Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

After premiering earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, Monsters and Men comes to TIFF this week and is just as timely and ferocious as it was nine months ago. The film tells the story of three men from different walks of life dealing with the fallout of a Black man being shot dead by the police in their community.

In a year where we have already seen films like Blindspotting and BlacKkKlansman tackling racial injustice, Monsters and Men may seem like a simple retread. But Writer/Director Reinaldo Marcus Green’s blistering debut feature is anything but. For 95-minutes, Green envelopes us in the chaos, outrage and uncertainty of what these communities are facing when innocent men are killed. It never panders to the audience, and its gritty authenticity makes it all the more startlingly relevant and at times, increasingly difficult to watch. Performances from everyone are absolutely terrific no matter how long they are on-screen, but the lead work from Anthony Ramos, John David Washington and Kelvin Harrison Jr. is among some of the best of the year.

Monsters and Men screens Thursday, September 6 at 9:00 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Friday, September 7 at 2:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre and Friday, September 14 at 2:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Set in the 1960s young Irish Traveller, Frances (Hazel Doupe), finds her dreams of being a boxer treated when her father gets released from prison. Float Like a Butterfly is the second Feature film for Irish Director Carmel Winters and will have its World Premiere at TIFF in the Discovery Programme.

Typically a film following the aspiring dreams of a boxer has a male protagonist, however, Float Like a Butterfly has a powerful female lead. This is the greatest strength in the Film which is made even better by the controlled and expressive performance by young actress Hazel Doupe.

Float Like a Butterfly screens at TIFF on Saturday, September 8 at 2:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 3, Monday, September 10 at 7 PM at Scotiabank 8, and  Friday, September 14 at 3:15 PM, at Scotiabank 11.

Revjew by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When Violet (Elle Fanning) hears about an international singing competition that’s holding auditions in her hometown, Isle of Wright, she takes it as her ticket to escape from her family life and the small town. Teen Spirit is actor Max Minghella’s first Feature and will have its World Premiere at TIFF in the Special Presentations Programme.

Fanning gives an energetic and powerful performance as the ever blooming Violet, and is able to showcase yet another one of her talents — her beautiful singing voice. This Film is an ambitious first Feature for Minghella and shows he’s not only has talented in front of the camera, but also behind. And pit together one killer Soundtrack.

Teen Spirit screens at TIFF on Friday, September 7 at 2:30 PM at Ryerson Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 7:30 PM at Scotiabank 1, and Saturday, September 15 at 9:15 PM at Ryerson Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

When a successful Astrophysicist and Blackhole Expert (Mamie Gummer) is found dead, lead homicide detective Mike (Patricia Clarkson) finds her view of the universe and herself become tested. Out Of Blue is the third Feature by Director Carol Morley and will have its World Premiere at TIFF ’18 in the Platform Programme.

Writer-Director Carol Morley crafts a Crime Film with the most unique and zealous of ideas which makes this one massive genre-bending Film. Morley’s Script is highly intelligent and gives life to an unconventional female detective, who is effortlessly embodied by the powerhouse that is Patricia Clarkson.

Out Of Blue screens Friday, September 7 at 9:30 PM at Winter Garden Theatre, Sunday, September 9 at 9:15 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2 and Friday, September 14 at 3:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 2.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Nearly 32 years after the Predator landed on Earth, Co-Writer/Director Shane Black has returned to his roots and brought TIFF along for the World Premiere. A group of soldiers haunted by their PTSD must fight off the Predator after he crash lands on Earth, avoiding the massive government cover up along the way.

The Predator is the very definition of a mixed bag. I went in with a fair amount of hype and trepidation, but was ultimately left cold. The Film has the trademark Shane Black-written wit and laughs, and is also rather viciously violent with its gore. The beast delightfully murders anyone he crosses paths with in increasingly more inventive ways. And while there are plenty of arguments to be made about the right balance between CGI and practical make-up effects, The Predator’s biggest issue is its editing. It distracts in some instances with how choppy it is (and how some scenes feel completely tacked on), and in others, does away with some characters entirely. But the Film’s MVP is without a doubt, Sterling K. Brown. He has a blast hamming it up for the camera, leaving smouldering ash in his wake.

The Predator screens on Thursday, September 6 at 11:59 PM at Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere], Friday, September 7 at 9:30PM at Scotiabank Theatre and Tuesday, September 11 at 9:45 PM at Scotiabank Theatre.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

After stunning Venice and Telluride, Bradley Cooper has brought the highly-anticipated A Star is Born to TIFF. Jackson Maine (Cooper) is a Country Singer whose best years are behind him. He’s become an alcoholic and drug addict. Ally (Lady Gaga) is an incredible singer at a drag club. The two meet by chance, become lovers and start writing music together. But the pressures of the tour and the rising tide for Ally may signal some big changes for in the future.

In a word, A Star is Born is spectacular. Cooper (who acts as Producer, Co-Writer, Director and Star of the Film) has created a spectacle of beauty and sure-fire Oscar-nominee. He relies too often on slow-motion and overuses all manner of close-up, but his directorial debut is solid and assured. His acting is just as great (channeling his inner Sam Elliot), and is only topped by Gaga. She dives deep into what truly makes Ally tick, leaving her on-stage persona at the door, delivering a strong, resilient woman that is unmatched by so many. Elliot is pretty great as well and Dave Chappelle shows-up for a particularly memorable arch in the second act.

But the Music is what really kicks every scene up a notch. It is composed and sung magnificently. While they both get plenty of time and songs to shine, the showstopping Finale from Gaga is the Film’s clear standout. They even cue in when it’s appropriate to clap.

A Star is Born screens on Sunday, September 9 at 6 PM, Roy Thomson Hall and 7:30 PM at Elgin Theatre. Monday, September 10 at 9:15 AM at TIFF Bell Lightbox and Friday, September 14 at 6:45 PM at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

In the near future, the villainous Finnegan (Monica Bellucci) has found a way to unleash demonic spirits through an addictive app on people’s phones. She wants to eat all of their souls, and the internet is her most efficient option. With the fate of the world (or at least Australia) at risk, a group of Nekromancers must turn to unlikely sewage-waste worker turned hero Howard North (Ben O’Toole) to save the day.

Nekrotronic is campy and silly enough to earn its spot in this year’s Midnight Madness line-up, but it never seems sure of itself. It wants to be Sam Raimi’s version of Ghostbusters, but is unable to commit to the right balance of Comedy and Horror. Sure it has some laughs and plenty of gnarly violence, but it also has long spurts of wasted exposition, endless world building and Bellucci sucking the life out of everything around her, figuratively and literally. She’s better than this, and she makes certain that you remember it.

NEKROTRONIC screens during at the following times: Friday, September 7, 11:59 PM, Ryerson Theatre [World Premiere] and  Sunday, September 9, 4:00 PM, Scotiabank Theatre.

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Phoenix follows young teenager Jill (Ylva Thedin Bjørkaas) who has watched her mother’s (Maria Bonnevie) substance abuse and depression rapidly escalate. After a tragic incident, Jill is forced to mature way beyond her years and take care of her little brother, Bo (Casper Falck-Løvås). This is the first feature for Writer-Director Camilla Strøm Henriksen and will be making its World Premiere at TIFF in the Discovery Programme.

Camilla Strøm Henriksen has crafted a compelling first Feature about the effects that mental illness and substance abuse have on the affected and their family. She does this through the atmospheric setting and by telling the story through the eyes of teenage Jill.

Phoenix screens at TIFF on Friday, September 7 at 9:15 PM at Scotiabank 11, Sunday, September 9 at 9 AM at TIFF Bell Lightbox 4, and Saturday, September 15 at 12:30 PM at Scotiabank 9.

Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong

Marie-Claire (Brigitte Poupart) is a professor of dermatology, researching skin cells and how they are affected by sexuality. She has an open relationship with her husband, so she is able to take part in the experiments with multiple participants. But when a student issues a complaint against another professor, Marie-Claire’s carefully cultivated life begins to unravel.

Les Salopes is an intriguing and frank portrayal of a woman very much in control of her sexuality. Poupart spends much of the Film bare, physically and emotionally, giving a raw and intimately transfixing performance that runs circles around her castmates. But the problem with the Film is that the central conflict does not start until nearly an hour in, and is barely resolved quickly afterwards. A curve ball involving her daughter Katou (Romane Denis, genuine and heartbreaking) should strengthen the Film and its #MeToo politics, but much like other elements here, is barely afforded any time to really develop.

LES SALOPES, OR THE NATURALLY WANTON PLEASURE OF SKIN screens at the following times:

Friday, September 7, 7:00 PM, Scotiabank Theatre [World Premiere] and Sunday, September 9, 12:00 PM, Jackman Hall.

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

Sharkwater Extinction is the followup to late Rob Stewart’s 2006 Documentary Sharkwater, about the industry behind Shark Fin Soup. What makes this install ent more somber is that Stewart passed-away before filming had wrapped. This is the legacy that he is leaving behind, a powerful, passionate, eye-opening way to remember him.

What makes Sharkwater Extinction such a great and powerful Documentary is that it shows that since the 2006 events that Sharkwater brought to light, unfortunately not all that much has changed. Yes, there are laws in place but the profits are so great that governments and citizens don’t care. The Documentary is beautifully-s, and truly haunting as it brings to light how truly endangered sharks really are, moreover now than ever before.

Sharkwater Extinction premieres on Friday September, 7 at  Roy Thomson Hall, 2 PM.