David O. Russell ‘s Silver Linings Playbook took top honors at the Toronto International Film Festival , winning the Blackberry People’s Choice Award Sunday. Unlike most of its top tier festival brethren, TIFF does not have a formal jury competition. Also taking an audience prize was Martin McDonagh’s Seven Psychopaths , which won the prize in the Midnight Madness category. The audience winner for Best Documentary went to Artifact by Bartholomew Cubbins. The Toronto International Film Festival prize winners: People’s Choice Award: Silver Linings Playbook , directed by David O. Russell Runners-up: Argo , directed by Ben Affleck and Zaytoun , directed by Eran Riklis Documentary People’s Choice Award: Artifact , directed by Bartholomew Cubbins Runners-up: Storm Surfers 3D , directed by Christopher Nelius and Justin McMillan, and Revolution , directed by Rob Stewart Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award: Seven Psychopaths , directed by Martin McDonagh Runners-up: The Bay , directed by Barry Levinson and John Dies at the End , directed by Don Coscarelli Best Canadian Feature Film: Laurence Anyways , directed by Xavier Dolan Best Canadian First Feature Film (A Tie): Antiviral , directed by Brandon Cronenberg Blackbird , directed by Jason Buxton Prizes of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Special Presentations Section: In The House , directed by Francois Ozon Prizes of the International Critics (FIPRESCI Prize) for Discovery Section: Call Girl , directed by Mikael Marcimain NETPAC Award For Best Asian Film: The Land of Hope , directed by Sion Sono Award For Best Canadian Short Film: Keep a Modest Head , directed by Deco Dawson
An outbreak of zombie-like symptoms plagues the residents of a waterfront town in The Bay , but I can’t get over the fact that Barry Levinson , the Oscar-winning director of Rain Man and the maker of such resume-tipping hits as Diner , Good Morning, Vietnam , Bugsy , and Wag the Dog is doing a found footage creature feature that doesn’t seem to offer terribly much new or fresh within the genre. Are things that bad, Barry? If you’d told me The Bay was simply another gimmicky wannabe horror hit from the makers of Paranormal Activity I wouldn’t have blinked twice. Maybe there’s some brilliant layered examination of humanity and the environment in how the nice white folks of Chesapeake Bay are being infested with gross waterborne roly poly bugs. This man made The Natural ! Sigh. I’m sure if interrogated, Levinson would cite some itch to explore new genres and filmmaking styles or step outside his comfort zone or whatever. His last theatrical release was the disappointing What Just Happened , and before that he made the Robin Willians comedy Man of the Year . Even that Gotti biopic is looking like The Godfather compared to this. But we shall see: The Bay screens at the Toronto Film Festival and opens in theaters on November 2. Add your thoughts below and while we’re at it, name your favorite Levinson flick that doesn’t involve flesh-eating bugs and shaky home video. Follow Jen Yamato on Twitter . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
After rolling out its Galas and other spotlights last week, the Toronto International Film Festival unveiled a swarm of new films added to its lineup, including documentaries by Ken Burns, Alex Gibney and Julien Temple. TIFF also added its genre-heavy Midnight Madness section including new work from Oscar-winners Martin McDonagh and Barry Levinson as well as Don Coscarelli and Rob Zombie. The festival’s Vanguard section includes international work that “defies convention” and includes work from North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Also joining the 2012 roster is TIFF’s City to City lineup which this year will spotlight Mumbai; the TIFF Kids lineup including the new Finding Nemo 3-D animation and a collection of restored work. In all, the festival announced over 70 films Tuesday. “There is great satisfaction in discovering films from new voices in non-fiction filmmaking,” said Thom Powers, lead Festival programmer for documentaries. “Some of the most powerful stories being told are from these bold and original emerging filmmakers whose work stands strongly side by side documentary filmmaking greats Alex Gibney and Ken Burns.” The 2012 Toronto International Film Festival takes place September 6 – 16. Descriptions are provided by TIFF. TIFF Docs: 9.79* by Daniel Gordon, United Kingdom World Premiere Daniel Gordon’s 9.79* looks at the legacy of the 100-metre men’s final at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, when gold medalist Ben Johnson tested positive for anabolic steroids and scandal reigned. For the first time ever, the eight athletes who ran that infamous race tell their story. Artifact by Bartholomew Cubbins, USA World Premiere The band Thirty Seconds to Mars and lead singer Jared Leto fight an excruciating lawsuit with EMI while writing songs for their album This is War. A World Not Ours by Mahdi Fleifel, United Kingdom/Lebanon/Denmark World Premiere A World Not Ours is an intimate, often humorous, portrait of three generations of exile in the refugee camp of Ain El-Helweh, in southern Lebanon. Based on a wealth of personal recordings and historical footage, it is a sensitive and illuminating study of belonging, friendship and family. The Act of Killing by Joshua Oppenheimer, Denmark/Norway/United Kingdom World Premiere In a place where killers are celebrated as heroes, these filmmakers challenge unrepentant death-squad leaders to dramatize their role in genocide. The result is a surreal, cinematic journey, not only into the memories and imaginations of mass murderers, but also into a frighteningly banal regime of corruption and impunity. Executive produced by Errol Morris. As if We Were Catching a Cobra by Hala Alabdalla, Syria/France World Premiere Initially intended as a documentary foray into the art of caricature in Egypt and Syria, when the insurgencies break out in both countries, Syrian director Hala Alabdalla ends up drawing an electrifying, intimate, passionate film on the fearless tenacity of Arab artists fighting for freedom and justice. Camp 14 — Total Control Zone by Marc Wiese, Germany North American Premiere This is the story of a man who was born and grew up in a Gulag-style North-Korean camp. After his escape at the age of 23, he discovers the “outside world” for the first time. The film relays his incredible story, as well as those of his fellow inmates and prison guards. Featuring Shin Dong-Huyk, Hyuk Kwon and Oh Yangnam. The Central Park Five by Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns, USA North American Premiere The Central Park Five tells the story of how five black and Latino teenagers were wrongly convicted of raping the Central Park Jogger and how a rush to judgment by the police, media clamoring for sensational stories, and an outraged public contributed to that miscarriage of justice. Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story by Brad Bernstein, USA North American Premiere Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: The Tomi Ungerer Story depicts one man’s wild, life-long adventure of testing societal boundaries through his use of subversive art. This film combines traditional documentary storytelling with original animation from over 70 years worth of art from the renegade children’s book author and illustrator. Featuring Tomi Ungerer, Maurice Sendak, Jules Feiffer, Steven Heller and Michael Patrick Hearn. Fidaï by Damien Ounouri, France/Algeria/Qatar/China/Kuwait World Premiere An exceedingly timely tribute of unsung everyday heroes of revolutions draws the intimate portrait of El Hadi, a seventy-year-old veteran of the Algerian War of Independence, filming the unrecorded memory of years in combat, with its glories, traumas and legacy of violence. First Comes Love by Nina Davenport, USA World Premiere With the bracingly honest, occasionally hilarious and ultimately moving First Comes Love, Davenport examines husband-free parenthood. From hormone injections to post-natal chaos, Davenport chronicles her own pregnancy — including her conventional family’s reaction to it. She reflects upon a rapidly changing world, providing a wry and insightful play-by-play that keeps the viewer tuned in and transfixed by the topsy-turvy state of modern reproduction. The Gatekeepers by Dror Moreh, Israel/France/Germany/Belgium International Premiere Charged with overseeing Israel’s war on terror, the head of the Shin Bet — Israel’s secret service agency — is present at the crossroad of every decision made. For the first time ever, six former heads of the agency agree to share their insights and reflect publicly on their actions and decisions — offering an exclusive account of their experiences and attitudes during, and after, their service. The Girl from the South by José Luis García, Argentina International Premiere Filmmaker José Luis García was fascinated by a young Korean student activist he met in 1989 in North Korea. The director begins his quest to ask her how she crossed the most fortified frontier in the world and what happened to her dreams after the fall of communism. How to Make Money Selling Drugs by Matthew Cooke, USA World Premiere How To Make Money Selling Drugs offers a provocative glimpse into the lives of those on both sides of the “war on drugs,” delivering a diverse and unique perspective on the subject through interviews with 50 Cent, Eminem, The Wire producer David Simon, Arianna Huffington, Woody Harrelson, Eminem, Susan Sarandon and infamous drug kingpin “Freeway” Rick Ross. Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp by Jorge Hinojosa, USA World Premiere Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp examines the tumultuous life of Iceberg Slim (1918-1992) and how he reinvented himself from pimp to author of seven groundbreaking books. These books were the birth of Street Lit and explored the world of the ghetto in gritty and poetic detail and have made him a cultural icon. Interviews with Iceberg Slim, Chris Rock, Henry Rollins, Ice-T, Quincy Jones and Snoop Dogg. London – The Modern Babylon by Julien Temple, United Kingdom International Premiere London – The Modern Babylon is legendary director Julien Temple’s epic time-travelling voyage to the heart of his hometown. From musicians, writers and artists to dangerous thinkers, political radicals and — above all — ordinary people, this is the story of London’s immigrants, its bohemians and how together they changed the city forever. Lunarcy! by Simon Ennis, Canada World Premiere With wry humour and affection, Simon Ennis’ Lunarcy! follows a disparate group of dreamers and schemers who share one thing in common: they’ve all devoted their lives to the Moon. From the former ventriloquist who’s made millions selling Moon lots to the young man who’s resolved to depart for Luna (permanently), Lunarcy! is a touching and comic portrait of passion, creativity and quixotic dreams. Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God by Alex Gibney, USA World Premiere Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney exposes the abuse of power in the Catholic Church and a cover-up that winds its way from the row houses of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, through the bare ruined choirs of Ireland’s churches all the way to the highest office of the Vatican. Men At Lunch by Seán Ó Cualáin, Ireland International Premiere Narrated by Fionnula Flanagan, Men at Lunch reveals the remarkable untold story behind one of the most iconic images of the 20th century, Lunch atop a Skyscraper, taken on the 69th floor of the Rockefeller Building in the autumn of 1932. Part homage, part investigation, Men at Lunch is the revealing tale of an American icon, an unprecedented race to the sky and the immigrant workers who built New York. More Than Honey by Markus Imhoof, Germany/Austria/Switzerland North American Premiere Einstein once said: “If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live.” In the past five years, billions of honeybees simply vanished for reasons still obscure. If the bees keep dying, there will be drastic effects for humans as well: more than one third of our food production depends on pollination by honeybees and their lives and deaths are linked to ours. No Place on Earth by Janet Tobias, USA/United Kingdom/Germany World Premiere While mapping out the largest cave system in Ukraine, explorer and investigator Chris Nicola discovers evidence that five Jewish families spent nearly a year and a half in the pitch-black caves to escape the Nazis. This is the story of the longest uninterrupted underground survival in recorded human history. Reincarnated by Andrew Capper, USA World Premiere Legendary hiphop star Snoop Dogg travels to Jamaica to record a new album and immerse himself in the island’s music and culture. After decades as America’s ultimate gangsta, Snoop seeks a more spiritual path. Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out by Marina Zenovich, USA World Premiere In 2009, celebrated director Roman Polanski was arrested at the Zurich Film Festival. His weekend jaunt turned into a 10-month imprisonment. Zenovich’s follow up to Wanted and Desired — which some say was one of the reasons for Polanski’s arrest — explores the bizarre clash of politics, celebrity justice and the media. The Secret Disco Revolution by Jamie Kastner, Canada World Premiere A cheeky, sexy documentary-hybrid, The Secret Disco Revolution wraps revealing celebrity interviews — The Village People, Gloria Gaynor, Kool and the Gang — classic glitter-era footage and music in a hilarious new package that never lets you stop dancing long enough to decide what’s real and what’s satire. Shepard & Dark by Treva Wurmfeld, USA World Premiere Remember when close friends corresponded by letters? When intimate thoughts about life, family and mortality were hand-written or typed on the page, with full thought given to every word? This is the kind of friendship that Sam Shepard and Johnny Dark had. Show Stopper: The Theatrical Life of Garth Drabinsky by Barry Avrich, Canada World Premiere One of the most infamous moguls, Garth Drabinsky’s incredible story is the most dramatic and unprecedented rise to and fall from power in show business history. Show Stopper features interviews with artists who loved him, industry players who battled him and the media who spilled gallons of ink chronicling his prodigious career. State 194 by Dan Setton, Israel/Palestine/USA World Premiere In 2009, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad launched a plan to demonstrate that his people were deserving of statehood, inspiring them to change their destiny and seek U.N. membership. Since then, they’ve made remarkable progress, but the political quagmire threatens to destroy the most promising opportunity for peace in years. From Participant Media, the company behind Waiting for Superman and An Inconvenient Truth. Storm Surfers 3D by Christopher Nelius and Justin McMillan, Australia World Premiere Storm Surfers 3D is an epic, character-driven adventure documentary following two best friends on their quest to hunt down and ride the biggest and most dangerous waves in the world. Aussie tow-surfing legend Ross Clarke-Jones and two-time world champion Tom Carroll enlist the help of surf forecaster Ben Matson, and together they track and chase giant storms across the Great Southern Ocean. The Walls of Dakar by Abdoul Aziz Cissé, Senegal International Premiere A rare documentary that chronicles Dakar’s unplanned, spontaneous mural frescos, produced by marginal painters, rappers and taggers, that functioned, until the city’s insurgency, as one of its rare sites for free, uncensored expression and the crucible for articulating citizenship. Visually captivating, an elegy of Dakar’s unrepentant insurgent spirit of its everyday artists. Documentaries screening in other Festival programs include: Wavelengths: Bestiaire by Denis Côté, Canada/France Toronto Premiere Animals/People: Along the rhythm of the changing seasons they watch one another. Award-winning director Denis Côté’s sixth feature film, Bestiaire, unfolds like a filmic picture book about mutual observation and about peculiar perception. A contemplation of a stable imbalance, and of loose, quiet and indefinable elements. Masters : The End of Time by Peter Mettler, Canada/Switzerland International Premiere The End of Time is a cinematic experience from visionary filmmaker Peter Mettler which explores our perception of time. The Toronto International Film Festival will continue to announce documentary film selections in coming weeks. Previously announced documentaries include the world premieres of Shola Lynch’s Free Angela & All Political Prisoners (Gala), Liz Garbus’ Love, Marilyn (Gala) and Maiken Baird and Michelle Major’s Venus & Serena (Special Presentation). Midnight Madness: The ABCs of Death World Premiere Kaare Andrews, Angela Bettis, Adrián García Bogliano, Bruno Forzani & Hélène Cattet, Ernesto Díaz Espinoza, Jason Eisener, Xavier Gens, Jorge Michel Grau, Lee Hardcastle, Noboru Iguchi, Thomas Cappelen Malling, Anders Morgenthaler, Yoshihiro Nishimura, Banjong Pisanthanakun, Simon Rumley, Marcel Sarmiento, Jon Schnepp, Srdjan Spasojevic, Timo Tjahjanto, Andrew Traucki, Nacho Vigalondo, Jake West, Ti West, Ben Wheatley, Adam Wingard, and Yûdai Yamaguchi Twenty-six directors… 26 ways to die! The ABCs Of Death is perhaps the most ambitious anthology film ever conceived, featuring segments directed by over two dozen of the world’s leading talents in contemporary genre film. With each director assigned a letter of the alphabet, they were then given free rein in choosing a word to create a story involving a tale of mortality. It’s an alphabetical arsenal of destruction orchestrated by some of the most exciting names in global horror including Ben Wheatley ( Kill List ), Ti West ( House of the Devil ), Jason Eisener ( Hobo With A Shotgun ), Adam Wingard ( You’re Next ), Xavier Gens ( Frontieres ), and Nacho Vigalondo ( Time Crimes ). Aftershock by Nicolás López, USA/Chile World Premiere In Chile, an American tourist’s vacation goes from good to great when he meets some beautiful women travellers. But when an earthquake ravages the underground nightclub they’re in, a fun night quickly turns to terror. Escaping to the surface is just the beginning as they face nightmarish chaos above ground. Starring Eli Roth and Selena Gomez. The Bay by Barry Levinson, USA World Premiere A brutal and harrowing film about a deadly parasite, The Bay chronicles the descent of a small Maryland town into absolute terror.
There’s so much worth anticipating in Parker , director Taylor Hackford’s adaptation of the famous literary thief created by author Donald Westlake. Honestly, though, if this sighting alone of Jason Statham on-set as the title character — in full powder-blue suite and 10-gallon hat — can’t coax a down payment on viewing this upon release, then nothing will. (Oh — and other pics feature some lady named Jennifer Lopez as well.) This and much more Buzz Break ahead.
Now, in addition to Goonies , Newsies , Carrie and Rocky , Hollywood is adapting Diner into a Broadway musical . If it works out, Diner could be the next Billy Elliott or Hairspray ! And if not, it could be the next Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark . Scheduled for a fall 2012 premiere, the adaptation of Barry Levinson’s directorial debut will revive the saga of high school buddies played by Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Tim Daly and Paul Reiser. Oh, and did I mention that Sheryl Crow is involved?
Big news on the Gotti front of the non-legal variety : Fiore Films has just announced that Ben Foster has signed on to star in Barry Levinson’s star-studded crime family biopic, Gotti: In The Shadow Of My Father as John Gotti Jr. opposite John Travolta and Al Pacino. The project will be a reunion for Levinson and Foster, who worked together on the 1999 period drama Liberty Heights .
If you’re one of the many swell Movieline readers based in or around New York City, you’ve surely already marked down Feb. 27 as the night you’re joining us and the gang at 92YTribeca for our annual Oscar Viewing Party . But just in case you haven’t, I bring you news that will no doubt sweeten the deal. (Hint: Drinks!)
One of the amusing running gags in Barry Levinson’s Diner is a character who wanders through the movie, constantly muttering lines from Sweet Smell of Success , newly available in a snazzy new Blu-Ray edition from The Criterion Collection. And with dialogue this good — courtesy of Clifford Odets and Ernest Lehman, based on Lehman’s story — who can blame the guy for wanting to recite these delicious lines over and over? “The cat’s in the bag, and the bag’s in the river,” “You’re dead, son; get yourself buried,” “Your mouth is as big as a basket, and twice as empty,” “In brief, from now on, the best of everything is good enough for me” — this is staccato word jazz of the most delicious variety.
