TIFF 15: Tom Hiddleston Gets High, JG Ballard High

Capsule reviews and notes from the Toronto International Film Festival, Monday September 14th.

High-Rise [UK, Ben Wheatley, 5] Reserved anatomy instructor (Tom Hiddleston) moves into a brutalist apartment tower run by its strangely intrusive architect (Jeremy Irons) just before its descent into orgiastic madness. Phantasmagorical adaptation of the classic JG Ballard conjures weird beauty from the ugliest elements of 70s design.

This feels more purely a Ballard piece than Cronenberg's Crash, which was such a quintessential Toronto movie. That opening shot of a cold morning Gardiner Expressway lays bare the weird dark heart of my beautiful city. High-Rise on the other hand keeps it British to the bone--1975 Britain to be precise. The spirit of Cronenberg isn't absent but there's a bunch of Lindsay Anderson and Python in its lineage too.

February [US, Osgood Perkins, 2] An ominous force threatens two girls left behind over winter break at a private girls' school. Slow burn horror flick uses recursive structure in attempt to complicate its thin narrative. With Keirnan Shipka and Emma Roberts.

Men & Chicken [Denmark, Anders Thomas Jensen, 4] Put-upon prof and his indignant, chronically masturbating brother (Mads Mikkelsen in his most uproarious performance) discover that they have four degenerate brothers living in the remote island redoubt of their rogue geneticist biological father. Weird, hilarious and even touching comedy of twisted family ties.

The director's first film since Adam's Apples, ten years ago.

 

 

 

 

Have a question about my TIFF capsule reviews? It may be frequently asked. If so, I have already answered it.

TIFF15: When Your Wedding Crasher is a Dybbuk

Capsule reviews and notes from the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday September 13th. I am now well into the dreamtime phase of the festival, as my brain shifts all resources to taking in movies. As opposed to, say, correctly working out the breaks I have between movies and where to best get food. Or remembering what time I need to leave the house without writing it down. Practical considerations, what are they, really? Give me another jump cut.

Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) [France, Eva Husson, 4] Rift between two high schoolers over a narcissistic boy triggers out of control sex parties. Dreamy dramas is subversive in depicting  extreme teenage sexuality as entirely non-apocalyptic.

This one upends expectations to such a degree that I wasn’t sure all the way through if the filmmaker had found a viewpoint on the material. Even after it ended it took me a while to fully appreciate what it was doing and decide conclusively that I liked it.

Demon [Poland, Marcin Wrona, 4] English groom meeting the bride's family for the first time at a vodka-soaked Polish wedding gets possessed by a dybbuk. Stage play adaptation adds allegory and ghost story elements to the wedding spiraling out of control sub-genre.

Veteran [South Korea, Seung-wan Ryoo, 4] Ass-kicking loose cannon cop won't let go of a case against a cocky young psycho executive. Hard action comedy hits the crowd-pleasing beats.

Have a question about my TIFF capsule reviews? It may be frequently asked. If so, I have already answered it.

TIFF 15: Sometimes You Don't Want Patrick Stewart To Come Knocking

Capsule reviews and notes from the Toronto International Film Festival, Saturday Sept 12th.

Endless River [South Africa, Oliver Hermanus, 4] After his wife and children are murdered in a brutal home invasion, a French ex-pat finds himself drawn to a waitress, whose husband is a police suspect in the case. Layered, ambiguous noir drama evokes James M. Cain and the sweep of 50s CinemaScope.

Northern Soul [UK, Elaine Constantine, 3.5 ] Two lads in 1974 Lancashire bond over rare soul records and amphetamines. Bromantic music drama colors within the lines.

This was a replacement screening for Amazing Grace, a doc featuring late sixties footage of Aretha Franklin recording her classic gospel album of the same name. The filmmakers, using footage shot by the late Sydney Pollack, apparently decided to make a documentary about  Franklin without doing any research on her. Anyone familiar with her knows that her decades of experience in the music industry has left her extremely distrustful of business arrangements. So she got injunctions against them screening the film at Telluride and Chicago on the grounds that they were proceeding without her consent. The producers also then withdrew the title from TIFF, one hopes because they are now presenting Franklin with several of her legendary boxes full of cash.

Green Room [US, Jeremy Saulnier, 4] Punk band winds up trapped in a club surrounded by white supremacists intent on wiping them out. Violent survival thriller starring Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots and Alia Shawkat, with Patrick Stewart as head bad guy.

From the director of Blue Ruin, also recommended.

The Lobster [Greece, Yorgos Lanthimos, 4] Sad architect (Colin Farrell) hopes to maintain his humanity in an alternate reality dystopia where unmarrieds have 45 days to find new partners, or be transformed into animals. Alternatively funny and unsettling absurdist satire of the rules societies and individuals fight to impose on romantic love.

Other cast members include Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly and Ben Whishaw.

Office [HK, Johnnie To, 4] More than the markets are melting down for everyone from the new hires to the CEO (Chow Yun-Fat) of a trading firm headed for an IPO. Musical based on a play by star Sylvia Chang finds To continuing his  experimentations with space by leaning into the artificially of 3D on a gleaming, heavily stylized set.

Office will be getting a limited theatrical run in North America from specialty distributor Well-GO USA. Look for it almost immediately if you live near a multiplex that carries films for the Chinese community.

Have a question about my TIFF capsule reviews? It may be frequently asked. If so, I have already answered it.

TIFF 15: When the Lebanese Drug Dealers are the Upbeat Part of the Day

Capsule reviews and comments on films seen yesterday, Friday Sept 11th.

French Blood [French, Diastème, 4] Tightly wound racist skinhead gradually develops a conscience but finds it hard to distance himself from his old friends and National Front connections. What initially seems like another run through familiar territory slowly reveals itself as an observational story of incremental redemption.

It's hard to make a movie about neo-Nazi skinheads that neo-Nazi skinheads don't find inspiring. They just watch Romper Stomper or La Haine for the adrenaline and symbology and mentally edit out the moral content. Indeed, as they edit out the moral content of actual life. This film, about a character who instead of being sucked into a personal apocalypse faces the plain old struggles of adulthood, might actually fit that bill.

Very Big Shot [Lebanon, Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, 4] Drug dealer who acts faster than he thinks decides to dispose of a windfall of pills by faking a film shoot, so he can avoid airport security scans by hiding the goods in sealed film canisters. Adroitly executes a difficult shift of tone and genre, from tense crime drama to moviemaking satire.

Sparrows [Iceland, Rúnar Rúnarsson, 1] When his mom leaves the country, a soulful teen has to move to a remote northern fishing village to live with his alcoholic father. I was on board this gorgeously shot look at the way a place can rob young people of agency all the way up to its ending, a truly reprehensible piece of writing (and staging.).

Have a question about my TIFF capsule reviews? It may be frequently asked. If so, I have already answered it.

TIFF '15 Begins on a Vertiginous Note

It's Friday morning and thus time to capsule the movies I saw on Thursday, opening night of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

When the fest includes a documentary about film, it typically programs it so you can catch it as the very first of one's public screenings. I've learned to always do this when possible. The doc itself may or may not be a hard act to follow, but it reminds you of films that are. It's hard to think of a more perfect cinematic appetizer than this starter for the 40th anniversary festival. Release the films!

Hitchcock / Truffaut [US, Kent Jones, 4] Audio from the original interviews, clips galore, and observations from today's top directors provide a documentary extension of what is arguably the most influential film book of all time, Francois Truffaut's collection of conversations with Alfred Hitchcock. If you don't want Hitchcock and Scorsese and Fincher and Linklater et al to illuminate more to you about storytelling in than you can absorb in a single sitting, I'm not sure we really know each other after all.

I found this not just informative and absorbing but incredibly moving. Probably this tells you more about where I'm at at this moment in my life especially regarding, art and mortality and what we leave behind, than it does about the film. Or maybe everyone who's genuflected for a lifetime in the cathedral of cinema will feel the same. In which case maybe it's not a 4 but a 5.

And man I need to rewatch Vertigo again soon. And Psycho. And The Birds, and...

I Promise You Anarchy [Mexico, Julio Hernández Cordón, 3] Gay skatepunks in careless love ramp up their black market blood donor network for Mexico City narcos. Social realist crime story with slice-of-life pacing.

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Have a question about my TIFF capsule reviews? It may be frequently asked. If so, I have already answered it.

It’s That Time of Year Again: The TIFF 15 Capsule Review FAQ

Once again it’s time for me to decamp from my game designerly duties and immerse myself full time in cinema at the Toronto International Film Festival. As I’ve done for many years, I’ll be writing capsule reviews of the movies I see and sharing them here.
This is the 40^th anniversary of TIFF, which started out as the humble Festival of Festivals and has become the most important fest for prestige and international film in North America. An unprecedented number of flicks from my must-see directors unspool this year, making the always-complicated multi-level challenge of picking titles paradoxically easier and more vexing at the same time.

For those of you not crazy enough to take a vacation in which you see 45 films over eleven days, some questions may crop up. This post is here to answer them!

When will I get to see these films? A few titles appear in wide or limited theatrical release not long after their festival debuts. I mostly avoid these, since I’ll get another chance to see them soon. Most will continue to roll out to other film festivals, from London to Chicago and perhaps to a fest near you, over the next half a year or so. Those that get commercial releases will show up in movie houses over the next year, give or take. As little as ninety days after that, they’ll begin to filter onto disc, VOD, and finally streaming services like Netflix. Today’s distribution landscape makes it easier than ever for people to see obscure and niche titles, even when they live far from cities able to support thriving art house cinemas. Many of the films I saw and loved last year have by now appeared on Netflix, for example. This year a couple of the titles are from Netflix itself, like Cary Fukanaga’s much-anticipated Beasts of No Nation.

But you make me want to watch great films now! More a comment than a question, but I’ll allow it. To see something cool right away and program your own fest at home, consult my capsule review round up from last year.
Will you be seeing [major release making its debut in Toronto]? Almost undoubtedly not. Not at TIFF, anyway. When choosing titles I heavily weight the one that has yet to secure distribution. Although more films come our way eventually than ever, a few never surface again.

Will you be collecting these reviews into one post? Yes, at the fest’s end. To make my task harder, I’ll be ranking them in order of preference.

Will you be talking about it on Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff? As always. My capsule reviews will appear in the episode that drops on Oct 2nd.

What rating system do you use? I rank films from 1-5, with half points just to make you wonder why I don’t use a ten point scale. When compiling these into the long list, I translate these into verbal categories, sometimes adjusting up or down from my immediate impression.

1 – The Worst
2 – Not Recommended
3 – Okay
3.5 – Good
4 - Recommended
4.5 - Just Shy of a Masterpiece
5 - The Best

Isn’t this hard on the eyes? Yes. But it’s the legs that go first.

Reviews of tonight’s films drop tomorrow morning.

The Birds: Pronouns

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The Birds: Lasagna

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Finding Me at FanExpo Canada 2015

Once more this year I’ll be doing the guest thing amid the crazy hugeness of Toronto’s FanExpo. I won’t be at a booth, so if you’d like to chat a bit catch me in the hall before or after a panel. As ever, if you have books you’d like signed, I am more than happy to comply. Attendees can find me at the following panels, all on the weekend:

The Robin Laws Panel
Time: Saturday, 2:15 PM
Location: 703
Description: RPG Industry godfather & Fan Expo Stalwart Robin D. Laws talks about the industry, publishing, podcasting and crowdsourcing.

Game Master Master Class
Time: Saturday, 3:30 PM
Location: 713
Description: The Game Master's craft is a tricky one.  What are the tips and tricks you find most useful when it comes to making your games come alive.  And how do you handle... That guy?  The answer may surprise you!
Fellow panelists: Ed Greenwood, Malcolm Sheppard, Andrew  Valkauskas

Getting Started with Tabletop Roleplaying Games
Time: Sunday, 12:15 PM
Location: 703
Description: Wait, do we all need to buy a player's guide? Do I need miniatures? What's the deal with these dice?  You've wanted to try tabletop RPGs but don't know where to start! Our panel of experts will give you the guidance you need.
Fellow panelists: Andrew Hackard, Jonathan Lavallee, Sara McMillen

Advanced Kickstarting and Crowdfunding
Time: Sunday, 2:15 PM
Location: 717A
Description: Have you run a crowdfunding pitch?  Did you just run out of stretch goals halfway through? Did you have to scrap it all and start from sceratch?  Come share your experiences with the panel and your fellow attendees.
Fellow panelists: Peter Chiykowski, Andrew Hackard

State of the Game Industry
Time: Sunday, 3:45 PM
Location: 705
Description: Another year has passed, and the industry remains. What
new releases wowed the market? Are stores & distributors still
relevant in the age of Print on Demand and PDF sales?
Fellow panelists: Kate Bullock, Jonathan Lavallee, Phil Reed

Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff: Semi-Facing Into the Abyss

In the latest episode of our ENnie-winning podcast, Ken and I talk Mutant City Spies, vegetables, the Pelgrane pipeline, and Trotsky gone Hollywood.

The Birds: Crucial Layer

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The Birds: Ashley Madison

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The Birds: Athletes

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The Birds: Special

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The Birds: Flowchart

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Finding Me at Gen Con 2015

Update: Original post transposed the times for the Pelgrane Press and Dramatic Interaction panels. The times and dates given below are now correct.

Looking for me at Gen Con? When not in a panel, headed to a panel, or coming back from a panel, I will endeavor during exhibit hall hours to make myself available at the Pelgrane Press booth. That’s booth 609 for those playing along at home. Ask me to sign Feng Shui 2, Dreamhounds of Paris, the new Firefly campaign Ghosts in the Black,  or any item from my back catalogue, and I will be only too happy to comply. (Grab Feng Shui 2 at the Atlas Games booth or Ghosts in the Black from Margaret Weis Productions.) Or just swing by to say hi. That’s why I go to conventions—to chat with folks interested in my work. To catch me discoursing at an event, make note of any relevant items on the following list in the note-taking platform nearest and dearest to your heart. Along with seminars related to my various gaming projects, I am taking part in several Writers’ Symposium events, focusing on the art and craft of fiction.

Thurs July 30, 1 pm – 2 pm: Common People, Epic Conflicts (Writers’ Symposium) Explore ways to tell stories where common people are caught up in events of epic proportions. Learn to make these characters relevant, even if they're not saving the world. (ICC 243)

Thurs July 30, 2 pm – 3 pm: High Fantasy Without the Clichés (Writers’ Symposium) There's nothing wrong with high fantasy clichés, but we'll teach you ways to explore high fantasy storytelling in new ways without coming across like you're looking down on the genre. (ICC 243)

Thurs July 30, 4 pm – 5 pm: Feng Shui 2 (Atlas Games) Get the lowdown on Feng Shui 2 from designer Robin D. Laws, developer Cam Banks, & producer Hal Mangold. Bring your questions & your Most Magnificent 20-Second FS2 Anecdote Contest entries. (Crowne Plaza : Grand Central Bllrm D)

Fri July 31, 11 am –  12 pm: Dialogue and Dialogue Tags (Writers’ Symposium) Learn from our distinguished panelists how to write compelling dialogue that draws readers in & keeps their attention. Added bonus feature: listen to them argue the pros & cons of dialogue tags! (ICC : 244)

Fri July 31, 1 pm – 2 pm: Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff Live (Pelgrane Press) Join Kenneth Hite and I for the second annual live episode of our thrilling, erudition-packed podcast. See if I drop the F-bomb again. This is officially sold out, but we’ll see if that means anything. Weird to think we might have to collect tickets or something. (Crowne Plaza Pennsylvania Station B)

Fri July 31, 4 pm – 5 pm: Pelgrane Press Panel (Pelgrane Press) Join Simon Rogers, Cat Tobin and others from the Pelgrane team for a behind-the-scenes look at what the award-winning UK publisher's been up to this year, and what they've planned for the coming year. (Crowne Plaza : Pennsylvania Stn B)

Sat Aug 1, 1 pm – 2 pm:  Dramatic Interaction MasterClass (Pelgrane Press) Learn the structures and techniques that turn emotional confrontations between PCs from frustrating roadblocks into rich, surprising moments of human drama. Join me, Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan and Rachel Kahn as we dispense precious interpersonal wisdom. Whether you're experienced in Pelgrane Press' Hillfolk / DramaSystem or looking to infuse play in other systems with satisfying conflict, they're here to grant your most fervent petitions. (Crowne Plaza : Pennsylvania Stn B)

Sat Aug 1, 4 pm – 5 pm: Investigative Roleplaying MasterClass (Pelgrane Press) Mystery scenario masters Kenneth Hite, Robin D. Laws, and Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan train their magnifying glasses on clue-gathering adventures. Whether you're schooled in Pelgrane Press' GUMSHOE line or want to steal its secrets for play in another system, this seminar will shine light in the darkness and reveal the unlikely suspects behind your tabletop woes. (Crowne Plaza : Pennsylvania Stn B)

Sun Aug 2, 11 am – 12 pm: Build Them Up After Tearing them Down (Writers’ Symposium) Destroying characters and smashing their puny lives is easy (and kind of fun), but in this panel we'll teach you how to pick up the pieces and build the character back up afterwards. (ICC : 242)

The Birds: High Status

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The Birds: Shame

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Ken and Robin Talk About Stuff: The Truffles of the Fiend Folio

In the latest episode of our intensely flavored podcast, Ken and I talk love of detail, monsters as food, offstage deaths and UFO disinformation. And don't forget, the show has been nominated for a 2015 ENnie award, so if you're inclined to vote for us and haven't done so yet, the voting booth awaits.

The Birds: Test

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