Scant offerings in the theatres this week and fewer films screened for critics. However, dear reader, I’m screening TIFF films for upcoming interviews during the annual crush on King St. And I’ll review, when allowed, as most films are under embargo until a later date. However got a gander at Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman in their second film together.
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Emma Thompson in a stunning dramatic performance, Jake Gyllenhaal in a film about the Boston Marathon bombing, Angelina Jolie’s animated film about a girl struggling to survive war in Kabul and an awards worthy film set inside a pre-Vatican 2 convent as young novitiates beginning the path to becoming nuns. And then there’s the one about the middle aged man who feels like a loser but is so eloquent and ironic in explaining why. Just fifteen films so far but its early days. I’m excited for film buffs. TIFF runs Sept 7 – 17th and you can find out more at www.tiff.net.
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In theatres now is Steven Spielberg’s landmark sci fi adventure Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It was released to the world forty years ago and it changed the way we made and saw sci fi and extra-terrestrial creatures along with Steven Spielberg’s other friendly alien film, the wonderful E.T. But back to CEotTK in which Richard Dreyfuss lives in isolation in the desert who witnesses extra-terrestrial activity and theories – or hopes – that they are on earth for our mutual betterment. He falls in love with the idea, even as scientists are closing in, to capture and destroy the beings. So as in ET, man is the enemy, not space aliens. There was a new friendliness and the possibility of true universal connection. To commemorate its anniversary, Sony has digitally remastered CEotTK in 4K for a week long theatrical re-release, on now until next Thursday. Check your listings.
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Justin Chadwick’s star-crossed erotic thriller Tulip Fever is finally opening. Set in 1634 Amsterdam, an orphaned girl (Alicia Vikander) marries a wealthy man for his money and is desperately unhappy. He commissions a portrait of her and the artist (Dane DeHaan) falls in love with her. She sees a way out of her captive life and imagines happiness with him. They plot to escape her husband’s vast reach, hoping to cash in on the current tulip craze in Europe, make a fortune and buy their freedom. It’s based on Deborah Moggach’s bestselling novel and co-stars Christoph Waltz, Judi Dench, Cara Delevingne and Zach Galifianakis. The film was made some years ago and release dates came and went time and time again. But now they mean it.
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I Do … Until I Don’t is a sex / revenge comedy about three married couples and what happens to them when they’re influenced by a filmmaker who challenges their happiness. Lake Bell and Ed Helms, Paul Reiser and Mary Steenburgen and free spirited Wyatt Cenac and Amber Heard are paired off until the filmmaker argues that love isn’t sustainable and marriage is dead. The couples fall for it until their loves spiral out of control and then realise they were “had” for the film. So they prepare to have their way with the filmmaker. This was not screened for critics.
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On Sept. 5th iTunes releases Pilgrimage, an amazing story set 700 years ago in Ireland, a religious thriller starring Tom Holland, Jon Bernthal, Richard Armitage and Stanley Weber A small group of Irish monks must carry a holy relic from Dublin to Rome without protection through country populated by tricksters, foreign armies, and fortune hunters all aiming to take the relic. The natural world is menacing and unknown, most of the film was shot outside in poor weather conditions highlighting the sacrifices the monks were making for their faith. As the journey goes on the stakes rise and people reveal who they really are. Check our interview with Armitage!
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by @annebrodie
BFCA BTJA AWFJ TFCA FIPRESCI