Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The Sisters Brothers is the film adaptation of Canadian author Patrick deWitt’s award-winning Western Novel about two vastly different brothers (Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly) who are sent to kill a man (Riz Ahmed) who has been accused of stealing from a crime boss. Before making its North American Premiere at TIFF in the Special Presentation Programme it screened at the Venice Film Festival to rave reviews.

Writer-Director Jacques Audiard pays homage to the western genre while offering his own dark humour twist. Thanks to the powerhouse of talent that is Audiard’s cast, which consists of Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly, Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed, this gritty and violent Film is enriched with wit and humanity.

The Sisters Brothers screens at on Saturday, September 8 at 9:30 PM at Princess Of Wales Theatre and Sunday, September 9 at 10 AM at Winter Garden Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Rose-Lynn Harlan (2017 TIFF Rising Star Jessie Buckley) has always dreamed of becoming a country music star in Nashville, Tennessee. However, achieving her life’s dream seems like an impossible feat considering she is currently living in Glasgow, is a convicted criminal and a single mother of two. Wild Rose will have its World Premiere at TIFF in the Special Presentations category.

What make’s this Film stand out from other Country Music films is that it takes place somewhere you would never associate Country Music with, and it also has an unconventional lead character. Screenwriter Nicole Taylor has written a complex and authentic protagonist. And bonafide chameleon Jessie Buckley explodes Rose-Lynn on the screen like the most beautiful firework show.

Wild Rose will screen at TIFF Saturday, September 8 at 9:30 PM at Ryerson Theatre and Monday, September 10 at 3:15 PM at Scotiabank 1.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Freaks follows a daughter (Lexy Kolker) who is kept captive to her house by her oppressive father (Emile Hirsch). When she finally breaks free from his restraints she realizes why he had protected her for years. It is a Canadian Film that will have its World Premiere at TIFF ’18 in the Discovery Programme.

This Film is a wild mix of genres (Sci-Fi, Thriller and Family Drama) which leads audiences on the thrilling ride of never knowing which direction it’s going to turn. It also has hilarious, layered and mysterious performances from Bruce Dern, Emilie Hirsch and young up-and-coming actress Lexy Kolker.

Freaks screens on Saturday, September 8 at 9:30 PM at Scotiabank 2, Monday, September 10, at 9:45 PM at Scotiabank 4, and Sunday, September 16 at 6:45 PM at Scotiabank 14.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Firecrackers follows two young women who are desperate to leave their repressive small town. The night before they planned to leave, something happens that challenges their friendship and threatens their freedom. This is the Feature debut for Canadian Director Jasmin Mozaffari, and will have its World Premiere at TIFF ‘18 in the Discovery Programme.

Writer-Director Mozaffari does a wonderful job in creating multi-layered characters and delicately bringing them to life. TIFF Rising Star Michaela Kurimsky gives an explosive performance as the fiery and fearless Lou. She has captivating chemistry with co-star Karena Evans who plays the downhearted and free-spirit Chantal.

Firecrackers screens Saturday, September 8 at 6:45PM at Scotiabank 2 and Monday, September 10 at 4:30PM at Scotiabank 14

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

After debuting at Teluride last week, Toronto favourite Jason Reitman has brought his second film of the year, The Front Runner, to TIFF for its Canadian premiere. The Film tells the story of US Senator Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman), a one-time presidential hopeful in the three weeks leading up to the Democratic National Convention. Hart is the front runner to be the Democratic nominee for President of the United States, but when the Miami Herald uncovers an extramarital affair, it will change the way the news reports on politics.

The Front Runner is downright fascinating in how it examines how news is reported, while asking deeper questions about morality and ethics. Reitman is at the height of his directorial powers here, shooting sweeping one-take shots with ease and focusing on an ever-growing ensemble of incredible talent — with Jackman in one of his most electric roles to date. The newsroom scenes are particularly terrific, but once the affair is uncovered, the film seems to get bogged down in mundane melodrama and begins to dramatically deflate. By the time the Film ends, it becomes completely devoid of energy and importance, and never seems to answer the question of why we should care about the moment when the news cycle was irrevocably changed forever. And if that was not disappointing enough, the Film criminally underutilizes Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, which is quite simply unacceptable.

The Front Runner screens Saturday, September 8 at 6:30PM at Ryerson Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 12:30PM at Elgin Theatre, Friday, September 14 at 1:00PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Saturday, September 15 at 6:00PM at Ryerson Theatre.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

After premiering earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, Monsters and Men comes to TIFF this week and is just as timely and ferocious as it was nine months ago. The film tells the story of three men from different walks of life dealing with the fallout of a Black man being shot dead by the police in their community.

In a year where we have already seen films like Blindspotting and BlacKkKlansman tackling racial injustice, Monsters and Men may seem like a simple retread. But Writer/Director Reinaldo Marcus Green’s blistering debut feature is anything but. For 95-minutes, Green envelopes us in the chaos, outrage and uncertainty of what these communities are facing when innocent men are killed. It never panders to the audience, and its gritty authenticity makes it all the more startlingly relevant and at times, increasingly difficult to watch. Performances from everyone are absolutely terrific no matter how long they are on-screen, but the lead work from Anthony Ramos, John David Washington and Kelvin Harrison Jr. is among some of the best of the year.

Monsters and Men screens Thursday, September 6 at 9:00 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Friday, September 7 at 2:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre and Friday, September 14 at 2:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Set in the 1960s young Irish Traveller, Frances (Hazel Doupe), finds her dreams of being a boxer treated when her father gets released from prison. Float Like a Butterfly is the second Feature film for Irish Director Carmel Winters and will have its World Premiere at TIFF in the Discovery Programme.

Typically a film following the aspiring dreams of a boxer has a male protagonist, however, Float Like a Butterfly has a powerful female lead. This is the greatest strength in the Film which is made even better by the controlled and expressive performance by young actress Hazel Doupe.

Float Like a Butterfly screens at TIFF on Saturday, September 8 at 2:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 3, Monday, September 10 at 7 PM at Scotiabank 8, and  Friday, September 14 at 3:15 PM, at Scotiabank 11.

Revjew by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When Violet (Elle Fanning) hears about an international singing competition that’s holding auditions in her hometown, Isle of Wright, she takes it as her ticket to escape from her family life and the small town. Teen Spirit is actor Max Minghella’s first Feature and will have its World Premiere at TIFF in the Special Presentations Programme.

Fanning gives an energetic and powerful performance as the ever blooming Violet, and is able to showcase yet another one of her talents — her beautiful singing voice. This Film is an ambitious first Feature for Minghella and shows he’s not only has talented in front of the camera, but also behind. And pit together one killer Soundtrack.

Teen Spirit screens at TIFF on Friday, September 7 at 2:30 PM at Ryerson Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 7:30 PM at Scotiabank 1, and Saturday, September 15 at 9:15 PM at Ryerson Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When a successful Astrophysicist and Blackhole Expert (Mamie Gummer) is found dead, lead homicide detective Mike (Patricia Clarkson) finds her view of the universe and herself become tested. Out Of Blue is the third Feature by Director Carol Morley and will have its World Premiere at TIFF ’18 in the Platform Programme.

Writer-Director Carol Morley crafts a Crime Film with the most unique and zealous of ideas which makes this one massive genre-bending Film. Morley’s Script is highly intelligent and gives life to an unconventional female detective, who is effortlessly embodied by the powerhouse that is Patricia Clarkson.

Out Of Blue screens Friday, September 7 at 9:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 9:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2 and Friday, September 14 at 3:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Nearly 32 years after the Predator landed on Earth, Co-Writer/Director Shane Black has returned to his roots and brought TIFF along for the World Premiere. A group of soldiers haunted by their PTSD must fight off the Predator after he crash lands on Earth, avoiding the massive government cover up along the way.

The Predator is the very definition of a mixed bag. I went in with a fair amount of hype and trepidation, but was ultimately left cold. The Film has the trademark Shane Black-written wit and laughs, and is also rather viciously violent with its gore. The beast delightfully murders anyone he crosses paths with in increasingly more inventive ways. And while there are plenty of arguments to be made about the right balance between CGI and practical make-up effects, The Predator’s biggest issue is its editing. It distracts in some instances with how choppy it is (and how some scenes feel completely tacked on), and in others, does away with some characters entirely. But the Film’s MVP is without a doubt, Sterling K. Brown. He has a blast hamming it up for the camera, leaving smouldering ash in his wake.

The Predator screens on Thursday, September 6 at 11:59 PM at Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere], Friday, September 7 at 9:30PM at Scotiabank Theatre and Tuesday, September 11 at 9:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre.