WAVES, AN UPCOMING AWARDS-SENSATION?
After getting enthusiastic reviews at Telluride and some award talk, Waves made its way to TIFF and critics keep raving Trey Edward Shults' latest. An African-American family saga, Waves seems to deliver heart-wrenching punch to its audiences. An excellent ensemble performance from a brilliant cast, dazzling cinematography, editing and score, with an intense narrative and directing style, Waves seems to be made for indie awards' tastes. Will the movie get recognition from major award associations? No matter what, critics and audiences say this movie is art and it deserves to be celebrated.
MARRIAGE STORY AND THE TWO POPES: NETFLIX CHAMPIONS?
After Telluride (and, in Marriage Story's case, Venice), both The Two Popes and Noah Baumbach's latest keep collecting rave reviews. In fact, both managed to keep an approval rating of 100% - a win for Netflix, no matter what. Initially, I thought Netflix was going to build a massive award campaign around Marriage Story AND The Irishman, but The Two Popes' general acclaim surprises me! Will Marriage Story and The Irishman be promoted as contenders all over the board and The Two Popes will be campaigned as an awards vehicle for its actors (Jonathan Pryce for Best Actor and Anthony Hopkins for Best Supporting Actor)? The Irishman is still to be seen, so, no matter what, Netflix has 2 awards players already, just in case Scorsese's upcoming crime drama flops.
JENNIFER LOPEZ BUZZY PERFORMANCE IN HUSTLERS
Something truly unexpected: JLo contending for an Academy Award for acting for her performance as a criminal stripper... well, a "pool dancing Robin Hood" sounds better. She got rave reviews for her work and the movie itself got a great reception from critics! After more than 20 years of critically panned movies, Jennifer Lopez is back to Oscar talk - remember she was under award consideration for 1997's Selena and 1998's Out of Sight. While social media seems to be trying to discredit her because of her past (horrible) movies and multiple Razzie-worthy performance, I think if she really delivers, then she deserves recognition. I'm curious about Hustlers because of her performance alone!
JOJO RABBIT POLARIZING RECEPTION
One of the most antecipated movies of the year, Jojo Rabbit was considered Fox Searchlight's big awards vehicle and it was received in Toronto under polarizing reactions from critics. After a standing ovation at its première, Jojo Rabbit's fate looked bright, but then critics were divided. Some love its comedic tone around such a serious subject. Others consider disrespectful the lack of respect for the Holocaust and the soft approach around the horrors of WWII's Nazi regime. Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie and Scarlett Johansson got universal critical praise for their performance and so did Michael Giacchino's score. And those who love Jojo Rabbit seem love it like... a lot! I'm curious about this one and I've a hunch it might get a runner-up place for the People's Choice Award of TIFF - those who love it are those who vote and those who don't like it can't vote against Jojo.
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS "BEAUTIFUL"
An emotionally vulnerable leading performance from Matthew Rhys and Mister Rogers gets a supporting role and a masterful performance from Tom Hanks in his own biopic - A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is said to be one of the most "beautiful" movies screening at TIFF's 2019 edition and critics raved this movie. Marielle Heller has already proven she has a very sensitive touch with last year's Can You Ever Forgive Me? and it seems she's as assured as she was in her previous movie: with the help of a praised screenplay, critics say she explores "Mister Rogers effect" over "Mister Rogers himself" and the result is winning the audiences hearts.
RIAN JOHNSON CHANNELS AGATHA CHRISTIE WITH KNIVES OUT
Rian Johnson has already brought us some nice movies like Brick (2005), Looper (2012) or even Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) and he unveils his new movie in TIFF - Knives Out, a dark comedy mystery featuring an amazing ensemble cast. Critics rave Johnson's screenplay and its comedic tone and it holds a 100% at Rotten Tomatoes, currently. Suspenseful, funny and well-acted (particular praise for Daniel Craig's funny work, Ana de Armas and Chris Evans, it seems), it seems the kind of movie relief in a season that might get "too serious in the name of Oscar recognition". Sometimes audiences just want something light and nice - Knives Out seems to deliver!
AFTER CANNES, PARASITE IS ONE OF TIFF 2019 SENSATIONS
After 91 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes it still maintains a 100% approval rating - it's Bong Joon Ho at the prime of his mastery! The movie has already won the Palme d'Or of this year's edition of Canne Film Festival and people who saw it at TIFF are talking a lot about this movie. Intrigued: I think I'm gonna watch Parasite tomorrow!
I know there still some movies to be seen at TIFF 2019, but I think it's time to predict People's Choice Award:
#1: WAVES
#2: JOJO RABBIT
#3: PARASITE
#4: MARRIAGE STORY
#5: A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
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