Must..... keep.... watching... movies! Hello there and welcome to Cinema Blend’s Day 5 coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival! In a true testament to how tiring and mentally exhausting a film festival like Toronto is, today marked the first time I actually skipped a movie on my schedule. After a pleasantly surprising early morning screening of The Jane Austen Book Club, I opted to sit down at a nearby restaurant to order some breakfast, and rather than rushing through it like I have been for the last four days, I took my time and decided to play hooky on my next film When Did You Last See Your Father?. Some feelings of guilt ensued, but so did eggs benedict and fresh coffee, so it wasn’t all bad. Following my leisurely break was a rather interesting showing of Battle in Seattle, which included a brief Q and A from writer-director Stuart Townsend. Overall it was a good day; two decent films, a hearty breakfast and no rushing, a welcome change of pace from the fury that was the weekend.
The Jane Austen Book Club
After viewing numerous emotional and depressing films, I finally got the chance to see a feel good movie and although I cannot believe I am saying this, it was a breath of fresh air. The Jane Austen Book Club is both entertaining and funny as it follows a group of people who start a book club to get away from the stressful situations that begin to dictate their lives. But as the group soon discovers, Jane Austen’s characters are still relevant even in the 21st Century, and their relationships bear some remarkable resemblances to those in the fictitious novels. Every bit as predictable as you can imagine, the film succeeds by planting itself firmly on the fence between taking itself too seriously and not seriously enough. Almost winking at the audience in telling its simply story, The Jane Austen Book Club is about nothing more than people helping each other deal with life by turning to the iconic books of Jane Austen.
The biggest success of Robin Swicord’s film is the way she genuinely endears us to her characters, forcing us to both feel their pain and relish their joy. The book club consists of five women and a lone male, each of them with a distinct personality and life of their own but none of them beyond the reach of the pangs of lost love. As the club dissects each novel in turn, their own lives continue on, sometimes mirroring an Austen character, and sometimes not. The script does not overstep its bounds and attempt to recreate modern versions of Elizabeth Benner or Anne Elliot, but rather makes passing references to their lovelorn trials and tribulations while focusing mainly on their remedies, which just may help our present day characters. Swicord’s choice to write a script that satisfies hardcore Austen fans but does not leave casual followers in the dark is a stroke of genius, as it opens the door for everyone to enjoy this heart-warming tale of friendship, love and the healing power of art.
3.5/5 Stars
Battle in Seattle
A film that deals with both real life tragedies and hot-button political issues is always tough to watch and Battle in Seattle is no exception. Centered around the World Trade Organization’s 1999 meetings in Seattle and grounded by the fictional storylines of people who could have been there, Stuart Townsend’s directorial debut focuses on the politics of globalization and the difficulties of dealing with mass protests. I have only a vague recollection of some major conference going awry and chaos in the streets, but after seeing this movie I will not soon forget what happened in Seattle.
The movie’s multiple storylines dealing with various people affected by the crisis provide a compelling look from all angles of the veritable disaster. Initially, we come across the team of lead protestors consisting of Michelle Rodriguez, Martin Henderson and Andre Benjamin who perfectly embody the endless enthusiasm that fuels their characters throughout the whole movie. Next is Ray Liotta, who plays the Seattle Mayor with such frantic intensity that you have to feel sorry for him as he goes from trying to please everyone involved (even the protestors), to having the whole convention collapse on him from all sides. Then there is Ella (Charlize Theron) and her police officer husband Dale (Woody Harrelson), who are thrown into turmoil when she falls victim to an unexpected moment of police brutality. Finally, there are the WTO conferences themselves which provide an excellent look at just how effective the chaos on the streets ended up being.
I have often wondered how protestors can continually put themselves on the line as they do, and after experiencing Battle in Seattle, I still have no clue how they do it. But I am certainly even more respectful of their resilience and dedication in standing up for what they believe is right. Depictions of claustrophobic violence and the confusion of the riot police is ultra realistic, and by coincidence there was a first-hand witness in the audience to prove it. During the Q and A session after the film, this person stood up and applauded Townsend for making such a true and genuine film, quite a compliment coming from somebody who was actually there. In addition, he also commented on Townsend’s humanization of the riot police through the character of Dale, claiming that during the chaos the police were, “Just like robots and all they did was gas and club us.” However, instead of disagreeing with the director, he admitted that although he had never viewed them that way, they were obviously real human beings too and in the end they were simply just following orders. When a film based on true events can change the perspective of an individual who literally experienced the movie in real life, it has excelled as both a film and a vessel of information for those who may be unaware of such an important piece of history.
4/5 Stars
