Last updated: August 20, 2005
Copyright 2006
Michael R. Colford. All rights reserved

Film Festival Reviews

Toronto International Film Festival, 2003

by Emily Neill and Greg Jacobs

We love going to Toronto every year to see as many films as we can at this amazing film fest. But this proved a bit more difficult this time around since the birth of our lovely son, Noah, last December. But Greg’s mom, who lives in Rochester, NY agreed to take him for the weekend, so we were able to catch the tail end. We are usually there right at the beginning and this experience was definitely different. Less star-studded, but fewer lines, and easier access. We missed a lot of what would’ve been our first choices because we arrived late, but as a result saw some films we might not have entertained, and it was well worth it…We also saw the last film ever to be screened at the fabulous Uptown Theatre which was slated for demolition the week after the festival. It was a great theatre and one which was usually the center of our festival experience, so I don’t know what it will be like next year. Also, our favorite “hideaway’ (Daniel’s Musical) was closed
and deserted, sadly, so we ended up staying at a big ‘ festival’ hotel. Lots of fun being right in the center of things, and a lot of glamour … Overall, it was a great time for two new parents looking to get out of the house and catch some films, already!

We saw nine films in 2½ days. Our reviews follow:

The Brown Bunny [Director: Vincent Gallo]
Greg - Let’s start with the most controversial film from the festival, as it was universally panned at Cannes, and even called “the worst film ever” by Roger Ebert. Well fuck them - this was definitely my favorite from the Toronto Film Festival. Sad, hypnotic and moving with a shocking ending, this is a searching film that brings us on the lonely cross-country journey of Bud, played by writer/director Vincent Gallo, as he struggles to come to grips with the hole in his life left since losing his one true love, Daisy (played by Chloe Sevigny). Less plot-driven than Gallo’s previous Buffalo ‘66, this film is more of an intimate tone-poem, with some moments of unforgettable beauty and pathos, if you’re so inclined. Demand this film be screened in Boston!
Emily - Blah, blah blah, this film severely taxed this viewer’s patience and I liked Gus van Sant’s Gerry … Greg likes to see beauty in what he sees as honest expressions of pure emotion, but I like a little art added in. I don’t feel particularly indulgent of Vincent Gallo,
though I loved Buffalo 66, he has done nothing I have been interested in since. Except maybe his performance in Claire Denis’ Trouble Every Day which I attribute in large part to the screenplay and director’s cinematic vision. He asks for too much and I don’t believe gives enough in return on this one … be forewarned ... but then again, I was never a big fan of Cassavetes either.
Greg - You think Gerry had art??!! That was a bland exercise devoid of any art or purpose! Just an intentional and pretentious “fuck-you” to movie-making convention,
but you also need a point to your break with tradition to make it mean anything. Brown Bunny is a truly beautiful and unique statement of mourning and love and an expression of finding the beauty in small things despite the pointless violence and tragedy around us.

dark [Director: D.A. Bullock]
Greg - My second favorite film from the festival. A contemplative, raw, and moving piece, this is the debut from D.A. Bullock who could turn out to be a major underground American filmmaker. Reminiscent of Charles Burnett’s early work, Dark is the story of an African-American man living in Chicago with a bright future, going to university yet still somehow filled with anger and disaffection. He pushes people away from him, then in the climatic scene, randomly lashes out at a passerby on the street. This is a film of rare complexity, truth, and subtlety, and was a very brave film to make, yet it’s the hard-won hope and redemption of the character in the end that makes it a fulfilling film.
Emily - Also my favorite of the festival (whereas The Brown Bunny is my least favorite ... but we have to disagree about something!). This film about a young, orphaned African American man struggling with depression after his grandmother’s death is honest, compelling and beautiful. It was great to see a story about black struggle in less than ideal circumstances that deals seriously and deeply with issues of the psyche and the
individual. If this film gets a release in North America I believe it will change black cinema for years to come.

Testosterone [Director: David Moreton]

Greg - I’ll let Em sum up the plot to this one as it was pretty involved - basically about a writer who’s editor is pushing him to complete his follow up to his very successful debut novel, but instead of finishing it he hunts down his ex-lover in a foreign country whom he’s been obsessing over for years. This didn’t work for me as the main character’s persona was a little too wry
and sarcastic to be truly sympathetic as an obsessed, spurned lover on the brink of a breakdown.
Emily - yeah, pretty much a pretty boy flick with pretty gals in there for extra kicks - it started out as a romantic comedy of sorts and there are some wonderful comic moments thanks to the potty-mouthed editor played by Jennifer Coolidge of Christopher Guest (and
now Legally Blonde) fame, …the film is very complicated in plot and ends dramatically…not sure how we are supposed to feel about it all, but overall it left me feeling disaffected… also one last thing, the lead was incredibly reminiscent of Greg Kinnear - I kept thinking
he was him and it kept kinda feeling like a Greg Kinnear movie, if you know what I mean…

Dallas 362 [Director: Scott Caan]
Greg - I walked out on this film as it seemed to be a story that’s been told many times before - a tale of male bonding told thru the lives of two life-long friends, one who’s uncompromisingly pugnatious and loves danger, the other who’s starting to get his life together. Will their friendship survive the change as one friend becomes more settled down? I don’t really care….
Emily - I did! I really loved this film as I thought the acting by mostly unknowns was superb and engaging (the lead reminded me a lot of Mark Ruffalo’s performance in YOU CAN COUNT ON ME). It was also great seeing Kelly Lynch in anything and she has a really well suited role here (age appropriate!). The relationship that develops between her and Jeff Goldblum and consequently between Goldblum (who plays a therapist) and her son (Rusty) really carries the movie and is an incredibly honest portrayal of fumbling through the awkwardness of therapeutic and familial boundaries.

Easy [Director: Jane Weinstock]
Greg - This was quite an enjoyable film that I’d recommend if it comes around here. Very lovely lead actress Marguerite Moreau plays Jamie who has trouble finding long term love in her life, and now she’s torn between her sexy (sort of) former poetry professor and the nerdy funny guy who likes her for the right reasons. Ok, sounds pretty cliché, but the way it was directed by Jane Weinstock pretty much avoids the rote and boring, as Jamie is so charming and likable yet flawed and confused in familiar ways. Plus, Weinstock directs her in some pretty racy sex scenes that manage to be awkward and realistic yet still sexy - the way men can’t ever seem to film them. Quite funny and insightful, a worthwhile take on a woman’s navigation thru the maze o’ love.
Emily - Have to agree here - this is a romantic comedy, I admit, but I really enjoyed all the characters who were all well developed and at the very least interesting. Marguerite Moreau as the lead plays her quite comic part to the tee even though this is her first major filmic role. We had the pleasure of meeting her afterwards and hope to see her in more films soon!

Madness and Genius [Director: Ryan Eslinger]
Greg - Tom Noonan is brilliant as usual in this as the disenchanted physics professor (Frank) who was once considered one of the best in his field, but then fell into deep depression and seclusion after working on the Manhattan Project. Can’t remember too much about the plot here - something about a similarly bitter student of his who steals his ideas for a cancer-curing apparatus…. Sorry, this was the very first film we saw and I definitely thought it was quite excellent and would recommend it. Most memorable scene was Tom Noonan’s bearded, haggard character exuberantly elling a small asian boy one of his theories in a grocery store, as if he was the only one left who would understand or listen to him still, only to have the boy’s mother drag the kid away,
leering at Frank suspiciously.
Emily - Definitely a film to see if it ever gets distribution and release. The two young actors are first timers and both excellent, Tom Noonan an old pro. The plot is something as complex and mind sparking as the conversations over Andre’s dinner, the plays with body and mind through all three of the character’s trajectories engaging and tragic. The film is shot in black and white and the lighting and cinematography really enhance the
overall feel of the story and the character’s struggles.

Shattered Glass [Director: Billy Ray]
Greg - Not much of an artistic statement, but an interesting story makes this film a good watch. Hayden Christensen plays real-life New Republic writer Stephen Glass who was discovered to have made up almost half of his stories. Christensen is excellent showing he can be a great actor when removed from
the horrible directorial style of George Lucas.
Emily - This film has already been released and there was a great series of interviews with Terri Gross on NPR with Peter Saarsgard (CENTER OF THE WORLD) who plays Glass’ editor in the film as well as with the real guy (whose name eludes me at the moment). It actually took me almost the entire film to realize that the lead (Glass) was played by Aniken! Great acting all around in this film which also includes
Chloe Sevigny and Hank Azaria putting in strong performances. A really well crafted drama and considering it’s based on a true story, even more compelling. See it before it disappears!

Le Temps du loup (Time of the Wolf) [Director: Michael Haneke]
Greg - Easily one of the most depressing movies I have ever seen. And not necessarily in the depressing-yet-insightful-and-cathartic way. If you saw Michael Haneke’s last film, Le Pianiste, you know what I’m talking about. Hard to take and hard to see the point, except to see how much misery a human can take.
Those French…
Emily - If you want to be depressed like 10 trillion times over, I mean, to the point where you feel there are no further rungs down on the depressing awful things that could happen to one woman ladder, and then discover there are about 3 or 4 more, go see this film. I love Isabelle Hupert and she is as always brilliant and compelling, but I just couldn’t take this! Its so so so sad and awful without relief that I lose sight of the point. I guess it’s just existential abyss-gazing at its Frenchiest, but please spare yourself unless you are prepared to do yourself in…spoilers:..babies die and I have one so take that as a caveat of my review.

Boston International Festival of Women's Cinema • High Falls Film Festival • Independent Film Festival of Boston • Provincetown International Film Festival • Sidewalk Film Festival • Sundance Film Festival • Toronto International Film Festival • Tribeca Film Festival • Venice Film Festival