Before I get into the yin and yang that was my TIFF Saturday, I just want to say a quick hello to the woman I met in line this afternoon. Her name was Mary Lynn and it was a pleasure talking with her. Meeting film enthusiasts like her is one of the best things about…
TIFF Reaction: YOUSSOU NDOUR – I BRING WHAT I LOVE
Every once in a while, you have to go in blind. At the risk of sounding culturally sheltered, I knew precious little about Youssou Ndour before this afternoon. To be specific, I knew his name, and that he was a world renowned tenor. That’s it – I couldn’t tell you where he was from, couldn’t…
Heaven (More Thoughts on TIFF Day 2)
“Hey – Is this heaven?” “No – It’s Ryerson.” Coulda fooled me last night, because when three of the men who have wailed through your headphones endlessly over the years – The Edge, Jimmy Page, and Jack White -are walking right in front of you, it’s pretty darned close to heaven. I’ll apologize in advance,…
TIFF Reaction: IT MIGHT GET LOUD
Back when this selection was first announced as being part of TIFF ’08, I had one immediate thought: “I’m there!”. For those of you who don’t know me, if there’s anything I love as much as movies, it’s music. And when you cue up songs by U2, The White Stripes, and Led Zeppelin, you are…
TIFF reaction: ROCKNROLLA
I truly wish Guy Ritchie had stayed for a Q&A after this morning’s screening of ROCKNROLLA, simply because I would have liked to have said one thing to him: “Welcome Back”. After seven years off the grid making spousal vehicles and straight-to-dvd misfires, Ritchie went back to what he does best and gave fans of…
Strange Currencies (Thoughts on TIFF Day 2)
For the last few TIFF’s, my day has started in the wee hours at The Manulife Centre. There I join a select group of early birds who lust after same day tickets like they were double doubles and free Timbits. For most people there it isn’t their first time in this line, so we’re all…
TIFF Reaction: PASSCHENDAELE
Mid-way through Paul Gross’ PASSCHENDAELE, the war-torn battle ground is described as “A muddy stew”. That very sentiment could describe this movie as a whole quite accurately. PASSCHENDAELE is an ambitious film, one that takes ordinary Canadians in the early 20th century, and cuts their lives to ribbons as World War I casts a shadow…