TIFF Review: ‘The Testament of Ann Lee’ is a Bold and Unconventional Musical from Mona Fastvold
Mona Fastvold crafts one of the year’s boldest musicals in The Testament of Ann Lee, with Amanda Seyfried giving a career-best performance. More
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TIFF Review: Benny Safdie and Dwayne Johnson Compellingly Take a Documentary-Style Approach to ‘The Smashing Machine’
Once upon a time, the UFC was not the giant sports industry that it is now. In the sport’s early days, the mixed martial artists and other tough guys competing did so in something more closely resembling anonymity. That obviously begs the question of why these guys would put their bodies through such carnage? Well, […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Tuner’ is a Surprising and Enjoyable Composition
Every festival season, there’s at least one title that I go into with zero expectations, only to wind up really enjoying. This year, at the Toronto International Film Festival, it’s Tuner. You may think this is just a movie about a piano tuner and his mentor. Perhaps there’s wisdom exchanged? Well, that’s more or less […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Eleanor the Great’ is a Stirringly Effective, Emotional, and Entertaining Directorial Debut from Scarlett Johansson with Impeccable Work From June Squibb
It will never not be fascinating to me to consider the material actors/actresses choose when they step behind the camera. Often, it’s a film they’re able to star in, so it’s rare for them not to even appear in a supporting role. So, for Scarlett Johansson to chose her directorial debut to be Eleanor the […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Rental Family’ is a Gentle and Quiet Work with an Affecting Turn From Brendan Fraser
There’s a quietness and a whimsy to Rental Family that most dramedies struggle to sustain. Usually, there’s a hard pivot towards the drama at one point or another. This movie is fairly consistent in taking a light touch with things, even when being serious. It’s a gentle work, one that has generated a lot of […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Eternity’ is a Pretty Clever High Concept Romantic Comedy
What is the afterlife to you? Eternity posits the concept that we all get to choose how we spend the days after death, more or less however we choose. Who we choose to spend it with, however, is the devil in the details. That’s the hook for this romantic comedy with a twist. It’s not […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Roofman’ is a Gem of a Crowdpleaser from Derek Cianfrance and Channing Tatum
There’s an impressive mixture occurring within Roofman. Now, this is a very audience friendly crowdpleaser, overall. The thing is, there’s also a bittersweetness and melancholy that not every filmmaker would have allowed. However, in doing so, not only does Derek Cianfrance stay true to his roots, he makes an infinitely better movie out of the […] More
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TIFF Review: Aziz Ansari’s ‘Good Fortune’ Has Rough Edges But Pointed Humor and an On Point Keanu Reeves
At the start of Good Fortune, things are pretty rough around the edges. The jokes don’t all land, the focus is off, and it’s hard to know what the point of it all is. By the end, the humor will have balanced out, the characters have won you over, and a message has even emerged. […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Sacrifice’ is an Ambitious Mixed Bag of a Satire That Does Not Play Things Safe
A satirical thriller is hard to pull off. First of all, the satire of it all has to work. Then, there needs to be something thrilling at its core. Furthermore, the mixture needs to feel right. More often than not, one element is off, keeping the whole from succeeding. That’s the case with Sacrifice, which […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ is Rian Johnson’s Best and Most Ambitious Installment Yet
The Knives Out franchise has progressively been able to hook me. I thought Knives Out itself was just fine, up until the end when Benoit Blanc finally put it all together. Then, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery was an upgrade on almost every level for me. So, I did go into Wake Up Dead […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘Christy’ Features Knockout Performances from Ben Foster and Especially Sydney Sweeney
Boxing biopics are nothing new to the cinematic world. Movie after movie has looked at fighters and their struggle both inside and especially outside of the ring. Playing at the Toronto International Film Festival, Christy is another one, telling the story of Christy Martin, though female boxers have rarely been given center stage. This one […] More
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TIFF Review: ‘The Lost Bus’ is an Intense and Visceral Experience From Paul Greengrass
The 2018 California Camp Fire was the deadliest wildfire in the state’s history. Wildfires are fascinating for films because they’re impersonal villains, just simply nature run amok. Seeing the damage and devastation that uncontrolled fires can cause is deeply intense, which The Lost Bus has in spades. The movie is a visceral experiences, based on […] More
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