In part four of our TIFF 2011 preview, Brian McKechnie takes a look at Tyrannosaur, Death of a Superhero, and The Flying Machine. Check back over the next few days for more previews of films playing at TIFF 2011.
Tyrannosaur * Criticize This! TIFF Pick *
Special Presentation
Director: Paddy Considine
From the opening scene of Tyrannosaur, where violent alcoholic Joseph (Peter Mullan) comes out of a bar in a rage and kicks his yappy dog to death, I knew this was not going to be a pretty movie. And sure enough, it wasn’t. Actor-turned-director Paddy Considine has made such an angry and bleak film you almost want to give up hope for humanity while watching it. Yet, the performances from Mullen, Olivia Colman as a woman he befriends, and Eddie Marsan as her abusive husband, are so outstanding that it’s a definite must-see at TIFF.
Rating: **** (out of 5 stars)
Showing:
September 16 at 6 p.m. at the Visa Screening Room (Elgin)
September 17 at 4 p.m. at the Isabel Bader Theatre
Death of a Superhero *Criticize This! TIFF Pick *
Special Presentation
Director: Ian Fitzgibbon
Based on Anthony McCarten’s novel, Death of a Superhero tells the story of 14-year-old cancer patient Donald (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) as he comes to terms with the fact he’s going to die. It’s dark and depressing, but with wild animated sequences scattered throughout, and Andy Serkis in one of his best performances to date, the film is something special and needs to be experienced.
Rating **** (out of 5 stars)
Showing:
September 10 at 5:45 p.m. at the AMC
September 11 at 3:15 p.m. at the AMC
September 17 at 1 p.m. at the AMC
The Flying Machine
TIFF Kids
Directors: Martin Clapp, Geoff Lindsey, and Dorota Kobiela
The Flying Machine is a lesson in Chopin that features two annoying kids, Heather Graham, and pianist Lang Lang as himself. It’s also in 3-D and has a 20-minute stop-motion sequence that features no dialogue. Unless you’ve been taking LSD for a week straight, it’s just going to grate on your nerves and irritate you. Will kids enjoy it? Very doubtful.
Rating: * (out of 5 stars)
Showing:
September 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
September 18 at 12:45 p.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox
TIFF 2011 runs from September 8 – 18. For more information, visit tiff.net.
Top image: A scene from Death of a Superhero. Courtesy TIFF.
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