Film Festival 2008 Round-Up - page 2

14 November 2008

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The role sees Rourke return to the big screen after a troubled career, but his recent roles in Sin City and Domino have proved successful, and there are already whispers of Oscar success for his performance.

It was straight onto Toronto where there were a string of movies that lit up the festival and it was gritty realism that was on the agenda. Leading the way is British filmmaker Danny Boyle with Slumdog Millionaire who returns to a film of harsh reality, a formula that brought him success with trainspotting, as he looks at the brutal way of life of growing up in India. Already having been well received at the Telluride Film Festival Slumdog Millionaire is already surrounded in Oscar hype.

Also doing well is Irish Drama Kisses which follows two pre-teens Dylan and Kylie who come from troubled families who run away to Dublin in search of a better life for themselves.

Rachel Getting Married was one of very few American movies at Venice that put on a good show and it was on a roll by the time it reached Toronto and is perhaps to be the defining role of Anne Hathaway's career so far the film tackles the idea of a dysfunctional family as well as battling addiction. Along with the likes of Keira Knightley Anne Hathaway's performance has been ear marked as a possible Oscar contender.

Finally London Film Festival was the best in the events history as a stream of high profile directors and stars graced the red carpet W and Frost/Nixon got big premieres as both of them had avoided the festival circuit despite many movies using it to drum up support and of the two political movies that are hoping for Oscar nods it's Frost/Nixon that came out on top.

Despite there being praise for Josh Brolin as President George W Bush the film itself came under fire while Frost/Nixon was predominantly praised and Frank Langella's performance as President Nixon tipped as the one to beat come the Oscars. and the performance of Michael Sheen as Frost sees him back up his great break through role as Tony Blair in The Queen.

Other Oscar contenders on show was Anne Hathaway and her new film Rachel Getting Married which, like many, had gained festival circuit over recent months and Che, which stars Benicio Del Toro was also on show and received great support from audiences.

Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire brought the curtain down on the 52nd London Film Festival on Thursday night a film that once again put British filmmaking in the spotlight.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

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