#TIFF19: “PARASITE”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
I walked into Bong Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or winning Parasite almost completely blind. The story of two families and the struggles between their classes is best experienced with little to no knowledge of the plot and its surprises, so I will not ruin that mindset for the small few who have no idea what’s in store for them.
What I will say is that Parasite is easily one of the best, if not the singular best, films of the year. Hyperbolic praise ...
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#TIFF19: “BLACK CONFLUX”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Black Conflux tells the story of two seemingly different people: reserved teenager Jackie (Ella Ballentine) and troubled adult Dennis (Ryan McDonald) in a 1980s small town in Newfoundland.
Feature Debut Writer-Director Nicole Dorsey shows a mature filmmaking style who has evenly measured the time allocated to her two characters. She examines the mental turmoil of her leads and the impending impact they could have on each other with an even hand. ...
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#TIFF19: “PAIN AND GLORY”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Salvador Mallo (Antonio Banderas) is an aging Film Director living with a wide variety of ailments and regrets. He wants to continue to make new films, but cannot find the strength or reason to do so. After one of his most popular films is re-released, he encounters long forgotten friends and memories, and starts to depend a bit too much on heroin.
From the very first frame, Pain and Glory feels like a lived-in and deeply personal experience. You can ...
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#TIFF19: “PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE”
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
In 18th-Century Britain, Artist Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is hired to paint a portrait of dissatisfied soon-to-wed Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). The two begin falling for each other.
Like the best Romance films, Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells a tale of forbidden love. What sets this Film apart from those before is the interwoven story of Art. In using Art as the start of their romance Screenwriter Céline Sciamma poses questions about the gaze: ...
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#TIFF19: DAY 1 RECAP – NEVE CAMPBELL, ALEX WOLFF, RON HOWARD, ROBBIE ROBERTSON, DEV PATEL, ANEURIN BARNARD, HUGH LAURIE + MORE
It's officially TIFF '19 and what a day it's been. We've been up and on our feet having a blast. See what we were up to!
A highlight every year is attending NKPR's IT Lounge, which also is brought to us by the Producer's Ball. Tons of amazing goodies which will be enjoyed by several stars TIFF '19 and this is where Rolling Stone Magazine portraits will be shot during the Festival.
Hover on the right of each album to navigate slideshows.
View ...
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#TIFF19: “THE WHISTLERS”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Corrupt cop Cristi (Vlad Ivanov) is in over his head. He needs to help free Zsolt (Sabin Tambrea), as he is the only one who knows the whereabouts of millions of dollars in cash. In order to get to Zsolt, Cristi must conspire with gangsters, a femme fatale, corrupt officers and more. And if that was not enough, he must learn “El Siblo”, an Indigenous whistle language used to avoid detection – primarily because it sounds like bird calls.
The ...
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#TIFF19: “RED PENGUINS”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
For a brief time in the early 1990s, American investors owned a stake in a Russian hockey team, the Russian Penguins. It was an ill-fated business venture, but created a Story filled with the kind of twists and turns usually reserved for a Hollywood movie – not real life.
For the most part, Red Penguins is entertaining and amusing to watch. I had no idea about any element profiled in this wild true story, and I spent the majority of the Film ...
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#TIFF19: “THE CLIMB”
Review Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
The Climb is an episodic journey through the lives of best friends Michael (Michael Angelo Covino) and Kyle (Kyle Marvin) after a shocking confession that threatens to ruin their bond.
Co-Writers and Stars Covino and Marvin have magnetic chemistry that carries the Film. Their sharp-wit and awareness of their often slapstick comedy brings an authenticity to their onscreen friendship that would otherwise dissipate. The Film isn’t as tight in the end as ...
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#TIFF19: DEV PATEL, TILDA COBHAM-HERVEY, ALEX WOLFF, DANIELLE MACDONALD, MORFYDD CLARK, JOSEFINE PETERSEN + MORE IN TORONTO FOR TIFF
TIFF '19 is only a day away and the star sightings already are beginning in Toronto!
See some of the names we saw arriving in-town!
Danielle MacDonald (Patti Cake$, Bird Box) at #TIFF19 with Helen Reddy Biopic, I Am Woman.
Past TIFF attendee Adam Brody (Shazam!, The O.C.) in Toronto filming Cate Blanchett-directed series Mrs. America.
Alex Wolff (Hereditary, Jumanji: The Next Level) at #TIFF19 with Bad Education, Human Capital and Castle in the Ground. We spotted ...
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#TIFF19: OUR OFFICIAL TIFF SPONSORS AND PARTNERS | TENTH ANNIVERSARY PRIZE PACK
There's no doubt about it, it's our favourite time of the year! The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival runs from Thursday, September 5 through Sunday, September 14, 2019 and you'd better bet we're stoked!
The Festival also marks our tenth anniversary as a Blogger. We remember not knowing which direction we'd go when we posted our first Blog Post and if anyone even cared what we thought! Looking back, it's been an amazing journey - the experiences we've had and the people we've met along ...
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