Film Fan Fridays for Friday November 18, 2011

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday November 18, 2011! I'm going to be really quick about the releases this week as I've been offline since Monday and barely had internet which has been surprizingly relaxing, although a big challenge for a research bug like me!

In limited release this week we have 4 films to choose from starting with the highly acclaimed Café de flore from C.R.A.Z.Y. writer/director Jean-Marc Vallée which I know is on my too see list, keeping it Canadian we have the documentary The Whale set on Vancouver Island (or more likely in the water around it....), plus comedy/concert film Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain. Last up for limited releases is The Descendents starring George Clooney (which just last night I found out was based on a book!)and this one was a big interest film at TIFF11 and I imagine it will open wider as holiday season nears.

In wide release we only have 2 films with animated dancing penguins Happy Feet Two and the next-to-last in the The Twilight Saga with Breaking Dawn: Part 1 which continues the romantic adventures between Bella (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) who are looking to tie the knot while tying to avoid conflict with both the Volturi and the Quileutes and with this fourth film we have a new director at the helm as Bill Condon (Dreamgirls) and he has taken on both Part 1 and Part II (which will be released in November 2012). And yes, I already have my ticket.

We also have mid-week releases next Wednesday November 23, 2011 for US Thankgiving including Arthur Christmas, Book to Film Club Selection Hugo and.................The Muppets!!!! Which I am ridiculously excited for :)

That's it for this week - check back on the site for links to trailers and official film site, etc which I'll have up this weekend but until there enjoy the festival listing & movie selections.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

aluCine
Toronto Latin Media Festival
November 17-20, 2011 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Breast Fest Film Festival
Film festival dedicated to breast cancer awareness
November 18 - 20, 2011 at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canadian Labour International Film Festival
November 19 - 27, 2011 at Innis Town Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

European Union Film Festival
November 17 - 30, 2011 at The Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
November 8 - 13, 2011 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
November 18-19, 2011 in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Friday November 18, 2011 Releases

Café de flore
Writer/Dir: Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y.)
Cast: Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Hélène Florent
Canada/France
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Descendents
Dir: Alexander Payne (Election, About Schmidt, Sideways)
Cast: George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Beau Bridges, Robert Forster, Judy Greer, Matthew Lillard
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Happy Feet Two
Dir: George Miller (Happy Feet, The Witches of Eastwick, Mad Max)
Cast: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Alecia Moore (P!nk), Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Sofia Vergara, Hugo Weaving, Richard Carter, Common, Magda Szubanski, Anthony LaPagila
Australia
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain
Dir: Leslie Small (Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling) and Tim Story
Documentary
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1
Dir: Bill Condon (Dreamgirls)
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Whale
Dir: Suzanne Chisholm, Michael Parfit (Saving Luna)
Documentary
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Wednesday November 23, 2011

Arthur Christmas
Dir: Sarah Smith
Voices: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen
USA/UK
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Hugo
Dir: Martin Scorcese (Shutter Island, The Departed, Gangs of New York, Goodfellas)
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Chloë Moretz, Michael Pitt, Jude Law, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen
USA
Official Facebook Page, IMDb Page, Trailer

The Muppets
Dir: James Bobin ("Da Ali G Show")
Cast: Jason Segel, Amy Adams, Chris Cooper & Rashida Jones and Muppets: Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Animal & more
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of November 23, 2011**