Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

In a not-too-distant dystopia, The Pit is a form of prison that houses citizens in vertically stacked cells. They get fed through a platform that lowers from the top to bottom leaving those in higher cells with a feast while the ones below fight for leftovers if there are any.

This intelligent single-setting Socio-Political Thriller states important lessons about society and those with power in a simple way. The screenplay is enriched with characters who are entirely unique in their survival and political views. And those perspectives are the basis of the ample amounts of shocking violence that ensue. This is one to look out for at TIFF ’19.

The Platform screens at TIFF on Fri, Sep 6 at Ryerson Theatre at 11:59 PM, Sun, Sep 8 at Scotiabank Theatre at 10 PM, and Sun, Sep 15 at Scotiabank Theatre at 7:15 PM.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

I walked into Bong Joon-ho’s Palme d’Or winning Parasite almost completely blind. The story of two families and the struggles between their classes is best experienced with little to no knowledge of the plot and its surprises, so I will not ruin that mindset for the small few who have no idea what’s in store for them.

What I will say is that Parasite is easily one of the best, if not the singular best, films of the year. Hyperbolic praise happens at Festivals all the time, but this one is the real deal that surpasses the buzz. It tells an incredibly-nuanced and layered story, and is filled with terrific performances from the entire Cast. There is not one weak link among them. It is ravishing in its beauty and details, saying so much about the characters with each passing frame. The way it captures class politics so subtly is simply magnificent. And while it can get particularly bloody in some instances, Parasite is surprisingly-funny even at its most bleak. The moment the credits rolled, I felt my bones shake and knew I had experienced something truly unique and special. Do what you need to, and do not let this one pass you by.

PARASITE screens during TIFF at the following times:

Friday September 6, 8:30pm @ Ryerson Theatre
Saturday September 7, 1:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Black Conflux tells the story of two seemingly different people: reserved teenager Jackie (Ella Ballentine) and troubled adult Dennis (Ryan McDonald) in a 1980s small town in Newfoundland.

Feature Debut Writer-Director Nicole Dorsey shows a mature filmmaking style who has evenly measured the time allocated to her two characters. She examines the mental turmoil of her leads and the impending impact they could have on each other with an even hand. Thus, having the audience wonder when or if they will converge. However, what works best is the coming-of-age story of Jackie, expertly performed by Ballentine, whose internal struggle is as developed as her external one.

Black Conflux screens at TIFF on Fri, Sep 6 at Scotiabank Theatre at 6:15 PM, Sun, Sep 8 at Scotiabank Theatre at 5:45 PM, and Sat, Sep 14 at 11:30 AM at Scotiabank Theatre.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Salvador Mallo (Antonio Banderas) is an aging Film Director living with a wide variety of ailments and regrets. He wants to continue to make new films, but cannot find the strength or reason to do so. After one of his most popular films is re-released, he encounters long forgotten friends and memories, and starts to depend a bit too much on heroin.

From the very first frame, Pain and Glory feels like a lived-in and deeply personal experience. You can practically see Director Pedro Almodóvar excising his skeletons and reliving his childhood in real time. The visuals are luscious and splendid, the use of colour is exceptional and brilliant, the Cast is terrific, the score is affecting and…well, you get the point. This is an absolutely gorgeous film to watch and a genuinely sumptuous visual feast. And the glue holding the whole enterprise together is Banderas, putting in career best work as Almodóvar’s big screen conduit. His work here is emotional and transcendent, commanding the attention of everyone around him. It is a largely understated and quiet role, but the intimacy Banderas brings to it makes it feel so much grander. Do not be surprised if the Academy take notice.

PAIN AND GLORY screens during TIFF at the following times:

Friday September 6, 5:30pm @ Ryerson Theatre
Saturday September 7, 2:45pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

In 18th-Century Britain, Artist Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is hired to paint a portrait of dissatisfied soon-to-wed Héloïse (Adèle Haenel). The two begin falling for each other.

Like the best Romance films, Portrait of a Lady on Fire tells a tale of forbidden love. What sets this Film apart from those before is the interwoven story of Art. In using Art as the start of their romance Screenwriter Céline Sciamma poses questions about the gaze: what it means to be truly seen and what it means to truly see. This romance is brought to the screen with mesmerizing chemistry between its two leads who steadily build their bond with every line of dialogue.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire screens at TIFF on Thu, Sep 5 at Winter Garden Theatre at 9:15 PM and Fri, Sep 6 at Winter Garden Theatre at 3 PM.

It’s officially TIFF ’19 and what a day it’s been. We’ve been up and on our feet having a blast. See what we were up to!

A highlight every year is attending NKPR’s IT Lounge, which also is brought to us by the Producer’s Ball. Tons of amazing goodies which will be enjoyed by several stars TIFF ’19 and this is where Rolling Stone Magazine portraits will be shot during the Festival.

Hover on the right of each album to navigate slideshows.

 

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Always an amazing time at @natashankpr’s #NKPRIT19 Lounge! Celebs like Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and more can expect to have their portrait taken for #RollingStone there this year! Plus amazing goodies from #OGXBeauty, #Swarovski, #Sleepenvie (#MeanGirls photo shoot courtesy of them), #Nespresso, #KrispyKreme, #Flow, #HoundsBlackVodka (including a @jlo cocktail) + more! Love my evil eye Swarovski bracelet so much! You are a Queen, Natasha! 🙌

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 10:20am PDT

ONCE WERE BROTHERS: ROBERTSON AND THE BAND – Press Conference

 

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#TIFF19: #OnceWereBrothers: #RobbieRobertson and The Band, Opening Night Gala. Producers #RonHoward + #BrianGrazer; Director #DanielRoher; and Robertson himself. #TIFF #HuaweiP30Pro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 1:27pm PDT

The Premiere of CASTLE IN THE GROUND

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#TIFF19: Premiere of #CastleintheGround, an opioid crisis Drama. In attendance: #NeveCampbell, #AlexWolff, #ImogenPoots, #KeirGilchrist + #KiowaGordon. #HuaweiP30Pro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 6:24pm PDT

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD – Dinner Party

 

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#TIFF19: toldja #WeslodgeSaloon was going to be a hotspot at #TIFF! The Cast of #ThePersonalHistoryofDavidCopperfield pre-dinnered at the King West Canadian fare purveyor! In attendance: #AneurinBarnard #DevPatel #MorfyddClark + #HughLaurie! #TIFF #HuaweiP30Pro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 4:59pm PDT

 

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#TIFF19: #DowntonAbbey + #Sense8 star #TuppenceMiddleton at #TIFF with Niagara Falls Thriller #CliftonHill! 🌊 #HuaweiP30Pro

A post shared by Mr. Will Wong 📸 (@mrwillwong) on Sep 5, 2019 at 9:44pm PDT

This marks our tenth year contributing to CP24′s TIFF coverage. See a clip of our chat with Kelly Linehan!

Love seeing @mrwillw on my tv! #TIFF2019 pic.twitter.com/7MYITx1hVr

— Julie Wright (@reddogcw) September 5, 2019

We will be back on-air Saturday morning in the 8 AM ET hour and are scheduled to be on CBC Radio Friday around 4:15 PM ET talking what else??? TIFF ’19!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Corrupt cop Cristi (Vlad Ivanov) is in over his head. He needs to help free Zsolt (Sabin Tambrea), as he is the only one who knows the whereabouts of millions of dollars in cash. In order to get to Zsolt, Cristi must conspire with gangsters, a femme fatale, corrupt officers and more. And if that was not enough, he must learn “El Siblo”, an Indigenous whistle language used to avoid detection – primarily because it sounds like bird calls.

The Whistlers is a bit too jumpy for its own good, and relies a bit too much on paying attention to miniscule, thoughtless details. Everyone has an angle, and is double-crossing everyone. And somewhere along the line, probably around the point where you find yourself asking just how everyone factors into this story, The Whistlers just becomes a bit too convoluted for comfort. While the story may fall apart under slight scrutiny, the look of the Film remains consistently magnificent, as does the Film’s sly sense of humour (specifically around how ridiculous this whistling language quickly becomes). And while Ivanov is good, he is upstaged by the stunning Catrinel Marlon, who plays a classic femme fatale for the ages.

THE WHISTLERS screens TIFF at the following times:

Thursday September 5, 6:15pm @ Scotiabank Theatre
Friday September 6, 2:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

For a brief time in the early 1990s, American investors owned a stake in a Russian hockey team, the Russian Penguins. It was an ill-fated business venture, but created a Story filled with the kind of twists and turns usually reserved for a Hollywood movie – not real life.

For the most part, Red Penguins is entertaining and amusing to watch. I had no idea about any element profiled in this wild true story, and I spent the majority of the Film wide-eyed and bewildered listening to all of the sordid details. The footage Director Gabe Polsky was able to acquire is amazing, and the candid interviews he received from many of the Story’s major players is downright astounding. At just 80-minutes however, Red Penguins is never given the opportunity to stop and evaluate anything that is being said on-screen and struggles to draw conclusions about what happened. It moves far too quickly from topic to topic, and the last half of the Film is more chaotic than the Story itself and substantially more political than anything that proceeded it. But hey, where else at TIFF are you going to see footage of a bear chugging a beer?

RED PENGUINS screens during TIFF at the following times:

Thursday September 5, 6:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre [World Premiere]
Friday September 6, 3:15pm @ TIFF Bell Lightbox
Saturday September 14, 6:30pm @ Scotiabank Theatre

Review Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

The Climb is an episodic journey through the lives of best friends Michael (Michael Angelo Covino) and Kyle (Kyle Marvin) after a shocking confession that threatens to ruin their bond.

Co-Writers and Stars Covino and Marvin have magnetic chemistry that carries the Film. Their sharp-wit and awareness of their often slapstick comedy brings an authenticity to their onscreen friendship that would otherwise dissipate. The Film isn’t as tight in the end as it is in the beginning, however, it’s a beautiful examination of the unbreakable bond between best friends.

The Climb screens at TIFF on Thurs, Sep 5 at Ryerson Theatre at 6 PM and Fri, Sep 6 at Scotiabank Theatre at 3:30 PM.

TIFF ’19 is only a day away and the star sightings already are beginning in Toronto!

See some of the names we saw arriving in-town!

Danielle MacDonald (Patti Cake$, Bird Box) at #TIFF19 with Helen Reddy Biopic, I Am Woman.

Past TIFF attendee Adam Brody (Shazam!, The O.C.) in Toronto filming Cate Blanchett-directed series Mrs. America.

Alex Wolff (Hereditary, Jumanji: The Next Level) at #TIFF19 with Bad Education, Human Capital and Castle in the Ground. We spotted his Co-Star Keir Gilchrist just the other night!

Dev Patel (Hotel Mumbai, Lion) at #TIFF19 for The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Tilda Cobham-Hervey (Hotel Mumbai), who happens also to be the partner of Patel, at #TIFF19 for I Am Woman. She plays Helen Reddy.

Morfydd Clark has a big #TIFF19 starring in both The History of David Copperfield and Saint Maud, the latter which she has the titular role.

Norwegian star Josefine Petersen has been named one of #TIFF19‘s  Stars. She also stars in Disco.

Matty Cardrapole (Stranger Things) at #TIFF19 for I Am Woman.

We’ll be up and at it the next bit for the Festival,  check regularly on  this link with rolling updates for our latest   capsule reviews of the Films of TIFF ’19 and sightings!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)