Films that screened at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival figure prominently in the DVD releases available Jan. 31.
Afghan Luke (Alliance Films) tells the story of Luke (Nick Stahl) a Canadian freelance war correspondent who reports controversial activities of Canadian soldiers serving in Afghanistan. When his article gets buried, he returns to Afghanistan to gather additional evidence that will get his original story printed. Filmed in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, Afghan Luke was a TIFF’11 Special Presentation.
Breakaway (Alliance Films) is a comedy about what happens when a Brampton-born young Sikh aspires to become a hockey champion. Vinay Virmani wrote and stars in this mash-up of Indo-Canadian culture and Canadian’s national game, a story about a young man who leads an all-Sikh hockey team to a regional championship. Rob Lowe stars as the coach. Comedian Russell Peters appears as an interloping cousin. Filmed in Toronto, Breakaway was a TIFF’11 Special Presentation.
Dream House (eOne Films) is a haunted house thriller starring Daniel Craig as Will Atenton, a man plagued by the murder of a mother and children who were former residents of his country home. Craig’s real-life wife Rachel Weisz plays his movie spouse. Naomi Watts portrays the watchful neighbour helping to unravel the mystery of Will’s past and the truth of the killings.
Drive (Alliance Films) is a crime thriller memorable for its graphic violence and riveting performances by Ryan Gosling, Albert Brooks, Carey Mulligan and Bryan Cranston. Gosling stars as Driver, a professional stuntman by day and getaway driver for armed robbers at night. He steps out of his comfort zone and into serious danger when he chooses to rescue his beautiful neighbour Irene (Mulligan) who is victimized by the activities of her ex-con husband.
In Time (20th Century Fox) is a science fiction thriller set in the near future when genetic modifications prevent people from aging past 25. Instead people are forced to use their allotted time as currency to pay for everything including life extension and basic necessities. As a result, the rich can live forever while the less fortunate have to constantly negotiate for more time and better living conditions. Justin Timberlake stars as Will Salas, a man who comes into a fortune of time that gives him access to the world of the wealthy. He’s soon on the run when he partners with a wealthy heiress (Amanda Seyfried) in a scheme to destroy the corrupt societal system.
The Big Year (20th Century Fox) is a comedy starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson as three guys attempting to overcome work-life crisis by taking a year off. Their frustrations, insecurities and manly rivalries fuel a cross-country journey of life-altering adventures all in the guise of a bird-watching competition. Principal cast includes Brian Dennehy, Anjelica Huston, Rashida Jones, Rosamund Pike, Dianne Wiest and JoBeth Williams (Canadian connection: some scenes filmed in Whistler and Vancouver, British Columbia.)
The Thing (Universal Pictures) is a prequel to John Carpenter’s classic 1982 horror movie inspired by a 1938 novella by noted sci-fi author John W. Campbell Jr. entitled Who Goes There? Terror reigns when a deadly alien capable of mimicking human form is released by an unsuspecting team of scientists conducting research in Antarctica.
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