TIFF 2022: SISU, CHARCOAL, STORIES NOT TO BE TOLD, and 3 more from this year's festival
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
A look at 6 movies showing at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
TIFF 2021: PETITE MAMAN, YOU ARE NOT MY MOTHER, and COMPARTMENT NO. 6
by Ashley Jane Davis, Staff Writer
Three more reviews from this year’s Toronto Film Festival.
TIFF 2021: BERGMAN ISLAND, THE FALLS, and BELFAST
by Jaime Davis, The Fixer
While this year’s fest felt a bit more subdued than in previous years, it was still filled with so many magical movie experiences.
TIFF 2021: ALL MY PUNY SORROWS, THE GUILTY, and THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE
by Ashley Jane Davis, Staff writer
Some more reviews from TIFF 2021!
TIFF 2021: ALONERS, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, and THE HUMANS
by Jaime Davis, The Fixer
It’s been a frenzied first few days in Toronto as I’ve watched more films in theaters in three days than I have in almost two years. Here are some highlights from the first half of TIFF ‘21.
TIFF 2021: MEDUSA is stylish but shallow
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Medusa is certainly stylish, and the young performers sink into the film’s cool, modulated rhythms, but overall of the film lacks sufficient energy and emotion to make it worthwhile.
TIFF 2021: DRUNKEN BIRDS creates impactful drama
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Drunken Birds, which just had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, lures viewers in with its hypnotic imagery, then it pulls them along with its absorbing story.
TIFF 2021: COMALA takes an intimate approach to a Mexican border story
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Gian Cassini’s captivating debut feature documentary, Comala, tells a micro story about his family to reveal a macro story on the Mexican drug wars.
TIFF 2021: KICKING BLOOD is a too-cool vampire tale
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
Kicking Blood is oddly both toothless and bloodless.
TIFF 2021: TO KILL THE BEAST is ambiguous but not evasive
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The sensorial drama, To Kill the Beast, the impressive feature directorial debut of Argentine filmmaker Agustina San Martín, exacts a hypnotic pull over viewers.
TIFF 2021: THE ODD-JOB MEN is both minor and awkward
by Gary M. Kramer, Staff Writer
The Odd-Job Men bills itself as a comedy, but director co-writer Neus Ballús’s film is really more like a frustration comedy.
TIFF 2021 Preview: 7 movies to catch at this year's festival
by Ashley Jane Davis and Jaime Davis, Staff Writers
While we’re looking forward to all the buzzy titles, here are some of the other films we’re looking forward to this year.
Bad Education
Written by Mike Makowsky
Directed by Cory Finley
Starring Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney and Ray Romano
Rated: TV-MA
Running time: 1 hour and 43 minutes
by Benjamin Leonard, Best Boy
Admittedly, I watched this movie back in September when it premiered at TIFF and haven’t seen it since. So, I’m not gonna be able to give you a comprehensive list of all the reasons why you should check this out this weekend. (It premieres on HBO 4/25/20 at 8PM.) But I CAN tell you that it made enough of a lasting impression that I’m still excited that people are finally gonna get to watch it after all these months.
Read MoreUncut Gems
Directed by Benny and Josh Safdie
Written by Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein
Starring Adam Sandler, Julia Fox and Kevin Garnett
Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for pervasive strong language, violence, some sexual content and brief drug use
by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport
“The beauty of betting.”
A key takeaway from Good Time and Uncut Gems is that I will never turn to the Safdie brothers when I am seeking a relaxing night at the cinema.
Read MoreKnives Out aka Wills ‘n Thrills
Written and Directed by Rian Johnson
Starring Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas and a slew of other sharp dressed people
Running Time 2 hours, 10 minutes
MPAA Rating PG-13
by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport
In some families, when a relative kicks the bucket it can be quite thrilling.
Ford v Ferrari, a DAD MOVIE™
Directed by James Mangold
Written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth and Jason Keller
Starring Christian Bale, Matt Damon, Jon Bernthal (other white dudes too!)
Running Time 2 hours, 32 minutes (surprisingly it mostly races by… ha!)
MPAA Rating PG-13
by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport
“I’m not what they call a people person.”
The entire premise of Ford v Ferrari can be summed up as: just a couple of dudes havin’ an old fashioned pissing contest.
Read MoreMotherless Brooklyn
Directed by Edward Norton
Written by Jonathan Lethem (novel) and Edward Norton (screenplay)
Starring Edward Norton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin and Willem Dafoe
Running time Two hours, twenty four minutes (sigh)
MPAA Rating R
by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport
”I always did enjoy a night drive.”
In regards to my film criticism, Edward Norton is catching me at a very sensitive and compassionate time in my life.
Read MoreWaves
Written and Directed by Trey Edward Shults
Starring Taylor Russell, Kelvin Harrison, Alexa Demie and Sterling K. Brown
Running Time 2 hours, 15 minutes
MPAA Rating R
by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport
“No second chances, no second place.”
I saw Trey Edward Shults’, Waves at the Toronto Film Festival based solely on the director’s previous work, It Comes at Night (I still need to watch Krisha, I KNOW! but cut me some slack guys. So many movies so little time.) and the buzz it generated from the fest. There was so much chatter about this flick that they made an additional screening available, which is how I was fortunate enough to see it. By not watching the trailer or reading the logline on IMDb, I was not prepared for the emotional roller coaster that I would be taken on. I recommend that viewers do the same for this one, as it may be best to avoid any spoilery plot details to experience the same powerful impact that it had on me.
Read MoreBlow the Man Down
Written and Directed by Bridget Savage and Danielle Krudy
Starring Sophie Lowe, Morgan Saylor and June Squibb
Running time 1 hour 30 minutes
by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport
It is always the small quaint towns that one has to worry about. Sure they are quiet, but that silence usually signifies secrets.
Read MoreThe Vast of Night
Directed by Andrew Patterson
Written by James Montague and Craig W. Sanger
Starring Sierra McCormick, Jake Horowitz and Gail Cronauer
Running Time 1 hour, 29 minutes
by Rosalie Kicks, Old Sport
”Can’t waste tape on a tombstone.”
In the film Vast of Night, Everett (Jake Horowitz) and Fay Crocker (Sierra McCormick) are two radio obsessed beatniks that have an admiration for the airwaves. Setting the film in a fictional 1950s sleepy town called Cayuga, New Mexico, it is safe to say that the writers and director are fans of the Twilight Zone. Cayuga being the name of the host and creator of Twilight Zone, Rod Serling’s production company.
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