After winning awards at Cannes and raves at TIFF, here is your first look at Joachim Trier‘s THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD.

Synopsis:

The Worst Person in The World is a modern dramedy about the quest for love and meaning in contemporary Oslo. It chronicles four years in the life of Julie (Renate Reinsve), a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.

MK2 | MILE END release THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD, coming soon.

(Photo/video credit: Neon/MK2 | MILE END)

Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS reigns again atop the Box Office this weekend with a $21.7 million from 4,070 theatres. Over three weeks it has grossed $176 million domestically, all the more impressive considering the times in which it has surfaced.

Second spot goes to FREE GUY with $5.2 million for 20th Century Studios. It has made $108 million over six weeks.

CRY MACHO, the latest from Clint Eastwood, opens in third with $4.5 million from 3,967 theatres for Warner Bros. It gets 51% on the Tomatometer.

CANDYMAN lands in fourth with $3.5 million for Universal Pictures, a total $53 million grossed in North America.

MALIGNANT rounds things out with $2.6 million for Warner Bros., a tally of $9.8 million over two weeks.

See the Trailer for screen legend Burt Reynolds‘ final performance in DEFINING MOMENTS.

Synopsis:

Defining Moments is a highly comedic film about that one single moment in time that changes you from who you were to who you’ll be.

DEFINING MOMENTS arrives in Canada via Vortex Media on VOD October 8, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Vortex Media)

The 2021 Toronto International Film Festival concludes today and Award winners were announced from this year’s Festival, which still thrived in a hybrid digital and in-person format amidst the Pandemic. Taking top honours of People’s Choice was BELFAST, directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh, in-attendance at the Festival last weekend. Traditionally this title has gone on to achieve Oscars and Awards Season success, case in point, last year’s winner NOMADLAND.

In accepting the Award, Branagh says “It was absolutely overwhelming to myself and Jamie Dornan and we talked about it over a long into a memorable night of laughter and tears in your great city!”.

Winners this year as as follows:

As announced previously, the winners at this year’s TIFF TRIBUTE GALA, which aired last night, were:

• Jessica Chastain — TIFF Tribute Actor Award supported by the Tory Family
• Benedict Cumberbatch — TIFF Tribute Actor Award
• Denis Villeneuve — TIFF Ebert Director Award
• Alanis Obomsawin — Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media supported by Participant Media
• Ari Wegner — TIFF Variety Artisan Award
• Danis Goulet — TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by L’Oréal Paris and supported by MGM
• Dionne Warwick — TIFF Special Tribute Award
• Moderated by Variety’s Matt Donnelly

Woodbine‘s TURF RACING FESTIVALtook place this past weekend with two action-packed cards including four marquee Grade I races of the 2021 meet, the $600k Pattison Canadian International, the $400k Summer Stakes, the $400k Natalma Stakes and the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile. The former, traditionally contested in October, gets pushed-early to coincide with the Festival.

Wagering was healthy this past weekend, totalling a stellar $26 million. Winners of the Summer, Natalma and Woodbine Mile earn a berth in the Breeders’ Cup November 5&6 at Del Mar in California.

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile on Saturday went to local six-year-old gelding TOWN CRUISE, who is bred, owned and trained by Brandon Greer. As the lone speed in the race, he went wire to wire accelerating from moderator to quick fractions under Daisuke Fukumoto, winning by 2 1/4 lengths and paying $19.30 on a $2 wager. The victory was all the more impressive considering that traditionally the race is won by horses and jockeys shipping-in, proof and celebration of the consistently-improving talent of the local contingent. The final time for the one-mile race was 1:35.1. The victory earned him a spot in the Breeders’ Cup with the race being a Win-and-You’re-In qualifier. Second was Space Traveller and Raging Bull was third.

Winning the $600k Pattison Canadian International was well-travelled seven-year-old gelding WALTON STREET, scoring by a widening 5 3/4 lengths under legendary rider Frankie Dettori. Owned by Godolphin and trained by Charles Appleby. Charismatic Dettori even did a signature flying dismount off the horse in the Winner’s Circle.

Being the consummate professional, Dettori was seen walking around upon arrival Saturday and studying the E.P. Taylor Turf Course, and cheers could be heard from the grandstand for the icon.

Earlier on the Saturday card, the $250k Grade II Canadian Stakes went to American invader LA DRAGONTEA. The four-year-old filly owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Rebecca Hillen, is trained by Christophe Clement. Top American rider Joel Rosario piloted the win on the favourite, who paid $4.40 for the win.

The Natalma Stakes for two-year-old fillies at a mile on the turf, went on Sunday to regally-bred WILD BEAUTY, a daughter of Frankel, once again for the combination of Godolphin, Appleby and Dettori. Winning by 2 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:36.08, she went off as the race favourite, paying $4.90 on a $2 bet.

ALBAHR, a two-year-old gelding by Dubawi also would score for the aforementioned Trio in the Summer Stakes, winning also by 2 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:35.7. He was the prohibitive favourite, returning $3.30 to his backers.

Two other stakes went off on the Sunday undercard including both the $150k Ontario Racing and Woodbine Care Stakes. The former went to Mark Casse trainee DIAMOND CITY, under Emma-Jayne Wilson and the latter went to Christophe Clement trainee DERRYMANE under Joel Rosario.

The amazing EURICO ROSA DA SILVA returned back to Woodbine on Sunday to receive his Avelino Gomez Award. The honour is to recognize outstanding achievements by a jockey.

The weekend was star-studded on an equine and human scale. Renowned Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay graced us with his presence, supporting his filly PIZZA BIANCA in the Natalma Stakes in which she finished a game second.

The next Grade I stake of the meet is the E.P. Taylor Stakes on October 17, 2021 for fillies and mares on the turf at 1 1/4 miles and a purse of $600k. The third jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Stakes goes on October 3, 2021 for $400k at 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Review by George Kozera

Set in China in the ’70s, ONE SECOND tells the tale of a labour camp escapee (Zhang Yi) that is desperate to see a newsreel which contains footage of his estranged daughter. When he arrived too late at the theatre screening, he is told it will be shown again the next day at a nearby village. When he sees a scruffy young girl (Liu Haocun) steal one of the reels, he manages to retrieve it and treks across the desert to deliver it to the next theatrical engagement.

ONE SECOND is laced with gentle humour, stunning desert vistas and a Cast of intriguing characters. The Maoist propaganda is fascinating to watch and the bond between the fugitive and the thief nicely morphs into a dyslexic father/daughter relationship. When you throw in the character of the projectionist known as Mr. Movie (Fan Wei), events on the screen turn lively.

ONE SECOND may have problems finding a North American audience used to bigger. The pace is languid and borderline melodramatic. But the Movie is pure and honest and commendable.

It screens:

Sat, Sep 18 IN-PERSON Roy Thomson Hall 4:30 PM

Sat, Sep 18 IN-PERSON Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre 6 PM

Sat, Sep 18 DIGITAL PREMIERE SCREENING digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 7 PM

The same people who brought us the awesome Immersive Van Gogh and Illusionarium exhibits now are bringing some more scintillating experiences to Toronto at 1 Yonge Street.

LOOKING FOR THE DANCE

This Exhibit, launching September 18, 2021 contains a series of engaging photographic portraits of dancers whom legendary Dancer/Choreographer/Actor Mikhail Baryshnikov met during extended travels between Argentina and India. The show captures the artistry and intimacy of dance through photography. More details and tickets here.

Baryshnikov graced Toronto with his presence at a private event last night and was spotted out today previewing Canadian Dancer/Choreographer Guillaume Côté‘s new exhibition launching September 29, 2021.

IMMERSIVE KLIMT

IMMERSIVE KLIMT: REVOLUTION arrives October 21, 2021 takes its audience back to the artistic revolution in Vienna, pulsating with energy. It is said to be a fusion of Byzantine mosaics and Art Nouveau, with Gustav Klimt‘s hand-drawn sketches up to showcasing works from the pinnacle of his career. Tickets here.

These are on for a limited time only. Ensure you get your tickets soon!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We don’t believe we made it through another TIFF! While this year’s Festival certainly was a bit more scaled-back we definitely were not short of things to do, equally putting in long days. So thankful to the Team for contributing their Reviews of the most key titles to surface at TIFF ’21 including Dave Baldwin, Amanda Gilmore and George Kozera. So thankful to be a Torontonian and be gifted every year with this amazing Festival. We’re so appreciative of the considerations for our safety and the fact that we were able to enjoy the Festival both in-person and at-home. We will never take for granted this flexibility.

Once again we must thank some of our official partners in our coverage of the Festival this year! We couldn’t have done it without their generosity and support and we’re always thrilled to get our Readers and Followers excited about their amazing products and services.

The lucky winner of our TIFF ’21 Survival Pack Giveaway was Jessica (@SheBakesHere), who won an amazing haul of products from our official partners!

As the winner, Jessica received:

•1 $50 Starbucks Canada Gift Card
•1 $50 Chatime gift card + 1x T-shirt +1x Tumbler + 1x Stainless Steel Straw set
•1 $50 Gift Card at Lone Star Texas Grill
•1 $50 Gift Card at Frankie’s Nashville Hot Chicken
•1 Happy Gift Set including 1 Rose Quartz Roller + Gua Sha set, 1 Happy Face Mask, 1 bottle 250ml Happy Sanitizer and a Happy 3-Toothbrush set
•1 The Beauty of Eczema’s Bathing Oil and Bath Salts At-Home Spa Set
•1 Antipodes Manuka Honey Skin-Brightening Beehive Box
•1 boscia Skin Nutrition Body Collection
•1 bottle of Nature’s Sunshine new Hair, Skin & Nails capsules and BioGuard Hand and Body Cream
•1 H&M Canada VIP Card
•1 Official MR. WILL WONG Baseball Cap

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Team Mr. Will also share their favourites of the Festival and also their predictions which Film will win that coveted People’s Choice Award!

AMANDA GILMORE (Twitter: @GilmoreAmanda)

Would Also Highly Recommend: The Eyes of Tammy Faye, The Power of the Dog, Dune & The Humans

People’s Choice Award Prediction: Belfast

DAVID BALDWIN (Twitter: @DaveMABaldwin)

GEORGE KOZERA (Twitter: @PartyG)

JUSTIN WALDMAN (Twitter: @DubsReviews)

Titane
Belfast
Petite Maman
Encounter
Violet

People’s Choice Prediction: Belfast

MR. WILL (Twitter: @mrwillw)

People’s Choice Award Prediction: Spencer

We’re still mesmerized by Kristen Stewart’s work in Spencer, which almost is side-by-side as our favourite with Jessica Chastain‘s mind-blowing portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye! We still are obsessed with Last Night in Soho and can’t wait to see it again in October! We missed The Power of the Dog but are thankful it will be available soon on Netflix! So excited to see some of these titles propel into Awards Season success.

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Last but not least, some of our favourite moments with the talent at the Festival:

Until next TIFF!

We hope you had a blast following our adventures and Reviews. In case you missed them, you always can catch-up right here.

Do not forget to check-out the TIFF TRIBUTE GALA AWARDS, airing Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 7PM ET on CTV and the CTV App!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Review by David Baldwin

In the present day, Anne Frank’s diary is housed within a glass display in her home in Amsterdam. As the crowd queues up around the block to see all of the artifacts on display, the glass suddenly breaks and Kitty (Ruby Stokes), the fictional friend Anne wrote her diary entries to, is conjured into reality. She is invisible and confused – why is she there and Anne is not? Whom are all these people walking through the house? As Kitty begins to read the diary and discover more about Anne’s story, she begins to understand what happened and how not much has changed since the Holocaust.

WHERE IS ANNE FRANK is one of the most bold and ambitious films at this year’s festival. It takes a book so many of us have read and know all too well, and examines it from an entirely different point of view. On top of that, the Film merges multiple forms and styles of animation to tell its story, often in imaginative and exciting ways. Great care was taken by Writer/Director Ari Folman (an Oscar nominee for the astonishing Waltz with Bashir) to make the Film feel like as much of an adventurous journey of discovery as it does a gut-wrenching portrayal of one of the darkest times in human history. He pulls no punches here with his ghastly depictions of the Nazi regime, as well as the on-going refugee crisis in the modern times. It is painful and heartbreaking to watch, but also feels completely necessary.

Where Folman stumbles is in the tone of the piece. It is a little too light hearted for adults and a little too mature for children. The Film is a depiction of recorded history, and I am not sure the younger audience will be in tune with the profound and damning comparisons Folman is making. And by making the lead character be Kitty, who has the mind of a naïve young girl, he risks alienating the older audience who know the story already (and will likely need to better explain to their children after the credits roll). It is a delicate balancing act that Folman is successful in managing in some areas, whereas others are a total mess. I kept watching and felt like I was getting lost in the narrative he put together. I feel like WHERE IS ANNE FRANK could have been better finessed in some areas and clearer as to who the intended audience was. This is an important, must-see film for all ages, and it deserved to be a much stronger film.

WHERE IS ANNE FRANK screens at TIFF ’21:

Tue, Sep 14 Princess of Wales 6:00 PM

Wed, Sep 15 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 1:00 PM

Sat, Sep 18 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 1:00 PM

Review by David Baldwin

Alma (Maren Eggert) is a scientist longing for a relationship yet is too busy with cuneiform studies to form a bond with anyone new. With funding for a huge project hanging in the balance, Alma signs up for a three-week trial with Tom (Dan Stevens), a Humanoid Cyborg designed and determined to make her happy.

I have been unable to shake I’M YOUR MAN days after watching it. It creeps up on you almost immediately and stays with you long after its haunting finale. Co-Writer/Director Maria Schrader subverts any expectations you might have with this high concept romantic Science-Fiction Dramedy, all while delivering an emotionally stirring message about what it means to be human and what it means to be in love. That may sound like a few too many ideas to balance, yet Schrader’s guiding hand makes it look easy. While it could have used some tightening up editing wise, the world building here is subtle and remarkable, depicting a future that seems attainable. The Script is witty and sweet, and the CGI is minimal and used sparingly. Even the deeper, darker moments of this tale have a lovely charm to them.

All of this would mean nothing without the Cast however, who are game for everything Schrader throws at them. Sandra Hüller (who you will recognize from the Oscar-nominated Toni Erdmann) has a delightful bit part as a Scientist/Therapist keeping track of Tom’s progress in the field, while Hans Löw turns in memorable work as Alma’s ex Julian. They are barely noticeable whenever Eggert and Stevens are together though – their simmering chemistry is the beating heart of I’M YOUR MAN, with the sparks flying immediately and never letting up. Eggert spends much of the Movie skeptical and narrow-minded, completely unconvinced of Tom’s act and trying her very best to stay straight laced. She does a great job of it, and is so very funny and natural in the role. Stevens is even better, delivering his most incredible and accomplished work to date. His robotic movements are precise, and his fluent German dialogue is crisp and flawless (cannot do much about hiding that debonair English accent though). He is having a blast here, reworking and reimagining the archetype he has gotten so good at embodying. Together or apart, Eggert and Stevens create one of the best on-screen couples of the year and one of the most welcome surprises of the festival. Keep this one on your radar.

I’M YOUR MAN screens at TIFF ’21:

Mon, Sep 13 Scotiabank Theatre 7:30 PM

Tue, Sep 14 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 5:00 PM

Tue, Sep 14 RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place 9:00 PM

Sat, Sep 18 digital TIFF Bell Lightbox 3:00 PM