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. Japanese Cinema Retrospectives (TIFF Lightbox)
This week sees TWO different retrospectives on Japanese cinema kick off at the Lightbox. The first is ‘Tokyo Drifters: 100 Years of Nikkatsu’, which celebrates the history of one of Japan’s most beloved studios by featuring a number of their thrilling genre pictures. First up is Yasuharu Hasebe’s Massacre Gun on January 19th. Later in the week, starting with Kenji Mizoguchi’s Ugestsu on January 24th, the Lighbox will be launching a long retrospective called ‘Japanese Divas: THe Great Actresses of Japanese Cinema’s Golden Age’. This retrospective will be going on all the way through March and will include such other masterpieces as Rashomon, Tokyo Story, Woman in the Dunes, Late Spring, The Face of Another and Throne of Blood.
2. Raw Deal (Dominon on Queen)
The Toronto Film Noir Syndicate is hosting a screening of the great Anthony Mann noir drama, Raw Deal. The film stars Dennis O’Keefe as a prison escapee who finds himself in a dark love triangle between Claire Trevor and Marsha Hunt. The film is particularly notable for its beautiful cinematography. The screening is being held in a back screening room at the Dominion pub on Queen, so along with tickets at the door, drinks will be available at the bar. The Film Noir Society also goes a step further by including a reel of news and shorts before the main feature. It should be a fun time for all. (Fri January 18th, 8:00pm)
3. The Gangster/The Street With No Name (Carlton)
The Toronto FIlm Society is holding screenings of these two classic crime dramas at the Carlton. The Gangster is a 1947 film about a mob leader who begins to lose his grip. The Street With No Name is a semi-documentary film about a FBI agent trying to pin down a mob boss. If you’re in the mood from dark, gritty crime dramas, this pairing is probably your best bet. (Sun January 20th, 2:00pm)
4. Two-Lane Blacktop (Cineplex Yonge and Dundas)
Cineplex Yonge and Dundas will be featuring this 1971 cult classic. Often compared to Easy Rider, Two-Lane Blacktop is about two drivers on a cross-country race from California to Washington, DC. The film was not a success upon release, but has come to be recognized as a classic of its period, even being released through the Criterion Collection. As always, tickets for these classic screenings are $6, so really you don’t have much excuse. (January 18, 19 and 21)
5. Frankenstein (TIFF Lightbox)
James Whale’s classic adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel, starring the famed Boris Karloff as the monster. Frankenstein is a great film, but it’s also an iconic film, in many ways usurping the source material in our understanding of the story. It may not be the best version of the story, but it’s perhaps the most culturally definitive. As such, seeing it presented in all its black-and-white glory on the big screen is sure to be a treat. (Tue January 22nd, 6:30pm)
