The Toronto Film Festival has come to a close in Canada with very little in the way of acquisitions and more films award chances being hurt rather than hindered. In fact many of the titles thought to be lock-ins have been summarily dismissed, and no real contenders have stepped forward as such, unlike say "The Queen" did in Venice. It's not that the films are bad, most received mixed to positive notions, it's just that they're not of a calibre one would hope for. Here's a look at how things went down based on the reactions of various journo pundits:
All The King's Men When it was held back from almost a year, the first suspicions arose that this film was not the contender many had hoped it would be. Turns out those thoughts were right, reviews generally dismissing this latest film adaptation of a crowd-pleasing corrupt Southern politician in America. The film has been taken to task for its unengaging narrative, cold pretentiousness and lack of technical accuracy. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Amazing Grace Considered a little dry and too much like a history lesson by some, nevertheless the closing night film scored positive reviews overall. The non-nonsense costume drama deals with the abolition of slavery within the British Empire at the end of the 18th century. Performances, tech credits and Michael Apted's direction all receiving good notices. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Away From Her Sarah Polley's Alzheimer-themed feature debut received very good reaction with Lionsgate quickly snapping up rights and many reviews strongly praising the work. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Bobby Emilio Estevez's Altman-esque ensemble piece about the various people in the hotel the same night Bobby Kennedy got shot was tipped to be a serious Oscar contender. Now the chances of awards glory are gone, the film receiving mixed reaction mostly for its writing and performances. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Borat No chance of awards glory of course, but the Sacha Baron Cohen comedy about the very un-PC Kazakstahni reporter ended up being the most talked about film of the festival, that's not even including the disastrous first night screening projector breakdown debacle. Always expected to do well in Europe, screenings here have had an explosive and very positive reaction with many now pegging the North American release to go swimmingly well. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Breaking and Entering The re-teaming of Jude Law and Anthony Minghella in this drama best described as an enjoyable but somewhat cold and restrained. The tale of an architect falling for the Bosnian mother of a boy who robbed his office is getting notices for Juliette Binoche's work in the female lead role. Minghella's portrayal of everyday life in modern-day London is also being singled out as one of the film's stronger elements. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Catch A Fire Whilst an apatheid-themed story in the modern political age is being labelled somewhat anachronistic, Phil Noyce's story and direction are generally being praised across the board to differing degrees. Derek Luke's performance remains routinely praised, but some of the more conventional thriller touches are getting mixed reaction. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Death of a President Despite all the hub-bub about its assassination of George W. Bush scene at the start, the procedural docudrama was considered a technical achievement, though dismissed by some as being too dry and lacking the courage of its own convictions thanks to an ending that dismisses the wide scale its earlier scenes employed. The film raises some interesting issues though which should ensure decent business. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing Body Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
For Your Consideration
Stepping away from the mockumentary format which made him famous, Christopher Guest's new film still received positive notices all around for its sharp satire and strong cast, though how it compares with his past work seems to vary from critic to critic. Certainly considered the broadest of his films, no-one seems to be pegging it as his best though.
Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
The Fountain Continues to sharply divide audiences with a small but extremely passionate group of people praising it to the heavens, versus a much larger and generally more confused crowd with mixed or surprisingly negative opinions of the esoteric sci-fi love story across time. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
A Good Year The reteaming of Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe in a drama about a man rethinking his life whilst staying in Provence has yielded a moderately well received film. Reactions are positive for the most part, but many dismiss it as a lightweight throwaway comedy with some sweet touches and predictable moral drama. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Love and Other Disasters The Birttany Murphy romantic comedy set in London yielded a very tepid response from most critics, many labelling it even more artifical than the somewhat lacking "Love Actually", and lacking some of the strenghts like direction and cast which made that film palatable. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Rescue Dawn Considered a relatively plain and mildly flat disappointment compared to the rest of his work, Werner Herzog's Vietnam POW drama starring Christian Bale nevertheless received generally good notices and is being considered more of a crowd pleaser than an awards contender. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Stranger Than Fiction The buzz on a Will Ferrell film that many saw as the man's attempt to break into Carrey-like awards filmmaking has gone in a surprising direction. 'Fiction' received general good notices, especially for its performances and inventiveness. Yet many are citing that its chances for recognition are slim due to a not entirely resolved ending and some moments of self indulgence. Still, its crowd pleasing box-office potential is apparently looking very good. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Venus
Good reactions overall, not the contender that "The Queen" seems to be becoming for Miramax, nevertheless the film should play well in release and be remembered fondly at year's end.
Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
Volver Whilst many are pegging Penelope Cruz as an Oscar chance for this Pedro Almodovar drama, the frentic buzz that arose for the film in Cannes has cooled slightly on the west side of the Atlantic, though remains certainly positive overall and a foreign film award chance. Reviews: Dark Horizons, Movie City News, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Screen Daily, EmmanuelLevy
