Wednesday, August 29, 2007

65 Must See Movies at the Toronto Film Festival 2007: Gala Presentations

Toronto is essentially a preview of what might Independent to mid-sized film releases might be big in the next five months. The festival is considered a launch pad for many studios to begin “Oscar-buzz” for their films.

Across The Universe PosterAcross the Universe,” Julie Taymor (Frida / Titus), U.S.
A musical told through the music of the Beatles. A dock worker Jude (Jim Sturgess) travels to America in the 1960s to find his estranged father. There he falls in love with sheltered American teenager Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood). When her brother Max (Joe Anderson) is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, they become involved in peace activism.
Movie Trailer
Release: September 21st.

Cassandra’s DreamCassandra’s Dream,” Woody Allen (Annie Hall / Manhattan / Match Point), Britain
The story of two Cockney brothers in south London and their relationship with a young woman who lands in London on her search for fortune. She crosses the two men by accident on her path and when one them falls in love with her, she becomes aware of her power to attract the opposite sex and uses this to the point of leading the two brothers, who are in financial difficulty, into crime, and creating a dangerous rivalry between the two men. Stars Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor.
Movie Trailer
Release:
November 30th.

CleanerCleaner,” Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2 / Cliffhanger), U.S.
A former cop (Samuel L. Jackson) who now earns a wage as a crime scene cleaner unknowingly participates in a cover-up at his latest job. Also starring Eva Mendes, Maggie Lawson, Ed Harris. However, Renny Harlin has made a few clunkers as of recent years including the Sylvester Stallone race-car driving film Driven (4.2 on imdb), Exorcist: The Beginning (5.1 on imdb) and one of the worest movies of 2006, The Covenant (4.7 on imdb).

Closing the RingClosing the Ring,” Richard Attenborough (star of Jurassic Park), Britain/Canada
A young man searches for the proper owner of a ring that belonged to a United States World War II bomber pilot who crashed in Ireland 50 years ago. 9.2 Rating on IMDb. Stars Shirley MacLaine, Christopher Plummer, and Mischa Barton.

Michael ClaytonMichael Clayton,” Tony Gilroy (writer of The Bourne movies, The Devil’s Advocate), U.S.
Michael Clayton (George Clooney) is an in-house “fixer” at one of the largest corporate law firms in New York. A former criminal prosecutor, Clayton takes care of Kenner, Bach & Ledeen’s dirtiest work at the behest of the firm’s co-founder Marty Bach (Sydney Pollack). Though burned out and hardly content with his job as a fixer, his divorce, a failed business venture and mounting debt have left Clayton inextricably tied to the firm. At U/North, meanwhile, the career of litigator Karen Crowder (Tilda Swinton) rests on the multi-million dollar settlement of a class action suit that Clayton’s firm is leading to a seemingly successful conclusion. But when Kenner Bach’s brilliant and guilt-ridden attorney Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson) sabotages the U/North case, Clayton faces the biggest challenge of his career and his life. I just saw this film and it’s fantastic.
Movie Trailer
Release: October 5th.

RenditionRendition,” Gavin Hood (Tsotsi / Wolverine X-Men Spin-Off), U.S.
A CIA analyst questions his assignment after witnessing an unorthodox interrogation at a secret detention facility outside the US. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep, Alan Arkin, Peter Sarsgaard, JK Simmons. I’m mostly interested in this film due to the filmmaker. The first review of the movie at cincity was a slightly negative: “a textbook Message Picture. And it’s a very well-crafted one at that. It’s well acted, competently written, and very capably directed. But like all Message Pictures, it’s totally airtight and DOA as a piece of living, breathing art. The Good Intentions and Important Message are hammered at you with typical Oscar-baiting Hollywood subtlety.“
Movie Trailer
Release:
October 12th.

Reservation Road PosterReservation Road,” Terry George (Hotel Rwanda), U.S.
Based on a novel. A drama that revolves around two fathers whose families and lives tragically converge with the death of a child. In the aftermath, Ethan (Joaquin Phoenix) and Dwight (Mark Ruffalo) each react in unexpected ways as their families struggle to cope and an emotional reckoning looms. Also stars: Jennifer Connelly and Mira Sorvino.
Movie Trailer
Release: October 19th.

Sleuth“Sleuth,” Kenneth Branagh, U.S.
Based on a stageplay. On his sprawling country estate, an aging writer (Michael Caine) matches wits with the struggling actor (Jude Law) who has stolen his wife’s heart.
Movie Trailer
Release: October 12th.

Terra“Terra,” Aristomenis Tsirbas, U.S.
Based on an Award Winning 2003 animated short film by the digital artist of Hellboy and Dogma, Terra follows a peaceful alien planet faces annihilation, as the homeless remainder of the human race sets its eyes on Terra. Mala, a rebellious Terrian teenager, will do everything she can to stop it. Voices by Evan Rachel Wood, Brian Cox, Chris Evans, Justin Long, Luke Wilson, Amanda Peet, Danny Trejo, Ron Pearlman, Dennis Quaid, James Garner, Danny Glover and more.

The WalkerThe Walker,” Paul Schrader (American Gigolo), U.S./Britain
An escort (Woody Harrelson) who caters to Washington D.C.’s society ladies becomes involved in a murder case. Also starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Lauren Bacall, Willem Dafoe. People are praising Harrelson’s performance in this one.
Movie Trailer
Release: December 7th.



read more | digg story

No comments: