Words: Mark Linehan

Here is part two of my picks for the Festival, which officially kicks off on February 17th (you can see Part 1 here)

HOLLYWOOD HEAVY HITTERS - Best of the Big Screen at JDIFF.

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This could just as easily featured in the Homegrown Heroes segment because of the lead actor's lineage. However, Liam Neeson and Aidan Quinn now easily qualify as some of the best Hollywood heavy hitter ex-pat talent. Neeson plays Dr. Martin Harris, a man who wakes up from a coma to find that his identity has been stolen and that nobody including his wife Elizabeth (January Jones a.k.a. 'Betty' in Mad Men) believes him. This means that with the help of Gina (Diane Kruger) he has to 'take back his life' and stop whoever it is from buying books under his name on Amazon and sending him lottery emails (okay that isn't strictly true). Expect lots of running and Neeson at his pensive action-man best in this fast-paced psychological thriller that has been racking up excellent ratings on IMDB.
Screening on 23 Feb 20:15 at Savoy.

The Way
One of his offspring recently became joke fodder for Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globes, but his other one seems to be making headlines for his growing respectability as a director. I'm sure he loves both, but I couldn't see Martin Sheen guest starring on Two and a Half Men. (Erm, he actually starred as Roses' Father Harvey in 'Sleep Tight Puddin' Pop' Season 3. So he does love BOTH! - Ed.) However, he takes the lead in this - his son Emilio's second outing after he confounded critics with his assured debut, Bobby four years ago. The Way is about a Father (Sheen) who discovers that his son (Estevez) has been killed in a freak accident while climbing the Camino de Santiago, a huge mountainous region in the northwest of Spain. Arriving to collect his belongings, instead of leaving he picks up where his son left off and to honour his memory embarks on the journey himself. Along the way he meets a sociable Dutchman (Yorick van Wageningen), a Canadian trying to give up the fags (Deborah Kara Unger) and an Irish author (James Nesbitt) struggling with a travel book This is about the pursuit of self-discovery and getting to the central truth of human behaviour. Stunning scenery, strong cast and confident direction will ensure that Estevez will not fear of that 'difficult second movie' myth.
Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen will both attend the screening. 24 Feb Savoy 20:15.

The Adjustment Bureau
Is it me, or is Matt Damon (Invictus, Bourne, True Grit) quickly becoming the new 'running man' (literally) overtaking Tom Cruise for his sprinting capabilities? In just two of the aforementioned movies he would give Usain Bolt a run for his money. And, in this stylish high- concept adaptation of a Philip K. Dick short story he is being pursued again. Damon plays David Norris (no, not the Senator…although a biopic there is definitely on the cards) a charismatic congressman flying up the political ladder who falls for a ballet dancer Elise (Emily Blunt) but this fateful meeting is not part of their pre-ordained paths, so the Mac wearing agents of the Adjustment Bureau (Mad Men fans will have eyes peeled for John Slattery a.k.a. Roger Sterling) will do everything in their power to keep them apart. Described as part "Manchurian Candidate and part Frank Capra" this adaptation by George Nolfi (writer of Ocean's Twelve and The Bourne Ultimatum) is being hailed as an incredible feat of successfully translating the often puzzling and labyrinthine work of sci-fi genius Dick. Do not miss this exclusive showing.
Director George Nolfi will be attending the screening on Feb 25 20:00 Savoy.

Fair Game
From the man behind Swingers, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and The Bourne Identity comes this taut political thriller. Doug Liman has assembled a fine cast including double Academy Award winning Sean Penn and Oscar nominated Naomi Watts in the lead roles. It is based on the memoir of Valerie Plame (Watts) entitled 'My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by the White House' which pretty much sums up the plot of the movie. It competed for the Palme d'Or at Cannes and has received much critical acclaim especially for the performances of the leads. This is the third pairing of Penn & Watts (21 Grams, The Assasination of Richard Nixon) and they are fast becoming the Morecambe and Wise of soul searching, introspective, human drama. See this first at the festival.
Screening on Friday 18 at 18:00 in Cineworld.

Mark will post another installment of Films Not To Be Missed next week.