movies Mona TIFF 2017: Movie magic from math and science

Mona TIFF 2017: Movie magic from math and science

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Professor of Mathematics, Ryerson University

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Anthony Bonato does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Math and science are hot topics with contemporary filmmakers. Think of the brilliant portrayal of African-American mathematicians and scientists in 1960s NASA in Hidden FiguresThe Man Who Knew Infinity

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), underway this month, is not immune to the charms of math and science, with past crowd-pleasers such as The Theory of EverythingThe Martian

Strange cultural collisions can occur between STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) storytelling and fans. In a cast chat after the TIFF 2015 premiere of The Imitation Game

Although TIFF made recent headlines about slimming down its slate of offerings, there is no shortage of movies this year to pique my interest. Two movies caught my attention, each with science themes, and I give flash reviews of them below.

The Current War

1880. The world is still lit by fire

These words on the opening title card set the stage for The Current War

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Thomas Edison, who is in a race with George Westinghouse, played by Michael Shannon, to get electricity to market. Edison is a proponent of direct current, which is safer, more expensive and has less range. In contrast, Westinghouse developed alternating current, which is cheaper but potentially lethal. Alternating current won in the end, but Edison was not willing to easily let go of the fight.

The Current War

Imagine a present-day Edison as Elon Musk pitching a new electric car. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon does a superb job telling a lesser known story about the commercialisation of electricity set against the backdrop of late nineteenth century Americana.

Cumberbatch is no stranger to playing brooding and complex intellectuals, from Alan Turing to Sherlock Holmes to superhero Doctor StrangeMidnight SpecialMan of Steel

The movie is lovingly shot, with sumptuous period sets and costumes, and the performances, especially by Cumberbatch and Shannon, are terrific. The kinetic soundtrack forms a perfect accompaniment to the movie’s magical realist elements. The film felt disjointed at times, however, and I found it slow in places — it could use a deeper edit before wide release.

The Shape of Water

With a filmography containing Pan’s LabryinthPacific RimHellboy

The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water

There are timely, allegorical messages here. While the scientists want to study the creature and the military wants to weaponize it, a custodian and her friends want to liberate it.

The film’s message is that rather than fear the unknown, we should embrace it.

Science and mathematics help illuminate the darkness as can film. The Shape of Water

Where no one has gone before

There are so many untold stories of the pursuit of mathematics and science. Wouldn’t it be terrific to see Melissa McCarthy play Emmy Noether, the most significant mathematician you’ve never heard of? Or how about Jim Parsons playing Paul Erdős, the genius and eccentric mathematician with a love for humanity?

TIFF is an unexpected showcase for films focusing on STEM and it’s wonderful to see more emerge each year at the festival. The box office success of Hidden Figuresthe Imitation Game

Bring us more STEM, Hollywood. Audiences are watching and so are Oscar voters.

Official trailer for the Shape of Water (courtesy FOX Searchlight)

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Tuesday, November 26, 2019

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