Blog Archives
East Bloc Sci-Fi, Part 1: Dead Mountaineer’s Hotel + Test Pilot Pirxa
Way back in the chilly winter of 2011-2012, the TIFF Bell Lightbox ran a great series called Attack the Bloc: Cold War Science Fiction from Behind the Iron, and I’ve uploaded a pair of reviews for two intriguing productions from former East Bloc countries: Dead Mountainner’s Hotel / ‘Hukkunud Alpinisti’ hotell (1979) and Test Pilot Pirxa / Test pilota Pirxa (1979) from Estonia.
Festivals-a-Go-Go
Tally of current & ongoing series & festivals, plus some handy-dandy links for those who missed the screening of Carl Michael von Hausswold and Thomas Nordanstad’s short film Hashima, Japan 2002, about the abandoned isle & mining mini-town that’s been decaying under the raw elements for the past 30 years. Also of note: link to Rue Morgue’s interview with Mark Miller, who championed the restoration of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed.
Festivals-a-Go-Go + Battle Royale
Early tally of current film festivals at the TIFF Bell Lightbox (Robert Bresson, Nicholas Ray, wacky Soviet era sci-fi), the imminent Human Rights Watch Film Festival, AND Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale at The Projection Booth to help launch Anchor Bay’s Battle Royale megaset, plus the world premiere of Richard Powell and Zach Green’s short film Familiar.
Festivals-a-Go-Go
Classic films & Cageian extremes continue at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, ballet tiptoes to the NFB Mediatheque, authentic Japanese kabuki is broadcast in HD at Cineplex’s Front Row Centre Events, the Bloor Cinema is set to reopen in March, and Abel Gance’s Napoleon returns to the big screen in a 4-day engagement because Francis Coppola saw the widsom.
Festivals-a-Go-Go + Robert Bresson, Part I
As the TIFF Bell Lightbox begins its latest retro – a full-on salute to French filmmaker Robert Bresson – I’ve added a review of A Man Escaped (1956). Also noted: screenings in town, those that ‘hate’ Toronto, Rob Ford’s ‘irrelevant’ fixation, and the latest Lucasified indulgence that no one seems to care about.
Festivals-a-Go-Go: Feb. 3-5 + R.I.P. The Cinesphere?
Quick recap of this weekend’s interesting (to me) screenings, plus NASA’s video of the Dark Side of the Moon, and the Ontario Government’s decision to shut down most of Ontario Place forthwith, henceforce, herewith, and now, with the future of world’s first permanent IMAX theatre – the Cinesphere – up in the air.
Yilmaz Güney, Part II: The Poor Ones (1975)
In Part II, I review The Poor Ones / Zavallilar (1975), recently screened at the TIFF Bell Lightbox as part of their series The Way Home: The Films of Turkish Master Yilmaz Güney.
Festivals-a-Go-Go — Cold War Sci-Fi on the Big Screen
This week the TIFF Bell Lightbox launches its 2-month series Attack the Bloc: Cold War Science Fiction from Behind the Iron Curtain, and I’ve added a list of what’s screening, what’s on DVD, and why these films matter.
Yilmaz Güney, Part I – Yol (1982)
Review of Yilmaz Güney’s Cannes-decorated Yol (1982), part of the TIFF Bell Lightbox’s tribute to one of Turkey’s most important directors, beginning this week.
Canada’s Top Ten & Packaged Goods series
Details of TIFF’s Canada’s Top Ten winners in feature and short film categories, with links to online clips and home video availability, plus a review of the upcoming Packaged Goods series playing next week at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, featuring hand-picked ads, music videos, and a great Spike Jonze animated short.
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