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Archive for 2007
Canada sends ‘Days’ to Oscars – Variety
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
Variety - Montreal helmer Denys Arcand’s “Days of Darkness” is Canada’s submission to the Academy Awards for a slot in the foreign language film category.
“Days of Darkness” stars Quebec thesp Marc Labreche in the satirical tale of a bored civil servant who has an elaborate fantasy life. It opens in France later this month and will open in French Canada in early December.
Arcand’s previous film, “The Barbarian Invasions,” won the Oscar in the same category in 2004… [Full Story]
2007 TIFFReviews.com Awards
Monday, September 17th, 2007
TIFFReviews.com - Now that TIFF 2007 has officially come to a close, we would like to ask you to be the jury and make your film selections. Unlike the official awards given out by TIFF (People’s Choice, Discovery Award, Best Canadian Feature, etc.), TIFFReviews.com is following the Oscar format and handing out awards for the best film, actor, actress, director and screenplay. Cast your vote here and let us know if your really think Eastern Promises is the best film at TIFF this year. Winners will be announced on Sep 23, 2007.
France taps ‘Persepolis’ for Oscar entry – Variety
Monday, September 17th, 2007
Variety - ”Persepolis,” Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnoud’s B&W animated film about the travails of girlhood in Iran, has been picked to rep France at the Oscars.
Sony Pictures Classics-distributed pic, which will close the New York Film Festival Oct. 14, shared the jury prize at the Cannes film Festival this year and has been a hit with crix and audiences alike in France, grossing more than $9 million.
But Satrapi’s in turns hilarious and poignant account of life under the mullahs in post-revolution Iran has won few fans among the authorities of that country, where the Cannes prize was decried by one official as an example of “Islamophobia.”… [Full Story]
Big Weekend for Cronenberg’s “Promises” – indieWIRE
Sunday, September 16th, 2007
indieWIRE - Winner of the People’s Choice Award, the top prize at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival, David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” opened to big numbers in its theatrical debut over the weekend. The film, from Focus Features, made an estimated $552,676 on 15 screens this weekend, for an estimated per screen average of $36,815.… [Full Story]
‘Brave One’ wins weekend – Variety
Sunday, September 16th, 2007
Variety - Jodie Foster vigilante drama “The Brave One” braved a somewhat soft opening to win the weekend crown, but the real action came in the specialty race, where David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” led with a robust per location average of $36,851 as the busy fall awards season commenced.
Directed by Neil Jordan, “Brave One” debuted at an estimated $14 million from 2,755 locations, whereas Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures had hoped the R-rated pic would open in the mid- to high teens.
The pic seemed to appeal primarily to older women, a demo that doesn’t altogether go for violent fare. Fate of the film could rest on convincing men to come out as well… [Full Story]
‘Juno’ Trailer Has Finally Arrived – Cinematical
Sunday, September 16th, 2007
Cinematical - So ever since Fox Searchlight showed up last summer with a little winner called Little Miss Sunshine, folks immediately began to scour the 2007 slate to see which film would be its cinderella story. Because you need one of those each year; a film that doesn’t feature a full cast of A-listers; doesn’t revolve around the politics of war; and isn’t some two and a half hour period piece about a queen or a famous author with major issues. Well maybe I’m going out a limb here (having not seen the movie yet), but not only will Juno show up on several top ten lists at the end of the year, but I also feel it will land a few award nominations as well (best original screenplay, to give you at least one).
The buzz for this film coming off Toronto was stellar; our own Scott Weinberg (who’s opinion you should definitely trust) said: “From arcane pop culture references to casually amusing slang words to pitch-perfect dialog volleys, Juno might be the smartest ‘teen’ movie since the also-brilliant Election.” Big shoes to fill, sure, but I believe it — ever since seeing Jason Reitman’s Thank You For Smoking, I knew this kid was destined to do some wonderful things with the comedy genre. And though the trailer doesn’t provide us with any laugh-out-loud set pieces, it does show a film with tremendous quirk and potential. Heck, I could watch Rainn Wilson call someone “home-skillet” for two hours alone — but that’s me. Juno is set to hit theaters on December 14. Go see it… [Full Story]
No hive mentality at this year's TIFF – Toronto Star
Sunday, September 16th, 2007
blogTOToronto Star, Canada - For a festival that relies so much on that elusive energy called “buzz” – because there’s no formal competition to focus attention – it was almost alarming how this year’s TIFF seemed so free of consensus hive activity.
Not that I’m complaining, mind you. Too often, buzz turns out to be just another word for “hype.”
There were many films that people liked at the fest. The Cannes holdovers No Country for Old Men, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days all had their enthusiastic supporters, but mainly they were the same people who swooned for them on the Riviera in May.
Of the Cannes contenders, only the Joy Division drama Control seemed to generate new buzz in Toronto, possibly because TIFF programmers had the smarts to include the documentary Joy Division as the yin to its yang. The Weinstein Co. has smartly snapped up both films for what is widely assumed – and hoped – will be some kind of tandem theatrical release or double DVD celebrating this hugely influential rock band… [Full Story]
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Some highs and lows from the Toronto International Film Festival – The Canadian Press
Saturday, September 15th, 2007
CTV.caThe Canadian Press - (CP) — The Toronto International Film Festival ended Saturday after unspooling 349 films for thousands of movie-goers during a 10-day cinematic marathon. The writers who covered the festival for The Canadian Press pick some of the highs and lows among the movies they saw and the celebrities they spoke to:
BEST FILMS
“Into The Wild,” a riveting tale of survival based on the best-selling novel by Jon Krakauer. Opens Friday.
“Lars and the Real Girl,” a sweet and moving film, containing not a hint of creepy frat-boy humour, about an emotionally scarred misfit who falls in love with a sex doll. Opens Oct. 12.
“Sleuth,” a tale of psychological warfare waged between an older mystery novelist and the young actor who’s run off with his wife. Opens Oct. 26… [Full Story]
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TORONTO ‘07 | Cronenberg and Maddin Win Top TIFF Prizes; Mexican Films Also Honored – indieWIRE
Saturday, September 15th, 2007
indieWIRE - Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” won the People’s Choice Award today (Saturday) at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. Marking the end of an event that screened some 349 films over 10 days this year, Toronto festival co-directors Piers Handling and Noah Cowan presented prizes on the final day of the event. Cronenberg’s latest, a crime thriller which opened theatrically this weekend, stars Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, and Armin Mueller-Stahl.
Runners-up for the audience award were Jason Reitman’s popular comedy “Juno” and Ellen Spiro & Phil Donahue’s Iraq war doc, “Body of War,” Cowan announced on Saturday afternoon, during an awards brunch held at Toronto’s Fairmont Royal York Hotel.
Expressing “heartfelt gratitude to the festival,” filmmaker Guy Maddin accepted the award for best Canadian feature film at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival for his latest, “My Winnipeg,” a documentary about his hometown. Thanking the audience, Maddin also singled out Winnipg’s mayor who took long walks with the filmmaker as Maddin was developing the project. Acceping the award with Maddin, producer Jody Shapiro confirmed the film’s three recently announced distribution deals, with IFC Entertainment acquiring the film in the U.S., while Soda Pictures will release it in the UK and Maximum Films is distributing it in Canada… [Full Story]
Canada sends ‘Days’ to Oscars – Variety
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007 | Variety - Montreal helmer Denys Arcand’s “Days of Darkness” is Canada’s submission to the Academy Awards for a slot in the foreign language film category. |
2007 TIFFReviews.com Awards
Monday, September 17th, 2007 | TIFFReviews.com - Now that TIFF 2007 has officially come to a close, we would like to ask you to be the jury and make your film selections. Unlike the official awards given out by TIFF (People’s Choice, Discovery Award, Best Canadian Feature, etc.), TIFFReviews.com is following the Oscar format and handing out awards for the best film, actor, actress, director and screenplay. Cast your vote here and let us know if your really think Eastern Promises is the best film at TIFF this year. Winners will be announced on Sep 23, 2007. |
France taps ‘Persepolis’ for Oscar entry – Variety
Monday, September 17th, 2007 | Variety - ”Persepolis,” Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnoud’s B&W animated film about the travails of girlhood in Iran, has been picked to rep France at the Oscars. |
Big Weekend for Cronenberg’s “Promises” – indieWIRE
Sunday, September 16th, 2007 | indieWIRE - Winner of the People’s Choice Award, the top prize at the recently concluded Toronto International Film Festival, David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” opened to big numbers in its theatrical debut over the weekend. The film, from Focus Features, made an estimated $552,676 on 15 screens this weekend, for an estimated per screen average of $36,815.… [Full Story] |
‘Brave One’ wins weekend – Variety
Sunday, September 16th, 2007 | Variety - Jodie Foster vigilante drama “The Brave One” braved a somewhat soft opening to win the weekend crown, but the real action came in the specialty race, where David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” led with a robust per location average of $36,851 as the busy fall awards season commenced. |
‘Juno’ Trailer Has Finally Arrived – Cinematical
Sunday, September 16th, 2007 | Cinematical - So ever since Fox Searchlight showed up last summer with a little winner called Little Miss Sunshine, folks immediately began to scour the 2007 slate to see which film would be its cinderella story. Because you need one of those each year; a film that doesn’t feature a full cast of A-listers; doesn’t revolve around the politics of war; and isn’t some two and a half hour period piece about a queen or a famous author with major issues. Well maybe I’m going out a limb here (having not seen the movie yet), but not only will Juno show up on several top ten lists at the end of the year, but I also feel it will land a few award nominations as well (best original screenplay, to give you at least one). |
No hive mentality at this year's TIFF – Toronto Star
Sunday, September 16th, 2007blogTO | Toronto Star, Canada - For a festival that relies so much on that elusive energy called “buzz” – because there’s no formal competition to focus attention – it was almost alarming how this year’s TIFF seemed so free of consensus hive activity. Related Articles |
Some highs and lows from the Toronto International Film Festival – The Canadian Press
Saturday, September 15th, 2007CTV.ca | The Canadian Press - (CP) — The Toronto International Film Festival ended Saturday after unspooling 349 films for thousands of movie-goers during a 10-day cinematic marathon. The writers who covered the festival for The Canadian Press pick some of the highs and lows among the movies they saw and the celebrities they spoke to: Related Articles |
TORONTO ‘07 | Cronenberg and Maddin Win Top TIFF Prizes; Mexican Films Also Honored – indieWIRE
Saturday, September 15th, 2007 | indieWIRE - Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises” won the People’s Choice Award today (Saturday) at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. Marking the end of an event that screened some 349 films over 10 days this year, Toronto festival co-directors Piers Handling and Noah Cowan presented prizes on the final day of the event. Cronenberg’s latest, a crime thriller which opened theatrically this weekend, stars Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, and Armin Mueller-Stahl. |
