Film Fan Fridays for Friday December 12, 2008

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday December 12, 2008! As we near the end of 2008 we are starting to see more of what will be 'the' films of the year. How do we tell? Buzz is one way and there has certainly been that around for this weeks release of Doubt but another indicator is the Golden Globes nominations were announced yesterday which add previously released Frost/Nixon and upcoming release The Curious Case of Benjamin Button both with numerous nominations. The Reader, which debuts this week also landed 4 nominations. For more details check out the film nominations lists by full nomination list, film list with nominations itemized or film list by total nominations.

In limited release this week we have two of the big nominees for the Golden Globes with acting nods with Doubt starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Viola Davis as well as The Reader starring Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes. Both films are historically set and deal with challenging issues. We also have Canvas, a dramatic film that explores the journey of family and mental illness. We also have straight from it's TIFF premiere the rockin' Toronto Stories, with four short films created by local directors that are strung together and it is truly worth seeing.

In wide release this week we have the animated Delgo which looks like a combination of Star Wars Episode I, Romeo and Juliet in a The Chronicles of Riddick like world, but...it's a kids movie. If you are looking to get into the holiday spirit you can try Nothing Like the Holidays which I'll admit the trailer actually got me a little emotional and a bit giggly. A good sign methinks! The biggest release this week is undoubtly The Day The Earth Stood Still, a remake of the 1951 classic science fiction film. Not only will the film grace the theatres with its presense but it will be apparently beamed into space to another star system. Beamed into space. Release date for it's arrive at Alpha Centauri in 2012.

Have a great weekend whether you spend it on earth, or beyond!

Shannon

Friday December 12, 2008 Releases

Canvas
Writer/Dir: Joseph Greco - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Marcia Gay Harden, Joe Pantoliano, Devon Gearhart
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page
Trailer is spoiler free for first half

The Day the Earth Stood Still
Writer/Dir: Scott Derrickson (The Exorcism of Emily Rose)
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith
USA
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free for first 2/3rds

Delgo
Dir: Marc F. Alder & Jason Maurer - feature film directorial debuts
Voices: Freddie Prinze Jr., Jennifer Love Hewitt, Chris Kattan, Anne Bancroft, Val Kilmer, Malcolm McDowell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Louis Gossett Jr. USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free for the first half

Doubt
Writer/Dir: John Patrick Shanley (Joe Versus the Volcano)
Cast: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Voila Davis, Joseph Foster
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free for the first third

Nothing Like the Holidays
Dir: Alfredo De Villa (Adrift in Manhattan, Yellow)
Cast: Freddy RodrÍquez, Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Peña, Luis Guzmán, Jay Hernandez, John Leguizamo, Debra Messing
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free for the first third

The Reader
Dir: Stephen Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot)
Cast: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross, Jeanette Hain
USA/Germany
Limited Release
Official Film Site (autoplays trailer), IMDb Page, Trailer
You get the gist of the film by the halfway point

Toronto Stories
Dirs: Sook-Yin Lee, Sudz Sutherland, David Weaver, Aaron Woodley
Cast: Toka Murphy, Tygh Runyan, Sook-Yin Lee, Carly Pope, Joris Jarksy, K.C. Collins, Gil Bellows, Ricardo Hoyos, Samantha Weinstein
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
Trailer is spoiler free until 3/4 of the way through

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of December 12, 2008**