TIFF 2015, Post the First

[przed]

I went straight from Ros' soccer tournament into TIFF. Which means running into stuff like this as I traipse around the entertainment district where most of the theatres are.


Unfortunately, I haven't run into any stars yet. I was especially gutted to find out after the fact that one of my faves, the Bean, was in town in support of The Martian. He's one of exactly two actors I would actually stalk on the red carpet. The other, Viggo Mortensen, I did track down a few years back and got his autograph. Ah, well. At least it led to fun photos like this. The Bean and Donald Glover in the same picture is sort of awesome.


I'm only seeing eleven films this year. I was originally supposed to be up to my eyeballs in training at work this week, so I only got eleven tickets. But then the project I was working on imploded, which meant I could take a few days off to see films rather than cramming them all into the evenings, and take it all at a more leisurely pace. Which is nice for a change.

I've seen four films so far, two British, two Chinese. The Chinese ones have been...interesting, but the British ones have both been amazing.




I couldn't resist Dark Horse. It's about a group of working class people in a small Welsh village who kicked in 10 quid a week each to breed a race horse, and ended up with a champion horse who competed in the Grand National. The members of the syndicate are all brilliant, especially Jan, the bar maid who came up with the mad scheme to breed a race horse and dragged everyone else along with her. It's heart-warming, but it's also got real grit, and it takes on the British class system in interesting ways. The syndicate members are all rough around the edges, but they force themselves into the very upper class world of British horse racing by not taking no for an answer.

Here, have a trailer.

Kilo Two Bravo may be relevant to some of your interests. It's about a group of British soldiers guarding a dam in Afghanistan who go on a recce to drive out some Taliban extorting local villagers and wind up caught in the middle of a mine field. It's not the usual sort of war movie. There's no big shoot out, no displays of machismo. There's just a bunch of blokes from the north of England and Scotland who get caught in a horrific situation and then have to figure out how to get out alive. It's unbelievably tense, darkly funny, and just fucking amazing. It's also based on a true story, and at the screening, along with the director, writer and one of the actors, the bloke who was the real medic was there. And he was just amazing.

The trailer gives a really good sense of the film.

Mountains May Depart is the latest from a Chinese director I quite like, Jia Zhang-Ke, but it's not his best. It follows a woman, Tao, and the two men she loves, in three separate time periods, 1999, 2014, and 2025. At it's best, the film is a quiet meditation on what you lose in the course of a life.

This clip is one of the better moments in the film, with Tao taking her son back to Shanghai, to stay with his father, her ex-husband.

But the film sort of loses it in the last sequence, focusing on Tao's now grown son and the Mandarin teacher he develops a relationship with, losing sight of Tao and the man she turned down to marry her son's father who are by far the most interesting characters. And it also irritated me by playing characters who are at most in their early fifties as doddering. Um, no.


Office is directed by Johnnie To, one of Hong Kong's most prolific and diverse directors. His action films tend to the amazing--his Drug War from a few years ago is fantastic--but his track record when he strays into other genres is spottier. This time he's made an office drama musical that's stylistically interesting, but narratively dull. He's filmed on black sound stages with sets made out of colourful steel girders and neon, with a big cast that breaks out into song and dance numbers at regular intervals, which is sort of fun. It also stars Chow Yun-Fat, who I always adore. On the downside, I didn't give a rat's ass about the story or the characters.

This trailer gives a good sense of the style of the film, which is the best reason to seek it out.

Comments

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Dark Horse sounds like my kind of film. Thanks for the rec and trailer!
I am sending one of my friends (bluegerl) along to your post because she shares your obsession with Sean and Viggo. I agree on Sean but not Viggo quite so much - prefer Depp.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Dark Horse is fantastic. I think you'll really like it.

I love Sean, but I think I love Viggo more. He's certainly pickier about his projects. Plus, he shows up in Toronto quite a bit, a result of his friendship/working relationship with David Cronenberg. The two of them did a conversation last year at Lightbox, the film fest headquarters, and it was a brilliant exchange between two dedicated artists.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

OMG I agree about Sean's projects. He acts beautifully in all of them but I have seen him in things that weren't worthy of him, and nowadays he actually seeks roles where he gets killed off... I just - well, I just like him. I first fell for him in Sharpe. I can admire Viggo but actually, I've seen him in things I didn't much like, too. And he doesn't appeal to me on a purely physical basis in the same way as Sean Bean or Johnny Depp - which is just personal taste! I love listening to actor conversations - the Lightbox exchange must have been fantastic. We have a close friend/neighbour who is an actor/RADA tutor and he knows a lot of famous people, though not these, so far as I know - mostly Brit TV stars. His stories about them and their motivations etc. are wonderful.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I first saw Bean in Stormy Monday, which I'd gone to for Sting, but ended up only having eyes for the handsome young blond bloke in it. *g* I have a shelf of what the Sweetie calls my Dodgy Sean Bean Films. As you say, he acts beautifully in everything he does, but wow, does he pick some crap projects. (A member of our adoption group is a casting director and she worked with Bean on a film. She says he's a lovely man, but that he'll do absolutely anything if someone offers him a paycheck, the epitome of a jobbing actor.)

And Bean has actually been picking projects where he doesn't get killed of late. He's got an ongoing series, Legend, where he lives (and also does the Worst American Accents Ever) and he survived Jupiter Ascending. It also looks like he's going to be Senior Science Dude in The Martian, and hence unlikely to snuff it. *g*

Viggo is probably even more my type than Sean, though. I like my actors lean and rangy, with unusual looks. (See also Willem Dafoe, Christopher Walken and William Fichtner.) And his intelligence and intellectual curiosity doesn't hurt either.

Sounds like your friend would have some fascinating stories to share.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I feel a need for a list of your dodgy Bean films though I suppose I could compile my own from IMDb. I tend to like Brit actors though not always. I also tend to go for very rugged types - Bean, Daniel Craig - rather than the conventionally handsome. It was ages before I came to appreciate Lewis Collins and even then it was for his acting rather than his looks. However, I liked the young Martin Shaw (with longer hair), Elijah Wood, and Paul Michael Glaser - there's a type there, somewhere. Plus Depp for ever though I think I saw about six of his films before ever seeing what he really looked like. I adore Sting - I was born and grew up a few streets away at roughly the same time though we never met. Our careers followed similar paths until he was catapulted into stardom and I probably saw him play at nightclubs way back then. Anyway, I feel a kind of completely untenable connection and it helps that I find him attractive.

[przed.livejournal.com]

I should put together a list of dodgy Sean Bean films that are worth spending your time on for you. That would be shorter than the full list. There are some hidden gems in that very long filmography.

I'm with you on the rugged types. Daniel Craig, yes please! And I appreciated Martin Shaw long before I came to love Lewis Collins as well. Big scruffy blokes with swords is how I frequently describe my tastes, though it's meandered a bit of late. Mark Owen could in no way be described as a big scruffy bloke with a sword. Though I have been very excited to see that he can in fact now grow a proper beard. *g*

You must have told me you grew up near Sting before, but let me say for possibly the second time that that's cool. I'm a huge fan of The Police. Their last '80s tour was the first big proper concert I went to, and I caught them twice on their reunion tour a few years ago.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Grew up near Sting and possibly taught one of Take That... Actually dated (once) the brother of one of the Kinks and then one of 10CC - can't even remember their names or faces properly. Neighbour knows people like David Tennant, Gene Hunt and Mathew McFadyen but doesn't bring them home. Spent all evening chatting to Ruth Madoc in a bar recently. Star-studded life, that's me... And yes, I prefer men vaguely scruffy and edgy - don't like the glossiness of e.g. Bodie, which I know is all down to direction and make-up and so on. But I do quite like the waif-or-stray look which could explain Mark Owen - or Draco Malfoy. I just don't like gloss. We saw the trailer for the new Man from Uncle and then watched some clips from the old ones and well, I always adored Kuryakin and couldn't be bothered with Solo.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Clearly, when we finally meet I shall have to ask to touch the hem of your garment. *g* But seriously, I take vicarious pleasure in your connections.

I've also got a soft spot for waifs and strays, so that must explain the Mark Owen thing. Although I also like the grit he shows on rare occasions. (The I'd Wait for Life video has a random bunch of shots in it that seem to add up to some sort of heist, and one of them his Mark getting knocked down in a deserted field and grimly getting back to his feet. I love that shot to bits.) And gloss is also not my favourite thing.

I've not posted about it, but I've seen the new UNCLE movie twice. The new Illya is not like the original model, but he's a fascinating character in his own right. I'd recommend it. It's stylish and reasonably smartly written, and all the leads, Solo included *g*, are fab.

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Thanks to my new job I am immersed in what's happening at TIFF - mostly, it has to be said, who's wearing and saying what on the red carpet, but also content :) Kilo Two Bravo looks excellent although I'd probably have to steel myself. Hub went out on patrol with guys like this when he was embedded in Afghanistan - his respect is boundless.

Enjoy!!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I was walking by the big red carpet Tuesday on the way back from a film and saw some celebrity or other getting mobbed. I tend to stay away from the big Hollywood galas. I prefer to concentrate on the smaller films that are less likely to get a general release. That said, I would totally have become a celebrity gawker for the Bean. *g*

Kilo Two Bravo is extremely tense and doesn't shy away from exactly how much damage a mine can inflict on a human being. Your hub is a brave bloke for going out with those guys. I can't even imagine you being at home knowing the places he was going.

(Love the icon. I've been meaning to respond to your Strike Back post, but I've barely been online. And I haven't even had a chance to watch an episode of season 4 yet!)

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

Hello, This is Bluegerl. The Vigbean lover! I am the most fervent adorer and worshipper of the Vigs... for himself. For all his talents, his photographing, paintings which I can gaze at for ever and see more and more in. For his poetry that slices me into bleeding bits, and for being VIGGO. I saw him in Purgatorio and that I can honestly say, changed my life. Tis a long story but so... teehee. SUPER!!! Bless the darling gorgeous brilliant Viggo Mortensen.

Beany of course I fell in love with when he was wearing those sexy green pants when he first appeared on TV... Richard Sharpe. Life was 'orrible at the time, but HE made an impression... good story, lovely looking bloke and that always pause and looking back at the end of the episode.... teehee. that's the way to catch 'em!!!

Darling Beans - He's me Beanboy... as I'm old enough to be his mother with room to spare... they could be my KIDS for gods' sake! teehee. Doesn't change the way I drool over either.

I DO DO seriously love Bean's Acting. He doesn't paint on the person, or 'say the words' - he IS the character. It seems to be that he doesn't have ANY of the outside Real Bean left. HE IS Martin Odum, Richard Sharpe, Ryan or Bryant... he IS - and dammit the acting and the pain and a whole load of that understated, subtle brilliant acting that is so underestimated. Some of his stuff is crap, but then.... but he does have to keep on and on,.... seems to be a workaholic -just hope his current girlfriend keeps up what seems to be the good work she's doing right now. He looks tons better than he has done for years.

Viggo.. well, what can one say ... he lives as a human SHOULD live every day. Not losing a moment. He has to take it ALL in and there is so much ALL! poor love, he's burning candles at both ends, and I just hope he's left enough in the middle to stay alight for years and years more to come.

Mrs. Moth didn't say whether you're into fanfic... Vigbean stories and stuff.. I'll read almost anything about them, as a pairing especially as they seemed to be 'together' so well in Lotr as long as it is well-written. Some fanfic is just...eeewwwwww.

Are you a Film Critic... and how to you come to haunt TIFF?!!! Yersss, you missed the Bean this time. But he's so hard to FIND!!! very private man.

I shall have to see Kilo 2 Bravo... as long as the acting is natural and GOOOD... that sort of eeeeeek I can take. Nicholas Cage.... erm .... nope.

I quite like Beans Bravo 2 Zero...

The horse one - I WATCHED THAT HOSS WIN!!! Wasn't it the MOST! I probably won't see the film as I shall sob all over the place. Stuff like that brings out the floods in me. (being once rather horsey meself)

Nice to meet you, and Mrs. Moth is such a honey.. Am going to meet up with her in the UK in OCtober... bags of gossipping!!!! teehee.

[przed.livejournal.com]

Another VigBean gal! Hey there! I'm at work, and therefore have limited time to answer, but I did want to respond and tell you I'll get back to you more later.

As for fanfic, yes, absolutely I'm into it! VigBean fic is what first got me into LJ, actually. I wrote a lot of Aragorn/Boromir back in the day, and when I ran out of LotR fic I dipped into the RPS, tentatively at first and then with full abandon. You can find my VigBean fic here in the tags, or on AO3 under przed or PR Zed.

More soon...

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Nice to have introduced two of my friends with a shared obsession.
Have to say I got into fanfic via Arthurian Legend and Stargate SG1 but I have dallied with LotR!

[przed.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the intro!

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

OOh whoopeee. another drooler and writer of Vigbeans. I'm like blotting paper on those! Can't get enough!!

We'll chat later... when yer off werk! XXXXX

[przed.livejournal.com]

The film fest is over, so I can answer properly now! (To answer your question about the fest, I'm not a critic, just a film buff. I live in Toronto and have been going to the fest since I was 18. It's a brilliant way to see a ton of eclectic movies.

I'm with you on Viggo completely. He's such a renaissance man, accomplished and always searching and curious.

And I've always thought the Bean was underappreciated as an actor. The thing he's brilliant at, I think, is getting under the skin of even difficult characters and showing their vulnerability. I do hope the new girlfriend is keeping him grounded. I love the man, but he does seem to have the knack of picking the wrong one.

I do think you'll enjoy Kilo Two Bravo. The acting is excellent, and it's even more raw than Bravo Two Zero.

Oh, it's brilliant that you saw Dream Alliance win! I'm horsey inasmuch as I've always liked watching racing and jumping. I've had limited experience actually riding, though.

Have fun with Mrs. Moth in October!

[halotolerant.livejournal.com]

I would love to see 'Dark Horse' and 'Kilo Two Bravo', both my cup of tea it sounds like *g* There's been a fair few articles here about 'Dark Horse' actually as you may imagine.

Ah, The Bean. I was re-reading some interviews with the LOTR cast, his is really the most fun. He talks about how well he got on with Viggo (heh *g*) and the helicopter ride in the storm where he 'kept an iron grip on Orlando's thigh' throughout, which is just so hilarious because if something *did* go wrong clutching Orlando's thigh wouldn't really help, but very human *g*

[przed.livejournal.com]

Dark Horse and Kilo Two Bravo are quite amazing, in very different ways.

The Bean really is too much fun. The thought of him clutching Orlando's thigh in terror is absolutely adorable.

I really need to revisit the LotR films soon. I'm starting to work on getting Ros to watch them, though she's pretty adamant that that's not going to happen. We're going to try The Princess Bride for our next Family Movie Night, and see what happens from there.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely planning on seeing Dark Horse and, well, Office if I get the chance.

I have a bit of a thing for overly-ambitious musicals ultimately made of fail. Yes, this is a real thing. :D

[przed.livejournal.com]

I can whole-heartedly recommend Dark Horse. As for Office, overly-ambitious musical ultimately made of fail about sums it up. ;-)

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

It's a running joke with MG and me. He loves sci-fi so much he even has a soft spot for sci-fi he knows to be bad whereas for me it has to be good or I won't bother as it's not a genre that appeals very strongly to me. With musicals, we reverse positions. :D

[przed.livejournal.com]

In a dissenting opinion, the NY Times gave Office a glowing review. So clearly, YMMV.

[draycevixen.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link although I'll always take the opinion of a mate whose critical judgement I respect over a newspaper film critic.