Renew Radar: 2019 Toronto International Film Festival recap
Our Programming Director, Michael Kamison shares his thoughts on the fall and winter releases that played at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
This year, I was able to see 25 films that premiered and screened at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, so instead of recapping everything, I have limited myself to the films getting a major “Awards Season” release. You may not see all of these titles on our screens, but some are guaranteed to make an appearance.
Pain & Glory
Release date: October 4 (Limited)
I have long been a fan of Pedro Almodóvar through the ups and downs of his career (way more ups in my opinion). This is one of his best in years. Though he has denied that the film is autobiographical, Pain and Glory stars Antonio Banderas as an aging, spiky-grey-haired filmmaker who is going through a list of health problems and a creative slump and revisits his early work. Beautifully directed and acted, with all of Almodóvar’s poetic finishings.
Parasite
Release date: October 11 (Limited)
My most anticipated film at this year’s festival. Earlier in the year it was awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival and it was utterly deserving. A rich, complex satire that is funny, thrilling, a little scary, and at times, heartwarming. I can’t recommend this enough.
Jojo Rabbit
Opens November 8th at the Ambler, County, and Princeton Garden
Going into the festival, I knew we would have to see this title because the premise is so audacious that I had no idea what to expect. Set in the waning days of WWII, the film follows a young German boy who is imaginary friends with Hitler in this coming-of-age, anti-hate satire. It’s a bold choice that maybe won’t be everyone’s cup-of-tea, but it is certainly sweet, funny, and well-intentioned. PLUS it won the People’s Choice Award which has been awarded to a slew of films over the past 10 years that have gone on to get nominated for and win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. (Green Book [2018], Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing Missouri [2017], The Imitation Game [2014], 12 Years a Slave [2013], Silver Linings Playbook [2012], and La La Land [2016] to name a few)
Frankie
Release date: October 25 (Limited)
From director Ira Sachs (Little Men [2016], Love is Strange [2014]) starring the irreplaceable Isabelle Huppert and set in the gorgeous Portuguese foothills. This was a very interesting script with beautiful cinematography, but it never quite captured my interest. That said, a lot of critics disagree with me!
Honey Boy
Release date: November 8 (Limited)
Full disclosure: I think Shia LaBeouf is one of the most talented actors working today. In this passionate, brilliant performance, Shia plays his father in a reimagined, close-to-reality retelling of his childhood as a young actor. I don’t think the Academy will agree, but this is my favorite acting performance of the year.
Ford v. Ferrari
Release date: November 15
Christian Bale and Matt Damon star as two race car drivers who are hired by Ford to build and operate a car fast enough to beat Enzo Ferrari at the Le Mans in France in 1966. The racing sequences were quite stunning, but it seems to have spent a lot of time and money on those details and not as much effort on the script.
Waves
Release date: November 15 (Limited)
A lot of people are going to be talking about this movie. It is expertly made, but might be controversial for some audiences. The film is essentially split into two separate movements, the second of which was stunning, patient filmmaking that framed the first half in an interesting light. I’m looking forward to seeing this again. Sterling K. Brown from NBC’s This is Us gives an award-worthy performance.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Release date: November 22
Notoriously nice-guy Tom Hanks plays notoriously nice guy Mr. Rogers. Do I need to say any more? By using the framing device of a cynical New York journalist who is given the assignment of profiling Fred Rogers, the film reminds us of the lessons of patience, forgiveness, and communication that we learned from Mr. Rogers. Just in time for Thanksgiving.
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
Release date: December 6 (Limited)
Also a title that played to rapturous praise at the Cannes Film Festival, this title was high on my list of priorities. The film depicts a portrait artist who falls in love with a countess’ daughter in 18th Century France. Every frame of this forbidden love story is deliberate, calibrated, and arrestingly gorgeous and may be a strong contender for Best International Film.
A Hidden Life
Release date: December 13 (Limited)
Terrence Malick has quietly released five films over the past decade, however nothing since the brilliant Tree of Life (2011) has been as celebrated as his World War II morality tale: A HIDDEN LIFE. Malick’s best films are as good as any great work of literature, and this film is a major late-career achievement. Although the film is set during a huge global crisis, Malick localizes the war to one farming community in Austria as one man defiantly refuses to pledge allegiance to the Nazi Party. Elegantly filmed and acted — this is a brilliant discussion of faith and morality in the face of extreme evil — akin to the work of Bergman and Tarkovsky.
Uncut Gems
Release date: December 13 (Limited)
One of Adam Sandler’s best performances of his career. You read that right. This movie is wildly energetic, chaotic, funny, heart-racing cinema. Sandler plays a jeweler in Queens who owes money and keeps making all the wrong decisions to try and dig himself out of debt. I loved it, but it definitely isn’t subtle.
Just Mercy
Release date: December 25 (Limited)
This was one of those movies that I knew would be in the Oscar race before seeing it. Michael B. Jordan stars as the real-life lawyer Bryan Stevenson who defends inmates on death row in the Alabama prison system. Though the story details several cases, his most notable involves the wrongfully convicted Walter McMillian, played passionately by Jamie Foxx. I’m not a betting man, but if I were, I would put all of my money on Foxx winning Best Supporting Actor.
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