- DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsSally HawkinsOctavia SpencerMichael ShannonAt a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.I did something which I have never done before in my life – I watched a movie twice at the same film festival. I fell completely in love with this movie after a press screening, so much so that when I found out it was playing on closing night at The Elgin Theatre in Toronto, which is the location of a few scenes in the movie, I just had to see it again.
The second viewing is one of my best ever screening experiences, and the whole audience erupted into applause in one particular scene when they realised we were sitting in one of the locations up on the screen in front of us. I do not just love this film, I am actually in love with this film right now. It is everything – the film is dripping in references to other films and the love of cinema itself; the characters; the script; the set design; the music; the effects; the world which it creates; the performances (Sally Hawkins for best actress / Octavia Spencer for best supporting actress); everything -- it is near perfect IMHO. The film is already somewhere in my top 25 movies of all-time. - DirectorMichael PearceStarsJessie BuckleyGeraldine JamesOliver MaltmanA troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of brutal murders.Jessie Buckley is one to watch in this intriguing mystery / thriller which is also playing at The London Film Festival. Jessie came to our TIFF cocktail event and I did not even recognize her when I saw the film a few days later.
- DirectorJanus MetzStarsSverrir GudnasonShia LaBeoufStellan SkarsgårdThe story of the 1980 tennis rivalry between the placid Björn Borg and the volatile John McEnroe.The psychology of tennis (and perhaps competitive sport in general) set against the backdrop of a famous showdown. Two perfectly cast leads, including IMDb STARmeter "breakout star" award winner, Sverrir Gudnason, see also http://www.imdb.com/list/ls020486567/videoplayer/vi3070998809
- DirectorJoseph KahnStarsCalum WorthyJackie LongRory UpholdA progressive graduate student finds success and sparks outrage when his interest in battle rap as a thesis subject becomes a competitive obsession.Winner of the Midnight Madness People's Choice Award. I was not able to catch this so hoping someone buys it for distribution soon.
- DirectorRobin CampilloStarsNahuel Pérez BiscayartArnaud ValoisAdèle HaenelMembers of the advocacy group ACT UP Paris demand action by the government and pharmaceutical companies to combat the AIDS epidemic in the early 1990s.We first saw this at Cannes where it was my wife's favourite film of the festival. It is not always an easy watch as the audience feels the guilt of how people were so badly treated (with fatal consequences) in such recent memory.
- DirectorMike WhiteStarsBen StillerAustin AbramsJenna FischerA father takes his son to tour colleges on the East Coast and meets up with an old friend who makes him feel inferior about his life's choices.The ultimate college visit movie and one where the kid would do much better without the parent. There's a nice charm to how Ben Stiller plays the frustratingly annoying title character.
- DirectorS. Craig ZahlerStarsVince VaughnJennifer CarpenterDon JohnsonA former boxer-turned-drug runner lands in a prison battleground after a deal gets deadly.Gruesome "fun" from the writer/director behind Bone Tomahawk (2015). You have been warned. This was also the second runner-up in the Midnight Madness People's Choice Award.
- DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsTimothée ChalametArmie HammerMichael StuhlbargIn the summer of 1983, 17-year-old Elio is spending the days with his family at their villa in Lombardy, Italy. He soon meets 24-year-old Oliver, an intern working for Elio's father. They discover the heady beauty of awakening desire.This has the highest MetaCritic score of anything at the festival and it was the second runner-up to the Grolsch People's Choice Award. I have my London Film Festival tickets booked for this one.
- DirectorJohn CurranStarsJason ClarkeKate MaraEd HelmsDepicting Ted Kennedy's involvement in the fatal 1969 car accident that claims the life of a young campaign strategist, Mary Jo Kopechne.Exceptional writing from debut screenwriters Taylor Allen and Andrew Logan along with an excellent cast make for a special experience. The events of one night change the course of world history.
- DirectorRichard EyreStarsEmma ThompsonStanley TucciReena LalbihariAs her marriage crumbles, a judge must decide a case involving a teenage boy who is refusing a blood transfusion on religious principle.Emma Thompson is stunningly good in this complex moral dilemma based on the novel by Ian McEwan
- DirectorAlfonso Gomez-RejonStarsBenedict CumberbatchOliver PowellSophia AllyThe dramatic story of the cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas A. Edison and George Westinghouse to determine whose electrical system would power the modern world.Some of the things we take for granted today, such as the supply of electricity, were once fought over in more ways than you could imagine. Michael Shannon gives another stand-out performance in an already stellar cast with spectacular direction from Alfonso Gomez-Rejon. This would make a great pairing with The Prestige (2006) given the presence of Nikola Tesla in both stories.
- DirectorClio BarnardStarsRuth WilsonJonah RussellPaul RobertsonFollowing the death of her father, Alice (Ruth Wilson) returns to her home village for the first time in 15 years, to claim the tenancy to the family farm she believes is rightfully hers.Clio Barnard once again creates a complex and compelling film in what otherwise might appear a simple story. Genius film-making at its best (and a gutsy performance from Ruth Wilson to boot).
- DirectorJoe WrightStarsGary OldmanLily JamesKristin Scott ThomasIn May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.Gary Oldman gives a career best performance as Churchill, covering his early days in office as Prime Minister; would make an ideal double bill with Dunkirk (2017)
- DirectorArmando IannucciStarsSteve BuscemiSimon Russell BealeJeffrey TamborMoscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly 30 years, Soviet dictator, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power.Scheduling kept me away from this one at TIFF itself, but not to worry as it opens across the UK in a few weeks. I heard crazy good things about this one.
- DirectorDominic SavageStarsGemma ArtertonFrances BarberDominic CooperAn ordinary woman makes an extraordinary decision which will change her life forever.An emotional Q&A followed an emotional world premiere. Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper shine in a film which they also produced.
- DirectorSebastián LelioStarsDaniela VegaFrancisco ReyesLuis GneccoMarina, a transgender woman who works as a waitress and moonlights as a nightclub singer, is bowled over by the death of her older boyfriend.Another film with a high-score from MetaCritic which I have saved to watch at The London Film Festival.
- DirectorJames FrancoStarsJames FrancoDave FrancoAri GraynorWhen aspiring actor Greg Sestero meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they form a unique friendship and travel to Hollywood to make their dreams come true.I had watched The Room (2003) the week before in preparation for this, but it turns out not to have been necessary. This film should work equally well whether you have seen it or not. Another too-fantastic-to-be-true movie at TIFF. Please cheer at the mention of IMDb by Dave Franco's character in the dialogue. This also has the best end credits sequence of the festival with side-by-side comparisons of scenes from the original movie vs. this one.
- DirectorsJRAgnès VardaStarsAgnès VardaJRJeannine CarpentierDirector Agnes Varda and photographer/muralist J.R. journey through rural France and form an unlikely friendship.Completely charming French documentary by Agnès Varda. << C'est très bien, ça >>
- DirectorPaul McGuiganStarsAnnette BeningJamie BellKenneth CranhamA romance sparks between a young actor and a Hollywood leading lady.I am saving this for its gala screening at The London Film Festival where the home audience will add to the excitement. Annette Bening is receiving awards buzz for this, and people were also impressed with Jamie Bell.
- DirectorSean BakerStarsBrooklynn PrinceBria VinaiteWillem DafoeA single mother and the manager of a roadside motel do their utmost to maintain the innocence of a six-year-old girl's life.Another film which I have saved to see at The London Film Festival. Sean Baker follows Tangerine (2015) with another critically acclaimed film. I cannot wait to see it.
- DirectorSamuel MaozStarsLior AshkenaziSarah AdlerYonatan ShirayA troubled family must face the facts when something goes terribly wrong at their son's desolate military post.Several of my local Toronto friends recommended this one. Shortly after TIFF it was selected as the Best Foreign Film entry by Israel for the next Oscars.
- DirectorMichael HanekeStarsIsabelle HuppertJean-Louis TrintignantMathieu KassovitzA well-to-do French family deals with a series of setbacks and crises.I saw this truly mad and appropriately named (in a Haneke way) film at Cannes.
- DirectorScott CooperStarsScott ShepherdRosamund PikeAva CooperIn 1892, a legendary Army Captain reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory.There's a new classic western in the making here with echoes of Cheyenne Autumn (1964) and many fine performances.
- DirectorAnders WalterStarsMadison WolfeZoe SaldañaImogen PootsBarbara Thorson struggles through life by escaping into a fantasy life of magic and monsters.If you loved A Monster Calls (2016) or A Little Princess (1995) then you will love this film too. This is what movies are all about for me. Special thanks to Madison Wolfe who clearly has a bright acting future ahead of her. This was my favourite film of the festival until I saw The Shape of Water (2017)
- DirectorCraig GillespieStarsMargot RobbieSebastian StanAllison JanneyCompetitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises in the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.You simply cannot make up this stuff. If the screenplay had been submitted as a work of fiction, people would complain that it was too fantastic to be believed. It actually happened. Special shout out to Allison Janney as LaVona Golden who could run off with more than a few supporting actress trophies come awards season.
This list was created by a member of the IMDb community and has not been reviewed or verified by IMDb.
