Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Hotel Mumbai depicts the terrorist attack that happened at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai in 2008, and the victims and survivors of that attack. This is the feature directorial debut for Anthony Maras and it will have its World Premiere at TIFF ’18.

The Film has an impressive ensemble cast consisting of Dev Patel, Armie Hammer and Nazanin Boniadi to name a few. Then there is the skillful Director from Maras who brings an equal amount of love and hate to the Film. There are tender scenes are love and devotion between family, friends, co-workers and even strangers. Then there are the violent and often hard-to-watch moments of terror.

Hotel Mumbai screens on Friday, September 7 at 6 PM at Princess Of Wales, Sunday, September 9 at 9:45 PM and 10 PM at Scotiabank, and Saturday, September 15 at 9:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre.

Review by  Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Her Smell tells the story of a self-destructive female Punk Rock musician, Becky Something (Elisabeth Moss), who seems determined to alienate those around her and threatens the success of her band. This is the fourth feature for Director Alex Ross Perry and will have its World Premiere in the Platform Programme at TIFF ’18.

Moss gives an all-or-nothing performance as Becky. It’s a demanding performance that most actors wouldn’t dare to take-on, let alone execute perfectly.  Perry’s direction takes the audience on a punk rock ride and challenges the depth to which they are willing to watch. Overall, it’s one hell of a ride that you will be happy you took.

Her Smell screens at TIFF on Sunday, September 9 at 5:45 PM at Winter Garden Theatre, Tuesday, September 11 at 12 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox, and Friday, September 14 at 9:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

This Film is based on the true story of Forrest Tucker (Robert Redford), who has spent most of his life robbing banks, in prison or escaping from prison. The Film takes place when he is in his seventies and still can’t resist the urge to rob banks, because it’s the one thing that always puts a smile on his face. The Old Man & The Gun will have its international Premiere at TIFF ’18 and has received rave reviews from other Festivals this season.

Writer-Director David Lowery takes the Crime-Drama genre and puts a fresh spin on it. Shooting on 16MM film, The Old Man & The Gun gives the perfect amount of nostalgia for the old-school crime movies, however, his use of dialogue and camera techniques makes this Film feel fresh and new. Lowery has gathered a group of talented Actors, such as Redford, Sissy Spacek and Casey Affleck (who is arguably at his best as Detective John Hunt), who elevate his already rich Script.

The Old Man & The Gun screens at TIFF on Monday, September 10 at 8 PM at Elgin Theatre, Tuesday, September 11 at 1 PM at Elgin Theatre, Thursday, September 13 at 6 PM at Ryerson Theatre, and Friday, September 14 at 6 PM at Princess of Wales.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

With Mid90s, Oscar-nominee Jonah Hill makes the leap from acting to writing/directing. The Film revolves around 13-year-old Stevie (Sunny Suljic), trying to fit in and find his place in the world. His Mom Dabney (Katherine Waterston) is not the best parent and his older brother Ian (Lucas Hedges) is constantly beating and abusing him. With no friends to turn to, Stevie starts hanging out at a local skate shop and makes friends with a crew of older skateboarders – who may be inspiring a few wrong impressions.

Hill’s directorial debut is far from perfect, but is admirable and notable. The look and nostalgic feel of the Film is spot-on, and the loud Sondtrack (complete with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Score) is magnificent. And while the casting is great overall, Suljic’s performance is absolutely brilliant as the precocious, impressionable and quietly hilarious Stevie. My main gripe is that outside of one deeply emotional scene involving Stevie and older skateboarder Ray (Na-kel Smith), there are too few genuine coming-of-age moments. Hill hints at them (and some deeper, darker closeted demons), but he never elaborates or goes into any sort of depth. It all just feels like a big lead up to nothing much at all. I wanted to learn more about these kids and Stevie’s family life. And with a running time of 84-minutes, there was definitely some time that could have been spent on it.

Also, does it horrify anyone else that a film set in the 1990s is now considered a period piece?

Mid90s screens on Sunday, September 9 at 9:15 PM at Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere], Monday, September 10 at 2:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Friday, September 14 at 6:00 PM at Ryerson Theatre.

By Mr. Will Wong

As TIFF ’18 reaches its halfway mark, we still are buzzing with starpower, but this is nearing the calming point of the Festival! One big dilemma – it wouldn’t stop raining today which affected our mobility, but we still tried our best! Marquee titles like A MILLION LITTLE PIECES, based on the Bestseller by James Frey, DESTROYER for which Nicole Kidman once again is getting Oscars buzz and of course FIRST MAN starring Ryan Gosling, all debuted this evening. See who we spotted out and about today!

DIAMOND TRIBUTE
We were so honoured once again to be on the jury for the BIRKS DIAMOND TRIBUTE honouring the accomplishments of Canadian Women in Film. Held at Ricardo’s, the event saw Writers, Producers, Actresses and Directors honoured for their body of work. Honourees this year include: Christa Dickenson, Nettie Wild, Susan Coyne, Stella Megie, Jeanne Leblanc, Pascale Bussières, Tantoo Cardinal, Eva Hartling and Jean-Christophe Bedos.

 

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Proud to be a part of this jury honouring the accomplishments of Canadian Women in Film, the Birds Diamond Tribute. L to R: Christa Dickenson, Nettie Wild, Susan Coyne, Stella Megie, Jeanne Leblanc, Pascale Bussières, Tantoo Cardinal, Eva Hartling, Jean-Christophe Bedos. Photo: @gettyimages

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 11, 2018 at 1:18pm PDT

PARIS HILTON x CHRIS ZYLKA

 

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So awesome meeting the inventor of the Selfie herself, #ParisHilton who admits she teared-up watching #TheLifeandDeathofJohnFDonovan starring her love, #ChrisZylka! Sending love to all the haters! 😘 #TIFF18 #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 8:01pm PDT

A PRIVATE WAR – Jamie Dornan x Rosamund Pike

 

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#JamieDornan x #RosamundPike at #TIFF18 for #APrivateWar. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 1:41pm PDT

A MILLION LITTLE PIECES – Aaron Taylor-Johnson

 

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Another “It Boy” of #TIFF18, #AaronTaylorJohnson! He’s now promoting Sam Taylor-Johnson’s #AMillionPieces, an adaptation of James Frey’s Bestseller. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 2:06pm PDT

WHAT THEY HAD – Hillary Swank, Robert Forster

 

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Double #AcademyAward winner #HillarySwank at #TIFF18 for #WhatTheyHad. Also spotted, #RobertForster. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 2:04pm PDT

GREEN BOOK – Mahershala Ali

 

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When Oscar winner #MahershalaAli is “yes yes” and Security is “no no” . He is here for #GreenBook. Also #LindaCardellini!! 😍 #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF18

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 1:55pm PDT

ROMA – Alfonso Cuáron

 

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Director #AlfonsoCuaron (Gravity) getting much Oscar buzz for his Netflix Film, #Roma. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 1:50pm PDT

WHERE HANDS TOUCH – Amandla Stenberg, Abbie Cornish, Amma Asante x George Mackay 

 

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#AbbieCornish is always a gem! She, #AmandlaStenberg, #GeorgeMackay and Director #AmmaAsante at #TIFF18 for #WhereHandsTouch. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 1:49pm PDT

SHADOW – Zhang Yimou x Ryan Zheng

 

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Now here is a legend, iconic Chinese Director #ZhangYiMou returns to #TIFF for his latest, Shadow. Star #RyanZheng also is at the Festival. #torontointernationalfilmfestival #TIFF

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 10, 2018 at 1:39pm PDT

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Karyn Kusama’s fifth Feature may be one of the strongest ones yet. Destroyer is a powerful female-driven detective Crime-Thriller amplified by Kidman’s incredible performance. The Movie switches between the past and present effortlessly, delivering one incredible and shocking ending as well.

The Movie focuses on Erin (Nicole Kidman) as she enters a crime scene that ties back to her undercover days, where she is now determined to bring in the crime boss she tried taking down Silas (Toby Kebbell). While the story is compelling and captivating, the performance from Nicole Kidmashow-stopping and arguably one of her best performances to date. TIFF is known for Oscar movies, and Destroyer, especially Kidman’s performance, may be in serious talk come February.

Destroyer screens on Monday, September 10 at Winter Garden Theatre, 9:30 PM,  with an extended Q&A, Wedensday, September 12 at 1:30 PM at the Elgin, and Saturday, September 15 at 9:45 PM, TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Matt (Jeff Gladstone) is fragile and suicidal. He just found out his wife Lori (Colleen Rennison) is cheating on him and that she just so happens to be pregnant. As his life begins to crumble, his mother Marion (Gabrielle Rose) and sister Jess (Camille Sullivan) attempt to keep him from breaking any further, all while trying to forge ahead with their own love lives.

It may not sound like much of a Romantic Comedy, but veteran TIFF director Bruce Sweeney does his very best to keep the proceedings as darkly-comedic, quirky and vaguely romantic as possible. There is some genuine heart and raw emotion on display here (mostly from Sullivan), but the focus is disjointed and all over the place for the first two-thirds of the Movie. Once everything starts to come together in the third and Sweeney does away with all the superfluous characters, Kingsway really comes into its own and becomes a genuine slice of Canadiana. I just wish it got there faster.

KINGSWAY screens Monday, September 10, 7:15 PM, Jackman Hall [World Premiere], Thursday, September 13, 5:45 PM, Scotiabank Theatre and Saturday, September 15, 9:00AM, Scotiabank Theatre.

Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong

Real-life married couple Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario star in Writer/Director Akash Sherman’s sophomore feature Film CLARA, a Toronto helmed Sci-Fi flavoured Film about an obsessive, humourless astronomer and a free-spirited young lady who form an unlikely bond which leads them to an astral discovery. As this sumptuously Film progresses, we slowly learn more about Isaac and Clara; the tragedies and circumstances they individually try to overcome as they search the universe to unlock some of the mysteries and find peace within themselves.

Whereas the pace of CLARA may be a little too relaxed and the long time it takes to relate to the character of Isaac who, as written, has minimal social skills, this is a wonderfully performed movie by the entire cast and by its conclusion, I was totally invested. CLARA is accomplished and assured.

CLARA screens Monday, Sept.10th, 5:30 PM, Ryerson Theatre and Thursday, Sept.13th, 9:30 PM, Scotiabank 3.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife comes to Toronto after premieres at Sundance and Cannes. Joe (Ed Oxenbould) is 14-years-old and looking for a job after his Dad Jerry (Jake Gyllenhaal) loses his. Jerry has too much pride to look for a job, so he ends up taking work fighting local wildfires. With Jerry gone until the first snowfall, Joe’s Mom Jeannette (Carey Mulligan) must also look for work while also dealing with her newfound independence.

Wildlife is absolutely gorgeous to look at. Dano strives for period authenticity and alongside Cinematographer Diego Garcia, creates a beautifully nostalgic portrait of a family in crisis. The performances from Gyllenhaal, Mulligan and character actor Bill Camp are also quite well done, with the young Oxenbould turning in some absolutely stunning work. But the Film around them is increasingly dull as it moves sluggishly through its 104-minute running time. I understand the slice of life aesthetic Dano and Co-writer/Partner Zoe Kazan are going for, but Wildlife takes much too long to figure out where it’s going and is not all that satisfying when it gets there.

Wildlife screens on Monday, September 10 at 2:30 PM at Princess of Wales, Wednesday, September 12 at 5:45 PM at Ryerson Theatre and Saturday, September 15 at 6:15 PM at Winter Garden Theatre.

Words and Photos by Mr. Will Wong

The buzz for A STAR IS BORN is undeniable. On the day of its Premiere, the TIFF ’18 Press Conference was held for the directorial debut from Bradley Cooper. Joining him at the event moderated by Richard Crouse, were Lady Gaga, Dave Chappelle, Anthony Ramos and Sam Elliott. This is the first time the Cast reunited since they had shot the Film.

Crouse notes that the Film contains the theme of being true to one’s self at a time where funding in a time where the Arts are under siege with cuts to funding, and whether this was a conscious decision.

Cooper: “This was never anything conscious as funding for Arts is age-old tradition dating back to the ’40s and ’50s. As long as you want to create content that’s compelling, that’s the biggest motivator.”

Crouse asks what drew Cooper and the Cast to the story.

Cooper: “There was not one thing, but a sequence of sonic ideas, compositions and meeting people. I love faces, eyes and voices and all of these people have an incredible character I was obsessed with putting on film. I have such a unique dynamic with each one and they have with each other. In terms of the human element, that was all inspirtation and kept evolving depending who was going to be in the Movie.”.

“But really, it started about six years ago at Metallica concert and I was behind Lars Ulrich‘s drumkit. Just to be on stage, that’s how I wanna see a movie. I also wanted to tell a love story and not to be too specific, watching Annie Lennox‘s cover of  I Put a Spell on You, looking at the veins on her neckand wanting to have that in a movie.  You can’t hide when you’re singing. Lady Gaga propelled the whole thing being the epicenter  of it all.”.

Crouse asks about creating the character of Ally, whom is played by Lady Gaga.

Gaga: ‘I have acted before , but I’ve never been a lead actress in a Feature Film. Every day was such a thrill to watch, act and work in this environment he created. He (Cooper) operates with such precision and has such a vision. You can see the gears turning while he’s working and even while he’s in character at the same time.”.

“He’d whisper  things to me like ‘Tony (Bennett) ‘Ninja’ and ‘Come on, assassin!’ and we would pound each other. I had the lines memorized. He told me the important thing is to know what I’m trying to say, to tell the story I was meant to tell in that scene. I could just throw it all away on set. It wasn’t rigid. I could exist in this precise an compelely liberating environment.”.

A Star is Born screens on Sunday, September 9 at 6 PM, Roy Thomson Hall and 7:30 PM at Elgin Theatre. Monday, September 10 at 9:15 AM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Friday, September 14 at 6:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox.