Day 4: September 8

There I am, having just entered the maw of the elevator at the Hotel Intercontinental. There's a strip of brass running at eyelevel that serves as a smoky, golden mirror. I back my way in to the crowded lift, and the doors close just in front of my nose. My eyes are glazed from too many sleepness nights and flicks, yet I catch a face in the mirror beside mine, seeming to sit on my shoulder like a second head. Gaunt, almost sinister, the eyes of this face catch mine, my own private devil sitting atop my shoulder, guiding me to misdeed, preparing me for my ascent in the elevator. This goblin had penetrating eyes, a cold, frightening stare. Shocked, I waited for the doors to open, and scampered away, feeling somewhat dizzy and confused.

I should, of course, turned around and talked to Willem Dafoe, but at the time time, the drama of it all took over.

On a more sane note, I did see Julianne Moore hovering in the lobby of the Four Seasons. It's always sometimes freaky to see people you've known on screen - sometimes they are exactly as you expect, sometimes they appear even more stunning. I think Juilanne falls into the latter (not that she's so terrible on screen) - she's incredibly slight, with hair going halfway down her back, and extremely fair skin. She looked a movie star without the entourage, excessive makeup, and gaudy sequined outfit that many lesser talents use peacock-like to get attention. I thanked her for Lebowski, and wished her a good stay in Toronto. My quest to thank every member of the cast and crew of that film has moved one step closer.

Open Hearts (Dogme)
Directed by Susanne Bier


With the slew of DV-shot, Dogme-styled films over the last seven years, Denmark continues to be a focus for excellence in this style of intimate filmmaking. It's somewhat odd to see these films really work on screen - you're convinced they're going to be yet another boring, domestic DV drama the way that american "indie" films tend to play out, with shaky cams and overwraught dialogue. I don't know what's in the water over there, but the Danes can seriously shoot some good flicks.

Absent of nihilism, this nonetheless is a love triangle film with all the darkness and pain and love and longing that goes into these complex, adult relationships. Nothing in the film is simple or pat, and the dialogue and situations seem achingly real. Theres an authenticity of form provided by the Danish Dogme films that simply escapes its imitators, and Open Hearts provides a wonderful viewing experience.

Grade: A-

Winged Migration
Directed by: Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debats and Jacques Perrin

Ok, I admit - I haven't seen Microcosmos. I've seen the cell phone adds that use footage, but that's about it. A film about the microscopic, I figure, has to be seen big.

This time out, those crazy French guys that brought you bugs bring you birds! A sastisfying, almost pornographic ode to birds everywhere, this is an Imax film with strong narrative sensibilities. Shown at the Elgin, the film was indeed a miraculous look into nature, taking the audience places they had never been. Utilizing sky divers, ultralights, helicopters, planes, etc., the filmmakers litterally have you flying with the birds. It makes for a heady, enjoyable ride.

Grade: A-

Spider
Directed by David Cronenberg

David C. is getting old. In a good way, that is. Gone, it seems, are the exploding heads and squishy effects (although, I guess, eXistenZ was pretty graphic). If Spider represents a new Cronenberg, then I'm all over his new filmaking.

Not to say that this is such a major departure - his themes of loss and isolation are still very much evident, it's just that his craft has matured to such an extent that he can take this film, a quiet film, and imbue it with a tremendous sense of pain and hurt without resorting to pyrotechnics.

Ralph Fiennes is wonderful, and Richardson's mutli-roles will certainly garner attention. However, I think it's Gabriel Byrnes performance that is the most complicated. As you look at the father differently throughout the film, Byrne seems to radiate the appropriate level of either malice or love just with his eyes, the set of his shoulders, the tremmor in his voice.

Spider deserves much more than it'll probably get, it's a fine and enjoyable film from a cinematic master.

Grade: A-/B+

Shaolin Soccer
Directed by Stephen Chow

See, there are these Chinese guys and they play soccer and they kick ass (and balls) and wouldn't it be cool if martial arts guys who are like superheroes played soccer and it's really awesome and fun but shouldn't have been dubbed but at least this way it'll go out in theatres and you should go see it it's groovy-pants as shit.

Grade: A-