Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly.

Some years, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) can’t come soon enough. This is certainly one of those years. Film critics tend to bitch more about an endless parade of movies that offer the same old, same old than “regular” moviegoers, but really people — this was a bad summer. Other than Inception and Toy Story 3, there weren’t many movies that were good enough to see a second time.

My annual trek to Toronto will clear my head and reboot my love of quality cinema. Will a see some bad movies in T.O.? Of course I will. Sometimes a plot summary and the cast will sound terrific, but the execution will disappoint. Still, the one thing I know I will find at the festival is filmmakers who are passionate about their work and who have something to say. Another big aspect of an international festival is seeing how other cultures view world events, and seeing how America is being perceived these days in works from other countries.

Documentaries are given their own special place in Toronto, in the Reel to Reel program. One doc I’m really looking forward too is Inside Job, an in-depth exploration of what caused the financial crisis from the Oscar-nominated director of No End in Sight, Charles Ferguson. At the other end of the documentary spectrum is The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town. The documentary explores the creative process of Bruce Springsteen’s pivotal 1978 album, featuring footage from his “glory days.”

The Film Festival uses its Gala Presentations and Special Presentations to showcase the big name Hollywood stars and their movies hoping for Oscar glory. Check out my story here for more info on the big-ticket movies.

John Sayles

Sure it is fun to rub elbows with the stars at press conferences. However, by the time the festival is halfway through, my passion has usually been ignited by an unexpected gem, a little movie I find by accident, usually because the big movie I planned to attend is full and I have to scramble to find a movie to see in five minutes. It might be a martial arts movie or a bizarre Danish comedy or a moving exploration of war and its aftermath from a Middle Eastern filmmaker.

One of my favorite filmmakers, John Sayles, is bringing Amigo to Toronto, a drama about the American occupation of the Philippines in 1900. Yep, I didn’t know we occupied the Philippines either, but you can bet Sayles will make a statement about our modern occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan with his historical drama.

I’m getting excited just thinking about it.

Matt Damon at 2009 Fest.

While the movies being screened are the most important aspect of the Toronto International Film Festival, even film critics scan the guest list to see what stars will be in town. Today was the day the complete schedule and the official guest list was released and as usual, there will be a ton of stars in Toronto Sept. 9-19.

As a Jersey girl I’m thrilled that Bruce Springsteen will be in town to promote the documentary The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town. Clint Eastwood is back with his film Hereafter, his first trip to the fest since 1990 when he brought White Hunter Black Heart to Toronto.

Bill Gates will also be in town, and the list of Academy Award winners scheduled includes Nicole Kidman, Matt Damon, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Helen Mirren, Hilary Swank, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Connelly and Javier Bardem.

Here are some more of my favorites from the list: Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Amy Madigan, Bob Hoskins, Bruce Greenwood, Dwight Yoakam, Edward Norton, Ellen Page, Harvey Keitel, James Caan, Jeremy Renner, Carey Mulligan, Catherine Keener, Keanu Reeves, Kevin Spacey, Kristin Scott Thomas, Laura Dern, Martin Sheen, Mary Steenburgen, Natalie Portman, Paul Giamatti, Ryan Reynolds, Temuera Morrison, Uma Thurman, Vera Farmiga, Will Ferrell, Zach Braff and Zach Galifianakis.

And, from the filmmakers list: Ben Affleck, Danny Boyle, Darren Aronofsky, Errol Morris, Woody Allen, John Carpenter, John Sayles, John Turturro and Ken Loach.

The inaugural Atlantic City International Film & Music Festival takes place Sept. 8-12, with the support of Harrah’s Entertainment properties, Bally’s Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort and the Showboat Casino-Hotel. Go here for the story

In an interview with the New York Daily News. Michael Lombardo, HBO’s programming president, says that officials at the cable giant feel “strongly” about the soon-to-debut Boardwalk Empire HBO series, which is based on the book by Atlantic County judge Nelson Johnson and which premieres on HBO Sunday, Sept. 19, at 9pm EST.

“We didn’t want to hold it,” Lombardo tells the paper of the series, which gives a close account of Atlantic City in the 1920s and the Prohibition era. “This is a show we felt strongly about and we think it will resonate even in the fall.”

The article, published today, also includes an interview with director Martin Scorsese, who directed the pilot and is one of the show’s executive producers. Scorsese says he would “love” to direct more episodes of Boardwalk Empire — are we talking second season already? — if his busy schedule allows.

He also tells the Daily News why he thinks Prohibition benefited the criminal element.

“It allowed crime figures at the time, Luciano and Capone and Rothstein, to organize to become more powerful,” Scorsese tells the Daily News, “something that pulled all the way through until the 1970s.”

Having watched the first episode, all we can say is that although some of the names have been changed in the cable TV series from the non-fiction book, you’ll hear all of the names mentioned by Scorsese above in the series. Meanwhile, the main character of the series, Enoch Thompson, played by Steve Buscemi (pictured above in the series’ first episode) is based on Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, the one-time main man of Atlantic City during its early 20th century heyday.

Read the entire story and interview with Scorsese here.

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

I will be attending my 23rd Toronto International Film Festival this September. The event runs from Sept. 9-19. The current state of movies makes the trip to Hollywood North even more important for a film critic who needs to see the work of maverick filmmakers who want to engage the heart and the brain.

My nickname is “The Moviejunkie” because I love all types of movies, from popcorn flicks to intimate foreign films. However, after months of uninspired filmmaking from a Hollywood industry that only cares about box office results, this film lover needs to see something different.

Film festivals are more important than ever because independent low budget cinema, foreign language films and Oscar worthy films have been relegated to the fringes of the movie business. They are the afterthought.

If you’ve still been bothering to go to movies in theaters, you know how bad that experience has become, and I’m not talking about the string of TV commercials you have to sit through before the coming attractions. For every Inception that comes along to blow your mind, you have to sit through dozens of bland, cookie cutter action movies and formulaic comedies.

If you love movies — and film critics by definition love movies — it is very depressing. That’s why a trip to Toronto to see the work of the best filmmakers from around the globe recharges my batteries every year. It is also why filmmaker and prominent actors love to bring their smaller movies to Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, New York and Venice.

The only way to break a small movie is to get it noticed at one of the festivals. And it is only the top buzz movies at Sundance, Cannes and Toronto that get U.S. distribution. Winter’s Bone, opening locally this Friday (Aug. 6) is a prime example, a film that won the 2010 Sundance Grand Jury Prize.

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So well-received was Alex DePhillipo’s film Dark Fall during its Atlantic City debut on July 16 that a second premier showing will take place Friday night, Aug. 13, at Showboat’s House of Blues. Doors open 7pm.
Dark Fall is a high-definition film that follows New Jersey’s best surfers as they tackle some of the best surf right in their own back yard as well as remote locations across the globe. It spotlights such standout New Jersey surfers as Dean Randazzo, Sam Hammer, Andrew Gesler, Zach Humphries, Clay Pollioni and others. The soundtrack includes music by The Parlor Mob, ASG, Jumpship, Chris Arena, Sabotoge Soundsystem, Bruce Springsteen and more.

The first major screening announcement for the Toronto International Film Festival Sept. 9-19 was made today and it features a lot of buzz worthy movies.

According to the official announcement, “The Toronto International Film Festival rolls out the red carpet with a selection of 15 galas and 35 special presentations for this year’s Festival, including 25 world premieres. This year’s Festival includes the world premieres of new films by Robert Redford, Michael Winterbottom, Guillaume Canet, John Cameron, Mike Mills and Andrucha Waddington. Critically acclaimed filmmakers Woody Allen, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Mike Leigh, Julian Schnabel and Im Sang-Soo make their North American premieres in Toronto, and the galas and special presentations announced today (July 27) feature on-screen performances by Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Ben Affleck, Javier Bardem, Marion Cotillard, Clive Owen, Colin Firth, Juliette Lewis, James McAvoy, Ewan McGregor, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Christopher Plummer, Natalie Portman, Ryan Reynolds, Sam Rockwell, Amy Ryan and Hilary Swank.”

The four films that caught my attention are the ones by Redford, Darren Aronofsky, John Madden and a film about Jack Abramoff.

Black Swan Darren Aronofsky, USA
North American Premiere
A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, Black Swan stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company. Black Swan takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect.  Black Swan also stars Vincent Cassel, Mila Kunis, Barbara Hershey and Winona Ryder.

Casino Jack George Hickenlooper, Canada
World Premiere
Based on a true story, Kevin Spacey stars as Jack Abramoff, the former high-powered lobbyist whose bribery schemes and fraudulent dealings with Indian casinos ultimately landed him in prison, and stunned the world. It remains the biggest scandal to hit Washington, D.C. since Watergate. The film also stars Barry Pepper, Kelly Preston, Rachelle Lefevre and Jon Lovitz.

The Conspirator Robert Redford, USA
World Premiere
While an angry nation seeks vengeance, a young union war hero must defend a mother accused of aiding her son in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Directed by Robert Redford, the film stars James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood and Tom Wilkinson.

The Debt John Madden, USA
North American Premiere
Helen Mirren, Jessica Chastain and Sam Worthington star in this thriller about three Israeli Mossad agents on a 1965 mission to capture a notorious Nazi war criminal. Thirty years later, secrets about the case emerge.
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In other movie news, Daniel Craig has signed on to play crusading reporter Mikael Blomkvist in the American adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. David Fincher directs and the movie begins filming in Sweden in the fall for a December 2011 release. Ellen Page is said to be in the running to play Lisbeth Salander in competition with Mia Wasikowska and Emily Browning. Carey Mulligan is no longer in the mix.

If you’ve ever been bored by a movie that is way too long, get ready for a film festival that eliminates that problem. On Friday, July 30, 7pm, Resorts hosts the Santa Barbara Minute Film Festival, sponsored by the Downbeach Film Festival/Atlantic City Cinefest. Go here for the story.

Angelina Jolie in 'Salt.'

Angelina Jolie’s new spy-on-the-run thriller Salt is a lot of fun if you put your logic center on hold. Go here for the review.

Gibson is the centerpiece of my movie-themed collage.

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

Pictured is a collage I made 23 years ago. As you can see, the center of my movie tribute is my love of Australian movies and in particular, the American movie star who grew up Down Under, Mel Gibson.

I have never met Gibson. This tribute was based on my passion for his film work, from the early days of Mad Max, Tim and Gallipoli, to his early Hollywood years and such gems as The Year of Living Dangerously, The Road Warrior, Mrs. Soffel and Lethal Weapon.

Unfortunately, Gibson’s lethal weapon these days is his mouth, when he is drunk and/or angry. It was easier for movie stars in the golden era from the 1930s to 1960s when actors had contracts to film studios and those studios has public relations machines that jumped on every possible scandal created by bad behavior and took care of it. The classic film A Star Is Born shows exactly how that Hollywood machinery worked.

Hey, it used to work for politicians too. The press knew all about JFK’s womanizing but rightly figured it was personal and had nothing to do with how he was running the country.

We liked it better that way. We wanted our movie stars to reflect our ideals and beliefs, on and off the screen. We didn’t want to know what they were really like if they were as flawed as we were. We wanted them to be the icons of perfection we worshiped on the big screen.

Movie stars have been on their own since the death of the contract system in the early 1970s. Gibson’s latest bad press isn’t even why I’m so sad about the man whose movie work has given me so much enjoyment over the years. We have all had moments when we have been stupid and screamed at the people we love. Luckily for us we weren’t famous enough to have the calls recorded and leaked to the Internet.

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