August. The last real month of summer. The last month to run through sprinklers, cook up some burgers and throw the Frisbee around at the park. But who has time for all those things anyway, with all the great films playing at the indie cinemas? Highlights from this week at Toronto’s indie cinemas are below. Don’t forget to click the links for more information, or check our listings for a peek at what’s on in the city each day.
Bloor Hot Docs Cinema
Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance returns to the Bloor this week, playing Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6:45 pm and Tuesday at 9:45 pm. There is only one chance this week to see United States of Africa. The documentary about an African hip-hop artist is on Monday at 9:00 pm. Marley, a documentary showcasing the life of reggae artist Bob Marley, returns to the Bloor Tuesday to Thursday.
Coming back after a special one-night-only screening is Shut Up and Play the Hits. The documentary on LCD Soundsystem’s final performance plays Friday and Saturday at 9:00 pm. If you missed the one-night-only showing, then you’re lucky that it’s back for two more nights.
The Essential Doc again this week is Grey Gardens, the story of two woman living in a derelict mansion that was also the inspiration for the 2009 film of the same name. The Back to the Bloor event this weekend is the zany The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, an extremely fun movie that features an incomprehensible plot and Jeff Goldblum wearing a cowboy outfit.
For details and more, visit Bloor Hot Doc Cinema’s website.
Fox Theatre
At the Beach’s revue cinema this week are more opportunities to see Steve Carrell and Keira Knightly in Seeking a Friend for the End of the World at 7:00 pm on Monday and Tuesday. Snow White and the Huntsman follows on those dates at 9:00 pm. This version of the fairy tale features Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth.
For the rest of the week, the Fox screens The Avengers in 3D and Oliver Stone’s Savages with many showtimes. Also playing throughout the week is The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, the story of old Englanders moving to India for their retirement.
For details and more, visit Fox Theatre’s website.
Revue Cinema
Monday to Thursday at the Revue, both Moonrise Kingdom and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel screen with multiple showtimes. Moonrise Kingdom is the adorable tale of two young lovers directed by the stylistically consistent Wes Anderson. The Avengers and Snow White and the Huntsman play all weekend at the Revue.
For showtimes and more, visit the Revue Cinema’s website.
The Royal
On Tuesday, Take this Waltz (Sarah Polley’s second feature film) plays at 7:00 pm and is followed by Marley at 9:15 pm. Wednesday and Thursday features Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller Prometheus, in 3D, at 7:00 pm. At 9:15 pm on those dates are two more chances to see Take this Waltz, which features Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams and Sarah Silverman.
The Royal has yet to post their lineup for the weekend, so be sure to check their website for upcoming showtimes.
Toronto Underground Cinema
The Toronto Underground Cinema is still closed for renovations. We will keep you updated on any news on this subject.
Projection Booth
Projection Booth will have five films rotating through their schedule Monday through Thursday. To Make a Farm is a documentary that profiles aspiring Canadian small scale farmers. Fat Kid Rules the World is a film directed by Matthew Lillard that features a teen overcoming self doubt through friendship and music. My First Wedding is an Argentinian comedy about — you guessed it — a wedding. Battle Royale, a Japanese film from 2000, has a good reason to be back in theatres now since it features a similar plot to this year’s The Hunger Games.
The Projection Booth has nothing listed yet for this weekend, so be sure to visit the their website for any new details.
TIFF Bell Lightbox
The week at TIFF Bell Lightbox starts off with with a special presentation by Eli Roth of Cannibal Ferox. The exceptionally gory film screens Monday, July 30, 2012, at 6:00 pm and will be followed by a Q & A with Roth. Continuing their runs all week at various times at TIFF Bell Lightbox are First Position, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry and Marley.
There are also several continuing series at TIFF Bell Lightbox. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is back this week with two screenings. Forty Guns, starring Barbara Stanwyck plays Tuesday at 6:30 pm. There’s Always Tomorrow, also starring Barbara Stanwyck, plays Sunday at 1:00 pm. Summer in France features two films this week. La Femme Infedele plays on Sunday, August 3, 2012 at 6:30 pm and Le Feu Follet plays Saturday, August 5, at 5:00 pm. James Ivory Elegant Pairings once again will feature two films that relate to Merchant Ivory productions. On Sunday, there will be a Daniel Day Lewis double bill of Room with a View (5:00 pm) and My Beautiful Laundrette (8:00 pm).
Playing as part of First People’s Cinema is File Under Miscellaneous, a series of short films that will also be introduced by their director, Jeff Barnaby. That special screening will be Friday, August 3, at 9:00 pm. Also part of that programme is Ten Canoes, an award winning film out of Australia. The screening of that August 4 at 1:00 pm will be preceded by two short films: Buffalo Dance and Sioux Ghost Dance.On Thursday, August 2, 2012, Planet in Focus brings a special presentation of The Orator, the first ever film in Samoan.
For information and more, visit tiff.net.
Original Artwork of the Projection Booth by Bennett O’Brian.
More from Toronto Film Scene
- Losing the plot: pornography and storytelling
- Looper to open TIFF 2012 as Galas and Special Presentations programming announced
- TFS Essential Canadian Cinema: Young People F*cking
Jordan Moffatt
Jordan Moffatt is a person living in Toronto. He is an improviser, actor, writer and graduate of the University of Ottawa. His favourite Indiana Jones film is Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. He was the third string point guard of his high school basketball team.
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