It’s Good to be Back in Toronto ()

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It’s Good to be Back in Toronto

After a hone hour delay at Logan Airport due to severe thunderstorms in Toronto (it was beautiful by the time we arrived) the flight went off without a hitch. Scot and I shared the plane with Clinton, then met up with Bruce (who had also been delayed flying out of LaGuardia) for a cab ride to the Jarvis House. Not as elegant as last year’s (problematic) B&B, the rooms are quite nice and more spacious than I had expected. Met up with Ivy, Ned, Tom and Jen upon arrival and we all trekked out to the Box Office, the first official Toronto Internationl Film Festival task, and one fraught with anxiety. As expected, many of the films we wanted to get tickets for were marked “Rush Only.” After brief seconds of disappointment, we reminded ourselves that “day of” tickets are the way we are always successful.

Scot, Bruce and I got into a dishearteningly long line after marking our choices, and proceeded to finalize our list while waiting. Between the three of us, plus requests from Chris, Beth and Mary, all of whom are arriving on Friday, we came up with a pretty extensive list, even with many films disqualified due to their “Rush” status. We did a pretty good job, nabbing 44 tickets on Day One. That’s actually pretty amazing. And let me tell you, waiting in line at mid-day on Day One is no picnic. Give me a 6:15 a.m. line anyday.

Afterwards, the three of us made a beeline to Sassafraz for some much needed food and beverage. Scot sighed at the thought of his beloved lychee martini, and I was thrilled with my “Bad-ass” Mojito. After a relaxing dinner, we walked back to the B&B for a brief regroup, and now it’s time to head out to our first film. Scot and I will be catching a French film entitled, DOUCHES FROIDES. I suspect I shall be pretty tired afterwards, and plan to return to the B&B in preparation for the first ealry morning ticket run.

On a side note, there is no wireless access here at the Jarvis House, so my posts might not be as frequent as I’d hoped. I will do my best! Stay tuned…

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Toronto-bound Tomorrow ()

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It’s 10:09 p.m. on Wednesday night, and we’re all packed (except for my laptop, of course) and ready to go to the Toronto International Film Festival tomorrow morning. I must mention how generous and cool Scot is, as he let me extend our trip by two days… for a couple of reasons, but mainly so I could see Tsai Ming-Liang’s THE WAYWARD CLOUD on Friday night. It helps a little that Scot gets to see the new Takashi Miike flick, THE GREAT YOKAI WAR, and we get to join Beth for the Hugh Dillon Redemption Choir show on Friday night. (For those of you who don’t know, Hugh Dillon is a Canadian actor who has appeared in HARD CORE LOGO and the forthcoming DOWN TO THE BONE… he’s also in a rock ‘n roll band.)

As for Toronto preparations, for the first time I advance ordered tickets online. Tickets for Canadian films are notoriously difficult to get at the festival, so just to play it safe, I got my tickets to Atom Egoyan’s WHERE THE TRUTH LIES. So I’m sure to see that one anyway! (I’m actually just hoping that I get to say hello to Arsinee Khanjian!

Speaking of our fabulous Canadian friends, I have been in touch with Daniel MacIvor, Wiebke von Carolsfeld, and Kish Iqbal (Ellen Page’s agent) via e-mail, and we are planning to get together at various points during the festival. I’ve spoken to Marilyn and discussed our plans to meet up at the Saturday screening of CAPOTE, starring her fabulous son, Phil. The biggest surprise of all is the fact that I’ve received invitations to TWO parties! I’ve never partaken in the party scene in Toronto, but that all changes this time out. On Friday night, we’ll be heading to Sarah Silverman’s party celebrating her new film SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS IS MAGIC, and on Tuesday night we’ll be joining Laura Linney and Jeff Daniels to celebrate the release of their film, THE SQUID AND THE WHALE.

So the excitement is mounting. I will do my best to blog each day from Toronto and let you know what’s going on, but it all depends on our internet access. Now I’ve got to put a few finishing touches on my film list and get to bed!

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Chlotrudis Monday Night at the Movies & Indie Film Round-Up, September 9 – 15 ()

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Hello Everyone,

As most of you know, this week many Chlotrudis members head north to the Toronto International Film Festival! We will be seeing a whole bunch of films all week, and I was going to set up something for this week’s Monday Night Movie of the Week, but nothing really calls out for it. I will leave the decision up to Beth Caldwell, who offerred to plan this week’s Monday Night at the Movies. Meanwhile, keep track of what’s going on in Toronto via Chlotrudis Mewsings, the new Chlotrudis blog. I will try to report daily… or as close to daily as possible, with all the north of the border shenanigans. It all depends on whether or not we have a high-speed internet connection, so I will do my best.

So, apologies for the abbreviated announcement this week! A couple theatres didn’t have their listings ready for next week, but I wanted to get this on the site before we left. Have a great week, and next year, think about joining us in Toronto!

That’s it for this week.
See you at the movies!

Playing this week, September 9 – 15.

Brattle Theatre, Cambridge
The Complete Kubrick
Lolita (Fri. & Sat.)
Dr. Strangelove (Fri. & Sat.)
Spartacus (Sun.)
Paths of Glory (Mon. & Tue.)
Full Metal Jacket (Mon. & Tue.)
A Clockwork Orange (Wed.)
Eyes Wide Shut (Thu.)

Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
Broken Flowers
A State of Mind
The Aristocrats
March of the Penguins
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Murderball (Sat. & Sun.)
Midnite Movies!
The Harder They Come (Fri. & Sat.)
Boston Comedy and Movie Festival presents
Best in Show (Fri.)
Bluff: the Movie (Sat.)
Funny Shorts (Thu.)
Celebrating the 70’s
Deliverance (Mon.)
Film Class: Prisoners of Circumstance
The Magdalene Sisters
Brookline Booksmith Presents
Candace Bushnell (Thu.)

FEI Theatres
Capitol Theatre, Arlington
Mad Hot Ballroom
Ladies in Lavender
Howl’s Moving Castle

Harvard Film Archive, Cambridge
Too Human: The Films of Louis Malle
The Silent World (Fri. & Sun.)
Human, Too Human & Vive Le Tour (Fri. & Sun.)
Phantom India (Episodes 1-3) (Sat. & Mon.)
Phantom India (Episodes 4-7) (Sat. & Tue.)
Calcutta (Wed. & Thu.)
Place de la Republique (Wed. & Thu.)

Hollywood Hits Theatre, Danvers
Junebug
Broken Flowers
March of the Penguins

Landmark Theatres
Kendall Square, Cambridge
Sequins
The Constant Gardener
The Memory of a Killer
An Unfinished Life
2046
Grizzly Man
Junebug
The Aristocrats
The Beat That My Heart Skipped
Me and You and Everyone We Know

Embassy Cinema, Waltham
Pretty Persuasion
2046
An Unfinished Life
Broken Flowers
Murderball
Mad Hot Ballroom
March of the Penguins

Loew’s Harvard Square, Cambridge
Pretty Persuasion
Broken Flowers
March of the Penguins
An Unfinished Life (Sat. & Sun.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Music on Film
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (Sat.)
Touch the Sound (Sat.)
Rhythm Is It (Sun.)
The Films of Louis Malle
Zazie in the Metro (Sat.)
Au Revoir Les Enfants (Sun. & Thu.)
The Fire Within (Thu.)
Argentinian Theatre
Felicidades (Sat.)
New England Film Artists Present
Parallel Lines (Sun. & Thu.)
Starring Daniel Br’>
No More School (Thu.)

The Newburyport Screening Room, Newburyport
Broken Flowers

COMING SOON!

September Events from The Boston Jewish Film Festival

The Louis Malle retrospective continues at the Harvard Film Archive and the Museum of Fine Arts.’We co-present AU REVOIR, LES ENFANTS September 11 and 15 at the MFA.’On September 11, the filmmaker’s daughter, Chloe, will introduce.

ReelPass Video Bash tickets for Thursday night now available online.

Group sales for the 2005 Boston Jewish Film Festival (November 2 ‘ 13, plus two screenings in Arlington November 15 & 17) are starting now!

Click here‘for details on all upcoming events

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BJFF co-presents final film in the Louis Malle Retrospective presented by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Harvard Film Archive in Cambridge

Sun, Sep 11, 1:30 pm, with an introduction by Chloe Malle, daughter of the director Thu, Sep 15, 6 pm Museum of Fine Arts, Boston AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS (France, 1987, 104 min.).
Few films have more effectively revealed the day-to-day atmosphere of the Nazi occupation of France, the suspicions and fears and misplaced glances that can suddenly bring on disaster. This moving tour de force takes place in the winter of 1944 as Julien and his schoolmates prepare for a new semester at their Catholic boarding school. Three new students are admitted, and one of them, Jean, becomes Julien’s roommate. Circling each other warily, the boys become friends; Jean is bright and talented but seems to be harboring a secret. The eventual revelation of that secret’surely one of the most powerful sequences in Malle’s entire body of work’will not only rob Julien of his childhood but, the film implies, will decisively shape the man he will eventually become.

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Especially for audiences in their 20s and 30s:
ReelPass Video Bash
Come party with the Boston Jewish Film Festival!
September 8, 2005, 6:30-9pm
The Tonic Bar, 1316 Commonwealth Ave. Allston, MA (This event is 21+)

Join us for a night of cocktails, hors d’oeurves, giveaways, film shorts, music, and more, as we introduce our new ReelPass!

More information and buy online Read the review...

Twice Screened Short Filmmaker Releases DVD! ()

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Twice Screened Short Filmmaker Releases DVD!

Artist Signe Baumane is one of the few filmmakers to have had two short films play the Chlotrudis Short Film Festival in different years. Many will remember NATASHA from the 3rd Annual Short Film Festival, about a lonely housewife who shares a special bond with her vacuum cleaner. Then last year at the 5th Short Film Festival, she returned with WOMAN. Now you can see these and eight other films by Signe on her newly released DVD, 10 ANIMATED FILMS BY SIGNE BAUMANE.

WOMANBaumane was born in Latvia, educated in Russia and has been working in the U.S. since 1995. After extensive work in film and illustration in Europe, she began an extensive collaboration with artist Bill Plympton. Her films are filled with whimsy and myth… and quite a bit of sexuality as well. Visit Signe’s website for more information about the woman and her work.

Thanks to Lazy Limabean Film Magazine for the info.

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An Introductory Post ()

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Hi, I wanted to dip my toe in the waters and say a bit about what I’m hoping to do with my slice of the Chlotrudis blogosphere. I’m a second-generation film fan – I get it from my father, from whom I also inherited an intense drive to learn absolutely everything I can about my particular hobbies and interests. As I’ve gotten more involved with Chlotrudis over the years, I’ve gotten more and more determined to find out about every other small or non-profit or volunteer-driven film-related event in the metro Boston area, as well as film-related website on the Internet. Sure, it’s a tall order to fill, and if I’m not careful, that way surely lies madness.

But in the meanwhile, and until such messy end, accompany me on my journey of greater film knowledge, won’t you? My humble goal is to post a new entry once a month, in which I will share what I’ve learned, or answer to questions I’ve puzzled over – for example, exactly how many niche film festivals are contained within the city of Boston?

From time to time I will also post other sorts of ‘roving reporter’ type fare – in fact, the next post of mine will fall into this category. Check this space in the next couple of days for the first of what I hope will be an occasional series of conversations with various members of the independent film community.

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HBO’s “The Comeback” is Brilliant TV ()

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HBO’s “The Comeback” is Brilliant TV

With “Six Feet Under” airing its series finale two weeks ago, “Entourage” and “The Comeback” wrapping their seasons tonight, and “Slings & Arrows” bringing its first season to a close next week, our Sunday night TV line-up is slowly winding down. I’ve really enjoyed all these well-written, well-acted series, but although it’s not really movie-related, I had to take a moment to write a little about Lisa Kudrow’s reality TV/sitcom hybrid.

Lisa Kudrow plays Valerie Cherish, a former sitcom star who had a smash hit called “I’m It!” over a decade ago. Now Valerie has struggling to make a comeback by appearing as a Mrs. Roper-style supporting cast member on a T&A UPN-style sitcom called “Room and Bored” while also filming a reality TV show about her life called “The Comeback.” The double layers of fiction and “reality” are spun brilliantly showing the way reality TV is filmed and edited while looking at some harsh “realities” of life in Hollywood. It’s easy to view Valerie Cherish as pathetic, with her inability to let go of her moment in the sun as TV’s It Girl and deal with the realities of being a woman of a certain age in the entertainment business. Her desperate need to make the “A-list” again is painfully exposed by the rough footage that is being shot for her reality show. She is humiliated at nearly every turn, and deals with it by tightening her smile or trying to nobly rise above it. I see something strangely heroic in Valerie’s “I’ll do anything to survive” attitude and her attempt at trying to do the right thing while at the same time doing anything she can to get noticed.

Kudrow is particularly adept at balancing on this line between harsh comedy and painful drama. Her two indie film roles (THE OPPOSITE OF SEX; HAPPY ENDINGS) have shown she is a talented actress capable of handling this dichotomy. Her supporting cast has grown strong over the course of the season, led by the hilarious antics of Valerie’s flamboyant yet closeted hairdresser Mickey (played by Robert Michael Morris; her dour, manipulative, yet gradually sympathetic producer Jane (played by Laura Silverman; her jiggly “Room & Bored” co-star, and current It-Girl Juna (played by Malin Akerman); the insulting, coarse “Room & Bored” writer and co-creator Paulie G (played by Lance Barber; and her supportive, yet frustrated husband Marky Mark (played by Hal Hartley alum Damian Young).

Lisa Kudrow's Valerie Cherish in the infamous track suit from Room & Bored The writers of the show have created a terrific, evolving arc throughout the first season. Valerie’s character was more superficial and less “real” in the first several episodes, but as she gradually let her guard down, and as adversity reared its ugly head (usually in the form of Paulie G) in subsequent episodes, glimpses of the real woman and been more frequent. While these glimpses are not always flattering, they are humanizing, and hence Valerie’s heroism emerged. In the penultimate show of the season, Valerie can no longer stomach the verbal abuses flung her way by Paulie G and she slugs him. I can’t imagine anyone who had been watching throughout the season not letting out a cheer. Because of this evolution, and the odd structure of the show, some viewers may have given up after the first two or three episodes. Those that remained were privy to the emerging brilliance of a unique comedy/drama capping the Sunday night line-up on HBO. Here’s one fan who hopes “The Comeback” comes back next season.

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Chlotrudis Monday Night at the Movies & Indie Film Round-Up, September 2 – 8 ()

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Chlotrudis Monday Night at the Movies & Indie Film Round-Up, September 2 – 8

Hello Everyone,

Not too much new opening this weekend, and it’s Labor Day weekend to boot, so it’s a good time to play catch-up. I know some of you have seen this film already, but I just don’t want to miss Werner Herzog’s new documentary, GRIZZLY MAN. Join us Monday night for the 7:20 screening at the Kendall Square Cinema. Herzog chronicles life and studies of Timothy Treadwell who tried to live among grizzlies in the Alaska wilderness. Herzog’s films are always fascinating, so don’t miss a chance to see this one.

Director Werner Herzog’s latest documentary explores the life of Timothy Treadwell, an activist who thought he could live safely among the grizzly bears of the Alaskan wilderness while he studied them. But Treadwell was eventually killed’along with his partner Amie Huguenard’by one of the very animals to whom he had devoted years of research. Using Treadwell’s own video footage, Herzog examines the emotions and mind of an intriguing, infuriating and perhaps even tragic figure. Original music by Richard Thompson. Winner of the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize at 2005 Sundance Film Festival.
Director: Werner Herzog
Cast: Timothy Treadwell (archival footage), Amie Huguenard (archival footage), Franc G. Fallico

2046It’s still playing at the Kendall and the Embassy, but sububanites take notice: Wong Kar Wai’s rhapsodic 2046 expands this week to Hollywood Hits in Danvers. Fans of his gorgeous IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE won’t want to miss this sequel, and even if you haven’t seen that film, you should check out 2046. Tony Leung stars with able assistance by the revelatory Zhang Zhiyi, Gong Li, Faye Wong and many more. Get swept away by 2046.

The Brattle Theatre begins a two-week retrospective on the works of Stanley Kubrick this week. Friday night kicks things off with two lesser seen films, THE KILLING and KILLER’S KISS. If you want to get caught up on the works of a filmmakers whose films include 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and DR. STRANGELOVE, OR HOW I STOPPED WORRYING AND LEARNED TO LOVE THE BOMB, this is your chance. There aren’t many theatres in the country that provide this kind of programming. Support the Brattle Film Foundation!

Next Thursday I fly to Toronto for the Toronto International Film Festival. Keep track of what Chlotrudis is up to in Toronto at Chlotrudis Mewsings, the new film blog by members of the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film. Stop by and check it out. I’ve been blogging about the build-up to Toronto, and Chris has supplied some info on the many films being released this coming fall. Others will be posting as well, so do drop by. As for next week’s listings, I will try to get them sent out by Thursday morning before I leave. Beth Caldwell has offerred to organize the Chlotrudis Monday Night at the Movies on September 12, so watch for the announcement!

That’s it for this week.
See you at the movies!

Playing this week, September 2 – 8.

Brattle Theatre, Cambridge
The Complete Kubrick
The Killing (Fri. & Sat.)
Killer’s Kiss (Fri. & Sat.)
2001: A Space Odyssey (Sun. & Mon.)
Barry Lyndon (Tue.)
The Shining (Wed. & Thu.)

Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline
Broken Flowers
A State of Mind
Murderball
March of the Penguins
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Midnite Movies!
The Warriors (Fri. & Sat.)
Celebrating the 70’s
Jaws w/ pre-show Beach Party & Introduction by a Shark Expert! (Mon.)

FEI Theatres
Capitol Theatre, Arlington
Mad Hot Ballroom
Ladies in Lavender

Somerville Theatre, Somerville
Murderball
Mad Hot Ballroom
Bombay Cinema Presents
Mangal Pandey (Sat. – Mon.)
No Etnry (Sat. – Mon.)

Harvard Film Archive, Cambridge
Screenings Resume September 9.

Hollywood Hits Theatre, Danvers
Grizzly Man
Broken Flowers
March of the Penguins
2046

Landmark Theatres
Kendall Square, Cambridge
The Constant Gardener
The Memory of a Killer
The Tunnel
2046
Grizzly Man
Junebug
The Aristocrats
The Beat That My Heart Skipped
Me and You and Everyone We Know

Embassy Cinema, Waltham
Pretty Persuasion
2046
Asylum
Broken Flowers
Murderball
Mad Hot Ballroom
March of the Penguins

Loew’s Harvard Square, Cambridge
Pretty Persuasion
Broken Flowers
March of the Penguins
An Unfinished Life (Sat. & Sun.)

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Music on Film
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus (Fri., Sat., Wed., & Thu.)
Accordian Tribe (Sun.)
The Films of Louis Malle
The Lovers (Fri. & Thu.)
Zazie in the Metro (Sat)
The Fire Within (Sat.)
Elevator to the Gallows (Sun.)
Lancombe Lucien (Sun. & Wed.)
Murmur of the Heart (Thu.)
Croation Cinema
Witnesses (Sat.)
Argentinian Theatre
Felicidades

The Newburyport Screening Room, Newburyport
Broken Flowers

West Newton Cinema, West Newton
The Aristocrats
The Constant Gardener
The Beat That My Heart Skipped
Grizzly Man
Paper Clips
The Memory of a Killer
Ladies in Lavender

COMING SOON!

September Events from The Boston Jewish Film Festival

We are very pleased to copresent Louis Malle’s classic LACOMBE, LUCIEN in retrospective of the director’s work,September 4 and September 7 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

ReelPass Video Bash kicks off our new programming for 20s and 30s, September 8 at Tonic Bar!’

Be sure you receive your 2005 Boston Jewish Film Festival brochure!’Update your address NOW.

See www.bjff.org for details on our upcoming events

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Two films in the Louis Malle Retrospective presented by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Harvard Film Archive in Cambridge

Sun, Sep 4, 3:15 pm
Wed, Sep 7, 7:30 pm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
LACOMBE, LUCIEN
Louis Malle
France/West Germany/Italy, 1974, 137 min., French with English subtitles

Few films about the German Occupation of France have had the moral force and clarity of LACOMBE, LUCIEN, a disquieting portrait of a young peasant, desperate for social acceptance, who is rejected by the Resistance for his lack of commitment. He turns to the Nazis, who find his casual amorality and instinct for survival useful and attractive. Soon an expert in hunting down and torturing people for the Gestapo, he falls in love with a Jewish girl, failing to recognize the moral dilemma this incurs. “A knockout. Without ever mentioning the subject of innocence and guilt, LACOMBE, LUCIEN, in its calm leisurely way, addresses it on a deeper level than any other movie I know” (Pauline Kael).

Tickets are $8 for MFA and BJFF members, seniors, and students; $9 for general admission.’Tickets may be purchased in advance at 617-369-3306 or atwww.mfa.org/film

Next week in this series:

Sun, Sep 11, 1:30 pm, with an introduction by Chloe Malle, daughter of the director Thu, Sep 15, 6 pm Museum of Fine Arts, Boston AU REVOIR LES ENFANTS

For details on the full Malle Retrospective series, see www.mfa.org/film

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Especially for audiences in their 20s and 30s:

ReelPass Video Bash
Come party with the Boston Jewish Film Festival!
September 8, 2005, 6:30-9pm
The Tonic Bar, 1316 Commonwealth Ave. Allston, MA (This event is 21+)

Join us for a night of cocktails, hors d’oeurves, giveaways, film shorts, music, and more, as we introduce our new ReelPass!

$40:’Gets you admission to the Tonic party and 1 drink ticket PLUS your ReelPass -a flexible 3-film pass that includes an exclusive invitation to a cocktail reception during the 2005 Boston Jewish Film Festival (November 2-13).

$15 in advance/$20 at the door: Gets you admission to the Tonic party and 1 drink ticket (ReelPass may be purchased separately at the party for an additional $25)

Buy online at http://www.ticketweb.com/user/?region=ma&query=detail&event=627514&interface= or Call 617-244-9899 for more information and to reserve your space NOW.

Not in your 20s or 30s?’Send this notice to someone who is.’And don’t worry ‘ we’ve got plenty of programming for you, too!

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Make sure you receive your Festival brochure!

The 2005 Boston Jewish Film Festival brochure will be available in early October.’Make sure you receive yours ‘ if you’ve moved in the last year, update your address with us by calling 617-244-9899, or email us at info@bjff.org

Know someone who should receive our brochure that’s not on our list?’Let them know to contact us now to sign up!

The schedule will also be available at our website starting October 3.

Michael R. Colford
Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film, President

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Fall Film Fun ()

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We’re approaching that time of year when, traditionally, everyone from the largest studios to the tiniest distributors trot ‘em all out: the prestige pictures, the festival acquisitions, the Oscar Hopefuls. Last year, I posted a top ten list of what films I most fervently wanted to see. This year, I’ve decided to group them into categories instead:

1. CHLOTRUDIS FAVORITES
Doesn’t it seem like years since we’ve seen Philip Seymour Hoffman in anything? (Well, two, actually, but still). He returns in October as CAPOTE, a biopic that already collected some positive buzz when a rough cut of it was screened at Kendall Sq. earlier this summer. Come Christmas, we’ll also finally be able to see Ellen Page in the controversial HARD CANDY (which, curiously, is not screening at Toronto this month).

2. LITERARY ADAPTATIONS
Quite a few of ‘em this year; maybe no more than usual, but, for a change, I’ve actually read some of the books. I’m most curious to see BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, Annie Proulx’s superb short story about a gay cowboy romance. It once had Gus Van Sant attached to it, but with Ang Lee now directing, I’m intrigued. Other potentially interesting adaptations: EVERYTHING IS ILLUMINATED (How will first-time director Liev Schreiber handle the book’s surreal, personal narrative?), SHOPGIRL (Steve Martin’s bittersweet novella could make up for years of limp studio flicks and give him his first role of substance since THE SPANISH PRISONER), BEE SEASON (I like that the directorial team behind THE DEEP END is taking on Myla Goldberg’s heady story about spelling bees and Jewish mysticism, but I’m having trouble picturing Richard Gere, of all people, as a cantor) and WHERE THE TRUTH LIES (haven’t read this one, but Atom Egoyan, another Chlotrudis fave, directs Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth in an adaptation of a crime thriller by the guy who once sang “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”: how can you not want to see that?).

3. DEBUT FEATURES
Mike Mills at last follows the footsteps of fellow music video auteurs Spike Jonze and Michel Gondry into film featuredom with THUMBSUCKER. Apparently, it’s about a teenager (Lou Taylor Pucci) who simply can’t stop sucking his thumb. Maybe he’s just overwhelmed that his parents are played by Tilda Swinton and Vincent D’Onofrio (and Keanu Reeves is his shrink!). Screenwriter Craig Lucas (THE SECRET LIVES OF DENTISTS) also debuts with THE DYING GAUL, which features an excellent trio of actors: Campbell Scott, Patricia Clarkson, and Peter Sarsgaard.

4. FOLLOW-UPS AND RETURNS
Score a big indie crossover hit, and the world expects another one… if only it were that simple. Just ask Gurinder Chadha, who followed up BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (US box office: $34.2 million) with BRIDE AND PREJUDICE ($6.4 million). Niki Caro probably hopes to fare better with her post-WHALE RIDER project, NORTH COUNTRY, which sounds like a new take on NORMA RAE with Charlize Theron, Frances McDormand and Sissy Spacek. Noah Baumbach (KICKING AND SCREAMING) hasn’t directed a film in eight years. His latest, the autobiographical THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, headed by Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney, had a strong reception at Sundance. Woody Allen, on the other hand, hasn’t directed a *good* film in eight years. Many are already calling MATCH POINT a return-to-form, although its British setting and class-related subject matter make it captivatingly sound like a long-needed break from anything else he’s done.

5. BIG BUDGET STUFF
Amidst the Broadway adaptations (THE PRODUCERS, RENT), the return of Terence Malick (THE NEW WORLD) and another HARRY POTTER film, I’ll be making time to see two stop-animation epics (both likely Chlotrudis non-eligible): Tim Burton’s THE CORPSE BRIDE, and the long awaited WALLACE & GROMIT: THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT.

But wait! There’s also David Cronenberg’s A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, Cameron Crowe’s ELIZABETHTOWN, Neil Jordan’s BREAKFAST ON PLUTO (can’t wait to see Cillian Murphy in this), TRANSAMERICA (ditto for Felicity Huffman) and the ensemble film NINE LIVES (directed by Rodrigo Garcia, who did the underrated THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER a few years ago)… and many more I’m sure I don’t know about yet.

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Missing THE WAYWARD CLOUD ()

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Missing THE WAYWARD CLOUD

It’s an exciting day when the schedule for the Toronto International Film Festival is announced. That day was yesterday, and I have already put together my master schedule for the week. Each year, while planning the trip to the festival, we always have to decide how long we want to stay. This is our longest stay for the festival, leaving Boston on Thursday morning, September 8, and returning on Thursday evening, September 15. A week seems like a good length of time. We are usually okay with missing the last two days of the festival (which wraps on Saturday, September 17) because, after all, it’s just two days. Well this year, I am greatly disappointed.

Perhaps the single film I was most excited about seeing in Toronto was Tsai Ming Liang’s THE WAYWARD CLOUD. The master director of WHAT TIME IS IT THERE? and GOOD BYE DRAGON INN returns with a surreal musical about a porn star. Does it get any better? I wonder what it would take to extend the trip an additional couple of days? We’ll have to ponder that.

(And if you’re wondering if this blog is going to discuss anything other than the Toronto International Film Festival; don’t worry, there are 6 other posters/writers for this blog and they’ll start posting soon!)

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MORE Changes on the Chlotrudis Page ()

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Check out some of the new features on the Chlotrudis webapge. The Society is in the process of putting together an Advisory Board to whom we can turn to for advice or assistance in this crazy world of independent film. We hope this Advisory Board will be made up of a combination of local and national figures who work in the film industry. We’ve got our first three Advisory Board members listed in the “about us” section of the site. Go take a look!

Another new feature of the site found in the reviews section is called Rough Cut. Occassionally, film productions companies will contact the Chlotrudis Society to find people who would be willing to screen their projects which are “in production,” in order to get feedback on a film. Other times, emerging filmmakers will ask if they can send their films to the Society for review purposes. Chlotrudis members are happy to help out, and the reviews and reports that emerge from this work will be posted here on the Rough Cut page. So stop by the newly updated reviews page to find reviews of the latest films, film festivals, and projects in production.

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