Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
Ruben (Riz Ahmed) and Lou (Olivia Cooke) are a metal band touring and driving around the US in their RV. As he preps for a show, Ruben gets a loud ringing in his ears. He thinks nothing of it, but finds out soon after that he is losing his hearing rapidly and will soon become deaf.
This is the set-up for Co-Writer/Director Darius Marder’s harrowing journey Sound of Metal. The Film is loud, intense, and is a genuine test of endurance for audiences. It pulls no punches, plunging us right into the mind of Ruben as he learns how to communicate as a newly deaf person. Special attention was paid to the sound design, with Marder and his team creating an impeccable mix that is authentic to the experiences deaf people go through each and every day. And it switches from a normal mix to this authentic mix so often that it is almost impossible to prepare for it. Cooke is great in her small number of scenes, but the whole Film is held together by career best work from Ahmed. He digs-in deep, allowing us to feel every moment of triumph and tragedy. Ahmed’s visceral level of commitment here cannot simply be described; it demands to be seen.
SOUND OF METAL screens during TIFF at the following times:
Friday September 6, 9:00pm @ Winter Garden Theatre [World Premiere]
Saturday September 7, 10:00am @ Elgin Theatre
Saturday September 14, 9:00pm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
When jaded Journalist Lloyd (Matthew Rhys) begins interviewing Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks), he starts to see the world in a different light.
This heartwarming Film is sure to delight and touch each and every neighbour it encounters. Director Marielle Heller has done it again and made a Film that shows the complexities of the human condition. Screenwriters Noah Harvester and Micah Fitzerman-Blue have written a beautiful script that focuses more on a person suffering immense pain and how Rogers helped him. In doing this, the audience learns lessons about healing as Lloyd does.
Once again Hanks turns in a stellar and heartwarming performance. After seeing him embody Rogers, it is hard to imagine how anyone else could. There is an honest and loving quality Hanks seeps into each character he has played and those are the qualities Rogers had. Because this Film focuses on Lloyd, Rhys carries the entire Film and he does so flawlessly. He is outstanding as the emotionally-suffering Journalist who slowly begins to become open and forgiving. When the two are together there is nothing but joy to witness.
A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood screens at TIFF on Sat, Sep 7 at Roy Thompson Hall at 6:30 PM, Sat, Sep 7 at Elgin Theatre at 8 PM, Sun, Sep 8 at Princess of Wales at 3:15 PM, and Sat, Sep 14 at Elgin Theatre at 2:30PM.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Humberto Brause (Daniel Hendler) throws himself into the buying and selling of currency in 1970s Uruguay and accepts the assignment of laundering the largest amount of money he has ever seen.
Director Federico Veiroj has created a snapshot into a particular time in history and infused it with an entertaining theme of greed. The film is a thriller involving a character who will trample over anyone and anything to get what he wants. Yet, we love Humberto because of the deadpan humour he’s played with by the charismatic Hendler.
The Moneychanger screens at TIFF on Sun, Sep 8th at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 9 PM, Mon, Sep 9th at Scotiabank Theatre at 7 PM, and Sun, Sep 15th at 9:30 AM.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Wiebke’s (Nina Hoss) recently adopted second daughter changes drastically from wholesome to threatening, placing the lives of Wiebke and her other daughter in danger.
This Film is an examination of the lengths a mother will go for her children. Hoss turns in an unforgettable performance of the questionable Wiebke that is equally heartbreaking and compelling. Pelican Blood starts out as a Psychological Drama about a mother pushed to every possible limit, but the genre shifts along the way to a result that will have audiences shocked.
Pelican Blood screens at TIFF on Sun, Sep 8 at Scotiabank Theatre at 9:15 PM, Mon, Sep 9 at Scotiabank Theatre at 1:15 PM, and Sat, Sep 14 at Scotiabank Theatre at 9:45 PM.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
This Biopic follows Jean Seberg (Kristen Stewart) in a particular time in her life: in the late 60s and early 70s as she has become a target of the FBI’s due to her support and contributions to the Black Panther Movement.
Usually Biopics tell a story of the entire life of their subjects, however, this screenplay focuses on a short moment and succeeds in displaying who she was. Within this is a story of a woman who stood up and aligned herself with what she knew was right: equality. Stewart is the heart of the Film and completely merges into Seberg. The audience sees Seberg as a fiery presence in the beginning, but slowly she unhinges due to the horrible things the FBI was targeting her with. And Stewart is there unraveling Jean’s inner psyche with empathetic vulnerability.
Seberg screens at TIFF on Sat, Sep 7 at Ryerson Theatre at 6 PM, Mon, Sep 9 at 11:45 PM, and Sat, Sep 14 at TIFF Bell Lightbox at 6:15 PM.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Terminally-ill matriarch Lily (Susan Sarandon) invites her family and close friend to her home for one final gathering.
Blackbird has a lot of emotional impact and a captivating story at its core about assisted-suicide. In using multiple characters, Screenwriter Christian Torpe is able to give a well-balanced view on this often tough topic. Those characters are brought beautifully to the screen by the impeccable Sarandon, along with scene-stealing and at times comedic Kate Winslet, and the captivating Mia Wasikowska.
Blackbird screens at TIFF on Fri, Sep 6 at Roy Thompson Hall at 9:30 PM, Sat, Sep 7 at Roy Thompson Hall at 12 PM, and Fri, Sep 13 at Princess of Wales at 3 PM.
Review by Mr. Will Wong
Make no mistake, HUSTLERS isn’t just ‘that stripper movie’. Lorene Scafaria (Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Ricki and the Flash) is back with this enthralling look at a group of woman, whom after thriving in the business relying much on Wall Street clientele, see it all fall apart after financial crisis ensues in the late 2000s. Refusing to fall in defeat, the women led by Ramona (Jennifer Lopez), band together in a carefully-executed plan, stealing from unassuming wealthy men silenced by the same of their habits being uncovered.
Hustlers is told from the perspective of Destiny (Constance Wu), as it cuts between past and present where she is being interviewed by Elizabeth (Julia Stiles), a journalist reporting on the scandal. Scafaria hones-in on the heart of the story, a story of two women brought together by their determination to care for their families and drive to give themselves a better life, even if it means doing illegal things.
Lopez has never been better. Wu is fantastic as our eyes into this irresistible, dark world which is both scary and fun at once.
HUSTLERS screens at TIFF Sat, Sep 07, Roy Thomson Hall at 9:30pm and Sun, Sep 08, Ryerson Theatre at 6:00pm.
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
Robert Eggers‘ second Feature takes place on a remote New England island where two isolated lighthouse keepers (Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson) attempt to keep their sanity.
Everything about The Lighthouse is sublime.
It merges multiple genres into one of the most enthralling and unforgettable filmgoing experiences of the year. The direction by Robert Eggers is impeccable from the spellbinding opening shot until the horrifying finale. These consistently engrossing scenes are aided by the beautiful black-and-white Cinematography by Jarin Blaschke and the all-consuming sound by Damian Volpe. The Screenplay written by Eggers and Max Eggers infuses themes of isolation and power within their purposeful and story-advancing 19th-century dialogue. Then there are the outstanding career-best performances from Robbert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe. Both performances give everlasting haunting effects long after the credits roll.
The Lighthouse screens at TIFF on Sat, Sep 7 at Ryerson Theatre at 9 PM and Sun, Sep 8 at Scotiabank Theatre at 7:45 PM.
TIFF ’19 officially has kicked into high gear and you won’t believe the star power we witnessed!
Check it out. Hover right on each album to navigate.
HUSTLERS – #SheInspiresMe Panel
SEBERG – Press Stop
View this post on Instagram
#TIFF19: #KristenStewart winning raves for her work in #Seberg. #TIFF #KStew #HuaweiP30Pro
SYNCHRONIC – Press Stop
THE FRIEND – Press Stop
COLOR OUT OF SPACE – Press Stop
SOUND OF METAL – Press Stop
KNIVES OUT – Press Stop
JOJO RABBIT – Press Stop
THE LIGHTHOUSE – Press Stop
Informative and fun segment Will!! We’re on Festival Street tonight and off to a film tomorrow. Hope to see you around town Handsome! You’re always in the heart of all the media excitement. pic.twitter.com/SIZEnlLlxL
— YYZ Bliss (@yyz_bliss) September 7, 2019
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong
When Lily (Dakota Fanning) arrives in London, England as a refugee she begins searching for the man she loves with the hope he ended up there too.
This Story centers on one woman trying to find the man she loves in a foreign city interweaves many prominent issues happening in our world today. Although the Film takes place in the 1970s, it touches on how the poor treatment of refugees in camps, race relations, and more. It also showcases tender performances from Fanning and Wunmi Mosaku who plays a fellow refugee expecting her second child.
Sweetness In The Belly screens at TIFF on Sat, Sep 7 at Scotiabank Theatre at 6 PM and Mon, Sep 9 at Scotiabank Theatre at 4:15 PM.
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