On the way to TIFF...

It’s September, which means the festival is about to arrive. Once again, the Toronto International Film Festival is giving our great city a first look at some of this year’s best films, starting today. With films from Danny Boyle, Robert Redford, and Darren Arronofsky and starring Robert Deniro, Helen Mirren and Hilary Swank, there is a lot to expect this fall. Here’s a brief look at a few of the many films premiering at this year’s festival.

The Conspirator

Robert Redford’s new film has a stellar cast including Robin Wright, James Mcavoy, Kevin Kline and Evan Rachel Wood and is already gaining critical buzz. Robin Wright plays Mary Surratt, a woman, who is wrongfully charged of co-conspiring the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. She relies on her lawyer to prove the truth and save her life.

Daydream Nation

First time Canadian director, Michael Goldbach writes and directs Daydream Nation, a film about a small, nowhere town shaken by the arrival of a teenage girl (played by Kat Dennings) who begins to have an affair with one of her teachers (played by Josh Lucas). The incredible Ms. Dennings looks like she will give a brilliant performance in this film. Daydream Nation will premiere Friday, September 10^th, at the Ryerson Theatre.

Super

From the director of Dawn Of The Dead, comes a dark action comedy starring the hysterical Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler and Ellen Page. After his wife leaves him for a drug dealer, a man decides to become a superhero named The Crimson Bolt and get back his wife, although he has no actual powers. He is soon joined by a comic book junkie, Libby (Boltie), who intends to help him. This might be a complete copy of the film Kick Ass or it might be completely original and hilarious. There’s only one way to find out and that would be on Friday, September 10^th at Midnight Madness.

It’s Kind Of A Funny Story

Based from the young adult novel by Ned Vizzini, It’s Kind Of A Funny Story is now in the hands of directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. The film is about a teenager named Craig (Keir Gilchrist), who checks himself into a mental ward after contemplating suicide. There he meets a wide range of characters, including Bobby (Zach Galifinakis), a middle-aged failure, who he befriends and Noelle (Emma Roberts), a beautiful scar-faced girl, who he finds himself attracted to. The book was one of my favourites to read, and it looks like the film will be just as amazing.

127 Hours

From the whole team of Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy, Christian Colson), comes the film adaptation of adrenalin junkie, Aron Ralston’s unlucky climb up a mountain, starring James Franco. I don’t even know if I will be able to watch Franco amputate his arm, all I do know is that Danny Boyle has never disappointed and 127 Hours will certainly be interesting to watch this September.