Thompson on Hollywood

Toronto Day Two: The Coens Deliver with A Serious Man

Joel and Ethan Coen's Latest, A Serious Man, is a portrait of a period (1967) and place (Minnesota) and milieu (Jewish) that the brothers know very well. They cast it with excellent actors; Richard Kind as pathetic Uncle Arthur and Adam Arkin as a well-heeled lawyer are probably the only recognizable names. The writer-directors start the movie off in a wintry shtetl, evoking the dread spirit the dybbuk hovering over an uneasy marriage. This movie is utterly assured, personal, serious, sad and very funny.

By Anne Thompson
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September 11, 2009 9:51 AM
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TIFF: Toronto Gets Started

I'm checked in. Not enough hangers. The air conditioning works. The weather is balmy, humid, not too hot. I will install the new BlackBerry TIFF program app that's similar to the iPhone app at the Seattle Film Fest, and this year they're handing out a transit pass. Cool.

By Anne Thompson
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September 10, 2009 3:43 AM
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TIFF Watch: A Serious Man Clips

I'm making a quick transition between Telluride and Toronto, trying to catch up and get prepped, knowing that I will feel under the gun and behind for the next ten days, no matter what. It's the nature of the beast, even in relatively calm Telluride. Wednesday, travel day, I will post the first draft of my Oscar Predicts chart, which I will adjust frequently going forward into awards season.

By Anne Thompson
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September 8, 2009 7:37 AM
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Critics Faves: Arty or Artful?

In the fall season, as hundreds of movies are launched and weighed at film festivals, critics come into their own. They don't hold much sway with audiences in the summer. But in the fall, suddenly, what they think does matter.

By Anne Thompson
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August 31, 2009 8:58 AM
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#TIFF: 30 Must-See Movies

It's hard to narrow down the must-see Toronto Film Fest list to 30. After all there are 335 films at TIFF09. (I'm including movies that I've already screened in L.A., Sundance or Cannes.) Some fall openers are launching at TIFF, 100 pictures are available for acquisition, and a select few will emerge with their Oscar hopes intact. Reaction from media and audiences will determine which films earn a full-on Oscar push. And I'm listing the pictures in alphabetical order.

By Anne Thompson
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August 27, 2009 8:12 AM
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Coens Short from Chacun Son Cinema

One of the pleasures of Cannes a year ago was the Chacun son Cinema shorts collection from les meilleurs auteurs du monde--including the Coens. [Hat Tip: Jim Emerson.]

By Anne Thompson
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August 10, 2009 10:38 AM
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Weekend Read

Many entertainment moguls are vacationing on a boat. A big boat.

By Anne Thompson
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August 7, 2009 12:55 PM
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Talk Conjures Era, Movie Jargon, Fantastic, Other, Serious Trailers

Every day, I round up some items for your delectation:

By Anne Thompson
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August 4, 2009 7:35 AM
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Weekend Boxoffice: Why Coens Burn Up B.O.

Am I the only one surprised by how well Burn After Reading is doing at the boxoffice? Remember, before No Country for Old Men, the Coens were hit or miss at the boxoffice, mostly miss. They were lucky if their pics got to $25 million! So why is this nihilistic nasty little movie doing so well? Even those who figured the CIA comedy would open on star power and marketing prowess didn't think it would actually play with audiences. But clearly, it is--prognosticators expect the movie to score this weekend, again!

By Anne Thompson
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September 18, 2008 8:14 AM
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Leatherheads: Clooney Goes Retro

George Clooney is the sort of movie star who gets to do what he wants, especially if he's willing to direct himself. In this case the period football comedy Leatherheads had been languishing on the shelf at Universal for decades, and was going to be directed by Steven Soderbergh at one time. Clooney's version is a sweetly daffy valentine to classic Hollywood screwball comedies, Coen brothers comedies and romantic comedies. Clooney stars as a handsome over-the-hill football player who's pretty smart but gets beat up on the playing field and takes plenty of pratfalls and romances a wise-cracking reporter (Renee Zellweger).