What’s Buzzing at TIFF 2013
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The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is one of the biggest film festivals of the year, second only to Cannes in terms of star-power and influence. Held every year after labor day since 1976, TIFF has been one of the major starters of Oscar buzz for the year and even a jumping off point for indie films looking to make a splash. Along with major blockbusters, films like The Wrestler, Slumdog Millionaire, and Precious all gained serious heat from the buzz generated from their TIFF premiers. Here are some you may have heard of (and some you haven’t) that are generating buzz from this years festival.
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12 Years A Slave (dir. Steve McQueen)
A free man in the 19th century is captured and forced into slavery in the deep south in Steve McQueens “12 Years A Slave” which is based on the true story of Solomon Northup. An all-star cast leads the epic film which is highlighted by it’s leads, Chiwetel Ejofor and Michael Fassbender as well as Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano and recent Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis. This film is already receiving widespread acclaim and is sure to be in the Oscar race not just for it’s actors but for the film itself.
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The Fifth Estate (dir. Bill Condon)
Following his breakthrough roles in the BBC crime drama Sherlock and Star Trek: Into Darkness, Benedict Cumberbatch takes on the role of Julian Assange, the embattled founder of Wikileaks in a film about the rise and fall of one of the worlds most recent controversial figures. Assange himself has said that the film is a serious propaganda attack on Wikileaks although he does back up Cumberbatch, who has personally supported the organization.
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August: Osage County (dir John Wells)
An ensemble cast led by Meryl Streep and Julia Robert play the part of the Weston family, who are brought together after the disappearance of the families patriarch, played by Sam Shephard. Based on the Pulitzer prize winning play of the same name, August: “Osage County” opened to mixed reviews but with praise going towards it’s two leads who have 20 Oscar nominations between them. Dark themes such drug abuse and illness are portrayed honestly and comically in a film that already has to live up to the plays Tony award.
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Tom At The Farm (dir Xavier Dolan)
A young man who travels to the funeral of his lover finds out the the family has no knowledge of his existence as he fights through the families twisted games. Director Xavier Dolan is only 24 years-old but is already onto his fourth feature film, which is promised to be very violent and brutal in the physical and emotional sense.
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Labor Day (dir. Jason Reitman)
Director Jason Reitman has proven he isn’t just in his position because of his famous name. With two best director nominations under his belt (Juno and Up In The Air) Reitman is one of the most promising young director in Hollywood, and his fifth feature film, Labor Day, looks like it will add to his hot streak. The film stars Josh Brolin as an escaped convict who holes himself up over the long holiday weekend with a mother (Kate Winslet) and her preteen son.
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All Is By My Side (dir John Ridley)
Andre Benjamin seemed like he was born to play Jimi Hendrix in the movie about his life. The difficulty of securing the rights to his image and music however made it look like he would never get to portray the iconic guitarist. The filmmakers got creative and produced a small glimpse into the life of the legendary rocker by following Hendrix during the two years he spent in London during the late 60’s and having him just play covers. The film covers a time in Hendrix’s life that isn’t widely discussed and Benjamin is already receiving rave reviews for his performance.
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Kill Your Darlings (dir John Krokidas)
Based on the real-life murder of David Kammerer by Lucien Carr, Kill Your Darlings explores the poets of the beat generation that surrounded the crime. Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Michael C. Hall, and David Cross are just a number of actors that appear in the film, which has already received rave reviews, notably Radcliffe, for his portrayal of writer Allen Ginsburg.
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Afflicted (dir. Derek Lee and Clif Prowse)
If you thought the well for found footage type films had been sucked dry after multiple ‘Paranormal Activities’ and ‘Cloverfield’, then think again. Afflicted is brought to you by lifelong friends Derek Lee & Clif Prowse, and has left it’s TIFF audience shaking with it’s genre-bending story line and action. When Derek is struck with a serious medical problem, him and his best friend set out to experience as much of the world that they can. But as they go further and further on their trip, the illness begins to get stranger as Derek is overcome with different symptoms. Early reviews call it a fresh take on the horror genre with some comparing it to the 2011 hit, Chronicle.
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Don Jon (dir Joseph Gordon Levitt)
Joseph Gordon Levitt wrote, directed, and stars in this comedy about a man who finally falls in love after years of being obsessed with working out, his car, and hot women. The only thing standing between him and his dream girl (played by Scarlett Johansson)…is his porn addiction. Gordon-Levitt’s directing style has received praise as well as a comeback performance by Tony Danza in the role of the title characters father.
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