By Amanda Gilmore

Actor James McAvoy makes his directorial debut with this true story that’s stranger than fiction.

Silibil N’ Brains, a.k.a. Gavin Bain (Séamus McLean Ross) and Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley) are a Scottish rap duo from Dundee trying to make it big. The only issue is that no one takes these two thick-accented white dudes seriously in the rap game. So they hatch a plan: they’ll pretend to be hard-partying MCs from Southern California. Against all odds, they pull it off. But will they get away with it? And if so, how much of themselves do they lose in the process?

Archie Thomson and Elaine Gracie’s script tells the story of two young men who lose themselves in their own fabrications. McAvoy never loses sight of this in his vision. Showing the authentic streets of Dundee and then the sun-soaked milieu of California. He directs with passion and love for these two local Dundee boys, who have tried everything to live their dreams. Additionally, he perfectly cast himself as the duo’s money-hungry, fast-talking agent.

The heart and soul of California Schemin’ is the co-leads. Ross and Bottomley are loaded with charisma and vibrancy that keep us enthralled in this story. It is one that we’ve seen before. A musical performer risks everything to make it big. Then, when they do, they party hard and lose sight of themselves. Then they get on the path of rediscovery again. But there is something so magnetic about these two leads that keeps us invested throughout. Hey…maybe it’s those charming Scottish accents!

California Schemin’ screens at TIFF ’25:

Sat. Sept 6 at 3:00 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Sun. Sept 7 at 8:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Sat. Sept 13 at 3:30 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Sun. Sept 14 at 8:50 AM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

By Mr. Will Wong

Director Edward Berger is back after a strong showing last awards season with Conclave. This time around, we are doing 180 from the church and going right to the casino.

We meet Lord Freddy Doyle (Colin Farrell), a swindler, running from Detective Cynthia Blithe (Tilda Swinton) as he continues to live above his means, landing at an opulent casino in Macao. Here he meets a hostess named Dao Ming (Fala Chen), who is sympathetic to his vices, and they strike a connection together.

Just as Freddy is about to hit rock bottom, he gets the opportunity to take the biggest gamble of his life, which could mean enough riches to sort him out and repay some debts. But at what cost would this come?

It is impossible not to call out just how beautifully-shot BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER is. Frames are wide and filled with so much detail and hypercolour, capturing how grand Freddy is and wishes to be. Farrell is fantastic, navigating his compulsiveness. Everything feels urgent and we are invested throughout. Certainly among his best performances, in a career which keeps reaching new heights.

BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER screens at TIFF ’25 as follows:

Tuesday, September 9
VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Premium
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
3:30 pm

Wednesday, September 10
VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
2:30 pm

Saturday, September 13
TIFF Lightbox
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
9:30 am
\

By Mr. Will Wong

One of the Festival’s hidden gems is the directorial debut of acclaimed Taiwanese-Hong Kong actress Shu Qi, GIRL.

This Drama looks at the coming-of-age of Lin Xiaoli (Bai Xiao-Ying), who is navigatimg growing into her teens, while being on the receiving end of abuse from both her mother and father at home. We witness a vicious cycle of abuse that is triggered by her often absent alcoholic father (Roy Chiu) and mother (9m88), who is balancing caring for her family and also working, whilst suffering domestic violence at the hands of her husband, often taking her frustration out on her eldest daughter Xiaoli.

Shu Qi takes her cinematic sensibilities, translating them fluently into her storytelling as both Director and Writer here. With the help of Cinematographer Yu Jing-Pin, beauty is evoked in even the most dire circumstances. The Film looks at the damaging aftermath of abuse, but somehow manages to possess a message of healing and hope.

Bai and 9m88 deliver standout performances, and the first-time Director keeps us engaged, masterfully telling this story with well-paced measure.

GIRL screens at TIFF ’25 as follows:

Tuesday, September 9
Royal Alexandra Theatre
Premium
2:15 pm

Wednesday, September 10
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
5:45 pm

By Nicholas Porteous

Olivier Assayas dives into the personal and political history of Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), a Russian operative often referred to as “the new Rasputin”, largely responsible for the rise of Putin (Jude Law). Baranov took an unconventional path to power via theatre and reality tv, both of which play no small part in his ideology, as well as the tactics he used to cement Putin’s reign.

The Wizard of the Kremlin is based on a novel of the same name (by Giuliano da Empoli), and you can tell. The sheer volume of Russian political history disseminated, from the ’90s up to around present day, could fill a ten part mini-series easily. It’s unfortunate that Assayas chose to tackle this wealth of material in the relatively meagre span of 156 minutes. The story moves at light speed, years passing every few scenes, and this breakneck pace comes at the dramatic expense of the characters. For much of the Film, the Screenplay feels like people recounting history rather than creating it themselves. There’s simply not enough time to let these characters breathe or think out loud.

Dano is cold and exacting as Baranov, and there’s a uniform confidence to most of his performance. Baranov rarely feels vulnerable, which makes building a compelling biopic around him tough. There’s a stretch of the film after Putin enters when Baranov seems to vanish, and the perspective of The Wizard can feel a bit flimsy. Jude Law uses his British accent as Putin, and it’s a very distracting choice, undermining his otherwise thoughtful and sinister characterization.

The Wizard conveys a ton of intriguing, hyper relevant history in a short timeframe, but it doesn’t go down easy as a dramatic story of complicated characters. The film’s great sin is making its fascinating subject matter feel more like a textbook than a cinematic experience.

The Wizard of the Kremlin screens at TIFF ’25:

Thurs. Sept 11 at 9:30 PM at The Princess of Wales Theatre

Fri. Sept 12 at 9:30 AM at Scotiabank Theatre

Sun. Sept. 14 at 8:40 AM at Scotiabank Theatre

By David Baldwin

Hind Rajab is a six-year-old Palestinian girl on the phone with Red Crescent volunteers. She is trapped in a car in Gaza and begging for help – her family in the car with her have been killed and the vehicle is under Israeli military fire. With no real options available, the volunteer team stays on the phone with the young girl as they try to organize her rescue.

Even if you already know the tragic outcome of this true story, THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB is still an emotionally gutting experience that is not easy to watch or describe. Writer/Director Kaouther Ben Hania employs a docu-fiction avant-garde style that mixes scripted re-enactments of the events in the call centre with the very real phone call audio from that fateful day. It is powerful to watch play out, and Ben Hania and her cast do an admirable and respectful job in their depictions. She often just lets the audio speak for itself, allowing the waves from the raw audio to take up the entire screen and having her actors stay silent or be dubbed over by the real volunteers. This may sound awkward on paper but it is fairly seamless in action.

While there are some odd moments of levity sprinkled throughout the film and a few awkward transitions (including one scene with actual cell phone video filmed in the foreground with the actors out of focus in the background), THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB still manages to be a riveting experience that you will not forget anytime soon. It is easily one of the must-see films at this year’s festival.

THE VOICE OF HIND RAJAB screens at TIFF ‘25:

Sun. Sept 7 at 9:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Mon. Sept 8 at 4:00 PM at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Sat. Sept 13 at 9:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox

By David Baldwin

Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac) is found gravely injured by the crew of a ship stuck in thick ice. They bring him on board to tend to his wounds and are suddenly attacked by The Creature (Jacob Elordi), a man shrouded in cloth and tattered clothes. They quickly realize he’s not there for them – he’s there for Frankenstein.

Of course, if you know anything about FRANKENSTEIN, you know there is so much more to this story and this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. This particular story, adapted from the legendary novel by Mary Shelley, has long been a passion project of Oscar-winning Writer/Director Guillermo del Toro. And after many decades of waiting, he has finally made what might be his most epic and visually sumptuous film to date. 

To watch FRANKENSTEIN is to be transported to another time and place, with a rich, lived-in and highly detailed feel. Sure, there may be some CGI assists all over the frame (likely to cover up that he filmed this in Toronto!). But make no mistake, the set design here is very real and harkens back to a time when grandiose spectacles like this were the norm and not the exception. Those sets are complimented by fabulous costume design, a moody, operatic score from Oscar-winning Composer Alexandre Desplat, beautifully grotesque makeup and bloody gore effects and…well, you get the picture. Visually, FRANKENSTEIN is truly stunning.

While Isaac is stellar as always and Elordi puts in some real work as The Creature (although not enough to make me forget I am looking at a “Hot” Frankenstein), the rest of the Cast are not afforded the time to really hone their characters into anything other than plot devices. Worse, the film feels too long and often overindulgent. The passion del Toro has for the project is apparent from the jump. But that same passion gets in the way of elements that could have been excised or better finessed. Much like many of del Toro’s previous projects, FRANKENSTEIN is absolutely spectacular to look at and not so spectacular narratively.

FRANKENSTEIN screens at TIFF ‘25:

Mon. Sept 8 at 6:00 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Tues. Sept 9 at 11:30 AM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Wed. Sept 10 at 5:30 PM at TIFF Lightbox

Thurs. Sept 11 at 11:15 AM at TIFF Lightbox

Fri. Sept 12 at 6:00 PM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Sat. Sept 13 at 11:30 AM at VISA Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre

Sun. Sept 14 at 9:00 AM at TIFF Lightbox

Today, Disney+ unveiled the official trailer for the second season of FX’s critically acclaimed comedy series, “English Teacher.” The show will premiere Thursday, September 25, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on FX with three back-to-back episodes, and stream the next day on Disney+ in Canada. Three new episodes will premiere the week after, followed by two new episodes the two subsequent weeks. Season one is available to stream now.

See the Trailer here.

Season two of FX’s “English Teacher” follows “Evan Marquez” (Brian Jordan Alvarez) as he continues to navigate his way through the political minefield known as the American high school. Back with Evan — though not always on his side — are his best friend “Gwen” (Stephanie Koenig), gym teacher “Markie” (Sean Patton), wild card guidance counselor “Rick” (Carmen Christopher) and constantly terrified “Principal Grant Moretti” (Enrico Colantoni).

Not surprisingly, Evan still refuses to stay quiet when controversy arises at Morrison-Hensley High. This season, the gang finds themselves in the crosshairs of issues including climate change, Covid, military recruitment and student phone usage.

Evan also struggles to keep his relationship with “Malcolm” (Jordan Firstman) separate from his work life. Even though Malcolm no longer works at Morrison-Hensley, Evan’s excessive righteousness at school takes an increasing toll on his romantic life.

Created by Brian Jordan Alvarez, FX’s “English Teacher” is executive produced by Alvarez, Paul Simms, Jonathan Krisel, Dave King, Kathryn Dean and Jake Bender & Zach Dunn. “English Teacher” is produced by FX Productions.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN-protected profiles alongside the already existing Junior Mode profiles to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

On September 29th, 2004, the Montreal Expos played their final home game before a grieving crowd at Olympic Stadium. For 35 years, the Expos had been more than a ballclub—they were the first Major League Baseball team to call Canada home and became part of Montreal’s heartbeat, a symbol of pride and identity for Québécois.

Generations grew up with the Expos, celebrating triumphs and enduring struggles. That final game marked the end of an era, and for many, the loss of a piece of themselves. Two decades later, the heartbreak remains, and the same question haunts the city that once dreamed in Expos blue: who’s to blame for the loss of our team?

Through candid interviews with Hall of Famers Pedro Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., and Larry Walker, along with beloved manager Felipe Alou, and journalists, former employees, and diehard fans who lived through it all, WHO KILLED THE MONTREAL EXPOS? investigates the behind-the-scenes controversies, devastating setbacks, and critical missteps that led to the shocking loss of one of the game’s most cherished franchises.

Featuring rare archival footage and flashbacks of the Expos’ greatest moments, the documentary is equal parts sports drama, cultural love story, and gripping whodunit, unraveling the enduring mystery of how it all came to an end.

By Mr. Will Wong

Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Lily James delivers a tremendous performance in Rachel Lee Goldenberg‘s SWIPED as Whitney Wolfe, founder and CEO of online dating platform Bumble, prior to that co-founder of Tinder. And she did it all before she turned 30. This Film however, isn’t a celebration of success as much as it is a story about a woman’s battle with misogyny, betrayal, and being resilient.

We first meet Whitney in her college days where she meets Justin (Jackson White) and together they aim to re-invent dating for millennials in an app format. Justin however, is quick to take credit for some of her ideas, taking the recognition. While this all starts off as a great idea, we soon begin to see how misogyny gets reinforced with male users getting away with deplorable behaviour, and this same toxic culture is mirrored behind the scenes as well at the office. Whitney not only is forced to deal with Justin‘s constant degradation as both his partner romantically and at work, but finds herself feeling alienated and hurt until she is forced to dig deep, take a stand for herself and re-invent herself with an app that has the interest of women at heart, Bumble.

Not only is this Film acted very well, it is written smartly, credit to Goldenberg, who gets to the heart of Whitney‘s struggle, illustrating it eloquently. You’ll need Disney+ to stream this one, but it is a worthwhile watch which could well see James in-contention this awards season.

SWIPED screens at TIFF ’25 as follows:

Tuesday, September 9
Roy Thomson Hall
Premium
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
9:30 pm

Wednesday, September 10
TIFF Lightbox
Audio description (AD),
Open captions (OC)
3:15 pm

Friday, September 12
TIFF Lightbox
Closed captions (CC),
Audio description (AD)
6:00 pm

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada x Mr. Will wsnt to give Readers a chance to win passes to an Advance Screening of ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER.

SCREENING DETAILS:

Toronto
9/24
7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

Montreal
9/24
7:00 PM
Banque Scotia Montreal

Vancouver
9/24
7:00 PM
Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver

To enter for a chance to win, “like” this Post on MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK or IG. In the comments, tell us which City you’re in and tag a friend you’re bringing. Multiple entries allowed.

Rules and regulations here.

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER on September 26, 2025.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)