Miguel Arteta

Michael Cera leaves the Bay Area ablaze in the long-awaited 'Youth in Revolt.'

Courtesy Dimension Films

Michael Cera has established himself as the sensitive, self-effacing symbol of geek chic, whose trademark monotone seems at once unassuming and laden with irony. In Miguel Arteta’s Youth in Revolt, he cuts loose. Nobody will confuse Francois, his chain-smoking, mustachioed wild-man, with the sort of characters played by Jack Black, a master at embodying the untamed id. But it’s a refreshing change of pace.

George Clooney plays a high-flying exec who specializes in giving corporate lackeys their pink slips in Jason Reitman's 'Up in the Air.'

Courtesy Paramount Pictures

After an open weekend highlighted by the regional premieres of Lone Scherfig’s An Education and Katherine Dieckmann’s Motherhood, which helped earn star Uma Thurman a festival award, Mill Valley’s annual celebration of cinema from all corners of the globe continues through next weekend.

Blonde Ambition: Penélope Cruz plays an aspiring movie star in 'Broken Embraces.'

Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics

Thanks to Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, the vicious political satire In the Loop and provocative documentaries like The Cove and Food, Inc., it's already been a terrific year for dedicated moviegoers. Based on the impressively strong selection of films on display at the 34th annual Toronto Film Festival, which drew to a close Sept. 19, there's plenty to look forward to in the months to come.