Hits and misses at the Toronto Fest

Movies by Sayles, Almodovar, Ozon, Toback, Waters, Radford, Eyre and Ciccoritti reviewed

Imaginary Heroes (3 out of 4)
Directed by Dan Harris Starring Sigourney Weaver and Emile Hirsch.

After older son Matt (Kip Pardue), a promising athlete, shoots his brains out, dad (Jeff Daniels) becomes catatonic, mom (Sigourney Weaver) turns to pot and sister Penny (Michelle Williams) holes up in her college dorm. The only person holding the family together - sort of - is 17-year-old Tim (Emile Hirsch) who experiments with drugs and sex in order to feel "normal" again. But his antics with troubled best friend Kyle (Ryan Donowho in a terrific performance) unleash some surprising family secrets. Weaver and Hirsch are outstanding.
(Gala Presentation)

Blood (2 out of 4)
Directed by Jerry Ciccoritti Starring Emily Hampshire and Jacob Tierney.

This ambitious two-hander suffers from an unconvincing script and weak performances. Based on the play by Tom Walmsley, the story centres on Noelle (Emily Hampshire), a junkie and prostitute who opens the door to her estranged brother Chris (Jacob Tierney), also a former junkie. For 90 minutes the siblings reminisce, fight, talk about having group sex, make out, fight some more, and ultimately question their own existence. Shot on digital, Blood showcases some of Ciccoritti's innovative technique and style. Unfortunately neither actors are up to the task of carrying such an emotionally laden picture. (Visions)

5x2 - Cinq Fois Deux (3 out of 4)
Directed by Francois Ozon Starring Valeria Bruni Tedeschi and Stephane Freiss.

An engrossing and somewhat original love story. The picture opens with Marion (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) and Gilles (Stephane Freiss) as they finalize their divorce. The movie then moves backwards with four more segments: a dinner party that unveils the troubles within the relationship; the birth of their son where Gilles is conspicuously absent; their wedding day when Marion commits an indiscretion; and the holiday in which they fell in love. Both Tedeschi and Freiss are exceptional as we follow the subtle but consistent changes in their characters' development.
(Special Presentation)

A Dirty Shame (2 out of 4)
Directed by John Waters Starring Tracey Ullman and Johnny Knoxville.

Puerile, tedious, filthy and puzzlingly unoriginal for such a groundbreaking filmmaker as Waters. Sylvia (Tracey Ullman) must keep her super-bosomed and highly sexed stripper daughter (Selma Blair) under lock and key all the while keeping hubby's (Chris Isaak) sexual urges at bay. But after suffering a concussion, and rescued by sex god Ray (Johnny Knoxville) Sylvia is transformed into a sex-crazed "apostle." It seems the entire town is now sex-crazed, and despite the attempts by some townsfolk to bring "decency" back to the neighbourhood, the weirdness prevails. A Dirty Shame is one repetitive sequence after another with an embarrassing paper-thin story. (Special Presentation)

When Will I Be Loved? (2 out of 4)
Directed by James Toback Starring Neve Campbell and Fred Weller.

Awfully pretentious vanity vehicle for Neve Campbell, film features situations that are implausible and irritating. Hustler Ford (Fred Weller) walks the streets of Manhattan while doing business on his cell-phone. Switch to Vera (Campbell) in her posh new apartment (thanks to rich parents) as she prepares for a job interview as an assistant to a celebrated author (director James Toback). Throughout the proceedings Ford convinces girlfriend Vera to meet and possibly sleep with billionaire Count Tommaso (Domenic Chianese from The Sopranos) for $100,000 which she, puzzlingly, does and to tragic results. (Special Presentation)

White Skin (2 out of 4)
Directed by Daniel Roby Starring Mark Paquet and Marianne Therien.

Based on the novel by Joel Champetier, White Skin begins as a semi-comedic essay on racial tension in Montreal's urban landscape as experienced by roommates Thierry (Marc Paquet), who's white, and Henri (Frederic Pierre) who's black. But the focus changes when Thierry, who has an aversion to redheads, falls head over heels for Claire (Marianne Therien). At this point White Skin turns into a messy and poorly explained horror picture as Claire's true nature is explained, putting in jeopardy everyone who's human. (Canada First!)

Drum (3.5 out of 4)
Directed by Zola Maseko Starring Taye Diggs and Gabriel Mann.

Despite some structural problems, Drum is a moving and revealing true story featuring some inspirational performances. Set in 1951 Johannesburg, the film centres on Drum magazine, the weekly owned by rich Briton Jim Bailey (Jason Flemyng) geared towards black readers. Mostly entertainment-based, the magazine shifts to hard news when writer Henry Nxumalo (Taye Diggs) and German photographer Jurgen Schadeberg (Gabriel Mann) decide to reveal, for the first time in print, the horrid conditions blacks are forced to live under during Apartheid. The stories, which inspire Nelson Mandela and the newly formed ANC, also raise government ire that will stop at nothing to silence them. Although the film would've benefited from a bigger budget and a stronger director, it still manages to deliver an emotionally powerful message. (National Spotlight)

Stage Beauty (3 out of 4)
Directed by Richard Eyre Starring Billy Crudup and Claire Danes.

Wonderful performances make Stage Beauty entertaining and involving. Based on Jeffrey Hatcher's play about 17th century Edward Kynaston, the last man to perform female roles on the London stage, the film mixes humour and romance with an insightful view of the intrigues within the theatre world. Kynaston (an excellent Billy Crudup) falls from grace after King Charles II (a delicious Rupert Everett) allows women to act and forbids men from performing female roles. This makes Kynaston's dresser, Maria former (Clare Danes) the first female to grace a British stage even though she's a lousy actress. The film is light, unpretentious and enjoyable. (Gala Presentation)

Bad Education (3 out of 4)
Directed by Pedro Almodovar Starring Fele Martinez and Gael Garcia Bernal.

Though terrifically directed and written, with excellent performances, Bad Education lacks Almodovar's signature emotional undertow and wit. This autobiographical tale about his religious youth is a more generic picture notwithstanding a brilliant structure and gorgeous setting. The film is set in 1980 and centres on troubled filmmaker Enrique Goded (Fele Martinez) who's visited by Zahara (Gael Garcia Bernal), whom he believes is his first love when they were children in a Catholic institution. Zahara hands Enrique a script he says he wrote about their experiences as children at the hands of abusive priests, and following several flashbacks, the director decides to make the film with Zahara in one of the leading roles. But the truth surfaces slowly, leaving both men emotionally spent. There are three converging storylines in Bad Education, but the intricate plot doesn't allow for much character development. (Masters)

Silver City (2.5 out of 4)
Directed by John Sayles Starring Danny Huston and Chris Cooper.

Having assembled an admirable cast, Sayles, unfortunately, puts forth a traditional whodunit with heavy-handed anti-Republican rhetoric that is neither revealing nor engrossing. While filming a commercial for his campaign for governor of Colorado, Richard Pilager (Chris Cooper) fishes a dead body out of the lake. His manager, Chuck Raven (Richard Dreyfuss) believes the body was put there by rivals and hires detective Danny O'Brien (Danny Huston), a former reporter, to investigate Pilager's enemies. But the investigation leads to Pilager family corruption which includes an association with a ruthless magnate (Kris Kristofferson). Among the people Danny comes in contact with are Pilager's sister (Daryl Hannah), a former EPA crusader (Ralph Waite), his ex-girlfriend (Maria Bello), and his former boss (Tim Roth). Film pretty much preaches to the converted which makes the exercise moot considering few right-wingers flock to a John Sayles film. (Special Presentation)

The Merchant of Venice (4 out of 4)
Directed by Michael Radford Starring Al Pacino and Joseph Fiennes.

Shakespeare's most controversial play gets a breathtaking adaptation from Michael Radford featuring exceptional performances, including a career best by Al Pacino. Though Joseph Fiennes (as Bassanio), Lynn Collins (as Portia) and Jeremy Irons (as Antonio the Merchant) are flawless, it's Pacino as the tragic Shylock that haunts the proceedings and grabs the viewer by the throat. Bassanio needs money to woo the rich Portia, and asks "friend" Antonio for help. A merchant waiting for ships to deliver their loads, Antonio asks Shylock for a loan. But the old man, who has suffered humiliation - including being spat upon in public - by the very Catholic Antonio, has his own demands: if the loan is not paid in full by due date, he will cut one pound of flesh from Antonio's body. As Bassanio wins Portia's heart, and hand, he receives news that Antonio's ships have sunk and that Shylock is calling in his forfeit. Though Radford divides the story in equal part tragedy - Shylock and Merchant - and comedy - Portia and Bassanio - the film is very much the former. This Merchant is the best filmic adaptation of the play ever to hit the big screen. Not to be missed. (Special Presentation)

Phil the Alien (3 out of 4)
Directed by Rob Stefaniuk Starring Rob Stefaniuk and Nicole Deboer.

A delightful and witty sci-fier with some refreshing dialogue, Phil the Alien is an offbeat pleaser by actor and first-time feature-film director Rob Stefaniuk. Stefaniuk stars as an alien whose ship lands somewhere in Northern Ontario. He is taken at gunpoint by young Joey (Brad McInnes) who convinces "Phil" that whiskey is good medicine. After Joey's father (Boyd Banks) kicks Phil out because he thinks the guy's a pervert, the alien goes to stay in the woods with a beaver (voiced by Joe Flaherty). Meanwhile alien-hunters are on his tracks, including alcoholic Jones (Bruce Hunter) and assassin Madame Madame (Nicole Deboer). Ah, yes, Phil also joins a rock band singing gospel music as he levitates. It all sounds pretty silly, but the dialogue is sharp, the performances are unpretentious and the music is wholly Canadian. (Canada First!)

The Limb Salemen (2 out of 4)
Directed by Anais Granofsky Starring Peter Stebbings and Ingrid Veninger.

A terribly affected futuristic drama that contains unconvincing performances and a unappealing atmosphere of conceit. Dr. Goode (Peter Stebbings) is summoned to an isolated mansion by ruthless industrialist Abe (Clark Johnson) to help grow limbs for his adopted daughter, Clara (Ingrid Veninger). Within the murky script we realize this is a world where water is scarce and genetic mutations are plenty, and regenerating organs and limbs is possible. Goode soon falls for Clara (it's hard to picture why), even though he figures out that Abe has feelings for the woman that aren't exactly fatherly. Clara's brother (Charles Officer) and grandmother (Jackie Burroughs), along with a limb-grower (Julian Richings), decide to help the lovers with their escape. The characters are scarcely developed, and not particularly likeable, which makes watching The Limb Salesman not a very pleasant experience.
(Contemporary World Cinema)

The Woodsman (3.5 out of 4)
Directed by Nicole Kassell Starring Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick.

Kevin Bacon delivers a haunting performance in Nicole Kassell's impressive feature-directorial debut. A disturbing tale intelligently scripted and lacking moral judgment, the film delves deep into the mind of a pedophile exposing the torturous turmoil lurking within. Walter (Bacon) is a sex offender released after 12 years in jail. He starts work in a lumberyard where he keeps to himself, and shuns the advances of the secretary (Eve) who eventually outs him to the staff. His only friend is his brother-in-law (Benjamin Bratt) who keeps him abreast of the family that refuses to have anything to do with him. Despite his background, co-worker Vickie (Bacon's real-life wife Kyra Sedgwick) falls for Walter, but this doesn't relieve the man of his sexual longings. Like a caged animal trying to scratch his way out his mental hell, Walter holes up in his room overlooking a schoolyard where he witnesses another pedophile propositioning young boys. Tension rises when Walter gives in to his urges, but his actions lead towards a hopeful end rather than a tragic one. Excellent. (Contemporary World Cinema)

The 29th Toronto International Film Festival takes place September 9 to 18. For more information visit www.bell.ca/filmfest

Publication Date: 2004-09-12
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4396