Toronto Top 5 (Week of 02/08/13-02/14/13)

Toronto is a vibrant city for cinema, and as such there’s always lots to see. These weekly posts will cut through the mainstream releases to highlight the Top 5 cinematic events to check out each week.

1. Tchoupitoulas (Bloor Cinema)

Tchoupitoulas is a visually arresting travelogue that captures the surreality of New Orleans. Directed by Bill and Turner Ross, this documentary reveals the nightlife of a city seen through the awed eyes of three teenage boys and gives the impression one is watching a feature fiction film. Not to be missed. (Sat Feb 9, Tues Feb 12, Thurs Feb 14)

2. Three Colors: Red (TIFF Lightbox)

Considered by many critics to be the best of Krzysztof Kieślowski’s The Three Colors trilogy, Red follows the lives of several characters—including a model and a snoopy ex-judge—in an exploration of the interconnectedness of their lives. It’s a brilliant continuation of Kieślowski’s trademark leitmotifs of chance and destiny. (Sun Feb 10 at 1pm)

3. King of Jazz/Stars and Stripes Forever (Carlton)

The Toronto Film Society pairs together two classic films about American music set in different time periods. There is of course, the classic musical-number anthology King of Jazz, Universal’s attempt to show off all of its stars with as much spectacle as possible, and notable for including Bing Cosby’s first onscreen performance. Stars and Stripes Forever is a biopic about composer John Phillip Sousa, best known for his military marches. (Sun Feb 10 at 2pm)

4. Point Break (TIFF Lightbox)

While spies have been undertaking bizarre jobs and disguises to do their job for many decades, the idea of Keanu Reeves’ agent Johnny Utah learning how to surf in order to nab a group of masked bank robbers seems so silly the film acknowledges it with Reeves’ memorable line: “You’re saying the FBI is going to pay me to learn how to surf?” Kathryn Bigelow’s cult classic is part of TIFF’s Keanu Reeves retrospective. (Fri Feb 8 at 9:45pm)

5. Hilton Als on The Innocents (TIFF Lightbox)

New Yorker theatre critic and writer Hilton Als will provide some context before the screening of Jack Clayton’s mesmerizing and spooky gothic horror film The Innocents. The film, based on The Turn of the Screw and adapted for the screen by Truman Capote, is about a young governess convinced the children she takes care of are possessed by ghosts. For a film made in the early 1960s, The Innocents is undeniably terrifying half a century later, in part aided by superb cinematography and a chilling performance by Deborah Kerr.  (Mon Feb 11 at 7pm)