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 – and only becomes bigger from there.
Estevez admirably tackles a number of topics and ideas within The Public. But from the very beginning, the Film has trouble honing in on where to properly focus. The sit-in that forms the crux of the Plot does not take place until nearly 45-minutes into two-hour Film, and everything that comes afterwards feels very long and drawn-out. The sprawling Ensemble Cast do the best with what they are given (especially Williams and Christian Slater as a slimy mayoral candidate), but many are cast aside after they serve their characters’ purpose. With some choice edits, The Public could easily become a much stronger Film.
The Public screens on Sunday, September 9 at 2:30 PM at Roy Thomson Hall, Monday, September 10 at 10:30AM at Winter Garden Theatre, and Friday, September 14 at 4:15PM at Elgin Theatre.
By Mr. Will Wong
Toronto is “gaga” for A STAR IS BORN at TIFF ’18 as the Film saw two screenings tonight as part of the Festival’s Galas Programme. Stars Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Anthony Ramos, Sam Elliott and Dave Chappelle were at the Press Conference for the Oscar contender bright and early this morning!
While the Festival was particularly front-loaded this year, we look forward to a bit of a breather these next couple days, before we start focusing on seeing Films at the Festival!
See who we saw!
A STAR IS BORN – Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Anthony Ramos, Sam Elliott and Dave Chappelle
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WIDOWS – Colin Farrell, Steve McQueen Daniel Kaluuya, Robert Duvall, Cynthia Erivo, Brian Tyree Henry, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and more
HER SMELL – Elisabeth Moss, Cara Delevingne, Amber Heard, Agyness Deyn
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS – Elizabeth Olsen and Mamoudou Athie
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BURNING – Steven Yeun
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With #StevenYeun at his #TIFF18 Premiere for Burning. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival
THE PUBLIC – Jeffrey Wright
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#JeffreyWright at #TIFF18 for #ThePublic. #TIFF #torontointernationalfilmfestival
QUINCY – Quincy Jones
A FAITHFUL MAN – Lily Rose Depp, Louis Garrel
FIRST MAN – Damien Chazelle
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Academy Award winner #DamienChazelle (#Whiplash, #LaLaLand) is back at #TIFF18 with #FirstMan.
JASON REITMAN’S THE BREAKFAST CLUB LIVE READ – Aaron Paul, Bel Powley, Jesse Eisenberg, Christina Hendricks, Steve Zissis, Richard E Grant and Robert Wuhl
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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