August 30, 2019

Welcome to TFCA Friday, a weekly round-up of film reviews and articles by TFCA critics.

Opening this Week

Brittany Runs a Marathon (dir. Paul Downs Colaizzo)

“Winsome and breezy, [this] is more of a sprint than the 42-plus km slog suggested by that title. But it certainly lives up to its simple premise, and throws in a victory lap for good measure” — Chris Knight, The National Post

“Offers a reality check as well as a necessary dose of inspiration — having a few laughs is an additional bonus” — Gilbert Seah, Afro Toronto

“A work of great perceptiveness, empathy, and humour that leaves a lasting mark on the viewer. It could’ve been a cheesy, inspirational comedy and called it a day, but everyone involved wants this to be something more than basic uplift” — Andrew Parker, The Gate

“Uplifting, funny, and brutally honest” — Anne Brodie, What She Said!

Hurley (dir. Derek Dodge)

“Deconstructs the perceived relationship between cars and masculinity with its revealing portrait of 1970s racing icon Hurley Haywood… The film, unfortunately, doesn’t change gears to ask if and how coming out could have shaped the game and the industry, but Haywood’s tale is not unique among sports stars” — Pat Mullen, POV Magazine

Road to the Lemon Grove (dir. Dale Hildebrand)

“The comic tone … is extremely broad, with wacky, jittery camerawork to match, and a score that suggests Ennio Morricone played on an organ grinder. Chiarelli mugs mightily as the ghost of the senior Contatini, while rolling his eyes and shouting as the put-upon son. Hamlet this ain’t, though there’s a touch of Romeo and Juliet in its backstory” — Chris Knight, The National Post

“It’s a mixed bag, the tone is all over the place, and, again, all that shouting” — Anne Brodie, What She Said!

“Although it deserves some points for unapologetically and confidently committing to a specific cultural point of view and an admittedly bizarre, but ambitious aesthetic, Road to the Lemon Grove is a whole lot of cinematic cheese with very little sauce and pasta” — Andrew Parker, The Gate

This Changes Everything (dir. Tom Donahue)

“The state of women’s representation in Hollywood receives a timely assessment in Tom Donohue’s documentary” — Pat Mullen, BeatRoute

“In other words, Hollywood doesn’t become half as good if there are half as many men making movies. It becomes twice as good if you double the size of the talent pool” — Chris Knight, The National Post

“Ends up an insightful look at the injustice done to women in the film industry particularly by the major film studios, with Disney and Paramount Pictures singled out” — Gilbert Seah, Festival Reviews

“Doesn’t make many suggestions on how to make amends, but it offers up a great deal of irrefutable evidence to suggest that the more people say things are getting better, the more they stay the same” — Andrew Parker, The Gate

TIFF 2019

In the Globe and Mail, Barry Hertz has:

Your TIFF Survival Guide

An interview with David Cronenberg, who has a turn in Albert Shin’s Clifton Hill

TIFF picks (including selections from Globe Arts staff)

Capsule reviews of many, many films

The future of Canadian film, as seen by Telefilm’s roadmaps

The oral history of cléo (RIP)

In the Toronto Star, Peter Howell has:

Chasing the Buzz, the annual feature that has top picks from festival experts

Top 20 festival picks you need to see