From the Sky Down
For the first time in its 36-year history, the Toronto International Film Festival opened with a documentary: director Davis Guggenheim’s From the Sky Down, a 90-minute study of iconic rock band U2.
Rather than try and cram an all-encompassing history of their 30+ year career into an hour and a half, Guggenheim starts off with the band’s recent return to Hansa Studios in Berlin, a place that witnessed one of the toughest times in their musical lives, and then goes back in time. Having already attained immense success and global stardom, by the early ‘90s the group was at a crossroads as to what to do next, personally and professionally. Do they call it quits or push forward, refusing to give in to their growing discontent and artistic stagnancy?
The result was 1991’s Achtung Baby.
Whether you adore the Irish foursome or cringe at the mere mention of Bono, Guggenheim’s documentary is a thoughtful, insightful look at the highs and lows of a group of men whose music changed the world. With his use of rare footage, old photographs (think teenaged Bono in leather pants and a mesh t-shirt) and open, honest interviews with the band members, Guggenheim presents this beautiful portrait of the artists as young men. It shows the dreams come true and the setbacks and injured egos that are an inevitable part of fame and fortune. It shows the debilitating frustration that comes with just not knowing what to do next – but more importantly, it shows how that frustration was channeled into one of the greatest rock albums of the decade.
USA Television Premiere: October 29, 2011
Rating: 4/5
The Woman in the Fifth
Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, the starring cast and plot description were promising enough: Ethan Hawke (Training Day) and Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) in the story of an American author who follows his estranged wife to Paris in an effort to be closer to his daughter. Once there, he finds himself struggling to get by and his living and working conditions are less than ideal and often downright nasty. He meets a beautiful, intriguing woman who takes a personal interest in him…but all is not quite what it seems.
Kristin Scott Thomas always delivers a riveting performance, and this film offers no exception. Likewise, Ethan Hawke seems to convey the perfect mix of forlorn and creepy as you’re not quite sure what to make of his character. However, while The Woman in the Fifth may start out appealing, it quickly unravels into the realm of the weird…and not the good kind.
In Theatres: November 16, 2011
Rating: 2/5
The Day
As far as post-apocalyptic horrors go, there have definitely been worse. Starring Dominic Monaghan (Lost, the Lord of the Rings trilogy) and Shawn Ashmore (the X-Men films), this gruesome tale is about five young survivors left to protect themselves against predatory humans in an (almost) desolate wasteland with fast dwindling supplies and ammunition.
Monaghan is admirable as Rick, apparent leader of the pack. Ashley Bell (The Last Exorcism) is also rather impressive with her portrayal of Mary: a suspicious late addition to the group, whose sour attitude and refusal to communicate cause some mild discontent in her fellow soldiers. The other three…well, they’re passable. Ashmore is Adam, a grieving father and husband; Cory Hardrict is an ailing Henson, whose lack of strength is the reason they’re holed up in an abandoned farmhouse to begin with; and Shannyn Sossamon plays Shannon. She’s just unpleasant.
But while the characters may be engaging enough and there are indeed a few genuine moments of nasty surprise, it’s just not quite enough to carry an hour and a half. Much of the film drags on, leaving you to wish they’d cut the character development and carve up some cannibals already.
Release Date: TBC
Rating: 2.5/5
For more reviews of this year's festival, check out Parts Two and Three of this series.
For more on the Toronto International Film Festival, see the TIFF website.
Ramona Zacharias - Ramona has been a freelance writer for ten years, focusing on arts, entertainment and pop culture, with a more recent dabbling in travel. ...
