TIFF 2019 Highlights [Part 1]
https://instagram.com/p/B2QB2Fgg0a7
The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival began last Thursday, September 5th and still has a few more days to go before it concludes on Sunday, September 15th. In this post are some photo and review highlights from the first few days of the festival, with more to come!
[Just a cut to save your browsers]
The Personal History of David Copperfield
https://instagram.com/p/B2RzGNRD7wu
TIFF had the World Premiere of Armando Iannucci's The Personal History of David Copperfield, an adaptation of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. It stars Dev Patel as the titular character, with an all-star cast filling in supporting roles: Hugh Laurie, Aneurin Barnard, Tilda Swinton, Gwendoline Christie, Benedict Wong, Ben Whishaw, and Peter Capaldi.
Reviews:
Film Review: Dev Patel in ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ https://t.co/FIw9I2B1kd
- Variety (@Variety) September 6, 2019
Peter Debruge for Variety: "... offbeat yet delightfully modern Charles Dickens adaptation."
'The Personal History of David Copperfield': Film review #TIFF19 https://t.co/ncHuVSVsOk pic.twitter.com/wy0kKlGroG
- Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 6, 2019
John DeFore for The Hollywood Reporter: "A delightful, crowd-pleasing break from bitter comedies"
Reviews were generally very positive, with reviewers noting that Iannucci's adaptation is straightforward with a modern sensibility, and funny in a less dark way than Iannucci's other work, like Veep.
https://instagram.com/p/B2PQxfRB9Xy
Hugh Laurie, Armando Iannucci and Dev Patel for The Hollywood Reporter
https://instagram.com/p/B2EbIagncdt
Dev Patel on the red carpet at the premiere
https://instagram.com/p/B2Eww7mnkE1
Aneurin Barnard and cast on the red carpet at the premiere
https://instagram.com/p/B2JD-_CnKOA
Dev Patel cuddling puppies
OP Says: This delightfully whimsical Dickens adaptation was fun to watch despite knowing nothing of the original story. The comedy doesn't always hit, but it's pretty funny when it does, and Iannucci uses some interesting transitions to get from scene to scene. Dev Patel wins the audience over immediately as Copperfield, and the rest of the cast is great, too.
Sound of Metal
. @rizmc and director #DariusMarder have a blast with ET Canada's @sangita_patel while promoting their new film "Sound Of Metal" at #TIFF19 https://t.co/lgvIaHiEvi pic.twitter.com/VQsqSMwsAq
- ET Canada (@ETCanada) September 6, 2019
Sound of Metal, a film by writer/director Darius Marder about a heavy metal drummer's journey through hearing loss, also had its World Premiere at TIFF. The film features several deaf actors, was presented with open captions, and there was a sign language interpreter on stage for the Q&A.
Stars Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke walked the red carpet with their director:
https://instagram.com/p/B2GgYUIn54s
https://instagram.com/p/B2LyMDcJZ7e
Bonus Olivia Cooke look:
https://instagram.com/p/B2MSOYvIhMZ
Reviews
'Sound of Metal' follows a rock drummer navigating life after deafness - it's also a perfect showcase for star Riz Ahmed. Our #TIFF19 review: https://t.co/WbsUwbsKMN
- Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 7, 2019
David Fear for Rolling Stone: "as effective as it is in terms of depicting difference without alienating anyone, this film probably works best as a showcase for its star."
Riz Ahmed delivers a career best performance as a metal drummer losing his hearing in Sound of Metal which premiered at #TIFF19. @goodjobliz gets emotional right here: https://t.co/pq4sz0wvwR
- Little White Lies (@LWLies) September 7, 2019
Hannah Woodhead for Little White Lies: "...devastating and hopeful in the same breath, anchored by Ahmed’s remarkable turn and the technical ambition at its core."
Reviews are generally very positive, citing Ahmed's grounded lead performance as the best of his career and one of the most notable parts of the film.
https://instagram.com/p/B2Mi_cKn81A
Cast photo
Turns out our @Variety interview about the importance of captioning & inclusivity was posted only for hearing audiences. I’m sorry to my D/deaf friends and cast. Here’s a section of the video with captions. This is a reminder of how far we have to go. #SoundOfMetal #TIFF19 pic.twitter.com/Km5J2ENf6O
- Darius Marder (@dariusmarder) September 9, 2019
Variety's interview clip about the film was posted without captions; director Darius Marder reposted it with captions.
Check out this interview with @rizmc, @dariusmarder, Olivia Cooke, @paul_raci, and myself! The whole process of the movie was authentic and I’m so grateful to be a part of this! #SoundOfMetal https://t.co/U6V8XBV2zL
- Chelsea Lee (@cheelee5) September 10, 2019
Deaf actress and cast member Chelsea Lee posted a link to a cast interview with Entertainment Weekly. She talks about how the deaf community has to be involved from the beginning on a project like this, and can't be an afterthought.
OP says: This film immerses the viewer in the perspective of a drummer and former addict who loses his hearing. We see him struggle with communication, deny there's a problem, look for a quick fix, and lash out at the people trying to help him. The character and his reactions feel real, and are never played for melodrama. It's extremely well done, if a bit long, and it's excellent to see the D/deaf community represented on screen. Would recommend.
Proxima
Eva Green stars in Alice Winocour's Proxima, a drama about an astronaut training for going to space while trying her best to be a good mom. Eva Green was filming in the UK, so there aren't any red carpet or promo shots for this one.
Eva Green puts in a career best performance as the astronaut faced with a choice between her ambitions and her only child - 'Proxima' #Toronto @TIFF_NET Review https://t.co/8eksE2Qr3Q pic.twitter.com/XYmXE10W1T
- Screen International (@Screendaily) September 6, 2019
Fionnuala Halligan for Screen International: "a significant, ambitious and entirely impressive film by a dazzling young French director in full command of her ship."
'Proxima': Film Review | TIFF 2019 https://t.co/eN8x4F4Hka
- THR Movies (@THRmovies) September 6, 2019
Jordan Mintzer for The Hollywood Reporter: " this superbly crafted yet intimate family drama is so realistic in terms of its setting and technical specificity, it sometimes feels like a documentary."
Reviews are mixed to positive, with many reviewers praising Eva Green's performance, the realistic struggle to balance work and family, and Winocour's direction. Critics of the film argue that there isn't enough story, or the story that's there is too dull to be impactful.
OP says: I loved this. There are so few films about mother-daughter relationships in the context of career ambitions, and this film illustrates the difficulties that women in particular face when they have a career that takes them away from their kids. If you go into this one looking for a space movie, you'll be disappointed, because while its shot in actual astronaut training facilities, it's set entirely on earth. But if you want a fantastic performance from Eva Green, whose character faces sexist bullshit while pursuing her career goals, this one's for you. Director Alice Winocour (pictured above) was so funny and likable in the Q&A - I can't wait to watch her other films.
Source 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Any other TIFF attendees out there? What'd you see?
The 2019 Toronto International Film Festival began last Thursday, September 5th and still has a few more days to go before it concludes on Sunday, September 15th. In this post are some photo and review highlights from the first few days of the festival, with more to come!
[Just a cut to save your browsers]
The Personal History of David Copperfield
https://instagram.com/p/B2RzGNRD7wu
TIFF had the World Premiere of Armando Iannucci's The Personal History of David Copperfield, an adaptation of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. It stars Dev Patel as the titular character, with an all-star cast filling in supporting roles: Hugh Laurie, Aneurin Barnard, Tilda Swinton, Gwendoline Christie, Benedict Wong, Ben Whishaw, and Peter Capaldi.
Reviews:
Film Review: Dev Patel in ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’ https://t.co/FIw9I2B1kd
- Variety (@Variety) September 6, 2019
Peter Debruge for Variety: "... offbeat yet delightfully modern Charles Dickens adaptation."
'The Personal History of David Copperfield': Film review #TIFF19 https://t.co/ncHuVSVsOk pic.twitter.com/wy0kKlGroG
- Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 6, 2019
John DeFore for The Hollywood Reporter: "A delightful, crowd-pleasing break from bitter comedies"
Reviews were generally very positive, with reviewers noting that Iannucci's adaptation is straightforward with a modern sensibility, and funny in a less dark way than Iannucci's other work, like Veep.
https://instagram.com/p/B2PQxfRB9Xy
Hugh Laurie, Armando Iannucci and Dev Patel for The Hollywood Reporter
https://instagram.com/p/B2EbIagncdt
Dev Patel on the red carpet at the premiere
https://instagram.com/p/B2Eww7mnkE1
Aneurin Barnard and cast on the red carpet at the premiere
https://instagram.com/p/B2JD-_CnKOA
Dev Patel cuddling puppies
OP Says: This delightfully whimsical Dickens adaptation was fun to watch despite knowing nothing of the original story. The comedy doesn't always hit, but it's pretty funny when it does, and Iannucci uses some interesting transitions to get from scene to scene. Dev Patel wins the audience over immediately as Copperfield, and the rest of the cast is great, too.
Sound of Metal
. @rizmc and director #DariusMarder have a blast with ET Canada's @sangita_patel while promoting their new film "Sound Of Metal" at #TIFF19 https://t.co/lgvIaHiEvi pic.twitter.com/VQsqSMwsAq
- ET Canada (@ETCanada) September 6, 2019
Sound of Metal, a film by writer/director Darius Marder about a heavy metal drummer's journey through hearing loss, also had its World Premiere at TIFF. The film features several deaf actors, was presented with open captions, and there was a sign language interpreter on stage for the Q&A.
Stars Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke walked the red carpet with their director:
https://instagram.com/p/B2GgYUIn54s
https://instagram.com/p/B2LyMDcJZ7e
Bonus Olivia Cooke look:
https://instagram.com/p/B2MSOYvIhMZ
Reviews
'Sound of Metal' follows a rock drummer navigating life after deafness - it's also a perfect showcase for star Riz Ahmed. Our #TIFF19 review: https://t.co/WbsUwbsKMN
- Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 7, 2019
David Fear for Rolling Stone: "as effective as it is in terms of depicting difference without alienating anyone, this film probably works best as a showcase for its star."
Riz Ahmed delivers a career best performance as a metal drummer losing his hearing in Sound of Metal which premiered at #TIFF19. @goodjobliz gets emotional right here: https://t.co/pq4sz0wvwR
- Little White Lies (@LWLies) September 7, 2019
Hannah Woodhead for Little White Lies: "...devastating and hopeful in the same breath, anchored by Ahmed’s remarkable turn and the technical ambition at its core."
Reviews are generally very positive, citing Ahmed's grounded lead performance as the best of his career and one of the most notable parts of the film.
https://instagram.com/p/B2Mi_cKn81A
Cast photo
Turns out our @Variety interview about the importance of captioning & inclusivity was posted only for hearing audiences. I’m sorry to my D/deaf friends and cast. Here’s a section of the video with captions. This is a reminder of how far we have to go. #SoundOfMetal #TIFF19 pic.twitter.com/Km5J2ENf6O
- Darius Marder (@dariusmarder) September 9, 2019
Variety's interview clip about the film was posted without captions; director Darius Marder reposted it with captions.
Check out this interview with @rizmc, @dariusmarder, Olivia Cooke, @paul_raci, and myself! The whole process of the movie was authentic and I’m so grateful to be a part of this! #SoundOfMetal https://t.co/U6V8XBV2zL
- Chelsea Lee (@cheelee5) September 10, 2019
Deaf actress and cast member Chelsea Lee posted a link to a cast interview with Entertainment Weekly. She talks about how the deaf community has to be involved from the beginning on a project like this, and can't be an afterthought.
OP says: This film immerses the viewer in the perspective of a drummer and former addict who loses his hearing. We see him struggle with communication, deny there's a problem, look for a quick fix, and lash out at the people trying to help him. The character and his reactions feel real, and are never played for melodrama. It's extremely well done, if a bit long, and it's excellent to see the D/deaf community represented on screen. Would recommend.
Proxima
Eva Green stars in Alice Winocour's Proxima, a drama about an astronaut training for going to space while trying her best to be a good mom. Eva Green was filming in the UK, so there aren't any red carpet or promo shots for this one.
Eva Green puts in a career best performance as the astronaut faced with a choice between her ambitions and her only child - 'Proxima' #Toronto @TIFF_NET Review https://t.co/8eksE2Qr3Q pic.twitter.com/XYmXE10W1T
- Screen International (@Screendaily) September 6, 2019
Fionnuala Halligan for Screen International: "a significant, ambitious and entirely impressive film by a dazzling young French director in full command of her ship."
'Proxima': Film Review | TIFF 2019 https://t.co/eN8x4F4Hka
- THR Movies (@THRmovies) September 6, 2019
Jordan Mintzer for The Hollywood Reporter: " this superbly crafted yet intimate family drama is so realistic in terms of its setting and technical specificity, it sometimes feels like a documentary."
Reviews are mixed to positive, with many reviewers praising Eva Green's performance, the realistic struggle to balance work and family, and Winocour's direction. Critics of the film argue that there isn't enough story, or the story that's there is too dull to be impactful.
OP says: I loved this. There are so few films about mother-daughter relationships in the context of career ambitions, and this film illustrates the difficulties that women in particular face when they have a career that takes them away from their kids. If you go into this one looking for a space movie, you'll be disappointed, because while its shot in actual astronaut training facilities, it's set entirely on earth. But if you want a fantastic performance from Eva Green, whose character faces sexist bullshit while pursuing her career goals, this one's for you. Director Alice Winocour (pictured above) was so funny and likable in the Q&A - I can't wait to watch her other films.
Source 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Any other TIFF attendees out there? What'd you see?