Winter Sleep (Nuri Bilge Ceylan) won the Cannes Palme d’Or in 2014 and is completely absorbing, even at over three hours. Ceylan understands the power of mood and pacing, the majesty of landscape and the gradual, subtle shifts that happen when complex people bump up against each other. It’s set at an exclusive hotel built into the mountains of Anatolia, owned by retired actor Aydin (Haluk Bilginer), who chats with his bourgeois guests and maintains some neighbouring properties. A charged confrontation with a tenant in one of those properties forces Aydin to reflect on his life, career and relationships as snow gently covers the countryside. When his much younger wife, Nihal (Melisa Sözen), hosts a meeting to help improve a local school, Aydin suspects she has eyes for another man. I should mention that the hotel is called the Othello, tipping us off to possible violence. But there’s no melodrama here, only beautifully observed moments worthy of Chekhov and Bergman. Subtitled. 196 min.
Rating: NNNNN (GS)
Opens Jan 9 at TIFF Bell Lightbox. See here for times.
Selma (Ava DuVernay) traces key moments in the movement for black voting rights in 60s America and comes at a time when recent racist killings have galvanized activism all over the U.S. But Selma would be a powerful film even without its current political resonance. It’s anchored by the superb performance of David Oyelowo, who makes believable iconic leader Martin Luther King Jr.’s faith, his passion – and his doubts. Screenwriter Paul Webb wisely adopts the strategy of the film Lincoln, focusing on a specific campaign within the civil rights movement and probing all its complicated machinations. Director DuVernay ups her game in a big way, showing skill with both the massive set pieces and the intimate detail she’s better known for. Listen to Common’s track over the final credits. This movie is continuing a conversation that America cannot ignore. 128 min.
Rating: NNNN (SGC)
Opens Jan 9 at Colossus, Eglinton Town Centre, Queensway, Rainbow Woodbine, SilverCity Yorkdale, Varsity, Yonge & Dundas 24. See here for times.
Monk With a Camera: The Life and Journey of Nicholas Vreeland (Tina Mascara, Guido Santi) recaps Nicholas Vreeland’s fascinating transformation from exceptionally coiffed wealthy socialite living la dolce vita to Tibetan monk and moonlighting photographer, hoisting a camera like a third eye to shoot portraits of impoverished locals who don’t really have the choice to forsake worldly possessions. The gap is not discussed, but it’s there for all to see at fundraising events where Vreeland in full Buddhist garb enthralls rarified crowds at chic galleries. While everyone here seems to buy Vreeland’s spiritual conversion and admires his 30 years of dedication, the film keeps enough distance to call into question the white monk’s glad-handing with Richard Gere and the Dalai Lama. Ironically, he’s still enjoying some of the pleasures his conversion was meant to escape. Some subtitles. 90 min.
Rating: NNN (RS)
Opens Jan 9 at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. See here for times.
The Metropolitan Opera: Il Barbiere di Siviglia Encore is a high-def broadcast from the Met of Rossini’s comic opera, starring Isabel Leonard, Lawrence Brownlee and Christopher Maltman. 205 min.
Opens Jan 10 at Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Eglinton Town Centre, Queensway, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Yonge. See here for times.
Taken 3 (Olivier Megaton) stars Liam Neeson in his third outing as ass-kicking ex-government operative Bryan Mills. Screened after press time – see review Jan 9 at nowtoronto.com/movies. 109 min.
Opens Jan 9 at 401 & Morningside, Beach Cinemas, Carlton Cinema, Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk, Cineplex VIP Cinemas Don Mills, Coliseum Scarborough, Colossus, Eglinton Town Centre, Grande – Steeles, Humber Cinemas, Queensway, Rainbow Market Square, Rainbow Promenade, Rainbow Woodbine, Scotiabank Theatre, SilverCity Fairview, SilverCity Yonge, SilverCity Yorkdale, Yonge & Dundas 24. See here for times.
