#TIFF19: “AMERICAN WOMAN”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
In this fictionalized reimagining of the Patty Hearst affair, a political activist (Hong Chau) helps take care of a group of wanted fugitives including a well-known heiress (Sarah Gadon).
At the core of American Woman is a captivating story about political activism and the extremes some go to with their beliefs. These enthralling themes are all here, however, there’s no mystery about the fate of the characters because the opening scene reveals ...
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#TIFF19: “AMERICAN SON”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
When Kendra’s (Kerry Washington) bi-racial son doesn’t come home one night she spends the night inside a police station hoping to find out what happened to him.
American Son is based upon the Broadway Play written by Christopher Demos-Brown and brought to the screen with the same Cast and Director. The Play and Script both touch on important themes of race relations and police brutality in an eloquent intimate way. Washington’s performance of ...
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#TIFF19: DAY SEVEN – BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, ZAZIE BEETZ, HONG CHAU, GEORGE MCKAY + MORE
It's officially been a week since TIFF '19 began and we honestly don't know where the time went! It all felt like one long day with power naps. We're doing just fine, although we worry with the switch from hot to umm... freezing, we are a prime candidate for a cold!
Some names still in town we spotted. Hover cursor right to navigate albums.
Zazie Beetz (Lucy in the Sky, Joker + Seberg)
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#TIFF19: “MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
After his boss is shot and left for dead, private detective Lionel Essrog (Edward Norton) sets-out to find out why. But along the way, he gets caught in the middle of 1950s political turmoil and a whole lot of people that want him to stop before he gets hurt.
Norton has been trying to get his adaptation of Jonathan Lethem’s Book onto the big screen for at least a decade. His passion for the Project is effusive, and that may be why the Film feels ...
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#TIFF19: “THE VIGIL”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Yakov (Dave Davis) is out of his element and struggling with PTSD. He gets asked one evening to be a shomer (watching over the body) for a recently deceased Holocaust survivor at their home. Yakov needs the money, so he agrees. But soon after arriving at the house, Yakov starts hearing and seeing very chilling and gross things. And he might not survive the night.
While knowing and understanding Yiddish folklore might help, I was pleasantly surprised ...
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#TIFF19: “JOKER”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) makes his living as a party clown. He lives with his mother, has serious mental health issues and dreams of being a Comedian. But a set of circumstances will set him down a different path – one that involves becoming Gotham City’s greatest villain, The Joker.
With Joker, Co-Writer/Director Todd Phillips (of The Hangover and Old School) set-out to create a dark, gritty, intense and disturbing take on the legendary ...
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#TIFF19: “FORD v FERRARI”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Sales of Ford cars are slumping in the early 1960s. They need to reinvigorate the brand, fast. Inspired by the work Ferrari is doing, the company plan to build a car that can compete with the best of the best at the “24 Hours of Le Mans” endurance race. But it will not be easy.
The 152-minute running time of Ford v Ferrari is daunting, but it proves to be one of the most rewarding and entertaining films at this year’s Festival. Director James ...
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#TIFF19: “THE OBITUARY OF TUNDE JOHNSON”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Tunde Johnson (Steven Silver) keeps reliving the day he dies at the hands of Los Angeles police officers.
While the concept of reliving a day repeatedly has been done before, this Film does an entirely unique take on it. Screenwriter Stanley Kalu uses the repeated day to address racial stereotypes, race relations, and police brutality. Kalu’s focused Script is also a story of accepting one's identity and presenting oneself honestly. Silver is a ...
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#TIFF19:”WASP NETWORK”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Wasp Network focuses on a few Cuban intelligence agents who pose as dissidents during the country’s 90s post-Soviet Union economic collapse.
Director Olivier Assayas is a master of telling multiple character storylines and making them all come together naturally. With Wasp Network, he continues on this path. This time around he focuses on three different intelligence agents with different things to lose and gain. Although the Film does get a bit ...
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#TIFF19: “HARRIET”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The Film follows the story of Harriet Tubman (Cynthia Erivo) in her quest to not only claim her own freedom but the freedom of all slaves.
This Film documents the pivotal moments in Harriet Tubman’s adult life, with a focus on her efforts in transporting those enslaved to freedom areas. For those who know this empowering and inspiring Story, the Film won’t tell you anything you didn’t already know. It that has been brought to the big screen ...
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