We're getting closer -- The Toronto International Film Festival announced some of its most exciting selections this week. We already know that blogTO film critic Matt is all hyped about Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth: The Golden Age, which is getting a Gala Presentation. Now here's what I'm excited about:

The Coen Brother's stylized crime thriller No Country for Old Men is making its way here after a very successful premiere at Cannes earlier this year. The trailer is sweet!

The enfant terrible of Thailand Pen-ek Ratanaruang (6ixtynin9, Last Life In The Universe) returns with his erotic drama Ploy.

One of the most austere filmmakers of world cinema (but, to be honest, has yet to profoundly impress me) Hou Hsiao-hsien (Millennium Mambo, Three Times) has a new film starring Juliette Binoche called Le Voyage Du Ballon Rouge. It's apparently an homage to Albert Lamorisse's The Red Balloon.

When Roy Andersson makes a new film -- it's an event (because it's far, far too infrequent). And if it's anything like or better than his weird-out deadpan masterwork Songs from the Second Floor, it may very well turn out to be a comic masterpiece. Andersson simply calls his new film You, The Living "simply a tragic comedy or a comic tragedy about us (human beings)." Yes, and brevity is truly the soul of comedy.

Bela Tarr is Hungary's most exciting director. With his mastery of complex camera work and utterly original storytelling techniques, the auteur who once directed a 7-hour long film (Satantango) is back with The Man from London. The film tells the story of murder, a witness, and a life ripped apart by it.

Opening this Week:

Sicko
Transformers
Evening
Red Road
Let's All Hate Toronto
Live Free Or Die Hard
Ratatouille

(Photos: Coen Brothers, Ploy, Le Voyage Du Ballon Rouge)