintains a perfect balance between Ron's complete asshole ways and his unrelenting drive to do what's right. Jared gives good girl as Matthew's surprising partner in crime. You'll be hearing more about this one come award season to be sure.
Philomena - Steve Coogan, Judi Dench
Enough of the real life sad stories! My god, this one was tough. Uber talented Steve Coogan adapted this story, and stars alongside the remarkable Judi. The film is a heartbreaking account of a mother looking for the son she gave up for adoption. The circumstances surrounding this adoption are controversial at best, and Philomena is roadblocked at every turn. With the help of Steve's journalist Martin, she finds the answers she is looking. The themes of loss and forgiveness are all dealt with amidst the hypocrisis and questions surrouding faith and the Catholic church. This film could easily have gone the way of a melodramatic movie of the week, but with expert writing and acting it never, ever does. Kudos to Steve Coogan for a terrific screenplay, which provided well placed humour along with the heartbreak.
In Conversation With .. Spike Jonze
So. This was disappointing. I think when you conduct an interview you should have an actual person who knows how to interview actually conducting the interview. It may have seemed like a good idea to have fellow director Kelly Reichardt chat with Spike, but considering she didn't prepare any questions and could barely finish a sentence or thought, um, maybe not. Spike is an interesting guy. I wanted to know more about him and his choices. I'll have to wait for his bio.
Gravity - Sandra Bullock, George Clooney
WOW. I've never seen a film like this before. It was beautiful. And terrifying. Sandra was incredible. It was a marvel of technology without feeling like a CGI project. We were all with her on this incredible journey. I'm going to leave this as is. There's much to say, but I wish for all to experience this fresh and raw - the story is simple and it's best for it to unfold naturally, without much forethought. I will say that the Q&A was perfection. Sandra is lovely. Just lovely - spending a solid 45 minutes before the screening signing autographs and taking photos is not something all stars do, especially ones of her calibre, but she did and she's stunning and kind and gracious. And wears incredible shoes. And she thanked me for coming. No joke. Anyway, when she told us that when she won her Oscar she left completely unworthy and she vowed to spend the rest of her career earning that Oscar, you believe her. You love her. You love her more. And just when you think it can't get better, real life Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield literally jumps the stage all rock star styles to answer a question directed at him (was all that space stuff real looking?). God. I love TIFF.
So, what have you guys been doing?
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