Saturday, September 8 – 6:30 PM
EASTERN PROMISES
Director: David Cronenberg

This film, the second collaboration between Canadian director David Cronenberg and actor Viggo Mortensen after History of Violence, retreads familiar themes for the director: sex, violence, and weird shit. The film follows Nikolai (Mortensen), a man tied to one of London’s most notorious crime families. A midwife named Anna (played by Naomi Watts) accidentally discovers a heap of evidence against him, which just opens up a whole can of worms. Be careful at the premiere, because Cronenberg has a stare that can pierce your very soul.



Saturday, September 8 – 9:30 PM
LE DEUXIÈME SOUFFLE
Director: Alain Corneau

I miss Jimmy Cagney – just throwing that out there. There aren’t enough gangster films anymore. LE DEUXIÈME SOUFFLE looks to revive the tradition with its remake of the original 1966 version by the same name. The story revolves around Gu (Daniel Auteuil), a gangster who escapes from jail and leaves the country with the love of his life, Manouche. But to procure some money, he partakes in one final job. The police develop a scheme to make him look like a traitor to his accomplices, forcing Gu to find a way to regain his honour. Need some extra incentive? Monica Belluci plays the love interest. Believe me, that’s reason enough.



Sunday, September 9 – 1:30 PM
THE LAST LEAR
Director: Rituparno Ghosh

Bollywood is my second favourite ‘wood, right after Hollywood, and right before Dollywood. What would TIFF be without at least one Bollywood premier? THE LAST LEAR stars Amitabh Bachchan as a veteran Shakespearean actor, whilst Preity Zinta plays the role of a terrible actor. I think rather than hiring an actor to play someone who can’t act, they should have just hired someone off the street. Who better to play a bad actor than a bad actor?



Sunday, September 9 – 6:30 PM
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
Director: Shekhar Kapur

This isn’t the Summer Blockbuster film festival - this is the only sequel on the docket. It helps that it’s a sequel of the Academy Award winning Elizabeth. Cate Blanchett reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth I, this time challenged by King Phillip II of Spain and Mary Queen of Scots, determined to restore England to Catholicism and steal the throne. I’m sure Elizabeth will just step aside and let them win. She was a pretty docile Monarch, wasn't she?



Sunday, September 9 – 9:30 PM
THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB
Director: Robin Swicord

Unlike Becoming Jane, this movie is not about Jane Austen, nor is it a direct adaptation of her books. Instead, it’s a story about six people who get together to discuss her novels and begin to notice how closely their own lives resemble Jane Austen’s novels. Personally, I’d be surprised to find six Californians who spent most of their time drinking tea and attending formal balls, but, you never know, right? The cast includes Hugh Dancy, Maria Bello, Kathy Baker, Amy Brenneman, Maggie Grace, and Emily Blunt.