Tonight, the Toronto International Film Festival kicks off with the world premiere screening of "Creation," directed by Jon Amiel. The movie stars real-life husband and wife Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly as Charles Darwin and Emma Darwin, respectively. It is an adaptation of the Darwin bio "Annie's Box" by Randal Keynes.
Of course, "Creation" just kicks things off. There's a whole weekend of indie madness to immerse yourself in. Sure, those of us who aren't fortunate enough to be in Toronto are going to have to wait. But there are some good flicks coming out of the fest, stuff that you're sure to see hit theaters in some form in the coming months. Here are a few of the highlights we have to look forward to...
"Precious"
Now here's one I've actually seen, earlier this year at Sundance. I can't say if anything other than the name has changed, but director Lee Daniels' adaptation of Sapphire's novel "Push" is first and foremost a difficult watch. It's also major league Oscar bait, especially with stellar performances from Mo'Nique and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe. Without spoiling too much, I'll say that the story in "Precious" follows Sidibe's Precious, an illiterate, pregnant teen from Harlem with an abusive mother and an equally abusive (but absent) father. You won't enjoy this movie, but that's not the point. It's an impressive piece of film.
"Capitalism: A Love Story"
It's fitting that Michael Moore's "Capitalism: A Love Story" is arriving 20 years after his directorial debut, "Roger & Me." The earlier film's examination of how corporate dominance can adversely affect the lives of hard-working Americans is echoed perfectly in what sounds like a considerably more meta look at the situation. Moving from the microcosm of Flint, MI to big business epicenters in New York City and Washington, DC, expect yet another scathing commentary on the various breakdowns occurring in the world we live in. It's a potent topic, especially now as we struggle through the ongoing economic crisis.
"The Road"
I'm reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" right now and I've gotta say... I don't have a clue how it's going to work as a movie. Which isn't to say that it can't. There's certainly help, in the form of "The Proposition" director John Hillcoat and "Lord of the Rings" star Viggo Mortensen. The story is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, following a Man and his Boy as they struggle to survive amidst worries of dwindling food supplies and roving packs of cannibals. Don't expect a lot of action though; this is a quiet, reflective tale, desperate at times (most of the time, really) but relatively devoid of traditional spectacle.
"Up in the Air"
Of the picks on this list, "Up in the Air" is the one I know the least about. There's a lot of buzz and George Clooney is the leading man, so that's generally enough to make me curious. There's also the Jason Reitman factor, as the director is following up "Juno" with this one, off of a script he adapted from Walter Kim's novel. The story follows Ryan Bingham (Clooney), a divorced "career transition counselor" (ie he fires people) who jets around the country without ever spending much time in any one place. We'll see... the trailer certainly looks good.
"The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus"
The big buzz surrounding "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus" is, unsurprisingly, Heath Ledger's final screen performance. Me? I'm excited to finally see what looks like a return to form for director Terry Gilliam, the man who gave us the likes of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" and "Brazil." Between the weird, pulled-from-a-dream art design and the star-studded cast -- Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, Colin Farrell, Tom Waits and more -- this is one that shouldn't be missed.
Comments