Tag Archives: DVD

TIFF Odds and Ends

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Destination Toronto

In the fall, I inevitably turn to Gilmore Girls. (If you’ve been here long, you know I’m a fan). Despite the show’s regular progression of seasons (within and across seven seasons of television), there’s something about it that screams autumn. The most iconic images of Stars Hollow happen in the fall, I think. I have to admit, I don’t mind when September breezes in. Instead of blowing humid, tepid air like breath in your face, the wind brings fresh, cool relief. A little chilly perhaps, but think of the sweaters! Pair them with blazers and fall coats for that layered look. Cool weather means fashion liberation in my mind. (When did this become a fashion post?) This time of year is also when discussion turns to TIFF. I was a little late to the party this time around, but I was able to attend a screening of James McAvoy’s directorial debut: California Schemin’. If, like me, you are awed by the title, wait till you hear this: It’s the true story of two young, Scottish fellows, itching to make it in the big time. They hatch a scheme (see what they did there?) to fool London music industry execs into thinking they’re American rappers. The first half of this film was excellent, in my mind, with the fledgling director already demonstrating massive amounts of talent at the helm of this artistic-enterprise-ship. Capitalizing on the excitement and buzz of being young and achieving some success as a rap act — particularly in the early 2000s — Schemin’ climbs an incredible peak until the inevitable fall. I would definitely recommend seeing this one when it’s in theatres, but be prepared for a heavy second act. 2025 seemed to be the year of directorial debuts at TIFF, with not only McAvoy but Maude Apatow, Scarlett Johansson, and more. There was also a new Knives Out movie, a new Soderbergh caper with an incredible cast, and a new Joachim Trier (Worst Person in the World) flick. So, I thought I would explore what items we have in our catalogue with ties to the great, esteemed, homegrown, international film festival this year.

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Film History Books for Cine-Nerds

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My Film Studies courses were some of my favourite classes during my liberal arts degree. Building on a love of movies that’s been with me since I was a kid, I love applying an analytical mindset to the medium. Cinematography techniques, editing terms and styles, the history of silent film, and the invention of the “Talkies.” This juicy knowledge allowed me to better understand the choices writers, directors, and actors make — all of which affect the final product. It turns out we have plenty of books about the history of cinema in our collection. I thought I would share the most intriguing ones for me in the hopes that you are inspired to learn about the avant-gardists and the innovators, the great craftspeople of the movies who have been creating amazing works of art for over a century now. Let us start with some of the best directors that have ever existed. I took out Andy Tuohy’s alphabetically organized, slender reference book A to Z Great Film Directors a year or two ago. I remember savouring the condensed morsels of information on each page. I was familiar with some of the collected auteurs, but more often I had heard their name without knowing much about them at all. As a trivia enthusiast, I was also hoping to find out some tidbits and little-known facts that might come up during Jeopardy. I had to return the book before finishing, stopping somewhere around Hitchcock or Iñárritu. I will get back to this one someday. I’m sure of it. The bright and colourful graphic illustrations of directors make each entry fun and keep you turning the pages.

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Lynn Shelton Fan Post

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Cover-image-for-Touchy-Feely-film.

Gather round my cinephile friends (even you who don’t consider yourself as such), you’ll want to hear this. Have you heard of Lynn Shelton? No? Well, pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. I first became aware of Lynn Shelton after watching her incredibly earnest and sweet picture, Touchy Feely from 2013. Sometimes a movie just hits you right in the solar plexus with its message of “you are not alone,” and that’s what this one did for me. We follow Rosemarie DeWitt’s character Abby. A masseuse by trade, one day she develops an aversion to other people’s skin that throws a wrench in everything. As a writer, this premise makes me think of one of the most effective writing aids I’ve ever been taught in a writing workshop: give your character the biggest obstacle that particular character could face. As a masseuse, developing an aversion to skin and touching other people is pretty much a mountain. Understandably, Abby is lost after that, not knowing what to do without the thing that gives her life meaning and fulfillment. We are introduced to Abby’s niece Jenny (played by the wonderful Elliot Page), her dentist brother Paul (Josh Pais), her boyfriend Jesse (Scoot McNairy), and the incredibly skillful Alison Janney as Reiki healer Bronwyn. Apart from the last, all of the characters seem lost in some way or another. Page’s Jenny has an unrequited crush on someone she can’t avoid, dentist Paul has closed himself off to life in a number of ways, and even Abby’s boyfriend Jesse is floundering in their relationship. I love that the actor’s name is Scoot, by the way. How many people do you know with a name like that? It’s a quiet film with very little plot to speak of. If you’re someone who’s used to action-packed adventures, it might not be for you, but I was moved by the performances and comforted by the characters ability to connect with one another. The littlest connection sparks something in each of them, and they start to come back to themselves and some sense of normalcy. I’d love to rewatch this one soon.

I’m glad I discovered Lynn Shelton while she was still alive. Tragically, she passed at the age of 54 of leukemia, but her work will always be there to discover. According to Wikipedia, she was a stalwart of the mumblecore genre, which is a hilarious term for the subgenre covering a range of independently-produced, small budget films with a focus on character development, interesting dialogue (presumably spoken at a lower volume than usual), and a desire to capture a feeling of authenticity. Fellow directors classified as “mumblecore” include the king of improvised indie cinema Joe Swanberg, known for the Netflix show Easy and several films featuring Jake Johnson (Nick from New Girl). Speaking of New Girl, the actors who played Cece and Winston have a podcast that’s a lot of fun for true fans of the True American players. We’ll get back to New Girl in a bit, as Shelton directed multiple episodes over the course of its run.

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