Note: As many of the films screened at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival haven’t yet opened in theatres, only capsule reviews are permitted for most titles.
MODRA *CityNews.ca Pick* – MODRA tells the story of a teenager from Toronto (played by Hallie Switzer) who invites a boy from school (played by Alexander Gammal) on an impromptu vacation to Slovakia to visit her family. Although the two hardly know each other, they end up becoming close friends during their short trip and help each other find their true selves. Directed by Ingrid Veninger, MODRA is a beautiful film with sincere performances that will make you want to rush out and book a flight to Slovakia. **** out of 5 stars. Schedule at TIFF.
The King’s Speech *CityNews.ca Pick* – Chronicling the struggle and subsequent treatment that Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, had with a speech impediment during his life before taking the throne, The King’s Speech takes a comical approach to the subject and delivers one of the biggest surprises at this year’s festival. And while Colin Firth delivers another Oscar-worthy performance as King George VI, it’s Geoffrey Rush who steals the film with his portrayal of speech therapist Lionel Logue. **** out of 5 stars. Schedule at TIFF.
Stone – Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, and Milla Jovovich star in this grim drama about a parole officer (De Niro) who is persuaded by the wife (Jovovich) of a criminal (Norton) to let her husband out of prison. The movie opens with a man threatening to throw his child out a window when his wife tells him she’s leaving and it continues to slip deeper into blackness until the end. The performances are all stellar but the tone is so depressing it’s hard to recommend you run out to see this one. *** out of 5 stars. Schedule at TIFF.
TIFF 2010 runs from September 9 to the 19. Check out all of CityNews.ca’s coverage of the festival here.
brian.mckechnie@citynews.rogers.com
Top image: A scene from MODRA. Courtesy pUNK films.