Film Fan Fridays for Friday May 13, 2011

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Bit of a late post on the releases as Blogger was down for a bit, including Friday AM when Film Fan Fridays normally goes up, but it still is here for all to enjoy! We have a real mish mash of releases this week including 2 of my fave genres with both a dance film and a vampire film kicking about! Also have touching dramas, quirky comedies and more.

In limited releases this week we start with the highly acclaimed Meek's Cutoff which has a period-Winter's Bone feel too it following the tough life of settlers in 1845 and stars Michelle Williams (Blue Valentine) and directed by Kelly Reichardt (Wendy and Lucy). We also have The Strange Case of Angelica / O Estranho Caso de Angélica which has a bit of a morbid one-liner of "Set in the 1950s, a photographer is asked by hotel owners to take portraits of their recently deceased daughter.", but actually looks pretty charming. I'm curious to see Meet Monica Velour starring Kim Catrall and centred on an usual friendship between a porn star-now Mom and a teen fan and roudning out the limited releases is Potiche is a French comedy from director François Ozon based on the play of the same name by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Pierre Grédy set in 1977 and stars Catherine Deneuve as a submissive wife aka the translated title of Trophy Wife.

Wide Releases this week include the long-time coming Priest (in 3D) from director Scott Charles Stewart (Legion and the upcoming The Mortal Instruments adaptation) which is based on the graphic novel and stars Paul Bettany as a priest in a world where vampires are real. Looks epic, but also looks very visually familiar but I can't help but still be curious about it. Also really looking forward to checking out Beat the World a Canadian dance film that's centred on an international competition and adds an element of parkour to the mix. I have to see it. Last up for wide releases is Bridesmaids being billed as 'from the people that brought you Knocked Up' and has a Hangover-for-women feel, at least from the marketing. I'll be curious to hear what women who see the film have to say about it.
Festival Watch

Inside Out
21st Annual Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival
May 19 - 29, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Ryerson University Film Festival
May 12 - 14, 2011 at The Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Jewish Film Festival
Continues until May 15, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Russian Film Festival (TRFF)
May 11 - 15, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday May 13, 2011 Releases

Beat the World
Writer/Dir: Robert Adetuyi (Turn it Up)
Cast: Tyrone Brown, Mishael Morgan, Nikki Grant, Ray Johnson, Chase Armitage, Kristy Flores
Canada
Official Film Site, IMDB Page, Trailer

Bridesmaids
Dir: Paul Feig (Unaccompanied Minors)
Cast: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi Mclendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd, Matt Lucas
USA
Official Film Site, IMDB Page, Trailer

Meek's Cutoff
Dir: Kelly Reichardt (Wendy and Lucy, Old Joy)
Cast: Michelle Williams, Bruce Greenwood, Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, shirley Henderson, Will Patton
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDB Page, Trailer

Meet Monica Velour
Writer/Dir: Keith Bearden - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Kim Cattrall, Dustin Ingram, Brian Dennehy, Keith David, Jee Young Han, Jamie Tisdale
USA
Official Film Site, IMDB Page, Trailer

Potiche / Trophy Wife
Dir: François Ozon (8 Women, Swimming Pool, Angel)
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini, Karin Viard, Judith Godreche
France
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDB Page, Trailer

Priest (2011)
Dir: Scott Charles Stewart (Legion)
Cast: Paul Bettany, Maggie Q, Karl Urban, Cam Gigandet, Lily Collins, Brad Dourif, Stephen Moyer
USA
Official Film Site, IMDB Page, Trailer

The Strange Case of Angelica / O Estranho Caso de Angélica
Writer/Dir: Manoel de Oliveira (Eccentricities of a Blonde-haired Girl, Belle toujours)
Cast: Pilar López de Ayala, Filipe Vargas, Ricardo Trêpa
Portugal/Spain/France/Brazil
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDB Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of May 13, 2011**