We’ve established that Whistler Film Festival is indeed – and because we too are cool, here are some of our own cool picks for our nation’s coolest film fest (because we’re cool like that). Cool?
Ěý
Becoming Burlesque:ĚýIn the feature film directorial debut from Toronto director Jackie English, a mixed heritage Canadian Muslim woman named Fatima (portrayed by Shiva Negar) gets sucked into the world of burlesque dancing during a moment of existential questioning and finds unexpected answers. Dec. 2 & 3
Ěý
Story of a Girl:ĚýVeteran actress Kyra Sedgwick makes her feature film directorial debut with this searing, gut-punching drama about a teen girl contending with the long-term impacts of a viral sex video. Starring Ryann Shane, Sosie Bacon, and (no six degrees here) Kevin Bacon. Dec. 1 & 2
Ěý
The Disaster Artist:ĚýFans of what is arguably the worst film ever –ĚýThe Room, from Hollywood outsider turned cult hero Tommy Wiseau – will probably want to scoop up tix for the Western Canadian premiere ofĚýThe Disaster Artist. Written and directed by James Franco and based on the book by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell, the biographical comedy-drama is a fictionalized account of a film where the fact that it happened at all boggles the mind. (Bonus forĚýRoom-aficiandos:ĚýThe RoomĚýwill screen up in Whistler as part of WFF’s “From the Vault” programming). Dec. 1 & 2
Ěý
The Lears:ĚýA witty comedy-drama from WFF alumni Carl Bessai (No Clue;ĚýBad City) in which King Lear gets a modern-day makeover: World-renowned architect Davenport Lear (Bruce Dern) summons his four grown-up children to a weekend retreat to announce that he has decided to marry his personal assistant – an announcement that sends his progeny into greed-fueled tailspins. With Sean Astin and Anthony Michael Hall. Nov. 30 & Dec. 1
Ěý
I, Tonya: This pulled-from-the-tabloids drama about disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding, who was suspected of smashing the legs of rival Nancy Kerrigan in the lead-up to the 1994 Winter Olympics, was directed by Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl) and starsĚýSuicide SquadĚýstand-out Margot Robbie. Dec. 2 & 3
Ěý
Another Wolfcop: In this sequel to the Saskatchewan-made cult favourite – about a hard-drinking local cop who transforms into a donut-eating lycanthrope when the moon goes full – Lou Garou (an ill-tempered and occasionally very hairy officer of the peace) must thwart an evil businessman intent on seducing the inhabitants of Woodhaven with a new brewery and a new hockey team. Nov. 30
Ěý
Never Saw it Coming: Based on a novel by best-selling author Linwood Barclay, Gail Harvey’s dark comic thriller stars Emily Hampshire as a con artist who murders a murderer (Eric Roberts) in self-defense and – in the tradition of Alfred Hitchcock – makes some staggering discoveries in the aftermath.Ěý Dec. 1 & 2
