"RED LIGHTS", "ARBITRAGE" & "ROBOT AND FRANK" GARNERING BUZZ AT SUNDANCE

Still from Red Lights

Filmed partly in Toronto, Director Rodrigo Cortés' Red Lights is getting a fair amount of positive buzz out of the Sundance Film Festival.  Described as "campy" and "over-the-top" by New York Magazine, the Thriller starring Sigourney Weaver, Elizabeth Olsen, Cillian Murphy and Robert DeNiro is about a Psychologist and her Assistant who study Paranormal Activity, being led to a world-renowned Psychic in Barcelona.  Alliance Films has picked-up this one, although there still isn't a set release date.  Will we be seeing this one at TIFF this September?

Richard Gere is no stranger to covering-up a secret or two. In 2002's Chicago, he played Billy Flynn - a top Lawyer hired to defend to Murderesses and also that year he starred in Unfaithful as a Husband who murders his Wife's Lover, rolling him up in a rug and throwing him in garbage dump.  Gere is gaining a ton of buzz at Sundance so far with his latest Drama, Arbitrage, which has him not only concealing his some financial wrong-doings at work, but also the death of his Mistress.  Juicy.  The New York Post also is raving that this juts might be the Actor's best performance ever.

Frank Langella and James Marsden star in Robot and Frank, a futuristic Comedy about and aged former-Jewel Thief whose Son employs a Robot to spend time with him.  New York Magazine already is calling the Film a "gem".

UPDATE: Abritrage was sold to Lionsgate Films and Roadside Attractions on January 25, 2012 for a reported $2.5 million. This might mean that Alliance Films will be distributing in Canada, seeing that they acquired Maple Pictures last year, which had a direct deal with Lionsgate.

(Photo credit: Nostromo Pictures)

ROB MARSHALL'S CHICAGO - THE GREATEST FILM OF THE PAST DECADE

With all the building Oscars frenzy of late, I've been re-inspired by the greatness that is Rob Marshall's 2002 directorial debut, CHICAGO.  The film which won a total six Academy Awards, including Best Picture at the 75th edition of the ceremony, really does stand the test of time as an outstanding work, topping my list of Best Films of the Past Decade.  And above this, it was filmed in my hometown of Toronto, in our historic Distillery district. Although Marshall doesn't stand a chance in hell at winning Best Picture again in the forthcoming 82nd edition of the ceremony, NINE just might squeak in a nomination since the voting format for Academy members now allows them to select ten finalists versus just five in that category.  We'll know Tuesday, February 2, 2010 when nominees are announced.

In addition to amazing choreography, art direction, costumes, music and direction, CHICAGO  is held together by an outstanding ensemble cast.  After looking into how the eventual cast was chosen, I am now in complete awe at the A-list contenders who got turned down for the principal roles.  Take a look:

For the role of Billy Flynn : Rupert Everett, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta and Hugh Jackman.  Richard Gere was chosen despite Miramax feeling he was too old for the role.  Gere went on to win a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Comedy Motion Picture, but failed to get any respect in the Oscars race.

For the role of Roxie Hart : Jodie Foster, Nicole Kidman, Patricia Arquette, Jennifer Aniston, Juliette Binoche, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Weisz, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Téa Leoni, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Debra Winger, Marisa Tomei, Melanie Griffith, Ashley Judd, Mira Sorvino, Anne Heche, Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis, Charlize Theron, Milla Jovovich, Kate Winslet, Bridget Moynahan, Heather Graham, Alicia Silverstone, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Bullock, Hilary Swank, Monica Potter, Drew Barrymore, Mía Maestro, Rhona Mitra, Katie Holmes, Denise Richards, Christina Applegate, Vinessa Shaw, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cate Blanchett, Rachel Griffiths, Winona Ryder, Lucy Lawless, Claire Forlani, Angie Harmon and Kristin Chenoweth.  Renée Zellwegger was chosen and garnered a nomination for Best Actress.