Yes, I know it’a LONG overdue for an update, but it’s been a busy month!

It’s become an annual tradition to attend the Toronto International Film Festival, and this year was no different. The long lines, the thousands of tourists, the amazing cars, the never-ending ‘Arrrrrr’ during the Piracy warning before EVERY movie… all make for a very interesting atmosphere.

I was only able to see 3 films this year, but I always love the chance to see a premiere, or perhaps even a film that would never normally see the light of day.  This year however, all 3 films are basically guaranteed release, at least in a few hundred theaters across North America. I have included reviews for all 3 films viewed at this years TIFF.

Capitalism : A Love Story
Directed by Michael Moore

Love him or hate him, Michael Moore knows how to entertain and he will get his point opinion across no matter what. His latest foray into the entertain-mentary genre (yes, I just made that up) is a more focused and fair film than one would come to expect.

This time around, he focuses on explain what exactly capitalism is, and why it’s so evil. Plain and simple.  You have probably heard the startling fact : The top 1% of Americans are wealthier than the bottom 99%…. combined.

He has chosen to focus more on the human factor. The film focuses on families directly effected by the recent downturn in the american economy, but also those who are able to profit from it (Condo Vultures for instance). It begins by showing, firsthand, a family being evicted from their home, with quite a bizarre level of force by local law enforcement.

When Moore began pulling his hi jinx, such as demanding the money back from the bailout banks, by backing up a truck to the front door, he kind of lost me.  I’m not sure what he was trying to do, besides be silly and catch a few laughs. It took me away from the film and felt very out of place.  The President Bush clip with the computer generated effect behind him, which I’m SURE you will remember, was just ridiculous.

I really feel as if this film was Moore’s tamest, as he opts for jokes over stretched truths this time around. It was also, unfortunately, his least serious.

The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus
Directed by Terry Gilliam

I’m an enormous fan of almost all of Gilliam’s past work, such as Brazil, Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas, Twelve Monkeys, the list goes on.  I admit, there was a bias walking into this film, one that would definitely sway my opinion.

Thankfully, the critiques of everyone around me were unanimous.  It was an incredibly bizarre, visually stunning and magnificently acted film.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with this film, it was Heath Ledger’s final role, as he died during the filming. His friends gave a helping hand in order to help complete the movie.  Those friends being none other than Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. Without spoiling too much of the very unique and captivating plot, their roles make sense almost immediately, and as Gilliam said in his Q&A session after the screening, it was almost as if it was meant to happen.

Many of the images from the film are still in my mind today, which will be what most are left with from this film. Some of the architecture, costume design and cinematography was just remarkable.

This film provided a very magical journey through the streets of London, and a trip through the mind of Doctor Parnassus himself. Trying to explain the plot is… well, difficult.  So I will let you decide for yourself. All you need to know is, you will not be able to take your eyes off the screen.

Up In The Air
Directed by Jason Reitman

I’ve always admired George Clooney. All he ever seems to do is smile, yet no one seems to care. No, I’m not swooning over the ‘Cloon’, but throughout the entire film, Up In The Air, his smug grin never seemed very far away.

Now, the film doesn’t exactly deal with heavy material, but can anyone really be THAT happy?

Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a guy who is in the air or hotel, for 300+ days a year. Due to the slow economy, his services are needed more than ever. See, he fires people for a living, so their bosses don’t have to. (Which is a rather strange co-incidence, especially after the review above!)

However, upon meeting a woman (played by the surprisingly good Vera Farmiga) in a similar professional situation as his, things get a bit interesting.  This is especially true when they begin comparing frequent flyer cards, something I KNOW my own father does, being a travelling salesman and all.

The director, Jason Reitman, creates a fantastic sense of isolation, yet Bingham retains a strange feeling of accomplishment, especially when he “hits the number he has in mind” on his frequent flyer miles. It’s almost as if this is HIS world, and everyone around him is in the way.