The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10-19 this year and on hand will be a ton of films vying for distribution or hoping to get some early word of mouth to ensure their fall and winter releases satisfy the box-office expectations or guide the way to an Oscar nomination. As a result, we here at RopeofSilicon have received 73 new images from 18 of the films that will be screening at this year’s festival and these films include the likes of everything from Niki Caro’s The Vintner’s Luck to Grant Heslov’s The Men Who Stare at Goats, two Werner Herzog pictures in The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Calls New Orleans and My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done, as well as something for horror fans with new looks at Jennifer’s Body as well as a gallery for [REC] 2.
Along with each preview over the following four pages I have also included the trailer if it is available as well as the synopsis, the cast and the director for each film. By clicking on the picture links, a new browser window will open so you can browse the images and close the window to return to this article and continue the preview.
Now… Enjoy!
CAST: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Ashraf Barhom, Michael Lonsdale, Rupert Evans, Homayoun Ershadi, Oscar Isaac
DIRECTOR: Alejandro Amenbar
Set in Roman Egypt in the fourth century, “Agora” tells the story of the legendary astronomer Hypatia (Weisz), trapped in the legendary Library of Alexandria, and her fight to save the old world’s wisdom from the religious riots sweeping the streets of Alexandria. Her slave Davus (Minghella) wrestles with his yearning for freedom and his professed love for his mistress.
CAST: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Fairuza Balk, Jennifer Coolidge, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Shawn Hatosy, Xzibit, Shea Whigham, Brad Dourif, Denzel Whitaker
DIRECTOR: Werner Herzog
TERENCE MCDONAGH (Nicolas Cage), Homicide detective with the New Orleans Police Department, saves a prisoner from drowning in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In so doing, he severely injures his back. He’s promoted to Lieutenant, put on prescription pain medication and returned to active duty.
A year later finds Terence addicted to Vicodin and cocaine, buoyed by the conceit that he can take care of everyone he needs to take care of, is a better cop than he’s ever been. He has his bosses sufficiently convinced that when a family of African immigrants is found massacred, Terence is the guy to head up the investigation.
CAST: Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Colm Meaney, Jim Broadbent, Peter MacDonald, Stephen Graham
DIRECTOR: Tom Hooper
Set in 1960’s and 1970’s England, “The Damned United” tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough’s doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football Leeds United.
Previously managed by his bitter rival Don Revie, and on the back of their most successful period ever as a football club, Leeds was perceived by many to represent a new aggressive and cynical style of football – an anathema to the principled yet flamboyant Brian Clough, who had achieved astonishing success as manager of Hartlepool and Derby County building teams in his own vision with trusty lieutenant Peter Taylor. Taking the Leeds job without Taylor by his side, with a changing room full of what in his mind were still Don’s boys, would lead to an unheralded examination of Clough’s belligerence and brilliance over 44 days. This is that story. The story of The Damned United.
