DJFreak Reviews

The Girl (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/9 7:00 pm THE GIRL (**1/2)

Sexy but thin lesbian love story. Male characters are silent which is very effective. The decidedly feminine pace is refreshingly unsettling. On hand for the Q & A after this world premiere were director Sande Zeig, producer Dolly Hall, writer Monique Wittig and actress Agathe de la Boulaye who told an amazing story about how a couple of drunken yahoos became completely lost when her butch yet slightly fem character emerged from her trailer. Agathe's performance was remarkably patient which was a nice change from the obsession usually depicted in these kinds of stories.

Blackboards (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/8 12:00 pm BLACKBOARDS (***)

Would have rated lower before realizing that the director is only 21. Interesting docu-drama about Iranian school teachers with blackboards strapped to their backs who wander the desolate mountains in search of under-educated Kurdish refugees. Great premise but using non-actors results in stiff performances. Story wears a little thin and drags in places which shouldn't happen in an 85 minute film.

Best in Show (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/9 10:00 am BEST IN SHOW (****1/2)

Christopher Guest has done it again. He has reassembled the entire "Guffman" cast and added a couple of new faces to his troupe and they all have turned out another hilarious mockumentary. The plot points are somewhat predictable, but the film is enjoyable nonetheless. My only slight criticism is that after Guest has handled such subjects as rock music, theatre and the film industry, a dog show film may be slightly obscure for some people. There are some great doggies in the movie, though.

The Weight of Water (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/10 12:00 pm THE WEIGHT OF WATER (**)

This film doesn't really work. There are two interwoven stories but the period story is far too clear while the present story is too subtle and vague. They try to draw connections between past and contemporary characters to ill effect.

Director Kathryn Bigelow, producers Janet Yang and Joni Sighvatsson, novelist Anita Shreve and actors Catherine McCormack, Ulrich Thomsen and John Lucas were on hand but no light was shed on the subject. The visuals were rendered beautifully, however.

A Shot at Glory (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/13 12:45 pm A SHOT AT GLORY (***)

Well-made but conventional sports drama. Long on well-filmed Scottish football scenes, short on emotional impact. Director Michael Corrente introduced the film and returned with stars Robert Duvall and Ally McCoist for the Q & A. The Q & A was brief but it was revealed that all the actors were actual football players, which accounts for the lack of characterization in the story.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/11 9:30 am CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (*****)

The best martial arts film ever made (and, quite possibly, the best film of the year). The action scenes kick ass and the characters are rich and complex. The drama and emotional stakes are very high and the film achieves a believable tone of fantasy. Roger Ebert was in attendance at our screening. I asked director Ang Lee after the film what compels him to make so many films with strong female characters and he started by replying, "I'm not a macho guy." He went on to give a thoughtful and detailed answer which basically boils down to him being interested in strong women like his wife. In answer to another question, Ang Lee stated that although this is a martial arts action film, he went about it as if he was making a musical, treating the fight scenes as dance numbers that are an extension and heightened expression of the characters.

Estorvo (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/9 1:00 pm TURBULENCE (**1/2)

Recommended for those interested in Latin American film. Knowledge of Brazilian class structure a must. This film has great style and weird, colorful characters. Problem is, this journey of an upper-middle class dilettante is interesting when surreal but falls prey to too many conventionally narrative moments.

Pollock (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/11 9:45 pm POLLOCK (****)

Remarkable directorial debut by Ed Harris who effectively directs himself in the title role of Jackson Pollock. More than just a bio-pic, the film makes important statements on creativity in general. Marcia Gay Harden is wonderful as Pollock's wife and guiding inspiration, Lee Krasner. Ed Harris introduced the film along with producers Peter Brant, Joe Allen & Fred Berner, screenwriter Barbara Turner and actors Marcia Gay Harden, Amy Madigan and Stephanie Seymour. Only criticism is you have to wait too long in the film for Jennifer Connelly to appear.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/13 9:00 pm REQUIEM FOR A DREAM (*****)

Oscar nominations all around. This film is a delicious nightmare; fresh, original, dark and disturbing. Fascinating study of addictive behavior. With this and "Waking the Dead," Jennifer Connelly is having a career re-defining year. Jared Leto finally has a role worthy of his talent and Marlon Wayans' dramatic turn gives me hope that we may not see an an endless string of "Scary Movie" sequels. Director/co-writer Darren Aronofsky introduced the film along with actors Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto and Christopher McDonald.

April Captains (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/7 8:45 pm APRIL CAPTAINS (**** out of a possible 5)

Excellent, if slightly overlong film about the Portuguese coup d'etat in 1974. Best Line: "Coup d'etat. Can we come in?" The humor was a welcome surprise. Spoke with writer/director Maria de Medeiros afterwards. She was very sweet and lovely and asked me to "salute my mother" for her since they met recently in Avingnon.

Chinese Coffee (2000)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/14 9:00 am CHINESE COFFEE (*****)

Unlike most films of plays that fail to break free of stagy theatrics, this film draws its strength from a wonderful script and an intimate tone of Off-Off-Broadway theatre. The combination of Al Pacino and Jerry Orbach together for a solid hour and a half could not be more special. Susan Floyd is also wonderful as Pacino's bohemian love. Painter, long time friend of Pacino and "Before Night Falls" director, Julian Schnabel, introduced the film on behalf of Pacino, who had to return to L.A. to shoot a movie.

The Hit (1984)

Toronto 2000 Wrap-Up

[15 October 2000]

9/15 8:30 pm THE HIT (****)

A classic from Stephen Frears who made this film in 1984 after a long career in television. This intelligent, character driven story features John Hurt as a hitman who hates his job and a young Tim Roth as his impulsive partner. Their target is Terence Stamp's lucid stool pidgeon and the firey Laura Del Sol is along for the ride. Part road trip and part crime drama, the result is a solid piece of filmmaking. Strangely, the print we saw was subtitled in French. Go figure.