Toronto Film Festival

The Toronto Film Festival (TIFF--http://www.tiff08.ca/default.aspx) is quickly approaching. It will run from September 4th to the 13th. There are so many films showing there that it is mind-boggling. I looked through the list of all the titles and recognized some names of directors. Those of us who won’t be attending the festival will have to wait to see their new films in the theatres, but in the meantime, we can stay home and watch some of their older films.

The Coen brothers will be showing their new film Burn After Reading which is scheduled for theatrical release in September. While waiting for that one, why not try:
Fargo, Ladykillers, or No Country For Old Men.

Jonathan Demme who directed The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Who Am I This time?, and Neil Young : Heart of Gold has a new one entitled Rachel Getting Married.

Spike Lee’s new movie is Miracle at St. Anna but now you can watch 25th Hour, Inside Man and When the Levees Broke.

Mike Leigh, one of my favorite British directors, is showing his new film Happy-Go-Lucky. Here at the library you can check out All or Nothing or Vera Drake.

Richard Linklater, a very productive young director, has made School of Rock, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Bad News Bears and A Scanner Darkly and will be showing at TIFF his new one Me and Orson Welles.

Brazilian director Fernando Meirelles of The Constant Gardener fame will be showing his new one, Blindness.

Paul Schrader who just came out with The Walker will be showing Adam Resurrected at TIFF.

Kevin Smith, one of my favorites, director of Jersey Girl and Clerks II has a new one: Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

Stephen Soderbergh who made a splash at Cannes with his film Che will try again at TIFF. In the meantime, you can watch his films Ocean’s eleven, Ocean’s Thirteen, Bubble, Traffic and The Good German.

And finally, Michael Winterbottom of The Road to Guantanamo, Code 46, Tristram Shandy and A Mighty Heart is showing his new one, Genova.

Make yourself some popcorn, pull up a comfy chair and think of all the gas money you're saving by staying at home, checking out some DVDs from the library and enjoying some oldies but goodies.