#TIFF21: DAY FIVE SIGHTINGS – BEN FOSTER, VICKY KRIEPS AND BARRY LEVINSON

We're officially into the calm of TIFF '21 and we're thrilled to still be alive! Yes! We admit that while this year's Festival has been scaled back a bit, it still is equally tiring as we are putting in the same hours we normally would. There was one major Gala tonight, for Barry Levinson's (Rain Man, Good Morning, Vietnam) latest, THE SURVIVOR. The Drama starring Ben Foster as a Boxer fighting to survive in WWII Concentration Camps, premiered at Roy Thomson Hall. Joining Foster at the ... Read more

#TIFF21: “CHARLOTTE” REVIEW

Review by Amanda Gilmore This heartbreaking animated feature tells the remarkable true story of Charlotte Salomon (voiced by Keira Knightley), a young German-Jewish artist who painted a masterpiece she titled Life? or Theatre? during World War II. What makes Charlotte stand out is it's a World War II story centred on the life of an individual and her artistic work. Screenwriters Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis follow Charlotte over the course of 10 years, from the time she was 16, ... Read more

#TIFF21: “THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE” REVIEW

By Mr. Will Wong Director Michael Showalter (The Lovebirds, The Big Sick) is back with THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE, based on the 2000 Documentary of the same name. Centering on the rise and fall of Television Evangelists Jim and Tammy Bakker (Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain), the subject matter is sensational - but so are the performances! Showalter and Screenwriter Abe Sylvia create something rather magical here and while on paper, our main subject might be misunderstood, having been ... Read more

#TIFF21: “BELFAST” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore Writer-Director Kenneth Branagh makes his most personal Film yet with the semi-autobiographical Belfast. This deeply-affecting coming-of-age Film is set during the troubles in 1969 Belfast. It follows young Buddy (Jude Hill) as he witnesses familial hardships, cultural changes, and Northern Ireland’s Civil War. His father, Pa (Jamie Dornan), fears for his family’s life and starts making plans to move them out of Belfast. However, Buddy and ... Read more

#TIFF21: DAY FOUR SIGHTINGS – JAMIE DORNAN, KENNETH BRANAGH, KENNY G, PENNY LANE, JESSICA CHASTAIN

Today is the final day most major trade publications have their pop-ups, so it's one last hurrah for star sightings before things quiet down significantly for the remainder of TIFF '21. Which is wonderful for us as we can take a breath finally, and focus on seeing Films. Causing the most commotion around town were BELFAST Director/Writer Sir Kenneth Branagh and its star Jamie Dornan, who did the rounds today. They premiered the Film at Roy Thomson Hall, receiving a standing ovation. The ... Read more

#TIFF21: “THE FORGIVEN” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore Wealthy couple David (Ralph Fiennes) and Jo (Jessica Chastain) are making their way to friend Richard’s (Matt Smith) lavish weekend party deep in the Moroccan Desert. On their drive, high-functioning alcoholic David hits a young Moroccan boy with his car, killing him. They arrive at the party with the boy’s dead body unsure of what to do. Soon, David finds himself with the boy’s father, on the way to the burial. ... Read more

#TIFF21: “THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN” REVIEW

By George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong As much as I am a cat person, I am a greater fan of Benedict Cumberbatch and THE ELECTRICAL LIFE OF LOUIS WAIN had me in a cinematic nirvana state. Set in London in the late 1800s, this is real life story of an ambidextrous Artist who we first meet selling his drawings of animals at country fairs while studying the skills of boxing and dealing with an overly excitable and exuberant family at home. Louis Wain may lack social graces and friendships due to ... Read more

#TIFF21: DAY THREE SIGHTINGS – JESSICA CHASTAIN, BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, DIONNE WARWICK, DENIS VILLENEUVE, REBECCA FERGUSON, HALEY LU RICHARDSON, OWEN TEAGUE + MORE

We've hit peak starpower at TIFF '21 and even with Red Carpets and talent scaled back there's still plenty enough to keep us busy! The 2021 TIFF Tribute Gala took place earlier today at Roy Thomson Hall with this year's Honourees taking the stage to accept their awards. Those in attendance included: Jessica Chastain — TIFF Tribute Actor Award supported by the Tory FamilyBenedict Cumberbatch — TIFF Tribute Actor AwardDenis Villeneuve — TIFF Ebert Director AwardAlanis Obomsawin — ... Read more

TIFF21: “DUNE” REVIEW

Review by David Baldwin After years of anticipation and fan hype, Co-Writer/Director Denis Villeneuve’s take on DUNE has finally arrived. The tale of warring house factions and the native Fremen people over spice on the planet Arrakis is dense to say the least, but fans and novices like myself will equally find something to enjoy in this science fiction epic for the ages. Long thought unfilmable (though there have been a few attempts to differing results), Villeneuve has taken ... Read more

#TIFF21: “THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD” REVIEW

Review by George Kozera Renate Reinsve. Remember this name, as I cannot fathom the upcoming awards season without seeing her name on many lists for Best Actress, an accolade she already received at this year at Cannes. In THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, she plays Julie a shiftless almost 30-year-old who keeps changing her college majors on a whim and even dumps her current boyfriend as she felt his being around a huge inconvenience. One night she meets Aksel (Anders Danielsen Lie), a ... Read more