The (TIFF) Film Review

ETA: 09/18 - Super review added

ETA: 09/16 - Everything Must Go and The Town review added

What happens when you put a journalist, a film and a blank notepad into a room together? Well, besides a nonsensical scribbling known as film notes (and the journalist in question learning the art of writing in the dark), you have the makings of a film review, once the hieroglyphic-inspired penmanship is painstakingly deciphered.

I don't normally write film reviews, mostly because my knowledge of film is limited to the yearly Oscar selections, animated films, and by principal, I avoid horror films like the plague. I still have not seen The Godfather or Citizen Kane and I am hard-pressed to identify any film director by name. My forte is in musical-theater, film is just a casual hobby of mine.

But strangely enough, I am obsessed with reading film reviews, perhaps because I always find that a good discourse from a number of reviews always makes the film more interesting, even if the film was a slice of mud. A good amount of my favorite journalists are film critics: Roger Ebert, Manohla Dargis, A.O. Scott, Capone from AintItCool.

Yet the wonderful thing about being forced to take notes and write a film review is that it puts your brain on alert. Instead of just sitting back and turning off your brain, as you are wont to do and is easier, you actively analyze the film as you watch it, taking it apart and storing what you like and what you didn't like.

After a while, if you've been analyzing for a while, you find that your opinions on the film will be more articulate the more you think and write about it. That way, if anyone asks you what you thought of it, you have a cogent answer to give rather than, "It's okay."

Though it is always important to go with your gut instincts when you're writing a film review. If the film perturbed you, say so. If it moved you, hopefully, describe how you felt. It's all interpretation and as writers, it's our job to put words to feelings. It's not that bad of a task, I enjoy it!

So here are the movies that I saw at TIFF and the ones with links are the reviews. View, enjoy, and watch with discretion.

Never Let Me Go (Carey Mulligan, Kiera Knightley, Andrew Garfield)

127 Hours (James Franco, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Clemence Poesy)

Everything Must Go (Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall)

The Town (Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall)

Super (Raynn Wilson, Ellen Page, Liv Tyler)

Passion Play (Mickey Rourke, Megan Fox, Bill Murray)

How to Start Your Own County (documentary)

Little Sister (Brenda Song, Xiao Min)