Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Phoenix follows young teenager Jill (Ylva Thedin Bjørkaas) who has watched her mother’s (Maria Bonnevie) substance abuse and depression rapidly escalate. After a tragic incident, Jill is forced to mature way beyond her years and take care of her little brother, Bo (Casper Falck-Løvås). This is the first feature for Writer-Director Camilla Strøm Henriksen and will be making its World Premiere at TIFF in the Discovery Programme.
Camilla Strøm Henriksen has crafted a compelling first Feature about the effects that mental illness and substance abuse have on the affected and their family. She does this through the atmospheric setting and by telling the story through the eyes of teenage Jill.
Phoenix screens at TIFF on Friday, September 7 at 9:15 PM at Scotiabank 11, Sunday, September 9 at 9 AM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 4, and Saturday, September 15 at 12:30 PM at Scotiabank 9.
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Marie-Claire (Brigitte Poupart) is a professor of dermatology, researching skin cells and how they are affected by sexuality. She has an open relationship with her husband, so she is able to take part in the experiments with multiple participants. But when a student issues a complaint against another professor, Marie-Claire’s carefully cultivated life begins to unravel.
Les Salopes is an intriguing and frank portrayal of a woman very much in control of her sexuality. Poupart spends much of the Film bare, physically and emotionally, giving a raw and intimately transfixing performance that runs circles around her castmates. But the problem with the Film is that the central conflict does not start until nearly an hour in, and is barely resolved quickly afterwards. A curve ball involving her daughter Katou (Romane Denis, genuine and heartbreaking) should strengthen the Film and its #MeToo politics, but much like other elements here, is barely afforded any time to really develop.
LES SALOPES, OR THE NATURALLY WANTON PLEASURE OF SKIN screens at the following times:
Friday, September 7, 7:00 PM, Scotiabank Theatre [World Premiere] and Sunday, September 9, 12:00 PM, Jackman Hall.
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Sharkwater Extinction is the followup to late Rob Stewart’s 2006 Documentary Sharkwater, about the industry behind Shark Fin Soup. What makes this install ent more somber is that Stewart passed-away before filming had wrapped. This is the legacy that he is leaving behind, a powerful, passionate, eye-opening way to remember him.
What makes Sharkwater Extinction such a great and powerful Documentary is that it shows that since the 2006 events that Sharkwater brought to light, unfortunately not all that much has changed. Yes, there are laws in place but the profits are so great that governments and citizens don’t care. The Documentary is beautifully-s, and truly haunting as it brings to light how truly endangered sharks really are, moreover now than ever before.
Sharkwater Extinction premieres on Friday September, 7 at Roy Thomson Hall, 2 PM.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
MOUTHPIECE is the newest Film from Canadian Director Patricia Rozema and is adapted from the two-woman Play by Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava. It follows Cassandra (Amy Nostbakken and Norah Sadava) in the aftermath of her mother’s death and her struggle coming to terms with her life and the life of her mother. It will have its World Premiere in the Special Presentations Programme at TIFF.
It’s rare to see the whole facet of what it means to be a female entirely laid out in a Film but the combination of Rozema, Nostbakken and Sadava do that. This Film is a touching exploration of how women from multiple generations get socialized. Not only that, but how people think of them and how they think about themselves.
MOUTHPIECE screens Thursday, September 6 at 9:15 PM at Winter Garden Theatre, Friday, September 7 at 12:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 1 and Saturday, September 15 at 6 PM at Jackman Hall.
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Controversial Documentarian Michael Moore returns to TIFF with the highly anticipated pseudo-sequel, Fahrenheit 11/9. The Documentary chronicles the events that lead-up to Donald Trump becoming the President of the United States, while also skewering the American political system and the Water Crisis in Moore’s hometown of Flint, Michigan.
As expected, Fahrenheit 11/9 is Moore’s most incendiary and powerful film since his Palme d’Or-winning Doc Fahrenheit 9/11. The film is surprisingly balanced in its criticisms of the Trump administration, and often takes more time to address issues with the Democrats than with the Republicans. But while it is frequently-entertaining and downright heartbreaking to watch in some scenes (and a not so subtle call to arms against corruption and injustice), Moore never seems to know what to focus in on – drifting-in and out of longwinded topics recklessly. And as fascinating as the Flint Water Crisis story is, it feels like it was shoehorned in-between his main talking points about Trump and the American political system.
Fahrenheit 11/9 screens on Thursday, September 6 at 8:45 PM at Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere] and Saturday, September 8 at 5:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre.
By Mr. Will Wong
It was an action-packed Day One at TIFF ’18! We had a blast doing the rounds including an appearance on Global News Toronto with Farah Nasser, plus a stop-off at NKPR‘s famed gifting lounge where Rolling Stone will be doing their portraits this year!
Check-out our segment!
It was an intense day but we were game snapping stars of the Opening Night Gala THE OUTLAW KING, a Netflix Film starring Chris P,ine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson! The stars did doubke-duty walking the carpets at Princess of Wales Theatre and Roy Thomson Hall, super-gracious!
The Midnight Madness Programme kicked-off woth Shane Black’s THE PREDATOR Reboot, drawing a starstudded bunch including Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Keegan-Michael Key, Jake Busey, Trevante Rhodes and more!
One of TIFF ’18‘s biggest breakout stats in John David Washington, son of Denzel who mesmerizes in MONSTERS AND MEN. You might recognize him from BALLERS.
Chloë Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe and Isabelle Huppert dazzled ay their Premiere of GRETA, making time for fun. Thanks to our Amanda Gilmore for the Snap!
Some Can-Con for you. Toronto’s Patrick J. Adams, formerly of SUITS, was spotted back in town for CLARA. Stephan James stars in IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, the latest by Barry Jenkins who directed Best Picture, MOONLIGHT, at TIFF a couple years back!
(Photo credit: Amanda Gilmore/Mr. Will Wong)
Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong
There is a common thread throughout all the movies that Oscar-winning Quebec Writer/Director Denys Arcand puts his unique stamp on: the characters are well-read, intelligent to a fault and socially conscious. THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE is no different.
Pierre-Paul (Alexandre Landry) is a shy, academic and socially awkward delivery truck driving young man who spends his money and time helping the homeless living in Montreal. When he accidentally arrives at the tail end of a robbery and massacre, he spies on two huge bags, filled to the brim with cash, totalling in the millions, and stashes them in his truck. After a dalliance with Montreal’s most expensive escort, Aspasie (newcomer Maripier Morin) and meeting-up with a recently released from jail ex-biker who is a financial wizard (a ponytailed Remy Girard), the Trio devise a plan on how to best use this money to benefit the disenfranchised. All the while, they are being pursued by the police and assassins trying to recover the money. THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE is a sly and insightful indictment on how money rules everything.
THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE screens Thursday, September 6, 6:00 PM, Elgin Theatre and Friday, September 7, 9:45 AM, TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Let Me Fall chronicles the lives of teenagers Magnea (Elín Sif Halldórsdóttir) and Stella (Eyrún Björk Jakobsdóttir). They hang out, they party and they do hard drugs. They enter in and out of rehab, but keep resorting back to their old ways. And as they age into adulthood, they learn that their earlier decisions have a habit of catching up with them.
Using interviews with addicts and their families, Director Baldvin Z has created a harrowing and deeply disturbing portrait of addiction and the destruction it causes. The film goes to some very dark and visceral places, frequently becoming increasingly difficult to watch. But the camera work and visual style Baldvin Z brings to the piece, not to mention the strength of the cast (including Kristín Thóra Haraldsdóttir and Lara Johanna Jonsdottir as the adult Magnea and Stella) keeps Let Me Fall compelling at all times, even when the storyline and editing are not always coming together as well as they should.
LET ME FALL screens at the following times:
Thursday, September 6, 6:00 PM, Scotiabank Theatre [World Premiere], Friday, September 7, 9:30 PM, Jackman Hall and Sunday, September 16, 12:15 PM, Scotiabank Theatre.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Greta follows sweetheart Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz) who after finding a woman’s purse left on the subway returns it to its owner, Greta (Isabelle Huppert). When Frances and Greta soon start up a friendship together, Greta’s dark and true intentions come to light. It will have its World Premiere in the Special Presentations Programme at TIFF.
Director Neil Jordan is back again with another Psychological Thriller that chills us to the bone. With every beautifully-captured frame of this, we see the sinister mind of Greta come more and more to the surface. No one else but Huppert could pull off a role that is as horrifying as it is comical.
Greta screens at TIFF on Thursday, September 6 at 5:45 PM at Ryerson Theatre, Monday, September 10 at 2:30 PM at Ryerson Theatre and Friday, September 14 at 9:45 PM at Scotiabank 12.
We’re a bit slower to start this year, but thrilled still to spot some marquee names at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, making their way in! Power Couple Aaron (Nocturnal Animals) and Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey) are at the Festival for the latter’s adaptation of James Frey‘s bestseller, A MILLION LITTLE PIECES. The former also is here for Opening Night Gala, THE OUTLAW KING. While they were held back for quite some time, they were all smiles, relieved to make they way out. Love everything about this couple!
We love Amber Heard (The Danish Girl) and it was a lovely surprise seeing her arrive incognito in sunglasses, which she later took off once spotted! She is here for HER SMELL, starring alongside Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) who plays a self-destructive Rocker! Heard also will speak at an event for L’Oréal on Friday, celebrating the power of women!
Bonus sighting! Fans of Marvel’s Jessica Jones will recognize right away Erin Moriarty, in-town filming Series, THE BOYS.
We don’t know about you, but we’re so ready for our favourite time of the year! We’ve been out doing the rounds and doing lots of Press ourselves. In case you missed it, here’s our segment on CP24 on LIVE AT NOON!
Up next are an appearance on Breakfast Television Friday morning right before 7 AM! Tune-in or PVR it!
We caught wind of Chris Pine flying-in today for The Outlaw King also, while earlier in the day The Predator stars Trevante Rhodes, Olivia Munn and Boyd Holbrook all were spotted around the City.
Hoping we pick-up the pace a bit more tomorrow for Day One of TIFF ’18!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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