This is not your mother’s Noah. A first look at actor Russell Crowe as the grizzled title character in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah has surfaced, and it’s not what you’d expect. As Movies.com reports , Crowe: “looks like a Mad Max out of the depths of time” and lives in a hostile world where “pity has no place.” Aronofsky’s film — which has an expected 2014 release date — does seem to jibe with the Biblical tale of Noah and his famous ark on one key point. According to Movies.com: Noah “is subject to visions which announce the imminent end of the earth,” which will be devastated by “the waves of an endless deluge.” Fan boys take note: Judging from the graphic novel series, Noah, For The Cruelty of Men , that Aronofsky created with executive producer Ari Handel and artist Niko Henrichon to help sell the film, Crowe’s character will be doing battle with some monstrous creatures. Hitfix writer Drew McWeeny reports that Noah’s opponents will include “Watchers,” 11-foot fallen angels have no wings but six arms. McWeeny also revealed that Anthony Hopkins has been cast as Noah’s 900-year-old father Methuselah and that Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Ray Winstone and Logan Leman will co-star. George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic will provide the CGI movie magic. “This isn’t a historical period piece,” Movies.com writes. “Noah’s is a story that exists outside of what we know to be, which sounds almost like a Stephen King/ The Dark Tower , ‘the world has moved on’ type post-apocalyptic scenario. It may not even be Earthly, it’s all just a vehicle for the Noah metaphor”. Follow Frank DiGiacomo on Twitter. Follow Movieline on Twitter.
A long time ago in a culture far removed from this one — 1987 to be exact — cinematic satirist Mel Brooks took on box-office game changer George Lucas’ Star Wars franchise and didn’t end up in the Hollywood equivalent of a Sarlacc Pit. Substituting the Schwartz for the Force, Yogurt for Yoda and Pizza The Hutt for Jabba, Brooks gave us Spaceballs and made us laugh harder (intentionally) than Jar Jar Binks ever did. To celebrate the movie’s 25th anniversary, Sony has released a commemorative Blu-Ray edition that mostly does justice to this comedy gem. The Film: Spaceballs (1987) Why It’s An Inessential Essential: Although Life Stinks (1991) was Mel Brooks’ last sturdy feature, the often gut-bustingly funny Spaceballs was his last really inspired comedy. Like many of Brooks’ earlier films, Spaceballs spoofs generic and genre cliches. In this case, the director aimed his blaster at science fiction and fantasy films, Star Wars in particular. Viewed 25 years after its theatrical release, Spaceballs suffers from lopsided structure and occasional laziness, but the movie repeatedly breaks down the fourth wall with such zeal and absurd charm that it’s impossible to resist. (It’s worth noting that the movie was released during the heyday of the Bruce Willis/Cybill Shepherd ABC comedy series Moonlighting , which was heralded for doing the same.) A large part of the movie’s giddy appeal is its game cast, led by SCTV Jedi the late John Candy and Rick Moranis. Candy plays the Wookiee-like Barf and Moranis is particularly hilarious as the clutzy, over-compensating Darth Vader spoof, Dark Helmet — a puny man topped by enormous circumcised headgear. As ringmaster of this circus, Brooks (who also appears in the movie as both President Skroob and Yogurt) is at a point in his career where he’s starting to toss things against the wall out of sheer desperation. And because he’s working with talented comedians and co-writers, most of what he throws sticks. The move is a collection of blisteringly strange and funny sketches, such as the one where Helmet fantasizes about seducing Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) while playing with a set of action figures that includes an even tinier facsimile of himself and the Druish princess. Brooks’ wise-ass, Brecht-by-way-of-Vaudeville sensibility is at the core of the movie’s cantankerous, Yiddish sensibility, and though some of the yucks feel a tad musty, the movie is never tedious. Riffs on cash-in sequels, “Moichandizing” and “turning off the movie” demonstrate that, at that point in his career, Brooks’ cultural comedy mojo was still working. Indeed, Spaceballs doesn’t just hold up as a laugh riot. It’s still highly quotable right down to the characters’ names. (Yogurt! Pizza The Hutt!). “May the Schwartz be with you” still provokes laughter after all these years, as does Barf’s “Funny, she doesn’t look Druish” comment about Princess Vespa. And when the Spaceballs and Dark Helmet land on the Planet of the Apes, one of its denizens grouses; “Oh shit, there goes the planet.” How the Blu-Ray Edition Makes the Case for the Film: The best special features on Sony’s25th anniversary release are the least serious ones. New interviews with a doddering and-haughty Brooks don’t contribute much. (“We were looking for a new genre to destroy,” he exclaims at one point). Much more satisfying is a very funny list of continuity errors in the film, including, a scene in which Dot Matrix (Joan Rivers playing a droid even bitchier than Anthony Daniels’ C-3P0) appears to stop leaving a trail behind her in one desert scene. The film’s gag audio commentary tracks are also suitably ridiculous. One is in “Mawgese,” presumably the native language of Barf, another, in “Dinkese,” the mother tongue of the Jawa-esque Dink Dinks. Unfortunately, the Blu-Ray edition does not markedly improve the picture quality that was found on the 2005 DVD release of Spaceballs . There are still notable visual blemishes, including artifacts that resulted from poor video compression. Still, the dual Blu-Ray/DVD package is worth buying if only because the menus included on the new DVD release are more interactive and the features they include are more impressive than the last time around. Other Trivia: The new 25th anniversary Spaceballs Blu-Ray is loaded with new special features. If you’re a dedicated Mel Brooks fan — even one who lost faith or interest after Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Dracula: Dead and Loving It — you’ll probably get a big kick out of the jokey introduction he recorded to the film’s original trailer. Brooks’ audio commentary track is also worthy, even if he is more than a little full of himself after the wild (and not entirely deserved) multi-platform success of The Producers . Compared to the meager 2005 DVD release, which came with a making-of featurette and a skimpy souvenir booklet, Sony’s 25th anniversary Blu-Ray release is a much more comprehensive presentation of the film. Simon Abrams is a NY-based freelance film critic whose work has appeared in The Village Voice, Time Out New York , Vulture and Esquire . Additionally, some people like his writing, which he collects a t Extended Cut . Follow Movieline on Twitter .
Filmmaker and actress Julie Delpy won accolades at the Berlin International Film Festival back in 2007 with her hilarious 2 Days In Paris , in which she starred opposite Adam Goldberg as a couple who stop off in Paris for a short visit, staying with her parents en route back to the U.S. Delpy, who wrote and directed the feature that did solid numbers in release jiggered the formula for a sequel, 2 Days In New York , which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January. This time, she stars opposite Chris Rock , and similarly to Paris her family factors into the dialog-heavy plot that’s riddled with eccentricity, social commentary and crazy mishaps. In the film, Delpy’s character Marion is now living with her boyfriend Mingus (Chris Rock) in a New York apartment with their cat and two children from their previous relationships. Marion’s father (played by her real-life dad, Albert Delpy), her sister and her over the top boyfriend suddenly decide to pay a visit from France, unleashing another 48 hours of family drama. Similarly to 2 Days In Paris , Marion’s family is sometimes unnervingly open in their discussions about sexuality and other topics most would consider crosses social boundaries. The French-American cultural disconnect only amplifies the gulf and the result is laugh out loud funny. Julie Delpy and Chris Rock chatted with ML about the film at Sundance. Initially Rock was about to leave, but sat down for a few minutes before heading out of Park City. Delpy, who first acted in none other than French-Swiss maestro Jean-Luc Godard’s Détective in 1985 and has since gone on to do many roles including Before Sunset , has since taken on the director’s hat herself and is a steadfast filmmaking convert. She talks about making films outside the studio system, though she said she’d like to try it sometime and would consider it another welcome challenge. In fact, she would like to try almost everything – almost… Similarly to 2 Days In Paris , you pulled together financing through Europe, can a dialog-driven film exist within Hollywood or is this the only way to put together a film like your latest, 2 Days In New York ? Julie Delpy: I never even thought of going to a studio. It’s just the way I do things. I put the financing together through a European financing system and it’s not easy – it’s a struggle. It might be easier in a way to go to a studio Chris Rock: I think it depends on who you are as a filmmaker. JD: I’m sure if it was through a studio, I wouldn’t be able to do this film exactly the way it is. Though I’m not really sure because I’ve never really been approached by a studio. I’m not sure if they know who I am or know I’m a filmmaker. They don’t even know I’m an actress – trust me [laughs]. CR: I think it depends on who you are as a filmmaker determines how much control you will have and, you know, if you want more control, you’re better off not going through a studio, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. JD: Some things in this movie may not have been their whole thing. They may have wanted a different ending, though honestly, I don’t know what they would want because I haven’t worked with them. For me, I just do it in the way I know how. How did you both come together for this project? CR: I saw 2 Days in Paris and I Loo-oooved 2 Days in Paris . JD: I’d seen his work and have always loved his work. I met him briefly once and he stuck in my mind. The minute I thought of doing a sequel to 2 Days in Paris , I knew I was going to be in a relationship with Mingus who is going to be Chris Rock, so he just came to my mind How has this contrasted with your most recent work Chris? CR: It’s fun, but the French thing – you have to get used to the fact you don’t understand what people around you are saying, but other than that it wasn’t much different than any other movie. I found working with the star and director was easy because you’re always talking to the boss. It’s harder when you’re talking to different people about different things. Because normally when you’re doing a movie, the star is kind-of half-way the director anyway… If the star doesn’t like what’s happening, you’re going to do what the star wants 90% of the time anyway. I hope I get to work with more star-directors… I read that when you were writing this story, you said you wanted to build on “real ground,” what did you mean by that? JD: I spent a lot of time with [Krzysztof] Kieslowski after we did White (1994) talking about movies and writing and everything. He’d tell me that I’m such a movie buff and I was obsessed. He’d tell me, ‘I haven’t seen this, or I haven’t seen that,’ and I’d say, ‘what have you seen?’ and he’d tell me, ‘real life.’ And that stuck with me. What can be more true than take some truth and build something from that. Obsession with death for instance – so something like that – and build from there into a story. 2 Days in New York is grounded in reality. There’s a couple with kids re-constructed and brought together… [ Chris Rock is pulled out of the room at this point and they say their good byes ] [ Continuing ]: I like to base my stories on simple things. It could have been a drama, but I love comedy so that’s what I did. But for this, I like to incorporate things that I know. So in it, I talk about my mother’s death. She actually passed away three years ago. She was in 2 Days in Paris and she was a wonderful actress. So she couldn’t be in this film obviously, so I had to find a way to talk about it… Your father is in this film as he was, of course, in 2 Days in Paris. Are his antics in the film similar to how he is in real-life? Yeah he’s very crazy. He’s very funny and very light, but also a very profound person. He’s not a superficial person at all. He’s fun and he likes to laugh and loves life, but he also has profound problems. He’s not happy all the time, but if we’re at a festival and the film’s playing well then we’re all happy. For me it was great to write parts for my parents in the first film and in this film for my father. It’s wonderful to be able to do that. They gave me so much by exposing me to film. My father gave me directing education through his past direction of plays. They gave me so much, so I’m glad I could give back a little bit. He keys a Hummer in this film in one memorable NYC street scene, and I was thinking it’s his almost child-like rebellious way of perhaps lashing out about global warming… Yeah exactly, that is a stand on global warming. Is he like that in real life? No, but my dad hates cars. They’re all over the place in Paris and they park on sidewalks and have no respect. As he ever keyed a car? No, but he’s joked about it for years so I let him have his fantasy in the film. I mean, I hate cars too. I live in L.A. so of course I have a car, but it’s the only real way we have for transport. But we’re polluting every moment of the day and we’ll pay for it. We’ll be gone [some day]… But Earth will be ok, but it’ll shake us out. So what do you think about Sequels? What about a 2 Days in L.A. or 2 Days in Tokyo ? I think the franchise is going to stop there. I’m not a James Bond kind of girl. I think it stops here at 2 Days in New York . But I’d certainly like to direct more films and will if given the opportunity to do it…I have a lot of friends who are directors and they call me to ask if I’d like to be in them – people like Richard Linklater etc. or maybe not someone who’s my friend but just someone I really like, but I think my first desire is filmmaking. What other kinds of stories do you want to do? Everything. Just everything from sci-fi to dramas – but maybe not sports movies. It’s not that I don’t like sports movies, but it’s just that I don’t get it. I don’t really understand sports, but everything else I’d like to do. I’d like to do a thriller, though I don’t know if I’d be good at it, but I’d like to try it. Maybe it’s pretentious and I’m crazy and all that, but I think I will do a thriller one day. It’s such a struggle to make movies. With this movie, we stopped two weeks before we started shooting and the film fell apart and then we put it all back together and then four weeks into the shoot we stopped. It was really, really hard. Was it harder than 2 Days in Paris ? In a way it was. There was more money involved with shooting in New York. I thought Paris would be more expensive. No, Paris is much less expensive. New York is… I think $3 million went into trucks, so I mean it’s really expensive. I mean like basically it’s very very expensive. And it’s fine if you have the money, and we had the money, but when the money fell apart at the last minute, it was just drama. It was the most painful experience to think you’re about to shoot and then everything just stops. Would you consider going a different route when tackling some of the other stories and genres you’re interested in doing down the line – maybe even the studios? I think I would do it if given the opportunity. But I’m also interested in working within limitations. I have limitations with my films which is typically major financial limitations, but having a studio tell you what to do would be a limitation too, but it would be manageable. I think the only thing that’s not manageable is death. People dying or people who are sick is not manageable. Everything else is nothing. You know I consider in life, people in movies lose perspective because it becomes so important… I’m not like that. It’s life, there are people dying around you, there’s craziness – that’s serious. A studio telling me what to do, that’s manageable. That’s just a boss telling you what to do and that’s fine, I’ll do my best within my limitation… So if that opportunity came along, then you’d do it? Yes, it’s almost fun to me, it would be a fun thing to do.
He’s just kidding like Jason…unless she gon’ do it! Rumors Surface Claiming Kanye West Wants Kim Kardashian To Shoot Another Sex Tape Kim Kardashian, 31, is still trying to live down the sleazy sex tape she made with ex-boyfriend Ray J that “leaked” in 2007. So shes’s horrified, sources say, that her boyfriend, Kanye West, wants her to make another. “He always tells Kim that she should showcase her amazing body whenever possible,” says a friend. The rapper-designer, 35, swears that their filmed fornication will be art, not smut. “but Kim isn’t so sure just yet,” the insider says. Shes’s curious–but “scared to take the idea to her momager, Kris!” Let’s just keep it all the way 100, if a Kim Kardashian and Kanye West freak fornication flick “leaked” the Earth would probably stop spinning and the internet would crash. Besides, if you can make one with Brandy’s little brother then SURELY Mr. West deserves a shot to tap that a$$ on camera right?? Image via PCN Star Magazine
He’s just kidding like Jason…unless she gon’ do it! Rumors Surface Claiming Kanye West Wants Kim Kardashian To Shoot Another Sex Tape Kim Kardashian, 31, is still trying to live down the sleazy sex tape she made with ex-boyfriend Ray J that “leaked” in 2007. So shes’s horrified, sources say, that her boyfriend, Kanye West, wants her to make another. “He always tells Kim that she should showcase her amazing body whenever possible,” says a friend. The rapper-designer, 35, swears that their filmed fornication will be art, not smut. “but Kim isn’t so sure just yet,” the insider says. Shes’s curious–but “scared to take the idea to her momager, Kris!” Let’s just keep it all the way 100, if a Kim Kardashian and Kanye West freak fornication flick “leaked” the Earth would probably stop spinning and the internet would crash. Besides, if you can make one with Brandy’s little brother then SURELY Mr. West deserves a shot to tap that a$$ on camera right?? Image via PCN Star Magazine
Raise your glass high… A List Of Celebrity Douche Bags Kanye West’s iconic “Runaway” hook is as ironic as it is poignant. In today’s world of reality-TV and waning moral standards, we have been exposed to a barrage of questionable characters over the past 10 years or so. Racist, misogynistic, out of line, homophobic rants, violence against women, violations of marital vows, and overall creepiness has seeped into the fabric of pop culture like Bill Clinton’s jizz on Monica Lewinsky’s dress. We’ve gathered a few of these socially unacceptable perpetrators to highlight just how out of control people have gotten. A celebration of sorts, to the greatest pieces of isht that have walked the Earth. Hit the flip to see which celebs are certified douche-bags! Image via WENN/SplashNews/Tumblr/VH1
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.
Our thoughts and prayer go out to all victims of the senseless shooting inside a Colorado movie theater early this morning. But we take this time to recognize Jessica Ghawi, a 24-year old aspiring sportscaster who lost her life in the attack, because her tragic story is almost impossible to believe. Ghawi, who wrote a blog under the name Jessica Redfield, posted a recent entry in which she detailed just how fortunate she had been to narrowly escape a fatal mall shooting in Toronto last month that left one person dead and seven injured. “What started off as a trip to the mall to get sushi and shop, ended up as a day that has forever changed my life,” Ghawi wrote, explaining how a last-second decision to eat a different meal for dinner caused her to escape – by minutes – the gunman who opened fire in the food court she had planned to be in. “I was shown how fragile life was on Saturday,” Ghawi added. “I saw the terror on bystanders’ faces. I saw the victims of a senseless crime. I saw lives change. I was reminded that we don’t know when or where our time on Earth will end. When or where we will breathe our last breath. For one man, it was in the middle of a busy food court on a Saturday evening.” Tragically, incredibly, Ghawi ended up as one of the dozen people today who experienced the same tragic fate as that man in Toronto. We honor the memory her Jessica and the others who passed away with these words from her blog entry: “I say all the time that every moment we have to live our life is a blessing. So often I have found myself taking it for granted. Every hug from a family member. Every laugh we share with friends. Even the times of solitude are all blessings. Every second of every day is a gift.”
Also in Tuesday afternoon’s round-up of news briefs, the AMPAS, the organization behind the annual Oscar ceremony adds new members to its Board of Governors and re-elects others including Tom Hanks. New York’s Museum of Modern Art long-time senior film curator sets retirement; Entertainment One takes rights to Daniel Radcliffe rom-com; PJ Byrne joins Scorsese pic and a lead role for a Sundance breakout actor. Academy Adds Six to Board of Governors The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) have elected six first-time governors to its board. New members include Dante Spinotti, representing the Cinematographers branch; Lisa Cholodenko, Directors branch; Dick Cook, Executives; John Knoll, Visual Effects; Scott Millan, Sound and Bill Condon, Writers. Reelected governors are Tom Hanks, Actors; Jim Bissell, Designers; Rob Epstein, Documentary; Mark Goldblatt, Film Editors; Leonard Engelman, Makeup and Hairstylists; Rob Friedman, Public Relations and Bill Kroyer; Short Films & Feature Animation. Fourteen of the Academy’s 15 branches are represented by three governors, who may serve up to three consecutive three-year terms. MoMA Senior Film Curator Set to Retire Laurence Kardish, Senior Curator in the Department of Film at The Museum of Modern Art, will retire on October 15, after a 44-year career at MoMA. Mr. Kardish joined the Museum as Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Film in 1968, and was promoted to Assistant Curator in 1971, Associate Curator in 1977, Curator in 1984, and Senior Curator in 1999. During his career at MoMA, he organized hundreds of film exhibitions and special screenings, established a number of important annual film series, and was responsible for coordinating more than 60 film exhibitions each year in the Museum’s Roy and Niuta Titus Theaters. Around the ‘net… Jeremy Renner to Possibly Replace Christian Bale in David O. Russell Pic The Bourne Legacy star is in negotiations to replace Bale in the untitled Sony Pictures drama formerly known as American Bullshit . The story revolves around a notorious financial con artist and his mistress & partner in crime who were forced to work with an ambitious FBI agent to nab on other con artists, mobsters and politicians, Variety reports . eOne Films Takes Daniel Radcliffe and Zoe Kazan’s The F Word Entertainment One picked up worldwide rights to the romantic comedy, starring Radcliffe and Kazan. The film is set to shoot this summer, THR reports . Universal Crosses $1B at the Overseas Box Office Universal Pictures International said will will hit the $1 billion milestone abroad today, making it the fastest it’s hit the mark since 2008. Snow White and the Huntsman ($220M), Battleship ($238M) and American Reunion ($177.4M) were among the big draws, Deadline reports . P.J. Byrne Joins The Wolf of Wall Street Byrne joins the Martin Scorsese-directed feature playing “Wigwam” Cohen, one of the gaggle of brokers who hang with the main Wolf, Jordan Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Deadline reports . Sundance Breakout Gina Rodriguez Takes Sleeping With Fishes Lead Rodriguez will play the lead in the indie by writer-director Nicole Gomez Fisher. She wil play a young woman who returns to her dysfunctional cross-cultural family after the death of her unfaithful husband. But her sister comes to her aid and a possible romance looms, THR reports .
