2005 Toronto International Film Festival Recap

By Dan Krovich

September 20, 2005

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While I saw 34 films in seven days at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, I specifically avoided most of the higher profile movies. I'm very much looking forward to Brokeback Mountain, Capote, Walk the Line, etc., but it didn't seem to make sense to take a trip to Toronto and then see movies that would be playing at the local theater in a couple months time when there were literally hundreds of other films to choose from. So in listing my favorite films and performances from the festival, the big names won't be included. Overall it was a pretty good festival with more five and four star films than two and one star films. To see mini reviews of all 34 films, check the BOP Indie Blog, but below are my favorites and my Festival Big Board.

Best Film: Look Both Ways
Runner Up: Dave Chappelle's Block Party

Best Director: Michael Cuesta (Twelve and Holding)
Runner Up: Sarah Watt (Look Both Ways)

Best Screenplay: Sarah Watt (Look Both Ways)
Runner Up: Mateo Gil and Marcelo Pineyro (The Gronholm Method)

Best Actor: Menothy Cesar (Vers le Sud)
Runner Up: Oldrich Kaiser (Shark in the Head)

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett (Little Fish)
Runner Up: Zoe Weizenbaum (Twelve and Holding)

Best Supporting Actor: Hugo Weaving (Little Fish)
Runner Up: Jeremy Renner (Twelve and Holding)

Best Supporting Actress: Louise Portal (Vers le Sud)
Runner Up: Jill Ritchie (Little Athens)

The 2005 Toronto International Film Festival Big Board

* * * * * (5 STARS)

1) Look Both Ways
2) Dave Chappelle's Block Party
3) The Gronholm Method
4) Twelve and Holding

* * * * (4 STARS)

5) Bubble
6) A Little Trip to Heaven
7) Mother of Mine
8) Little Athens
9) Opa!
10) Imagine Me and You
11) Little Fish
12) Vers le Sud
13) One Last Thing...

* * * (3 STARS)

14) Sorry, Haters
15) The District!
16) These Girls
17) Revolver
18) John and Jane
19) L'Enfer
20) The Heart of the Game
21) Shark in the Head
22) The Proposition
23) Brothers of the Head
24) Dreaming of Space
25) The House of Sand
26) The Porcelain Doll

* * (2 STARS)

27) Bam Bam and Celeste
28) The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes
29) The Smell of Paradise
30) River Queen
31) The Quiet

* (1 STAR)

32) 50 Ways of Saying Fabulous
33) Harsh Times
34) The Mistress of Spices