THE THING (USA 2011) ***
Directed by Matthijs Van Heijnjngem Jr., Matthijs Van Heijnjngem

At the promo screening of THE THING, Toronto actress Kim Bubbs (who plays Juliette in the film) credited the influence of John Carpenter’s THE THING to this prequel, while relishing the point of two string female leads in an otherwise all male movie concerning scientists stuck in Antarctica.

TAKE SHELTER (USA 2011) ***
Directed by Jeff Nichols

Jeff Nichols’ TAKE SHELTER is a psychological drama winning the Critics’ Week Grand Prize, as well as the SACD (Society of Dramatic Authors and Composers) Award for screenwriting, at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.  No surprise, as the film deals with real drama, personal drama that leads to family drama to drama at work and every other facet of the protagonist’s life.

BENDA BILILI (France/Congo 2010) ***
Directed by Florent de La Tullaye , Renaud Barret

Nothing from the Congo ever but two films have been released this year form the African republic.

CIRCUMSTANCE (USA/Iran 2011) **
Directed by Maryam Keshavarz

Set in contemporary Iran but shot in politically freer Lebanon, CIRCUMSTANCE is a stubborn drama that despises everything traditional, religious or connected to the mullahs.  As many Iranian filmmakers have recently been jailed, footage had to be smuggled out of the country to prevent confiscation.

THE INTERRUPTERS (USA 2011) ***
Directed by Steve James

From Steve James, director of the unforgettable HOOP DREAMS comes a different themed documentary.