TIFF 2019: do not buy the hype; Who came out in the awards derby

The welcoming audience at the Toronto International Film Festival and the media seeking to catch the attention of visitors can create a powerful headwind for films that hope to gain ground in the Oscars. But not everyone gets this boost. And reality does not always correspond to clickbait titles.

Yes, the festival-goer "Hustlers" made the front page of the press. After all, Jennifer Lopez is an established global star who knew exactly what to do with her seductive role as a stripper. But while all this craze could attract moviegoers to the theaters this weekend, "Hustlers" (which movie distributor B STX has taken over from film producer A Annapurna) is much more likely to play for the Hollywood Foreign Press than the most tony voters of the Academy, who want their Oscar nominees to shine with the patina of art. If the film is a hit and the Lopez team finds financial support for a rewards campaign, it could slip into a slot for a supporting actress.

I've already mentioned the triumph of black DC "Joker" at TIFF – it could go a long way this season of the Oscars – but on the other side of the spectrum, "A nice day in the neighborhood" was also in the foreground, redoubling expectations an entertainment studio at the sweet saccharine margin. Produced by Big Beach, who managed to secure the movie rights to the Fred Rogers estate (and judiciously allowed Morgan Neville to go ahead with his popular documentary "Do not you want to be my neighbor? "), The film is directed by Marielle Heller, Tom Hanks first refused the film, after incarnating real heroes, Captain Phillips, Captain Sully and Walt Disney. Because of his close relationship with Heller, he agreed to read the screenplay and assume the role of supporting a deeply human television broadcaster who helps an embittered journalist from Esquire magazine ( the American star), Matthew Rhys, to cope with family problems. . The first shot of the film, as Rogers performs his well-known ritual: changing sweaters and sneakers while singing his theme, takes 22 shots to succeed. The Academy should reward the skill required to achieve this true and delicate story with several Oscar nominations, including Hanks.

Oscar Searchhouse (Oscar Slayer) was successfully introduced by the famous director-director-actor Taika Waititi to the satire "Jojo Rabbit" of the TIFF for a reason: they needed the bold rapture. public reaction to counteract the mixed critical reaction. The film is currently 52 years old on Metacritic. The film is applauded by those who revel in the whimsical story of Waititi of a young Nazi enthusiast (Roman Griffin Davis) and his imaginary friend Hitler (Waititi), who is increasingly threatened by the # 39; growing infatuation of the child for the Jews. teenager (Thomasin McKenzie) hidden at home by his mother (Scarlett Johansson), resistance fighter. And the film is derided by those who question Waititi's use of an aesthetic to the Wes Anderson as well as a light and humorous approach to the Nazi subject. The people in the academy will probably guess where this fictional film will be sold to the voters of the Academy. Searchlight will have to start by generating box office success.

Curiously, Searchlight's popular TIFF movie was another World War II anti-Nazi cope. Terrence Malick wrote "A Hidden Life" in Cannes. He is based on a real Austrian farmer ostracized and imprisoned for refusing to swear loyalty to Hitler. This moving testimony of a man's courage to stand alone should be embraced by both Academy voters and festival-goers alike.

But Searchlight's TIFF was disappointing, like Noah Hawley's curiously clean-up cinematographic version of the true story of an astronaut (Natalie Portman) who adapts to life on earth by maintaining an extramarital relationship with another astronaut (Jon Hamm) ) fell completely flat, even in Toronto. No Oscar waits there.

"Ford v. Ferrari, "the favorite game of James Mangold, also played well in Toronto, in the debate over the drama and drama of this $ 100 million drama about a race car designer (Matt Damon) and his son The pilot (Christian Bale) hired by Henry Ford 2 (the second-tier candidate Tracy Letts) to beat Ferrari in the 1966 LeMans race could give two candidates for the best actor in a competitive year.

Warner Bros. has chosen Jonathan Lethem's independently financed and independently funded "Motherless Brooklyn" adaptation of Edward Norton, writer-director-actor. In his second directing effort, Norton plays the role of a savvy private detective, accompanied by brilliant verbal tics of Tourette Syndrome, backed by a colorful cast including Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Willem Dafoe, Bruce Willis and Bobby Cannavale. , Alec Baldwin as a racist and corrupt broker (inspired by Robert Moses) who believes that the end justifies the means. If Warners can draw the audience to the densely drawn film (he is 62 years old on Metacritic), members of the Academy will appreciate his production values, ranging from high production design to a sumptuous jazz score.

"Just pity"

Warners also provided one of TIFF's three modest-scale biopics with "Just Mercy", as well as the "Judy" success of Roadside Attractions, and "Harriet" from Focus Features, all anchored by powerful performance. In "Just Mercy", Michael B. Jordan plays a discreet role as a death row advocate, Bryan Stevenson, while Jamie Foxx has the most dramatic role as Walter McMillian, the death sentence leader. He tried to save.

Judy, focused on her last London gigs before the tragic death of July Garland, "Judy" sparked a huge reaction in Toronto to Renee Zellweger, who participates in the festival and who inevitably wins the SAG, Golden Globes and Academy Awards nominations. . His return story combined with Garland's irresistible collection of songs will be an asset to voters.

Actors should also support the dazzling athletic performance of British warbler Cynthia Erivo as the hero of the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman, in the breathtaking but direct historical story of Kasi Lemmons.

A24 effectively deployed Toronto to promote its three contenders for prizes. Entry to Cannes "The Lighthouse", a teammate alongside Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson, lighthouse keeper and his new assistant, played well at the festival and is expected to garner support from the cast. Two Telluride bands continued their momentum: the noisy "Uncut Gems" drama of the Safdie brothers, featuring comedian Adam Sandler in a dramatic role as a gambling addict in the Manhattan diamond district, and "Waves" Trey Edward Shults, a family drama source of anxiety. about a top athlete ("Luce" star, Kelvin Harrison, Jr.) who has big problems; the most likely Oscar nominee is Sterling K. Brown, winner of an Emmy, as a well-intentioned father who pushes his son a bit too hard.

Scarlett Johansson at the premiere of the movie "Marriage Story" at TIFF

Stacey Newman / Shutterstock

The TIFF audience loved the Netflix Oscars, led by New York author Noah Baumbach's drama drama "Marriage Story", which created a leadership dynamic among Venice and Telluride in Toronto, followed by New York. No other film has shown such universal appeal in so many festivals. "Marriage Story" manipulates the sympathy of moviegoers between New York's narcissist theater director (Adam Driver) and his comedian wife (Scarlett Johansson), who hires a repressive lawyer (Laura Dern) to keep their child in Los Angeles. Angeles. Baumbach balances both narratives with insight, humor and compassion and builds on a soothing battle scene that will win Oscar nominations for both actors. It would be Driver's second place ("BlacKkKlansman") and Marvel star Johansson. While the film will be released briefly in a limited theatrical cast, "Marriage Story" is also well calibrated for the Netflix global game.

Netflix is ​​also rehearsing the story of Eddie Murphy, producer and star of the biopic of Craig Moore, Craig Brewer, Rudy Ray Moore, "Dolemite Is My Name." any public projection I saw in Toronto.

Fernando Meirelles' "The Two Popes" is another fictional story, written by Anthony McCarten ("Bohemian Rhapsody," The Theory of Everything "", "The Darkest Hour"), which illustrates the verbal sword behind the scene between Popes Benedict. XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and Francis (Jonathan Pryce) just before the conservative Benoît shocked the world by withdrawing.

Steven Soderbergh presented two powerful political exhibitions at TIFF. He directed the comedy "The Laundromat" from Netflix, starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas, from a screenplay by Scott Z. Burns, who did not make much noise in Toronto . And he produced the political drama of screenwriter-director Burns "The Report," which broke out at Sundance with a $ 14 million purchase from Amazon, but which was buried by more recent films at the party autumn festivals. Celebrity star Adam Driver will be praised for "Marriage Story", while four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening could mark a supporting spot for a supporting actress for her mysterious portrayal of Senator Dianne Feinstein.

The best Oscar nominee for Amazon Studios is perhaps the Israeli documentary Alma Boys, the movie Honey Honey, written by Alma Har'el as part of a rehab of troubled actor Shia Labeouf, who plays his own father. Lucas Hedges plays the actor Labeouf with the British actor Noah Jupe ("A Quiet Place," "Ford v. Ferrari"). If Amazon can draw enough attention to this drama, which Har'el said he realized for the children of alcoholics (there are many), the actors should support him.

Another equally successful Amazon was "The Aeronauts", a spectacular balloon, despite the efforts of the "The Theory of Everything" team of actors, Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones.

"Parasite"

Among the escapades in foreign languages ​​in Toronto are "Parasite" (Neon), the famous Palme d'Or, winner of the Palme d'Or and the Oscar-winning Korean series. The genre-defying and thrilling comic thriller that speaks of a family of swindling swarms that are moving into a wealthy home is playing so well with the public and critics that it might be as competing with best movie like "Roma". pick up headlines for the director, the original screenplay, cinematography and production design.

"Bread & Glory" (Sony Pictures Classics), winner of the Best Actor Award in Cannes, is also nominated in the category director Antonio Banderas, as director of the famous author Pedro Almodovar (director of the film), presented by the 39, Spain at the Oscars. And if France chooses the "Portrait of a lady on fire" (Neon), the ripper of lesbian corsage Celine Sciamma, it will also be a serious candidate for the best international feature film.

As always, all these films are eligible for the coveted TIFF People's Choice Award, which often – but not always – is a likely winner of the best film. If the trophy returns to Knives Out (Lionsgate), the inspired scholar of Agatha Christie, all bets are open.

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