Day 5 TIFF

Fay Grim

I remember watching Parker Posey in The Party Girl. The movie doesn’t work but she is wonderful in it, same thing in House of Yes. She survived those movies with her energy and I am sure she will survive Fay Grim as well. The movie is a mess from the get go, Hal Hartley is definitely an acquired taste, and I am not sure I am one of his intended audience. The problem with the film is that it’s that the plot is too complicated and it tries to play like a slapstick comedy. I laughed a few times in the first 30 minutes and then things start to get tedious in the next 30 and then I completely lose interest for the remaining hour. Fans of Hal Hartley might enjoy this more than me. Grade C-

Starters for Ten

People asked me the same question about TIFF every year: Do they only show art films in the festival? The answer is an obvious no. Many commercial films plays here, in fact that’s the beauty of the festival. You can watch any type of films you want, art films, horror films, and foreign films and yes even mainstream commercial films.

Starters For Ten is an example. A coming of age film made in the UK. Something you can see in your multiplex every year. The movie is simple enough, Brian Jackson has always dream of going to university and compete in a TV Show called University Challenge (think Jeopardy). He finally has the chance to do so and he met Alice and fell deeply in love with her, but there is also Rebecca who he cared about as well. What will happen in the University Challenge? Which girl will he kiss in the end?

Anyway, it’s fairly predictable, but also enjoyable. The soundtracks help and the cast is very likable. I can envision this in theaters soon, and making a tiny profit. But definitely not an art film. Grade B