#TIFF18: “THE PUBLIC” REVIEW

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong After premiering earlier this year in Santa Barbara, Writer/Producer/Director/Star Emilio Estevez has brought The Public to TIFF. Stuart (Estevez) is a supervisor at the Cincinnati Public Library. One cold evening, homeless Jackson (Michael K. Williams) stages a sit-in with a large number of other homeless patrons. They refuse to leave, and after the doors are barricaded shut, news of the situation quickly reaches the police and local television media ... Read more

#TIFF18: DAY SIX – RYAN GOSLING, NICOLE KIDMAN, ODESSA YOUNG, TROYE SIVAN, KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, CLAIRE FOY + MORE

By Mr. Will Wong TIFF '18 officially has reached its cooling point, but that doesn't mean that Day Six wasn't filled to the brim with starpower! Ryan Gosling was out and about promoting FIRST MAN with his Castmates and Director Damien Chazelle, while Nicole Kidman continued to do the rounds for her latest, BOY ERASED.  While TIFF '18 heavyweight Lucas Hedges couldn't make it to Toronto to promote his three Films at the Festival, it was a pleasant surprise that Singer/Songwriter/YouTuber Troye ... Read more

#TIFF18: “ASSASSINATION NATION” REVIEW

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong Sam Levinson’s women empowerment to the power-of-four Film Assassination Nation is a violent, visceral, eye opening look at what it’s like to be a female teenager in the modern age with a bloody twist. Coming off the positive word of mouth from Sundance, it is no wonder why people loved this Film. It is an absolute blast and insanely entertaining, the Midnight Madness crowd is sure to devour the Film with absolute delight. The Film centers around ... Read more

#TIFF18: “BOY ERASED” REVIEW

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong Boy Erased follows Jared (Lucas Hedges) who is a son of a Baptist Pastor (Russell Crowe) in a small town. When Jared gets ousted to his parents his father tells him he can either attend a gay Conversion Therapy Program or be exiled from their family. Boy Erased is the second Feature for Actor-Director Joel Edgerton and will have its World Premiere TIFF ‘18 in the Special Presentations Programme. Lucas Hedges lands a career-defining role as Jared ... Read more

#TIFF18: “THE FIREFLIES ARE GONE” REVIEW

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong Léo (2015 TIFF Rising Star Karelle Tremblay) is an angst-ridden teenager reaching the final end of high school in her small, industrial Quebec town. She dreams of life outside of the sleepy town that doesn’t self-fulfill her, however, often surprises her. The Fireflies Are Gone will be having its North American Premiere at TIFF in the Contemporary World Cinema Programme. Like previous Films directed and written by Sébastien Pilote, The Fireflies ... Read more

#TIFF18: “NON-FICTION” REVIEW

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong Non-Fiction follows Parisian publisher Alain (Guillaume Canet), who is looking into changing his current publishing ways for a new media landscape, and his successful actor-wife Serena (Juliette Binoche). It is coming to TIFF in the Special Presentations Programme for its Canadian Premiere after playing the Venice Film Festival to rave reviews. Writer-Director Olivier Assayas has crafted a powerful Script about the ever-changing media and how it ... Read more

#TIFF18: “HOTEL MUMBAI” REVIEW

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong Hotel Mumbai depicts the terrorist attack that happened at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai in 2008, and the victims and survivors of that attack. This is the feature directorial debut for Anthony Maras and it will have its World Premiere at TIFF ’18. The Film has an impressive ensemble cast consisting of Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi to name a few. Then there is the skillful Director from Maras who brings an equal amount of love and hate to ... Read more

#TIFF18: “HER SMELL” REVIEW

Review by  Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong Her Smell tells the story of a self-destructive female Punk Rock musician, Becky Something (Elisabeth Moss), who seems determined to alienate those around her and threatens the success of her band. This is the fourth feature for Director Alex Ross Perry and will have its World Premiere in the Platform Programme at TIFF ’18. Moss gives an all-or-nothing performance as Becky. It’s a demanding performance that most actors wouldn’t dare to ... Read more

#TIFF18: “THE OLD MAN &THE GUN” REVIEW

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong This Film is based on the true story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford), who has spent most of his life robbing banks, in prison or escaping from prison. The Film takes place when he is in his seventies and still can’t resist the urge to rob banks, because it’s the one thing that always puts a smile on his face. The Old Man & The Gun will have its international Premiere at TIFF ’18 and has received rave reviews from other Festivals this ... Read more

#TIFF18: “MID90s” REVIEW

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong With Mid90s, Oscar-nominee Jonah Hill makes the leap from acting to writing/directing. The Film revolves around 13-year-old Stevie (Sunny Suljic), trying to fit in and find his place in the world. His Mom Dabney (Katherine Waterston) is not the best parent and his older brother Ian (Lucas Hedges) is constantly beating and abusing him. With no friends to turn to, Stevie starts hanging out at a local skate shop and makes friends with a crew of older ... Read more