TIFF Talk, TIFF Talk
For the second year in a row, will the voice of TIFF audiences launch a film towards the Best Picture Academy Award bull’s eye? I think so.
The Toronto International Film Festival got underway last Thursday night and continues until the 19th of this month. The question on everyone’s mind is whether this year’s line-up will reveal another success story like Slumdog Millionaire, the Danny Boyle film that was scheduled for straight-to-dvd hell until TIFF audiences saw it (me included) and voted it their favorite film, thereby sending it on a magical, miraculous journey that would ultimately result in nabbing a truckload of Oscars, including one for Best Picture.
Unlike in 2008, when my TIFF companion and I saw 25 films in 10 days—contrary to what most people might think, screening 3 films in a day is exhausting and not very glamorous–this year we decided to instead see closer to 10 films. And with one exception thus far, I have thoroughly enjoyed my selection of movies.
First up for me was last Thursday’s screening of Pedro Almodovar’s latest film, Broken Embraces, starring the beautiful Oscar winning actress, Penelope Cruz (who was there to introduce the film). While perhaps not his best film, it was definitely well-done, entertaining and worth seeing; especially if, like me, you are a fan of the director.
PENELOPE CRUZ in BROKEN EMBRACES
Friday was double feature for me: Rabia, a very effective Spain/Colombia co-produced thriller of sorts, about a man who after accidentally killing his (construction foreman) boss hides out in the attic of the home where his unaware girlfriend works and lives; it’s an environment that isn’t always a safe one for her, and something her boyfriend can’t get too obviously involved in for fear of being discovered and arrested by the authorities.
Rushing from one theater to another (where my boyfriend was kindly saving seats for me and my TIFF companion), the next film that night was SUCK, a very fun and funny rock ‘n roll vampire flick filled with a ton of cameos including Alice Cooper, Moby, Henry Rollins, and Iggy Pop (who at first my boyfriend thought was Fabio, if you can believe it; good lord).
JESSICA PARE in SUCK
With Saturday came two more flicks, Dirty Saints, a mess of a film from Argentina that was pointless and boring, and The Sunshine Boy, an Icelandic documentary about autism that was at once fascinating, informative, heartbreaking and life-affirming. With narration by Kate Winslett and a timely subject, this doc should easily find an audience (and deserves to) in the coming months.
ICELANDIC DOC THE SUNSHINE BOY
Sunday’s screenings included the Danish film, Applause, featuring an Oscar worthy performance by Paprika Steen as an actress struggling with her battle against alcoholism after a lengthy stay in rehab; and an American film which could very well be this year’s Slumdog Millionaire when awards season comes around.
PAPRIKA STEEN in APPLAUSE
The film I’m referring to is the Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry executive-produced Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire. Both were proudly on stage to discuss their involvement in and love for the film. (And Mariah Carey, almost unrecognizable AND surprisingly effective in the film, was also on-hand, too.)
MARIAH CAREY in PRECIOUS
Precious is the only gala I’m attending at TIFF this year, but it looks like I selected THE gala, if you know what I mean. The buzz surrounding the film has been huge and after viewing it, I have to say completely justified.
Given its subject matter, a teenager pregnant for the second time by her own father, living with a physically and emotionally abusive mother, who can neither read nor write but is trying to make a better life for herself, Precious is not an easy film to watch at times; but the power, and message of hope it carries makes it a stunning achievement in filmmaking.
MO'NIQUE in PRECIOUS
Early Oscar predictions (from yours truly) for this film include: Mo’Nique (who I can’t imagine NOT winning the Supporting Actress award for her terrifying and ultimately heartbreaking portrayal of Precious’ mother from hell), Adapted Screenplay, Director Lee Daniels, Original Song (by Mary Jane Blige, also at the gala) and Picture.
As I believe either Daniels or Perry said at the film’s screening this past Sunday, Precious is this generation’s The Color Purple. But while that film garnered 11 nominations back in 1985, on Oscar night it went home empty handed. Something tells me that will be one thing the two films won’t have in common when the winners are announced at next year’s Academy Awards.
Cheerio!
S.R.
