Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Oscar-winning Documentarian Fisher Stevens and Producer Leonardo DiCaprio were at TIFF back in 2016 with their climate change Doc Before the Flood. They return this year with another environmental Doc, And We Go Green, centring on the International Formula E racing circuit, the drivers racing electric cars during one 12-race season and all of the advancements and benefits electric cars will have on our future.

And We Go Green is at its best when Stevens and Co-Director Malcolm Venville are focusing on the origins of Formula E racing and on the electric cars themselves. This material is fascinating and of the most vital importance to literally everyone on the planet. But only a small portion of the Film’s 99-minute running time are spent on these topics. The rest are spent on the racing and the drivers. As you can imagine, the racing scenes are fairly spectacular and thrilling. But the profiles and histories on the drivers, not to mention all the in-fighting and drama these racers cause, wreck of bad reality television. I was compelled by their tales in some instances, but as the Film progresses deep into the season, I found myself caring less and less.

AND WE GO GREEN screens during TIFF at the following times:

Sunday September 8, 3:00pm @ Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere]
Tuesday September 10, 1:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Friday September 13, 9:45am @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) is an impressionable young boy who is part of the Hitler Youth. He is a bit shy, and tends to talk most to his imaginary best friend, Adolf (Taika Waititi). He supports all of the Führer’s ideas and despises the Jews. But his beliefs are put to the test when he discovers that a young Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) is hiding in the attic of his home.

Wow. That was my immediate reaction after watching Jojo Rabbit. Waititi’s anti-war satire is an incredible, unforgettable experience and easily one of the best things I have watched so far at #TIFF19. Full stop.

It is outrageously-hilarious and deeply-tragic, often in the exact same scene. Waititi walks a fine line here, effectively balancing the light hearted, satirical elements with the horrors of war, never once shying away from the human cost of this horrible period in history. And no, he is not sympathetic towards any of the Nazis. The period detail is exquisite, and his reinterpretation of recognizable pop songs is unique to say the least. The stacked cast of talent is amazing in their roles, each carving out their own memorable moments. And while Waititi is terrific portraying Hitler in the most asinine and ridiculous way possible, it is first-time actor Davis who steals the show and your heart.

JOJO RABBIT screens during TIFF at the following times:

Sunday September 8, 9:30pm @ Princess of Wales [World Premiere]
Monday September 9, 10:00am @ Elgin Theatre
Friday September 13, 9:30pm @ Winter Garden Theatre
Sunday September 15, 12:00pm @ Ryerson Theatre

We’re at the halfway point almost of TIFF ’19 and we are looking forward to enjoying some films soon! Before all that though, there are plenty of stars to spot around the City and today was EPIC!

See our sightings below. Hover cursor right to navigate albums.

THE LAUNDROMAT – Premiere

GUNS AKIMBO – Press Stop

HONEY BOY – Press Stop

BAD EDUCATION – Press Stop

WASP NETWORK – Press Stop

UNCUT GEMS – Press Stop

JUDY – Press Stop

HUMAN CAPITAL – Press Stop

JOKER – Premiere

(Photo credit : Mr. Will Wong)

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

This Is Not A Movie profiles the reporting of legendary Journalist Robert Fisk, who changed the game when it came to stories from the frontlines of war torn Middle Eastern nations as a foreign correspondent for The Times and The Independent newspapers in the UK.

Yung Chang’s Documentary is not an easy watch. While it is fascinating to watch Robert in action in both modern times and in his early days in the 70s and 80s, it just as harrowing to see and hear about the violence and loss of life he has witnessed. The Film takes an episodic approach to his stories, focusing specifically on the issues that are still just as much a problem today as they were decades ago. The Film gets bogged down however by unexplained elements, odd details and tangents as it nears the last act (why discuss online vitriol in the middle of the film and casually dismiss it just as quickly?). But the way Chang and her team edit and stitch clips together is rather marvelous, juxtaposing video from the likes of 9/11 to the bombed-out remains of a town in the Middle East – all in one seamless cut. Truly horrifying.

THIS IS NOT A MOVIE screens TIFF at the following times:

Monday September 9, 7:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre [World Premiere]
Wednesday September 11, 8:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

As Theatre Director Charlie (Adam Driver) and Actress Nicole’s (Scarlett Johansson) marriage begins to fall apart, they try to find ways to keep their family together.

Director-Writer Noah Baumbach has made his masterpiece. This is a Film that will have a substantial impact on anyone who has been in love and will stay with you for years. Baumbach’s Script is written to perfection timed evenly between characters, so audience members get a balanced view on divorce. We simply sit back and watch this once loving couple completely unravel through their separation. This artistic couple is brought to life through the incredible talent of Driver and Johansson. Driver is meticulous as the straight-forward and quick-witted Charlie. And Johansson is exceptional as the passionate and self-discovering Nicole.

Marriage Story screens at TIFF on Sun, Sep 8 at Winter Garden Theatre at 5:30 PM, Mon, Sep 9 at Princess of Wales at 11:30 AM, Fri, Sep 13 at Princess of Wales at 6 PM, and Sat, Sep 14 at Princess of Wales at 2:45 PM.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Popular mystery author Harlan Thrombrey (Christopher Plummer) has died from an apparent suicide. The evidence suggests this is the case, but the police and private investigator Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) feel there is more to it – especially as every family member has a motive for killing him.

I have long been a fan of Writer/Director Rian Johnson and he has delivered another masterwork with this clever inversion of a classic Whodunit story. He is keenly-aware of the conventions of the genre, and alters each one to suit his wildly unique sensibilities. The style and score are absolute perfection as is the sharp editing and absolutely hysterical dialogue. Johnson is very precise with all of his elements here, practically entering the same distinctive pantheon as Wes Anderson with his attention to detail. He stumbles a bit with the convoluted and over-stretched final act, but ensures the Film remains thrilling and enigmatic right up until the very end. And if that were not enough, the all-star Cast is one of the best groups of thespians ever brought together by one film. Every single Cast member has a blast breathing life into these amazing characters, with Craig killing it with another ridiculous accent and Ana de Armas practically stealing the show from everyone.

KNIVES OUT screens during TIFF at the following times:

Saturday September 7, 6:00pm @ Princess of Wales [World Premiere]
Sunday September 8, 11:00am @ Elgin Theatre

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Richard McCreadie (Steve Coogan) is a fashion industry icon and billionaire preparing for his lavish 60th birthday party on a Greek island. As he and his team obsess over every detail, his biographer Nick (David Mitchell) is working hard interviewing his friends and family to learn more about the mogul – and all of the horrible things he did to become so rich.

The synopsis may sound like the description of a story based on any number of real-world billionaires, and that point is not lost on Writer/Director Michael Winterbottom. From the very beginning right through to the end, he savagely skewers the fashion industry and the 1% in increasingly vicious ways. This is high stakes satire and the laughs come fast and furious. The editing and music choices are great and the Cast is top-notch, with Coogan and Isla Fisher (as McCreadie’s ex-wife Samantha) being particular standouts. But Winterbottom has more than just laughs on his mind, frequently stopping the Film dead to detail the likes of horrible working conditions in Sri Lanka and awful money pinching tactics billionaires use to stay ahead. It almost becomes a mockumentary in some cases – except these sharp tonal pivots are anything but funny and barely match the rest of the Film around them.

GREED screens during TIFF at the following times:

Saturday September 7, 5:15pm @ Elgin Theatre [World Premiere]
Sunday September 8, 3:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Sunday September 15, 3:00pm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan) are long time paramedics and best friends in New Orleans. They have been through a lot together and look out for one another. But things are starting to get strange in the city once the pair discover that a number of their calls involve a new street drug called SYNCHRONIC.

There is a lot to unpack after watching SYNCHRONIC, but the beauty of it all lies in its unpredictability and how Directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead mash together genres and styles on a dime. They all work together masterfully in unison, creating a thrilling experience that becomes exceptionally more breathless as it moves from scene to scene. The stylistic choices here are fantastic and unique, and the way some of these scenes have been composed and shot is rather remarkable. It may be a dark and gritty film, but it sure looks beautiful. Dornan is great, but Mackie is even better, giving one of the most layered and nuanced performances of his career. I just wish the Film did not spend so much time setting up the world and the stakes. It takes away from the wild chaos that ensnares the second-half!

SYNCHRONIC screens during TIFF at the following times:

Saturday September 7, 3:00pm @ Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere]
Monday September 9, 5:00pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Friday September 13, 6:00pm @ Ryerson Theatre

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Ruben (Riz Ahmed) and Lou (Olivia Cooke) are a metal band touring and driving around the US in their RV. As he preps for a show, Ruben gets a loud ringing in his ears. He thinks nothing of it, but finds out soon after that he is losing his hearing rapidly and will soon become deaf.

This is the set-up for Co-Writer/Director Darius Marder’s harrowing journey Sound of Metal. The Film is loud, intense, and is a genuine test of endurance for audiences. It pulls no punches, plunging us right into the mind of Ruben as he learns how to communicate as a newly deaf person. Special attention was paid to the sound design, with Marder and his team creating an impeccable mix that is authentic to the experiences deaf people go through each and every day. And it switches from a normal mix to this authentic mix so often that it is almost impossible to prepare for it. Cooke is great in her small number of scenes, but the whole Film is held together by career best work from Ahmed. He digs-in deep, allowing us to feel every moment of triumph and tragedy. Ahmed’s visceral level of commitment here cannot simply be described; it demands to be seen.

SOUND OF METAL screens during TIFF at the following times:

Friday September 6, 9:00pm @ Winter Garden Theatre [World Premiere]
Saturday September 7, 10:00am @ Elgin Theatre
Saturday September 14, 9:00pm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When jaded Journalist Lloyd (Matthew Rhys) begins interviewing Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks), he starts to see the world in a different light.

This heartwarming Film is sure to delight and touch each and every neighbour it encounters. Director Marielle Heller has done it again and made a Film that shows the complexities of the human condition. Screenwriters Noah Harvester and Micah Fitzerman-Blue have written a beautiful script that focuses more on a person suffering immense pain and how Rogers helped him. In doing this, the audience learns lessons about healing as Lloyd does.

Once again Hanks turns in a stellar and heartwarming performance. After seeing him embody Rogers, it is hard to imagine how anyone else could. There is an honest and loving quality Hanks seeps into each character he has played and those are the qualities Rogers had. Because this Film focuses on Lloyd, Rhys carries the entire Film and he does so flawlessly. He is outstanding as the emotionally-suffering Journalist who slowly begins to become open and forgiving. When the two are together there is nothing but joy to witness.

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood screens at TIFF on Sat, Sep 7 at Roy Thompson Hall at 6:30 PM, Sat, Sep 7 at Elgin Theatre at 8 PM, Sun, Sep 8 at Princess of Wales at 3:15 PM, and Sat, Sep 14 at Elgin Theatre at 2:30PM.