#5
St. Vincent
DIR. Theodore Melfi
St. Vincent would appear to be The Weinstein Co.’s big Toronto play, hoping to generate the same kind of buzz Silver Linings Playbook received a couple years back and certainly hoping for a Bill Murray Oscar nomination as what is essentially a “Bill Murray Day” has been set up at the fest, showing several of Murray’s classic features.
Directed by Theodore Melfi, the film centers on a young boy (newcomer Jaeden Lieberher) whose parents just divorced finds an unlikely friend and mentor in the misanthropic, bawdy, hedonistic, war veteran who lives next door. Along with Murray the film co-stars Melissa Mccarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O’Dowd and Terrence Howard.
#4
While We’re Young
DIR. Noah Baumbach
Last year Noah Baumbach made waves with Frances Ha, this year he explores aging, ambition and success with While We’re Young starring Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a middle-aged couple whose career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple enters their lives. Amanda Seyfried, Adam Driver, Charles Grodin, Maria Dizzia and Adam Horovitz co-star.
Baumbach is hit and miss with me, but my joy over his last film gives me more than enough reason to hope he can keep the ball rolling with this one.
#3
Foxcatcher
DIR. Bennett Miller
My top three are pretty much the three films I consider “can’t miss” on a personal level. Several films I’ll be seeing because they are simply the film’s I “must” see from a business perspective, but these last three are films I would be seeing either way, it just so happens they’ll be good for business as well.
The first is Cannes stand-out Foxcatcher from Bennett Miller and starring Steve Carell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo in the “inspired by a true story” tale of Olympic Wrestling Champion brothers Mark Schultz (Tatum) and Dave Schultz (Ruffalo) and their relationship with the eccentric John du Pont (Carell), heir to the du Pont Chemical fortune that led to murder.
Praise for the film and the performances are one thing, but this would be near the top of my list no matter what. I can’t wait.
#2
Nightcrawler
DIR. Dan Gilroy
Nightcrawler sort of popped up out of nowhere and my dedication to seeing it in Toronto looks as if it will possibly have larger ramifications on what else I see at the fest as a result of a packed schedule. Should things work out my Saturday, September 6 schedule will certainly open up a lot more than it is right now… Here’s to hoping.
The story centers on on Lou Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal), a driven young man who discovers the nocturnal world of L.A. crime journalism. Joining a group of freelance camera crews who film marketable mayhem, Lou makes his own place at the table, aided by Nina, a veteran of the blood-sport that is local TV news. Blurring the line between observer and perpetrator, Lou finds his calling in a murderous world reduced to transactions. Bill Paxton, Rene Russo and Riz Ahmed co-star with Dan Gilroy directing.
#1
Mommy
DIR. Xavier Dolan
Anyone that reads this site shouldn’t be the least bit surprised Xavier Dolan‘s Mommy tops my list. The Jury Prize winner at this year’s Cannes Film Festival (tied with Jean-Luc Godard‘s Goodbye to Language 3D) would be my most anticipated without the fanfare that’s already behind it, but that does elevate to a level of expectation it most likely can’t achieve, but such as the nature of fandom and I’ll be seeing this one my very first day in Toronto.
The story centers on a widowed single mother (Anne Dorval), raising her violent son (Antoine Olivier Pilon) alone, finds new hope when a mysterious neighbor (Suzanne Clement) inserts herself into the mother and son’s household, providing the mother with needed support.
The festival begins on September 4 and you can find the complete line-up click here in the meantime.
