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Hey folks, Harry here, this time with 'M in Toronto' with reports on THE LIMEY and JOE THE KING. We have already heard great things about THE LIMEY so pay attention to JOE THE KING, it sounds like quite a good movie. So... here she is with THE LIMEY...

I saw 'The Limey' last night at the Festival, directed by Steven
Soderberg. To encapsulate, It was a very tightly edited and well done
movie. The performances were great, particularly the lead, who was the
actor from Prscilla, Queen of the Desert, Terence Stamp. He was
fantastic. There are alot of moments where the camera simply focuses on
his face for long periods of time whrere he isn't saying a word, and you
feel like you could look at him forever. He's a man haunted by his own
demons, and out to somehow do right on his daugther, whom he feels he
has let down by avenging her death and finding her killer, played by
Peter Fonda. It was very much in the same vein as 'Out of Sight', which
I loved, but the tone in this film is much more somber, thought not
without its fun moments. The editing, as I said, was very good, but at
times a bit heavy-handed. It jumps from memories of the man's daughter
and reflections and images that go on in his own mind with what is
actually going on at that moment. For a crime thriller, it is remarkably
subtle, quiet and sort of poetic. It is actually almost like a cinematic
collage. All of the supporting performances are great, particlarly the
guy who plays a hit man sent out to kill Terence Stamp's character, sent
by Peter Fonda's right hand man. With the exception of it being a bit
too long, and not really knowing the purpose of the character of Lesley
Ann Warren, who plays the daughter's former acting teacher, it was very
enjoyable. I definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Out of Sight.
Stephen Soderberg is becoming, I think, one of the most interesting
directors around right now. He's managing to inject a little bit of
artistic self-expression in Hollywood movies that are intended for a
larger audience, and ushering in a new take on the classic thriller
genre.

M in Toronto

Below is M's review of JOE THE KING, but watch out for spoilers. It seems she loved it though...

I'd like to report on Frank Whaley's movie Joe the King. I don't know
how much of a release this movie is going to get, but I highly recommend
it. It is the story of a 14 year old, Joe, who basically has a bad lot
in life. He's dirt poor, his dad (Val Kilmer) is a drunk and an
embarrasment who is in debt to everyone in town and his mother is a
tragic, defeated woman who is abused by him. Joe has to work in a greasy
spoon as a dishwasher, and he basically spends his days and nights
getting flak from everone he comes into contact with, with the exception
of his brother and a couple of his school buddies. This story is
about his downward spiral into petty theft and downright delinquent
behavior, even though we know he has a good heart, but has somehow found
his way on the wrong path. Basically, it is a story about finding your
way when the cards are stacked against you. It's also sort of, and I
hesitate to say this, but it is about love itself. The nature of love,
and how it sometimes leads you to do the wrong things with the right
intentions, and how people within a family express love toward one
another in real, everyday, subtle ways, dysfunctional as they may be.
The final scene with the boy and his father is so moving, and Val Kilmer
says only two final words to his son that just leave such an impact, you
realize the power of subtlety, and how most movies are so totally
lacking in it. I was a mess by the end. I might go so far as to say
there is no narrative in this movie, it just kind of meanders along, and
it does go on a bit long, but the perfomance of the boy is so great
(Noah something...), and you feel so much for him. It's not for
everybody. But if you want to see something that's character driven and
about people, not robots or special effects, it is worth checking out.
Frank Whaley has a promising future.

M in Toronto