By Fraser Robinson
Editor’s Note:
Ten days of films in Toronto. 51 films during those ten days. What to do? Simple. Divide up the films among a pool of savvy reviewers, right? Wrong. Why should you, when one reviewer, lonely for the intimacy of warm, sweaty handshakes endemic to movie schmooze-fests, will do? Indeed. Why?
Mr. Fraser Robinson was such a lone reviewer with just the fetish for prespiratory grips. He will do. And he did. Behold and be in awe.
To Die For: Satirical dark comedy which pokes fun at society’s (possibly dangerous) obsessions with the media.
Doom Generation: The poster says, “Eat, Fuck, Kill” – and that says it all.
Le Confessional: Well made debut by theater director Robert Lepage and one of the most “Canadian” films to be seen.
Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead: Waste of talent, money and celluloid. However, this may be the beginning of a Treat Williams comeback.
Angel Baby: Moving film from Australia about the mentally ill.
Unstrung Heroes: Great debut by Diane Keaton – watch Michael Richards escape the shadow of the tired Kramer schtick.
Loaded: Annoying know-it-all teens who do acid and then they know even more.
War Stories: New Zealand women during World War II – surprisingly good.
Madagascar Skin: A guy with a birthmark shaped like Madagascar moves to the seaside and meets a bricklayer. You won’t believe it, but it’s a must-see.
Screamers: Aliens will never happen again. Let it die.
Art For Teachers of Children: Introspection filmmaking at its best. The true story of lust and posing nude at 14.
The Michelle Apartments: Avoid.
The Run of the Country: One man’s terrible summer in the hills of Ireland.
The Grotesque: Freaked out dark comedy with Sting at his best.
Escape: Confusion political thriller from the Phillipines which fails to thrill.
Tokyo Fist: Boxing, piercing, gore and skewed romance in Tokyo.
If Only I Were An Indian: A bizarre group of Indian “imitators” in the Czech Republic. Strange topic, but well presented.
Young Poisoners Handbook: You’re fourteen and you poison people that you don’t like.
Mute Witness: If you can ignore the poor acting and writing this is the most intense thrill you’ll have this year.
Go Now: Slow moving British film about dealing with MS.
Liste Noir: Ho-Hum political scandal film from Quebec.
Korea: Drama about holding grudges in Ireland.
In the Bleak Midwinter: Six actors attempting Hamlet in a condemned church. Hilarity ensues.
Adultery: A Users Guide: Silly french drama.
Trailer Park: A collection of previews from your favourite raunchy cult classics.
Mighty Aphrodite: Woody Allen scores again.
Mrs. Munck: Painfully idiotic film from the untalented mind of Diane Ladd.
Wizard of Darkness: Japanese teens fight Satan. Gore galore.
I.D.: Football thugs in Britain and the cops that chase them.
Reckless: Bizarre comedy/drama with Mia Farrow.
Vintage: Families of Value: Black families dealing with homosexuality.
Pasolini – An Italian Crime: What JFK should have been.
Evil Town: Charles Bukowski story about castration.
Keeper: Prison movie about struggling to accept your roots.
Man of the Year: A year in the life of a Playgirl model with a big secret.
Nothing Personal: Terrific drama about the human side of the conflict in Ireland.
Georgia: Sibling rivalry in the music industry.
Once Upon A Time… This Morning: Three kids try to find their father and are chased by drug dealers.
Under A Blue Moon: Surprisingly enjoyable “family” movie.
Crying Freeman: Hot action, confusing plot, bad acting.
Sleepover: Yet another kids-get-together-and-chat-insightfully-about-life film.
Cry, the Beloved Country: Crime and punishment in South Africa in 1946.
Nobody Loves Me: A German airport security guard and her gay voodoo friend look for love.
A Hard Day’s Night: The Beatles at their foppish best.
Devil in a Blue Dress: Mediocre Raymond Chandler-esque detective movie.
Day of the Beast: Spanish Ghostbusters on crack.
Blue in the Face: Lots of conversations about lots of different things.
Denise Calls Up: Social comment about people who only know each other on the phone.
Flirt: A love story told three times over. Surprisingly watchable.
Four Rooms: Four mediocre to poor short films about one crazy night in a hotel.
Gamera: Guardian of the Universe: Japanese monster movie about a giant flying turtle fighting giant killing birds.
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