No Film Friday today as we’re too busy with the festival, but we can let you know that this week sees releases of some pretty decent-sounding films: 3:10 to Yuma, Shoot ‘Em Up and Hatchet. Er, and also The Brothers Solomon, starring Will Arnett and directed by Bob Odenkirk but apparently dire. Let's Go To Prison wasn't great either. Sob.

Today’s Reviews:

Captain Mike Across America

Captain Mike Across America is an interesting proposition: Michael Moore documents his tour across America in the run-up to the 2004 Presidential elections; a tour that notably failed to turn the tide of the election against George Bush. As Moore is more skilled in creating passionate (if flawed) polemics than he is at documentary film-making, someone else should have taken the reins. In Moore's hands, this is a weird, confusingly-edited rush between states with occasional musical interludes (it's nice to hear the Finland’s national anthem) that leaves you wondering: "Where on earth is this going?" The answer, of course, is nowhere (Kerry was a lame duck) and Moore’s glib explanation is unintentionally dispiriting. 1/5

Control

If you’re as big a fan of Joy Division as Torontoist is, you’ll quickly come to terms with the fact that Control is simply one man’s interpretation of Deborah Curtis’s book Touching from a Distance, and your overall feelings will (probably) lie on how you feel about that interpretation. Anton Corbijin has created a film with gorgeous cinematography, a fine eye for detail and strong performances, but with poor pacing (Ian Curtis is married within ten minutes, but it takes him at least twenty to top himself after watching Stroszek). It falls into some of the usual musician-biopic pratfalls, too. 3/5

Lust, Caution

Have you ever wanted to watch middle-aged Chinese women play mahjong at length? Or catch a glimpse of Tony Leung’s balls? Well then you’re in luck! Lust, Caution is the (very) slow story of Mr. Yee (Leung) and the woman sent to ensnare him, but don’t believe the hype—after the first sex scene it’s all pretty vanilla (as a mahjong player, we found the earlier scenes more exciting). Ang Lee seems like he’s really missed a trick with this film, creating a simplistic, overlong story rather than the charged, shocking film it might have been with a possible alternative ending that’s (sort of) alluded to. 2/5

Today's Listings:

6:00 p.m. – Captain Mike Across America (Special Presentations) - Ryerson Theatre
8:00 p.m. – Programme 1 (Short Cuts Canada) – Review – ROM Theatre
8:00 p.m. – My Winnipeg (Special Presentations) – Wintergreen Theatre
9:00 p.m. – Lust, Caution (Special Presentations) – Visa Screening Room
9:45 p.m. – Ex-Drummer (Vanguard) – Scotiabank 14
9:45 p.m. – Control (Vanguard) – Scotiabank 2
11:59 p.m. – Frontiere(s) (Midnight Madness) – Ryerson Theatre