Toronto Film Fest 2006, Day Four

[przed]

Best day at the fest so far. As always, Toronto audiences loved Guillermo del Toro, and he loved us right back. Don McKellar and Tracy Wright were in attendance for the screening of Monkey Warfare, and this time McKellar wasn't sitting behind me and kicking my seat, so good luck there. We also saw Shortbus, with the full cast in attendance and which I shan't rave about again except to say run, don't walk, to see it when it comes out.

I also got to meet an online pal of the Big Guy's, a retired Academy member who did the animation on a-ha's Take On Me video and, as it turns out, loves G.I. Jane and Viggo Mortensen's performance therein nearly as much as I do.



Title: Pan's Labyrinth
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Country: Spain
P's Rating: Highly Recommended
Del Toro tackles the Spanish Civil War again in this highly accomplished film. The story follows Ofelia, a young girl who's life is changed when her mother marries a Captain in Franco's Fascist army. As the Captain works to brutally stamp out the local resistance fighters, Ofelia is drawn into a mythical world of fairies and fauns and untold dangers. Del Toro effortlessly moves back and forth between reality and fantasy to produce his most accomplished film yet.

Title: Monkey Warfare
Director: Reg Harkema
Country: Canada
P's Rating: Recommended
Don McKellar and Tracy Wright play stoner slackers, surviving in Toronto's Parkdale neighbourhood by finding hidden treasures at garage sales and at the side of the road and selling them for big bucks online. When their dealer is busted and they start buying organic BC weed from a young woman twenty years their junoir, their lives are changed irrevocably. Director Harkema, who based on his introduction seems to want to follow in Bruce McDonald's stoner footsteps, creates a look for his film that varies between Cassavettes realism and '60s pop art kitsch. Aided by fab performances by McKellar, Wright, and newcomer Nadia Litz, the film is too much fun.

Comments

[sooguy.livejournal.com]

"who did the animation on a-ha's Take On Me video"

Wow, I think I would have asked for his autograph based on that alone.

Sounds like a good outing. I am appreciating your reviews. I read an online review of Monkey Warfare somewhere that was very dismissive of it.

Happy Festing!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I didn't fangirl Don's friend, but I thought about it.

Monkey Warfare seems to be a love it or hate it proposition, but I really enjoyed it. It ain't perfect, but it's fun. And McKellar and Wright are awesome.

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

Another two to add to my queue, assuming they're ever released. And meeting the a ha animator? Wow! *eye bug out* I love that vid! Really!

[kortirion.livejournal.com]

Oooo - I've been looking forward to seeing Pan's Labyrinth - great to hear I won't be disappointed then. Not sure when it's released over here though, should be soon I think.

[przed.livejournal.com]

You definitely won't be disappointed by Pan's Labyrinth. And it has North American distribution, so I imagine it'll be out over there, too. Though who knows when. The ways of distributors are mysterious.