We're now past the half way mark of this year's film festival and we have another batch of reviews of films we've seen so far. Like our previous posts we've grouped these into those we highly recommend, recommend or suggest avoiding.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The Trip
Michael Winterbottom, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon seem to be a failsafe combination. In this collaboration, Coogan and Brydon go on a road trip together in the English countryside on assignment for The Observer newspaper, sampling fine foods, visiting historic sites, hilariously quibbling and competing along the way. The comedians/actors play semi-fictionalized versions of themselves, much like they did for Winterbottom's Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story. Gut-busting funny.
Screening Sunday, Sept. 19.

We're into day 3 at TIFF and we've got nine more films to report back on. Like our initial round-up, we've grouped these into those we highly recommend, recommend or suggest avoiding.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Barney's Version
The much anticipated Robert Lantos-produced film adaptation of Mordecai Richler's celebrated novel doesn't disappoint. Dustin Hoffman and Paul Giamatti give excellent performances in the roles of Izzy and Barry Panofsky but the real eye opener is Rosamund Pike in the role of Barney's third wife Miriam. The story is well crafted, deftly weaving between flashbacks and modern day with scenes shot on location in Montreal and in Italy. Like any book adaptation there's less material in this two hour plus film but fans of the original still shouldn't leave the theatre disappointed. Need more convincing? Looks the Italians loved in at its world premiere screening at the Venice Film festival last night. (TS)

In three days, Toronto's newest cultural attraction will officially open at King and John. So while the last exhibit pieces are being mounted and the bustling crew adds a few more finishing touches, TIFF invited media to visit its swanky new Bell Lightbox.

Keen to see more of the soon-to-be movie megahub, this time I went in without a hardhat and with blogTO photographer Dennis Marciniak. We didn't get the sponsors' deluxe champagne tour, but we did get tons of photos, plus a sneak peek at the inaugural Essential Cinema exhibit and post-TIFF 2010 programming.

Reviews of TIFF movies screening at the 2010 festival will be flying fast and furious starting tomorrow. But thanks to invites to special media-only screenings at the Varsity, we've put together an initial batch of mini-reviews in advance of opening night. Here are nine TIFF reviews - grouped into those we highly recommend, recommend or suggest to avoid - with more reviews coming as the festival progresses.

When TIFF officially kicks off tomorrow, I won't be ready. For the fiftieth time in the past few weeks, I'm on the festival website, in a last ditch attempt to schedule that perfect balance of indie and high profile films. I'll want some foreign stuff, art house picks, a few docs, and comedies to lighten the mood in between, preferably from all corners of the world.

True, it will be impossible to do it all. So what's on during TIFF 2010 that can't be missed?

One of the great things about summer 2010 has been the choice lineup of outdoor screenings popping up all over Toronto parks and public spaces. New in the mix: Open Roof Films.

Homegrown and indie focused, the rooftop parking lot screening series was originally planned for a rooftop near the Harbourfront, but instead launches at the Amsterdam Brewery this Friday, August 6th, with the Hot Docs hit The Parking Lot Movie (oh, the irony). This week's kick off will also feature live music by Little Girls and a Q&A with Amal director Richie Mehta.