#TIFF14: “MOMMY”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
French-Canadian Filmmaker Xavier Dolan in his quick rise to the Cinematic Elite, has redefined the way people look at Cinema and does so once again in his latest effort, Mommy. At the center of the Film is Diane (Anne Dorval), her Son Steve (Antoine-Olivier Pilon) and their Neighbour Kyla (Suzanne Clément). Diane, struggling to keep it together herself picks Steve up from a Government Institution and this proves to be quite the ...
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#TIFF14: “WHIPLASH”
One of the best Films we'll see at TIFF '14 happens to be the first one we screened this year, the riveting WHIPLASH. After making a huge splash at Sundance earlier this year, the Musical-Drama still resonates and we predict some high notes come Awards Season. Writer/Director Damien Chazelle crafts a rapturous ride into the mind of aspiring young Jazz Musician Andrew Neyman (Miles Teller). The Drummer is handpicked by the no-nonsense and well, outright abusive Conductor Terrence Fletcher ...
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#TIFF14: “FOXCATCHER”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Bennet Miller certainly knows a thing or two about an Oscar Campaign, his Capote and Moneyball having garnered Festival Circuit success en route to successful Awards Season Trails. With his newest venture, the biographical Foxcatcher, he delivers exactly what his established Fanbase is looking for. The Wrestling Drama is the Story of the USA Olympic Gold Medal-winning Brothers Mark (Channing Tatum) and David (Mark Ruffalo) as they train and coach ...
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#TIFF14: “HECTOR AND THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS”
Review by Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong
Simon Pegg plays Hector, a successful therapist living in London with his Girlfriend Clara, (Rosamund Pike). Despite the spoil and splendor he basks in, all is quickly overshadowed by unhappiness. Present in his work and as persistent as his past, Hector seeks escape from everything and everyone. And so around the world he goes with a journal and a query: what makes one happy?
He seeks answers in numerous places; finds several from luminous people. ...
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#TIFF14: “HEARTBEAT”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Heartbeat is meant to be this inspiring Comedic Story about getting your life together after it all falls apart. However the way that Director Andrea Dorfman and the Movie approach this subject, the message gets lost. The Film unfortunately never finds its true voice throughout, and makes the experience more strenuous than enjoyable.
The Story focuses on Justine (Tanya Davis) and her struggle to accept that her Boyfriend dumped her, and then after ...
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#TIFF14: “PRIDE”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Set during Margret Thatcher's reign, we see an England where Prejudice and Homophobia are alive and well in 1984. At the national forefront is the lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers. Mark (Ben Schnetzer) is the Leader of the LGSM (Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners), rallying his Friends Joe (George MacKay), Zoe (Jessie Cave) and Gethin (Andrew Scott) and teaming with Dai (Paddy Considine) in support of the Miners.
Upon ...
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#TIFF14: “PREGGOLAND”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Preggoland written by and starring Sonja Bennett is something quiet unexpected. It is an original Comedy from TIFF Favourite Jacob Tierney, which feels like the Cast of Mean Girls grew up 15 years and had children all except for Regina George. Well in the case of Preggoland that is what it feels like for Ruth (Sonja Bennett) who is trying to remain friends with her friends despite not being a Mom.
The Movie focuses on Ruth throughout and follows her ...
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#TIFF14: “ZERO RECOGNITION”
Celebrities cope with fame in several different ways - believe me, I've seen my share on Stars in the public eye. Some are totally cool with their star status, and well, some aren't. ZERO RECOGNITION, a collaborative Short by Canadian Talents Lauren Collins and Ben Lewis, makes its debut at TIFF '14. On one level it is a witty and self-deprecating look at the World of Online Dating. On another level, it is a multi-tiered look at the at-times-non-existent Star System within Hollywood ...
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#TIFF14: “COMING HOME”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Yimou Zhang is known for creating some fantastic Films recognized on an international scale like Hero, Flowers Coming Home and House of Flying Daggers and with his latest Feature Coming Home he uses his profound skills as a Filmmaker to tell a beautiful Tale of love. Unlike his other outings, Coming Home is a whimsical Story of how far true love can last for and how strong it can be.
The Film focuses on Gong Li (Yu) and Daoming Chen (Lu) and their ...
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#TIFF14: “THE DROP”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) works with his Cousin Marv (the late James Gandolfini) at a Brooklyn bar aptly named, Cousin Marv’s. The Bar acts as a drop for money being collected by the Chechen Mob. Thieves rob the Bar one evening, and Bob instinctively calls the Police. But what starts off as a simple robbery investigation, devolves into something that goes much deeper.
Adapted by Dennis Lehane (author of Mystic River and Shutter Island) from his ...
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