Film Fest Cheat Sheet
SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2009
Film Fest Cheat Sheet
The Vancouver International Film Festival opens tomorrow with a whopping 360 films screening in a mere 16 days. But don't fret film buffs, we scoured the program and got the scoop from insiders to bring you the shortlist. Herewith, five flicks that'll butter your popcorn.
An Education
This Sundance Audience Award winner, from the director of Italian for Beginners and writer Nick Hornby, takes us to swinging London, where an Oxford-bound young woman steers off-course when she falls for an older conman (played by Peter Sarsgaard).
The September Issue
An unprecedented look into the world of Anna Wintour and the pages of Vogue, as the editrix and her staffers put together their biggest issue of the year.
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Both heart wrenching and hopeful, the Dickensian tale set in Harlem has been racking up accolades on the festival circuit. Look for a surprising performance by Mariah Carey as a welfare counselor to main character Clareece “Precious” Jones.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Partially shot in Vancouver and riddled with stars including Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Heath Ledger—in his final performance—this mad fantasy from the mind of Terry Gilliam promises to be a wild trip.
My Year Without Sex
Wife and mother Natalie survives a near-fatal illness only to discover her recovery includes doctor-prescribed abstention. Divided into named chapters like Foreplay, Climax, and Going Down, the Australian film deals with sex and death in a decidedly untaxing way.
The film festival runs October 1-16, 2009. Order tickets and view schedules at www.viff.org