The Competition Was sTIFF
The 2018 Toronto International Film Festival started last week on September 6th and while it only finishes the 16th, there have definitely been some standout films. The festival features numerous world premieres ranging in genre from dramas, to documentaries, to an entire category devoted to female directors! The bar at TIFF has definitely been set high this year, so we’re looking at a few of the most anticipated and top rated films that definitely have our vote.
#5: “Beautiful Boy” (Oct. 12)
If you still haven’t stopped crying since watching “Call Me By Your Name” last year, then get excited because Lil Timmy Tim is back and ready to hit us right in the feels. This film by director Felix Van Groeningen follows the fragile and intricate father-son relationship between David (Steve Carell) and Nic Sheff (Timothée Chalamet) as they cope with the destructive effects of persistent drug addiction. The premise is heavy, but the authentic dynamic between Carell and Chalamet is what’s making this film a must-see.
#4: “The Old Man and The Gun” (Sept. 28)
This David Lowery dramedy is based on the true events that followed a man named Forrest Tucker’s bold escape from San Quentin State Prison at the age of 70. Tucker (Robert Redford) is living life by his own agenda, conducting a number of heists and ruthlessly confronting both authorities and the public along the way. Not only is this film stacked with hollywood icons like Danny Glover, Tom Waits, Elisabeth Moss, and Casey Affleck, but it’s the last time you’ll see Redford on screen as he’s recently announced his retirement from acting.Â
#3: “Halloween” (Oct. 19)
‘Tis the season to be terrified. It’s been 40 years since his initial killing spree in Haddonfield, Illinois and Michael Myers is back and, according to critics, better than ever. This final rendition of the creepy classic, written and directed by David Gordon Green, follows the original 1978 John Carpenter film plot, except this time Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis) has been waiting and she’s ready to fight back. The reviews have been great so far, here are a few things we hope to see in the film:
#2: “Widows” (Nov. 16)
After blowing away the public and coming out with an Academy Award for Best Picture with his 2013 film “12 Years a Slave“, director Steve McQueen is back and honouring his strides with this thriller that made its world premiere at TIFF. The film, set in modern-day Chicago, examines the lives of four women with the sole commonality of finding stability after their husbands are killed and leave them with nothing but a daunting criminal debt. If the plot itself isn’t enough to sway you, the star-studded cast including Viola Davis, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, Jacki Weaver, Colin Farrell, and Michelle Rodriguez, definitely will.
#1: “A Star Is Born” (Oct. 5)
Yas Gaga!!! This is Lady Gaga‘s first leading role in a film and co-star Bradley Cooper‘s directorial debut, which may be the reason for this story’s 4th revival being the most anticipated and widely praised by critics. Gaga plays a young artist named Ally who, in the midst of struggle and doubt, is discovered and repaired by musician Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper). With themes like romance, alcoholism, ambition and pain at the forefront of this film, the excitement is definitely real.
If you can’t wait any longer, check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Anticipated Releases of September 2018