Sunlight is my friend in the TIFF line-ups. So is this guy. Here’s more of Peter’s TIFF-bits.
TIFF – DAY 3
AMERICAN PASTORAL – Ewan McGregor directorial’s debut. Did a Q+A after the film. Love his acting, seems like a lovely guy, very engaging. Lousy script. I have not read Philip Roth’s book but something tells me he didn’t win the Pulitzer Prize for writing a book about parents dealing with a rebellious teenager. Thankfully, there is some good material later in the movie dialogue from two-dimensional characters that give us a glimpse of the book’s message. Boring.
VOYAGE OF TIME: LIFE’S JOURNEY – Terrence Malick is a master filmmaker. He deliver’s an epic trip through time. From the birth of the universe to the release of the iPhone 7. We witness the creation of stars, the evolution of life on Earth, ponder the planets, the oceans, the wonders of animal life and human achievement. Glorious images. A must-see. BTW, I was kidding about the iPhone 7.
LION – First-time director Garth Davis delivers a winner. In the first half, Saroo, a very young boy is separated from his older brother (in a way that can only happen in India). Not speaking the local language, he manages to get by on his street smarts until he lands in a government orphanage.
In the second half, adopted by an Australian family, he grows up in Tasmania. Eventually, he begins to wonder about his past. Using Google Earth, he looks for landmarks that will lead him home. Remarkable filming, powerful perfomances and a moving story. Definitely heading to the Oscars.
PERSONAL SHOPPER – Kristen Stewart leads as a shopper for an eccentric socialite who has an endless appetite for clothes and accessories. The job finances her real purpose for being in Paris; she is a medium trying to connect with the spirit of her recently deceased twin. Master director Assayas beautifully navigates the story from the real and garish material world to the dark and personal to Stewart’s spirit world. Throw in a mysterious stalker and it makes for an exciting film that keeps you guessing. Loved it.
DAY 4
MOONLIGHT – Director Barry Jenkins is one to watch. He has assembled a dynamite cast for his second feature film. Young Chiron is small in stature and is bullied at school. He has a harsh home life and risks becoming another statistic. However, his real battle is not on the street. Rather, it’s an internal one.
Three different actors take in the role of Chiron in this three-act film. Unforgettable performances in a unique exploration of African-American masculinity. This is by far my favourite film at the festival so far.
BARRY – Before he became Barack, he was just Barry. This is not a documentary. The film follows the future president in his first year at Columbia University in NYC. Too black to mix with the whites and too white to mix with the blacks. He walks around for most of the film sounding like a black Clark Kent.
Interesting take on his early life. He lacked the cool vibe back in those days. Worth checking out for the curiosity factor.
MASCOTS – The crew that brought you This is Spinal Tap, Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show (one of the best comedies of all time) are back. The World Championship for Mascots is taking place and we are introduced to the main competitors in mocumentary form.
A few hilarious moments and some new faces in Christopher Guest’s crew. Unfortunately, it is a poor remake of Best in Show. Coming to Netflix very soon.
JULIETA – A trip through the life of Julieta as she writes a letter to her estranged daughter. I’m sure the three stories by Alice Munro (that were the basis for the movie) were far more interesting. This was a bore. A soap opera feel throughout. The melodrama was over the top. The only thing missing was Victor Newman.
THE HANDMAIDEN – A grifter, posing as a count in 1930’s Korea, sends one of his crew to the estate of a local lord. The plan is for his underling to become the maid to the young heiress that lives on the estate and convince her to marry the count. His plan is to then take her to Japan, have her committed to a mental institution, pay of the maid and runique off with the heiress’ inheritance.
But it won’t be that easy. The maid gets cold feet as she and the heiress fall in love. Or do they? Be ready for all sorts of surprises. A three part film that spares no expense in set and design. This complex story was well thought out. Really enjoyed this film.
A warning though: the sex between our two heroines is prolonged, explicit and some may say unnecessary. But is it porn? As I have said in these reviews before: it’s only porn if you watch this film on your computer. On the big screen, at the film festival, it’s art and the director gets a standing ovation!
There you have it, the Friendly Greek’s take.
For mine, check back this weekend when I emerge from this smorgasbord.
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