Review: Red Nights
Red Nights marks two significant events: a debut and an overdue return. The film is directors Julien Carbon and Laurent Courtiaud’s first feature, having built their careers as screenwriters, most notably for Johnnie To’s thriller Running Out of Time. The long awaited return is that of Hong Kong starlet Carrie Ng, who is famous for her sexy and deadly presence in such films as Naked Killer and Sex and Zen. These occasions blend as the perfect ingredients for an erotic thriller evocative of Dario Argento’s bloody escapades into sex and death.
Review: Beautiful Boy
Several films post-Columbine have dealt with school shootings, depicting the events leading up to the tragedy as well as the incident itself. However, no one has made a significant effort to illustrate the aftermath of a shooting until now. Beautiful Boy portrays the struggles of the shooter’s parents, who are left to deal with the consequences of their son’s actions.
Review: Insidious
There hasn’t been a good, true haunting flick in a while. Most recent releases have been rehashes of ‘70s and ‘80s films, which leaves little room for surprise. The genre has been longing for an injection of originality and it’s finally received a healthy dose. When it was announced the creators of Saw, director James Wan and writer Leigh Whannell, were re-teaming AND joining forces with the producers of Paranormal Activity, genre fans were shivering with anticipation. The consequence of this union is finally ready to be seen and results are far from disappointing. The film’s telling title is Insidious, which is a word used rarely but never more aptly.
Review: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Choosing films to see at TIFF every year can be a challenge. There’s so much to see and so many choices to make. Do I see the one about that city that will tickle my intellect? Or do I see the one about the vampire apocalypse? Or do I see the one about the teenagers trying to find themselves? It’s always so difficult. But when I came across the description for Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale, the decision practically made itself. A Finnish movie about the real Santa Claus being excavated from the ice, only it’s about the real Santa — the demonic one –, it was a no brainer. I was so there. Read more
Review: Wavelengths 1, 2, & 5
One of the most interesting, yet least talked about programs part of TIFF every year is the Wavelengths series which features avant-garde and experimental films from around the world. Every year programmers typically create a theme for each series so as to have a point of reference for each piece, similar to the way a curator would in an art gallery. Read more
In conversation with Modra director Ingrid Veninger and Hallie Switzer
Director Ingrid Veninger’s previous film, Only, starred her son Jacob Switzer, but she insists casting her daughter, Hallie Switzer, in the lead role of her next feature, Modra, was not a matter of being fair. Read more
In conversation with Amazon Falls director Katrin Bowen
For director Katrin Bowen, Amazon Falls is a very personal story. It’s based on her experiences in the B-movie industry and is also a tribute to the women who mentored her throughout her career. The Jana character “encapsulates all those women,” says Bowen. Read more
In conversation with Made in Dagenham director Nigel Cole and Rosamund Pike
Director Nigel Cole has been fortunate enough to tell many great stories, most of which are ensemble-driven. But he says, “It doesn’t feel like I choose films at all. It feels like they choose me.” Read more
In conversation with Buried director Rodrigo Cortés and writer Chris Sparling
**SPOILER ALERT**
To say Buried was a challenging shoot sounds like an understatement. The limits placed on director Rodrigo Cortés and actor Ryan Reynolds were severe; particularly since writer Chris Sparling had confined them to a narrow coffin.
In conversation with Cool It director Ondi Timoner and Bjorn Lomborg
Independent documentary director Ondi Timoner was approached by producers to direct a film about “The Skeptical Environmentalist” Bjorn Lomborg. Not an issue-driven filmmaker, Timoner wasn’t sure why they’d selected her. So she did her research, read the book and met with Lomborg at the Cosmic Diner in New York. After a five-hour conversation, Timoner accepted the project with the intention of producing a follow-up to Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and calling Lomborg out on everything to avoid making a fluff piece.
