#TIFF18: “WHAT THEY HAD” REVIEW
Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong
As someone who has personally experienced the insidiousness of Alzheimer’s Disease, WHAT THEY HAD is one of the few movies that features the day to day horrors one is subjected to. When Ruth (a terrific, yet underutilized Blythe Danner) is found in the hospital after wandering the streets of Chicago on a snowy winter night clad only in her nightgown, her son Nick (Michael Shannon, exceptional as always) calls his sister in California, Bridget (Hilary ...
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#TIFF18: “A MILLION LITTLE PIECES” REVIEW
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
A Million Little Pieces is based off of the controversial Novel/Memoir by James Frey that follows his crack addiction and the his experiences and interactions with people in an AA facility. It’s the latest Film from Sam Taylor-Johnson and will have its World Premiere at TIFF ‘18 in the Special Presentations Programme.
What the Film does best is depict the struggle many people go through when having an addiction. It shows the ups and downs along ...
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#TIFF18: “FIRST MAN” PRESS CONFERENCE
Words and Photo by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
The morning after its Canadian Gala Premieres, TIFF held the Press Conference for Damien Chazelle’s First Man. In attendance were Chazelle, Stars Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Patrick Fugit and Olivia Hamilton, along with Astronaut Neil Armstrong’s sons Rick and Mark Armstrong. The Film chronicles the true story of Armstrong and his journey towards becoming the first man to walk on the moon.
Having made critically ...
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#TIFF18: “THE PUBLIC” REVIEW
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
After premiering earlier this year in Santa Barbara, Writer/Producer/Director/Star Emilio Estevez has brought The Public to TIFF. Stuart (Estevez) is a supervisor at the Cincinnati Public Library. One cold evening, homeless Jackson (Michael K. Williams) stages a sit-in with a large number of other homeless patrons. They refuse to leave, and after the doors are barricaded shut, news of the situation quickly reaches the police and local television media ...
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#TIFF18: DAY SIX – RYAN GOSLING, NICOLE KIDMAN, ODESSA YOUNG, TROYE SIVAN, KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, CLAIRE FOY + MORE
By Mr. Will Wong
TIFF '18 officially has reached its cooling point, but that doesn't mean that Day Six wasn't filled to the brim with starpower! Ryan Gosling was out and about promoting FIRST MAN with his Castmates and Director Damien Chazelle, while Nicole Kidman continued to do the rounds for her latest, BOY ERASED. While TIFF '18 heavyweight Lucas Hedges couldn't make it to Toronto to promote his three Films at the Festival, it was a pleasant surprise that Singer/Songwriter/YouTuber Troye ...
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#TIFF18: “ASSASSINATION NATION” REVIEW
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Sam Levinson’s women empowerment to the power-of-four Film Assassination Nation is a violent, visceral, eye opening look at what it’s like to be a female teenager in the modern age with a bloody twist. Coming off the positive word of mouth from Sundance, it is no wonder why people loved this Film. It is an absolute blast and insanely entertaining, the Midnight Madness crowd is sure to devour the Film with absolute delight.
The Film centers around ...
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#TIFF18: “BOY ERASED” REVIEW
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Boy Erased follows Jared (Lucas Hedges) who is a son of a Baptist Pastor (Russell Crowe) in a small town. When Jared gets ousted to his parents his father tells him he can either attend a gay Conversion Therapy Program or be exiled from their family. Boy Erased is the second Feature for Actor-Director Joel Edgerton and will have its World Premiere TIFF ‘18 in the Special Presentations Programme.
Lucas Hedges lands a career-defining role as Jared ...
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#TIFF18: “THE FIREFLIES ARE GONE” REVIEW
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Léo (2015 TIFF Rising Star Karelle Tremblay) is an angst-ridden teenager reaching the final end of high school in her small, industrial Quebec town. She dreams of life outside of the sleepy town that doesn’t self-fulfill her, however, often surprises her. The Fireflies Are Gone will be having its North American Premiere at TIFF in the Contemporary World Cinema Programme.
Like previous Films directed and written by Sébastien Pilote, The Fireflies ...
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#TIFF18: “NON-FICTION” REVIEW
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Non-Fiction follows Parisian publisher Alain (Guillaume Canet), who is looking into changing his current publishing ways for a new media landscape, and his successful actor-wife Serena (Juliette Binoche). It is coming to TIFF in the Special Presentations Programme for its Canadian Premiere after playing the Venice Film Festival to rave reviews.
Writer-Director Olivier Assayas has crafted a powerful Script about the ever-changing media and how it ...
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#TIFF18: “HOTEL MUMBAI” REVIEW
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 ...
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