TIFF 2013

Oh tis the season to TIFF! Today was the first official day of the TIFF season (in my opinion). Today the single tickets went onsale to the general public. Usually I wait until this day to get my tickets but this year I got a premium 6 ticket package. I was able to pick these tickets last Friday. I split the package with two friends so we ended up getting Labor Day and Don Jon both of which are mainstream hollywood films that will likely get wide releases in the future.

The pros of the package tickets:
- no virtual waiting room
- stress free
- quick process

The cons of the package tickets:
- almost 3 times more expensive per ticket than the under 25 price (which I am currently still getting)
- even with an advanced window August: Osage County (my top pick) was still off sale

I'm going to have to think about whether or not the package was a good investment. I had little stress this morning getting tickets and, in fact, both Don Jon and Labor Day were available when I went in this morning. But who can predict that. Anyway, here is a rundown of my movies this year.

Jason Reitman Reading of Boogie Nights: Last year Reitman (Juno, Up In The Air) brought a star
studded cast to the Ryerson theatre to do a live reading of American Beauty. This year he will be bringing Boogie Nights, which should be an interesting live reading! Rumous are that Joseph Gordon Levitt could take up the role of Dirk Diggler. How great would that be?



Labor Day: Another Reitman flick! This movie stars Kate Winslet as an agoraphobic single mom  and Josh Brolin as a strange man looking for a place to stay. The film just screened at Telluride and the buzz seems to be good about this one. I really enjoyed Reitman's last film Young Adult and I think it was really underrated.



Devil's Knot: Last year I saw West of Memphis, a documentary about the events of the West Memphis
three. This year we have the first hollywood portrayal about the events. Adding to this, Johnny Depp has purchased the rights to create a film version of one of the three's accounts of his time in prison. Devil's Knot stars Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth. It is directed by Canadian Atom Egoyan.

Philomena: Judi Dench! Steve Coogan! Two of the greats teaming up for a movie together? Can't go wrong with this one I don't think. It's a film about a journalist who travels with a woman looking for her long lost son. Should be a good one that likely won't get the same wide release treatment as the two above.






Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him & Her: The concept of this movie is really interesting. It's actually two films - one told from the perspective of the girl and one by the guy. I wish there was a similar companion piece to 500 Days of Summer. The film stars Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and the hilarious Bill Hader. This should be a really cool exploration of storytelling if nothing else.

Don Jon: The trailer of this move completely sold me. This movie is written, directed and stars Joseph Gordon Levitt. It is about a Jersey boy who meets a Jersey girl. Scarlet Johanason plays his love interest. The movie looks like a perfect light film that will wrap up my festival viewing perfectly.

If you haven't watched the trailer yet do yourself a favour and click play NOW:




What movies are you seeing? What are you excited for?