VIFF 2008: Preview

Forget Venice, forget the TIFF, even forget that snooty little French resort called Cannes, the Vancouver International Film Fest is here! 350 films from over 60 countries in 15 days, all in this wonderful city on the edge of the Pacific Rim. Just picked up my holy media pass the other day, so I'll be doing my absolute best to watch as many flicks as I can like Krisztina did last year. However I can't guarantee you anything, as there are only so many times I can come into work red-eyed and delirious from lack of shut-eye. The festival officially starts this Thursday, September 25th, so I guess I have my work cut out for me.

My picks of the fest (in a totally random order) are after the jump...

The Atom Smashers: The search for the elusive Higgs' boson, more famously known as the 'god particle', has been going on well before CERN began smashing atoms with its new Large Hadron Collider. This documentary delves into the lives of physicists at Fermilab in Illinois and their interaction with science, politics and culture on a global scale.

JCVD: Ever wonder where the Muscles from Brussels went? Jean Claude Van-Damme plays himself in what's billed as a 'mega meta-movie paraody' that's received quite a lot of buzz from the Cannes film fest.

Blindness: Directed by Fernando Meirelles (City of God) and based on a book by Jose Saramago, this movie depicts the meltdown of society as the population contracts a mysterious disease that causes, as the title says, blindness. This one has a few choice stars, namely Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo and Danny Glover.

Stone of Destiny: A group of four young adults travel from Scotland to Westminster Abbey in London to take back what they feel is the rightful property of their homeland. Based on a true story, this movie re-enacts the famous theft (or retrieval) of the Stone of Destiny on Christmas Day in 1950.

Chomsky and Co.: Given Vancouver's love affair with all things Chomsky, I'm certain this one will be a hit here. A documentary looking into the life of Noam and the effects (both positive and negative) of his many works.

Rachel Getting Married: Starring the notable Anne Hathaway, this movie features a young woman, recently released from detox, returning to her family just in time for her older sister's backyard wedding. I must admit, I'm probably watching this one because of Anne Hathaway.

Sparrow: Four pickpockets in Hong Kong dance in a web of danger as they mingle with a mysteriously seductive woman. Shot in Asia, but filmed in a style that's more French than anything, this film's choreography is simply superb.

Looking forward to any picks of your own?

The 2008 Vancouver International Film Festival runs from September 25 to October 10. It's highly recommended that you get your tickets in advance online at www.viff.org.