Clifton Hill is a psychological thriller that strangely enough also serves as a love letter of sorts to the city of Niagara Falls (Canada). Memory can be an interesting thing. When Abby (Tuppence Middleton) returns to Niagara Falls after her mother’s death, it leads to some stressful relations with sister Laure (Hannah Gross). It’s already bad enough that their mom’s hotel, The Rainbow Inn, is likely to be closed. Neither Abby nor her sister, Laure…
"Toronto 2019: Clifton Hill"Tag: Toronto International Film Festival
Amy Jo Johnson’s sophomore feature, Tammy’s Always Dying, follows a working-class daughter as she cares for her alcoholic mother. Catherine “Cathy” MacDonald (Anastasia Phillips) works at a hotel bar to make ends meet. When she isn’t doing this, she is taking care of her alcoholic mother, Tammy (Felicity Huffman). It isn’t the best way to go about life but Cathy does her best. At the bar, Cathy has the freedom to be whoever she wants…
"Toronto 2019: Tammy’s Always Dying"
Antonio Banderas delivers a stand-out performance as filmmaker Salvador Mallo in Pain and Glory as the film hits up the fall film festivals. A winner of Best Actor at Cannes, Pain and Glory hits both Telluride and Toronto on its way to a theatrical release in October. Pedro Almodóvar turns in a bold script here. Put it this way–hours after watching the film, I still struggled with what to say about it. On the one…
"Toronto 2019: Pain and Glory"
The Father is about as dark and comedic as a film could possibly be when it comes to a husband suffering from the loss of his wife. I watched a number of films going into the festival but what struck me the most is the number of films dealing with death. Everyone responds to death differently. While one family member can go into a depression, another will go about their life acting as if nothing…
"Toronto 2019: The Father"
Love Me Tender follows the point of view of a woman suffering from agoraphobia and the film doesn’t make light of mental health. Some forms of one’s mental health are visibile while others are not. In Seconda’s (Barbara Giordano) case, she suffers from acute agoraphobia. This means that she suffers from panic attacks and anxiety in large open spaces. It is important that writer-director Klaudia Reynicke doesn’t make fun of those who are suffering. While…
"Toronto 2019: Love Me Tender"
Alexander Nanau’s documentary, Collective, shows the importance of the media especially when it comes to exposing corruption. No matter what country you live in, the freedom of press is important. Certainly, the man living in the White House would beg to differ. But we’re not talking about him, are we? No, the topic at hand is the fire that took place at the Colectiv club in Bucharest on October 30, 2015. What happened on that…
"Toronto 2019: Collective" Actress-turned-filmmaker Amy Jo Johnson spoke about her newest film, Tammy’s Always Dying, set to premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival. This interview took place last week–two days after National Power Rangers Day and the anniversary of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers premiere. It’s nice to talk to you again and happy belated National Power Rangers Day! Amy Jo Johnson: Is it really? It was on Wednesday. Amy Jo Johnson: Oh, I had no idea.…
"Amy Jo Johnson talks Tammy’s Always Dying at TIFF"
As the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival kicks off this Thursday and runs through the following Sunday, there are a number of films I’m looking to watch. Not accounting for short films, there are 90 films on my Toronto shortlist. I’m just one person and don’t have the capacity to clone myself. I can’t possibly cover everything but got a head start before the fest with a number of screeners. GALA Abominable: One of many…
"Toronto 2019: What To Watch At TIFF"
A number of films that premiered earlier this year during the 2019 Sundance Film Festival are opening in theaters this weekend. I reviewed Adam earlier this year for Out Magazine. This film has garnered a lot of attention and controversy on social media. Most of the controversy has to do with what is in the book rather than what is in the film. The film has managed to spark a boycott movement–one of which I…
"Several Festival Films Opening This Weekend"
Another wave of titles were added to the list of Gala and Special Presentations playing during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. The announcement of the new Toronto titles was made this morning by TIFF co-heads Cameron Bailey and Joana Vicente. The additional titles bring the fest to a total of 20 Gala selections and 55 Special Presentations. “We’re thrilled to announce this second wave of Galas and Special Presentations, which I believe are some…
"Toronto 2019: Additional Gala, Special Presentations Added"