2005 Toronto International Film Festival Review: Day 04

A History of Violence
Quite a number of people got up and left from this screening. Which begs me to ask, you didn't think a David Cronenberg film called A History of Violence would have graphic violence in it? What the fuck is wrong with you? I can only assume they believed they were seeing the brilliant documentary, A History of Violins by Cronenberg's mexican equivelant, Sênor Cronenbergo. Asshats. Anyway, forget about them. If you don't get a chance to see this film in the festival, you'll need to wait for an unrated DVD, because there is no way in hell it will be released like this. You need to trim about 30 minutes of footage to get a North American release, getting rid of refreshingly realistic violence, and some very hot sex scenes between Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello. This film is perfectly cast. I have to give a special nod to Ed Harris though, who plays a most convincing, and wonderfully creepy, mob guy. A lot of people took this film at surface value, as a simple action-drama. But it's actually a biting social commentary on violence, and the role environment, and the family unit play in it. This might be easier to see in the graphic novel for most. I like the direction Cronenberg is going in, and I hope he continues to make films that can reach a mainstream audience, without actually being mainstream.

Rating: (8/10)

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Isolation

Original, is the best way to describe Billy O'Brien's first feature film, Isolation. Unless you can honestly tell me you've seen a film about parasitic mutant cows attacking people. You have? Liar. I enjoyed the bizarre plot of this film. It includes some good scares and tense moments, but they are too few and far between. The pacing is awkward, with long gaps with nothing said or happening. This is fine if you are building tension, but that's not what happened. There is a necessary sex scene in the film that could have been hot. O'Brien should have at least treated us to some nudity. That's the great thing about using unknown actors, they will take there clothes off without question. This film could also have benefited from a strange and dark soundtrack. The good points are the parasite concept and design. Very cool. And the mutant cow sound was top notch, and made me more uncomfortable than Alien.

Rating: (6/10)