Fire up your favourite movie-watching electronics and ready the snacks, two films from last year’s Toronto International Film Festival joins the list of great movies available for home viewing on Jan. 24.
50/50 (eOne Films) was a TIFF’11 Special Presentation memorable for its comedic take on cancer. Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Adam, a mild-mannered young man diagnosed with a rare and potentially fatal form of cancer. By his side are his doctor (Philip Baker Hall), his adoring but worrisome mother (Anjelica Huston), a not-so-supportive girlfriend (Bryce Dallas Howard), a therapist-in-training (Anna Kendrick) and his best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) who is determined to help Adam make the best of a dire situation.
French Immersion (TVA Films) is a uniquely Canadian comedy about five adults entrapped by their desire to learn French. They arrive at the recently opened Institut Linguistique de St. Isidore-du-Coeur-de-Jésus in a remote town in Northern Québec to find their lives ruled, for two weeks, by strict school administrators and unsympathetic townspeople who declare no English can be spoken. No exceptions.
Real Steel (Walt Disney Pictures) is a futuristic action movie starring Hugh Jackman as a former fight champion turned robot wrangler as hi-tech robots replace humans in the competitive boxing ring. He’s the undisputed underdog with minimal prospects until he partners with his estranged son (Toronto born Dakota Goyo) who is determined to make a champion out of a discarded ‘bot named Atom.
Restless (Mongrel Media) screened at TIFF’11 as part of the Masters program showcasing films made by today’s most influential directors. Gus Van Sant directs this story of two teen loners drawn to each other by their mutual fascination with death. Their individual tragedies reveal why the attraction is so strong. The movie is based on the stage play "Of Winter and Water Birds," by Jason Lew.
The Whistleblower (eOne Films) received renewed attention on Jan. 17 when it was nominated for six Genie Awards including Best Picture. Based on a true story, it stars Rachel Weisz as Kathryn Bolkovac, a Nebraska police officer who works as a UN peacekeeper in post-war Bosnia. Shortly after her arrival in Sarajevo in 1999, Bolkovac uncovers evidence of UN involvement in the local sex trade. Her discovery leads to her dismissal and puts her life in danger.
Check back with me soon. I'll be posting information about new movies opening in theatres on Jan. 27. In the meantime, continue to get the latest movie news by following me on Twitter.
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