TORONTO — Nicolas Cage says his own experience being the subject of internet memes helped him prepare for his latest role.
Cage stars in Dream Scenario as an unremarkable suburban professor and father who becomes famous when he starts appearing in people’s dreams.
The Oscar-winning actor, whose over-the-top performances and wide-eyed facial expressions have been superimposed on countless images online, said in a red-carpet interview at the Toronto International Film Festival that this is a “completely different kind of role” for him.
His character is “not a very loud person” and just wants to be left alone to write behavioural science books. But the actor said he does tap into his own relationship with meme-ification and the internet as things start to turn in the storyline for the “beta” professor.
Dream Scenario is billed as a social satire and also stars Michael Cera and Lily Bird.
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Day 4 of the Toronto International Film Festival
Helmed by Norwegian director Kristoffer Borgli, the Toronto-shot film premiered Saturday at TIFF and is also screening Sunday.
Cage called the film a”masterpiece” and praised Borgli’s vision.
“I’m not saying I’m unintelligent, but it’s interesting when you meet someone who’s half your age and twice as smart as you,” Cage said of working with Borgli. “I just said, ‘Look this is your baby, this is your vision. I’m the remote control car — here’s a remote control. You push the buttons, and I’m going where you tell me.’”
Borgli said the Face/Off and Leaving Las Vegas actor has “incredible range” that helped bring the absurdist tale to life.
“The movie is about an ordinary suburban father who’s sort of a boring beta male but he does come to life in a crazy way during the movie so it was really helpful to have Nic’s range to make this character really come alive,” said Borgli, who also explored the pitfalls of viral fame in last year’s Sick of Myself.
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“The main inspiration is just our current culture and how people can get incredibly famous for the dumbest, strangest things without even trying. I was thinking about just like, accidentally getting famous and this seemed like a cinematic and mystical version of that.’”
Nickelback has tasted the hater-ade from the band’s zealous detractors — and is raising a toast to them.
In the new documentary Hate to Love: Nickelback, the Hanna, Alta., hitmakers take a step back from their massively successful career to wrestle with their complicated legacy.
On one hand, they’ve delivered numerous hit singles and top-selling albums over their three-decade career, and on the other, they’re often called one of the most-hated rock acts of all time.
“It seems to be a real part of our history,” acknowledged guitarist Ryan Peake on Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival where the film had its world premiere.
“We’ve got to talk about it because it’s weird if you don’t.”
Nickelback band members, left to right, Michael Kroeger, Chad Kroeger, Daniel Adair and Ryan Peake pose for a photograph on the red carpet for the movie “Hate to Love: Nickelback” at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Lahodynskyj
Sitting alongside bassist Mike Kroeger — brother of frontman Chad Kroeger — the bandmates seem more comfortable than ever assessing how it feels to be the butt of an online joke or the target of a music critic.
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They are on a brief pause from their ongoing North American tour with the prospect of international dates on the horizon.
For years, Nickelback seemed to wince at the jabs. Lately they’ve welcomed those so-called haters — if not with open arms, at least a pat on the back.
“It’s part of the story, whether anybody likes it or not,” agrees Kroeger.
“And you know, it turns out negativity sells. So, we’re going to ride that sucker all the way.”
Hate to Love: Nickelback is directed by British documentarian Leigh Brooks, who was originally hired to capture behind-the-scenes moments and promotional interviews for the band’s 2017 album “Feed the Machine.”
When Peake saw early footage of the Vancouver shoot, he said he started thinking about the missing pieces of Nickelback’s story.
TIFF 2023 launches without usual Hollywood heavyweights
“We hadn’t done any kind of history of the band, (even) for ourselves ? for our families, but I wasn’t thinking larger,”‘ he said.
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And yet like many things Nickelback, what started as a small idea took on sizable ambitions.
After he convinced his bandmates that making a documentary was a good idea, the cameras began rolling on their lives, first for a couple of days and then for a few months.
Nickelback takes the stage on day 2 of TIFF
“Nobody wants a camera in their face all of the time, but in the same breath, I was like, `Just shoot everything,’” Peake said.
“It’s a weird feeling,” he added.
“We’re not the Kardashians.”
Six years later, they had a movie that fleshed out Nickelback’s story in their own words.
Using interviews with friends and family, the documentary veers through the band’s history, making brief stops at memorable pop culture moments, such as Chad’s marriage to pop-punk singer Avril Lavigne and the inescapable success of How You Remind Me and Rockstar.
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More time is dedicated to surprising new revelations, including the day Chad and Mike learned they had different fathers.
They also invite their former drummer Ryan Vikedal to discuss his ouster from the band.
Some candid footage gives a clearer sense of how hostility towards Nickelback has personally affected Chad Kroeger.
While he doesn’t entertain the subject much himself, Chad’s mother is among the people who offer insight into how he deals with it.
By the close of its 90-minute runtime, the production feels like a soft reset on how Nickelback wants to be seen: less as opponents to their position in music history and more as dudes with a sense of humour and a small-town spirit.
Peake insists the intention wasn’t “about controlling any kind of narrative.”
“But it’s like, ‘Do you want to hear our side? You want to hear how it’s been for us?’” he posed.
It also suggests Nickelback is at a turning point in their careers where what lies ahead is anybody’s guess.
Late in the film, it’s revealed that Mike Kroeger suffered a stroke during the recording of Feed the Machine, a detail the band never publicly disclosed. The 51-year-old’s recovery slowed their lives down and could’ve ended the band.
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Kroeger acknowledged that anything could be around the corner, even the possibility that after this current tour Nickelback may be finished.
“I personally feel like I’m into bonus time, well into bonus time,” he said.
“There’s no question that we’ve had a good run and a good ride. We will just see what we’re capable of next.”
Hate to Love: Nickelback will also screen at TIFF on Saturday and Sept. 15.
TORONTO — Director Atom Egoyan is set to premiere his film “Seven Veils” tonight, in a unique collaboration with the Canadian Opera Company and the Toronto International Film Festival.
The special “avant-premiere” will take place at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, with the official TIFF screening taking place Sunday at the Princess of Wales Theatre.
“Seven Veils,” starring Amanda Seyfried, tells the story of a theatre director whose world unwinds as she reworks a production of “Salome” after the death of her mentor, who was previously in charge.
Egoyan directed “Salome” for the Canadian Opera Company in 1996. It depicts the beheading of John the Baptist at the behest of Jewish princess Salome.
Egoyan has said the work carries deeply personal themes about concealed wounds, which have also been a staple in several of his early works.
However, Seyfried won’t be walking the red carpet due to an ongoing strike by members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio.
The U.S. actress said in a social media post that even though “Seven Veils” received a “waiver” from U.S. actors union, it “doesn’t feel right” to promote it at TIFF during the strike.
TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival kicks off today under the shadow of dual strikes by Hollywood writers and actors but festival CEO Cameron Bailey is touting a strong lineup and ticket sales.
Tonight’s opening night film is Hayao Miyazaki’s animated feature “The Boy and the Heron,” which centres on a boy who loses his mother during the Second World War and embarks on a journey into a magical world.
Among the celebs expected this year are Sean Penn, Willem Dafoe, Spike Lee, Lil Nas X, Nicolas Cage, Nickelback and Patricia Arquette.
However, expectations for star-filled premieres and parties remain low as members of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and the Writers Guild of America continue a work stoppage that extends to publicity events.
Despite the labour unrest, Bailey says ticket sales have been “as strong as ever.”
Unions for Hollywood writers and actors are each seeking improved compensation and job protections from labour contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Other buzzy titles include Viggo Mortensen’s western drama “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” Michael Keaton’s “Knox Goes Away” and the horror drama “Dream Scenario,” starring Cage.
“Just the ticket sales we’ve seen so far with interest in the festival…that’s as strong as ever,” Bailey said in advance of the fest.
“We’re the centre of the film world, and we’re proud of that.”
With most of Hollywood’s writers and actors on strike, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) looks a little different this year — but attendees can still catch some of the most buzzed-about movies of 2023.
Though festivalgoers might have to do without the glitz and glam of seeing some of their favourite stars walk the red carpet, TIFF’s selection of movies this year has something for everyone. From dramas that tug at your heartstrings to laugh-out-loud comedies and nail-biting thrillers, the roster is impressive.
Businesses concerned over impact of Hollywood strike on TIFF
This year’s offerings for TIFF, which takes place from Sept. 7 to 17, are diverse — ranging from a dramedy about the GameStop stock flip on Wall Street to a Japanese animated film from Studio Ghibli that opens the festival.
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Stars including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Emily Blunt, Kate Winslet, Jamie Foxx, Michael Keaton and Sir Ian McKellen will all be showing their latest works at the festival this year. A number of high-profile celebs, including Chris Pine and Anna Kendrick, will also be making their directorial debuts at TIFF.
With so many titles to choose from at the festival this year, here are 11 films you won’t want to miss.
TIFF 2023’s opening film is perhaps one of the most anticipated works at the festival this year. The Boy and the Heron, the latest from legendary Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli, is going to tear your heart apart, then piece it back together again. Based on Genzaburo Yoshino’s novel How Do You Live?, the animated film follows young Mahito Maki as he moves to the countryside after a family tragedy. The Oscar-winning studio also produced the much-beloved films Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbour Totoro.
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Dumb Money
Paul Dano and Pete Davidson in a still from ‘Dumb Money.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D’Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogen
Inspired by the real-life tug-of-war between independent retail investors on Reddit and hedge fund giants on Wall Street, Dumb Money sees Paul Dano and Seth Rogen battle it out over GameStop stock. When hedge fund managers like Gabe Plotkin (Rogen) bet billions against the company’s bricks-and-mortar business, Keith Gill (Dano) wages a war that sees stocks surge. Dumb Money is anything but dumb — and its sharp humour is guaranteed to get a laugh out of even the most financially illiterate. If you liked The Big Short, this is the flick for you.
Woman of the Hour
A still from ‘Woman of the Hour.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Tony Hale, Daniel Zovatto, Nicolette Robinson
Anna Kendrick is making her directorial debut with Woman of the Hour. Based on Rodney Alcala’s murder spree in the 1970s, this film unpacks gender dynamics that are still relevant today. The movie revolves around Alcala’s infamous TV appearance on The Dating Game, where the secret killer interviewed prospective dates concealed from view. Dark, gritty and real, Woman of the Hour is a Canadian-produced film that will keep audiences gripped from start to finish.
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Quiz Lady
Sandra Oh and Awkwafina in a still from ‘Quiz Lady.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, Jon (Dumbfoundead) Park, Will Ferrell
Awkwafina and Sandra Oh team up as a sisterly duo in Quiz Lady. Anne (Awkwafina) is a game show junkie who never misses her favourite TV program, Quiz Show. After Anne’s chunky pug is kidnapped, she and her sister Jenny (Oh) team up to rescue the pooch using Anne’s greatest power: her ultimate trivia knowledge. Quiz Lady is a tale of family strain and reconnection that’s as charming as it is odd.
Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe
Ernie Coombs in a still from ‘Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Judith Lawrence, Chris Coombs, Cathie LeFort, Nina Keogh, Susan Marcus, Jim Parker, Stu Gilchrist, Bruce McCulloch
It doesn’t get much more classically Canadian than Mr. Dressup. In this documentary, audiences get an inside look at Ernie Coombs, the iconic Canadian children’s television personality. For nearly 30 years, Coombs encouraged children to be true to themselves — and subsequently became one of the CBC’s most beloved personalities. Through archival footage, interviews and behind-the-scenes video, Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe pairs nostalgia with important messaging about raising compassionate children.
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Knox Goes Away
Michael Keaton in a still from ‘Knox Goes Away.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Michael Keaton, Al Pacino, Marcia Gay Harden, James Marsden, Suzy Nakamura, John Hoogenakker, Joanna Kulig, Ray Mckinnon, Lela Loren
If you’re looking to watch something at TIFF that will make your heart race, Knox Goes Away is for you. Directed by and starring Micheal Keaton, this film follows John Knox (Keaton), a hitman diagnosed with a fast-moving form of dementia. As part of his last hit, Knox, with the help of his friend Xavier (Al Pacino), must help his son Miles (James Marsden) cover up a gruesome crime. This film is sure to be unlike any movie about dementia you’ve ever seen.
Elliot Page is coming home. In this Ontario-set film, Page plays Sam, a man who has not been back to see his family since his gender transition. When Sam bumps into his childhood friend Katherine (Hillary Baack) on the train ride to Cobourg, Ont., Sam is forced to confront what his homecoming means, for better or for worse. Powerful, emotionally observant and an all-too-familiar tale for so many young trans people, Close to You is an inspiring story about turning a new page.
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Concrete Utopia
A still from ‘Concrete Utopia.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Park Bo-young, Park Seo-jun
It’s no secret that Korean cinema is growing in popularity — and anticipation for Concrete Utopia is high. In this post-apocalyptic film, residents of what was once Seoul must come together to restore order. But when the world has ended, who can you trust? After outsiders flood their still-standing apartment building looking for food and shelter, Min-seong (Parasite’s Park Seo-jun), Myeong-hwa (Park Bo-young) and the other residents are ordered to defend their property no matter the cost. Though Concrete Utopia may seem far-flung, its social commentary will leave audiences drawing parallels to our world long after the credits have rolled.
Poolman
Chris Pine in a still from ‘Poolman.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Chris Pine, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, DeWanda Wise, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Chris Pine is making his directorial debut with this noir comedy about conspiracy, social justice and hometown pride. Darren (Pine), a pool cleaner from Los Angeles, has hit rock bottom and he doesn’t see an out — that is, until a femme fatale named June Del Rey (Wise) presents him with information he can use to save his beloved Los Angeles from itself. With the help of his Pilates instructor girlfriend Susan (Leigh), his therapist Dianne (Bening) and her washed-up director husband Jack (DeVito), the ragtag crew might just uncover a conspiracy more dangerous than they ever expected.
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Dicks: The Musical
Megan Mullally, Nathan Lane, Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp in a still from ‘Dicks: The Musical.’.
If the title Dicks: The Musical hasn’t already reeled you in, maybe seeing Megan Thee Stallion rap about how she “out-alphas the alphas” will. Dicks: The Musical is a Parent Trap-inspired absurdist, queer comedy about two robot brush salesmen who discover they are identical twins separated at birth. In an attempt to reunite their parents, played by Mullally and Lane, the brothers switch lives to try and create the nuclear family they’ve always dreamed of. All of this, naturally, is done through song.
The Royal Hotel
Jessica Henwick and Julia Garner in a still from ‘The Royal Hotel.’.
Courtesy of TIFF
Starring: Jessica Henwick, Julia Garner, Hugo Weaving, Bree Bain, Toby Wallace
In this thriller, Hanna (Garner) and Liv (Henwick) are backpacking across Australia, and they’re flat-out broke. To pay for their return trip home, the women take work at The Royal Hotel, a bar in the Outback. Working at The Royal Hotel is dangerous, mostly because of the business’s aggressive, male clientele. How long will Hanna and Liv have to work to save up enough dough — and how long will they last before the threat to their safety becomes too much? The Royal Hotel uses suspense, tension and drama to highlight real-world gender issues affecting women on an international scale.
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These are just a handful of the powerful films sure to resonate at TIFF — check out the official website for ticket information and the full roster of movies.
TORONTO — From age-old terrors to high school queer angst, Canadian films and series showcased at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival offer a wide array of options even without the usual draw of A-listers.
Although the Hollywood actors’ strike has cast a shadow over the fest, it hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm of both seasoned and emerging Canadian filmmakers as they promote their latest projects.
The Canadian Press spoke with five directors who are set to participate in the festival taking place from Sept. 7 to 17.
“In Flames” — Pakistani-Canadian director Zarrar Kahn’s Urdu-language film follows the death of a family patriarch whose loss upends the lives of a mother and daughter now haunted by ghosts. To overcome the malicious influences that loom over them, they must draw upon each other for strength and resilience.
Businesses concerned over impact of Hollywood strike on TIFF
Kahn, based in Canada but originally from Karachi, shaped his feature debut as an extension of his 2018 24-minute short “Dia.”
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“My family moved back to Pakistan when I was a teenager, and I think the thing that really changed for me was seeing how much the lives of the women around me shifted while my life remained fairly unchanged,” says Kahn.
“That was the seed of the story I wanted to tell, all these incredible women around me working in Pakistan and achieving incredible things.”
“Fitting In” — Montreal-born director Molly McGlynn’s semi-autobiographical movie tells the story of a 16-year-old girl’s exploration of sex and pleasure, which is upended when she is diagnosed with a congenital condition that affects her reproductive organs.
Maddie Ziegler stars in this “traumedy” that explores the themes of gender, womanhood and sexuality. Emily Hampshire of “Schitt’s Creek” fame showcases both comedic and dramatic acting skills in her role as a mother trying to make sense of her own pain and triumphs.
“This is a complex movie. And there’s a lot going on here and I don’t expect everyone necessarily to maybe grasp all of it,” says McGlynn. “The people who get it, get it ? and also, I want people to understand that this is a joyful, fun film. You’re not going to a sex-ed lecture.”
“Seven Veils” — Amanda Seyfried stars in Atom Egoyan’s feature as a playwright tasked with reworking the production of “Salome” after the death of the original director who served as her mentor. As time goes on, her world starts to unwind as her tormented past begins to bleed through her artistic interpretations of the play.
The film takes inspiration from Egoyan’s experiences mounting the same opera for the Canadian Opera Company, dating back to 1996.
“I think as artists you have your antenna up, and I’ve been thinking that we’re living in this time where we question how far to assert our own claims for identity,” says Egoyan. “How do we redefine our boundaries when it comes to our works of art?”
“Backspot” — Canadian DJ-turned-director D.W. Waterson said: cheerleaders, but make it gay and angsty. The film centres on Riley, an anxious perfectionist played by “Reservation Dogs”’ Devery Jacobs, who makes an elite cheer squad alongside her girlfriend. The film is Waterson’s feature directorial debut, and both Jacobs and Elliot Page were producers.
“I’m really excited to kind of give audiences and viewers a full gritty, raw sports movie about cheerleaders,” says D.W. Waterson. “I think we have ideas about cheerleaders in our heads and it’s very far from what I deliver. It’s high adrenalin, and intensity, but has heart.”
“Bria Mack Gets A Life” _ Sasha Leigh Henry, who produced “When Morning Comes” and “Black Bodies,” is the showrunner of this 30-minute Crave comedy series on the TV side of TIFF.
Co-directed by Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, the creator of “When Morning Comes,” it tells the story of Bria “Mack” McFarlane, a 25-year-old Black woman and university graduate navigating a mostly white institution. It’s a journey made more difficult in the presence of Black Attack, an invisible hype girl played by Hannan Younis who helps her navigate life’s frustrations and hurdles.
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“Black Attack is the best friend that we all need and want in our lives in situations where micro aggressions are coming at us … when we want to say the things we can’t say,” says Fyffe-Marshall.
“This show is also another way to bring Jamaicans to the screen in a way that’s positive. There are a lot of Jamaican immigrants in Canada so this series allows us to showcase that.”
TORONTO — Canadian rockers Nickelback, South African rapper Sho Madjozi and Finn Wolfhard’s band The Aubreys are among the artists set to perform at the Toronto International Film Festival’s annual street party.
Free outdoor concerts and screenings set for the first four days of the movie marathon include an open-air show by Nickelback on Sept. 8 following the afternoon premiere of their documentary, “Hate to Love: Nickelback.”
Wolfhard’s band The Aubreys perform late afternoon Sept. 9, the day before the “Stranger Things” star makes his directorial debut with the slasher film “Hell of a Summer.”
Sho Madjozi performs later in the evening Sept. 9, and Canada’s rap veteran Michie Mee will close the celebration Sept. 10 with a show also marking the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip hop.
The four-block stretch along King Street West will also feature food vendors and open-air screenings including a memorial tribute to Paul Reubens with “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” and a 30th-anniversary screening of “Addams Family Values.”
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The Toronto International Film Festival runs Sept. 7 to 17.
A bombastic bawdy musical, a feel-good soccer-driven popcorn flick and what may be the last film from a revered Japanese auteur are among the cinematic highlights set for this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
While ongoing Hollywood labour strikes have cast uncertainty over who will show up on the red carpet, the big screen is sure to feature plenty of star-packed ventures and intriguing flicks to choose from.
Here’s a look at 10 titles that have caught the attention of Canadian Press reporters who will be on the circuit Sept. 7 to 17.
“Aggro Dr1ft” — If the marketing gimmick of “shot entirely in infrared” fails to capture interest in the experimental film “Aggro Dr1ft,” the name Harmony Korine just might. Hardly satisfied with keeping things risk-free, the U.S. director behind limit-testing films such as “Kids,” “Gummo” and “Spring Breakers” has built a career out of being divisive, if not interesting. In what TIFF describes as a sensory experiment, “Aggro Dr1ft” follows an assassin named BO in the hunt for a demonic Floridian crime lord. It’s ideal Midnight Madness fare.
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“The Boy and the Heron” — Despite his historical allergy to retirement, Hayao Miyazaki’s opening TIFF animated film “The Boy and the Heron” is what Studio Ghibli is hailing as the director’s last. In this coming-of-age story written by Miyazaki, a boy loses his mother during the Second World War and embarks on a journey into a magical world with a grey heron. With a sold-out North American TIFF premiere, it signals a crowd-drawing comeback to Miyazaki’s renowned legacy.
“Dicks: The Musical” — The bombastic trailer for this Midnight Madness opener explodes with unabashed queer jubilation as it introduces its heroes: a pair of (sort of) identical twins who meet as adults and plot to reunite their divorced parents. Deranged dance routines and salacious sing-alongs abound, with stars Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp reprising the unhinged sibling characters born from their two-man stage show. “Borat” director Larry Charles helms a cast including Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally and Megan Thee Stallion, with narration by Bowen Yang as God, natch.
“Dream Scenario” — The offbeat premise of this A24 comedy seems tailor made for the broad range of Nicolas Cage, a TIFF favourite best known of late for a spotty but prolific spurt of B-fare. Cage stars as a hapless academic bewildered to learn he is appearing in strangers’ dreams – initially as banal backdrop, but increasingly as an aggressive night terror. Billed as a “satirical swipe at celebrity and groupthink,” this flick promises to spark circuit chatter and a new chapter of Cage’s career.
“Dumb Money” — In this financial bio-drama by “I, Tonya” director Craig Gillespie, Paul Dano stars as real-life analyst Keith Gill who turned a $53,000 investment into millions by promoting GameStop’s stock on social media and Reddit. As the story went, it ignited a grassroots investor revolution against hedge-fund control that would serve as a trending topic among chronically online traders for months. The film is part of a wave of GameStop-related projects that include TV series, documentaries and movies.
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“Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe” – Children’s TV staple Ernie Coombs gets the doc treatment in this portrait of a kindly American transplant who inspired multiple generations to imagine and dream. Canadian director Robert McCallum promises to explore well beyond Mr. Dressup’s famous “tickle trunk” of costumes and crafts, puppets and tales, by offering up archival interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and memories shared by famous fans including Michael J. Fox, Eric McCormack, Bif Naked, Fred Penner, Barenaked Ladies, Graham Greene and Scott Thompson.
“Next Goal Wins” — Nothing wins over TIFF audiences quite like feel-good comedies and underdog stories and director Taika Waititi’s latest effort counts as both, potentially making it one of the fest’s standout movies. Four years after Waititi picked up the People’s Choice Award for “Jojo Rabbit,” he returns with a sports comedy starring Michael Fassbender as a Dutch-American football (ahem, soccer) manager who lands in American Samoa to lead a losing local team in a qualifying run for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Think “Ted Lasso” with an Asia-Pacific spin.
“Quiz Lady” — Sandra Oh and Awkwafina play against type in this comedy about two sisters who have to pay off their mother’s gambling debts and recover a kidnapped pug, using a trivia show to drum up the cash. Awkwafina takes on the role of Anne, a quiet devotee of the TV game show, while a purple-haired Oh plays her chaotic sister. The film comes from Jessica Yu, who co-wrote and directed 2007’s “Ping Pong Playa.”
“Woman of the Hour” — Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut takes a non-linear look at the true story of Rodney Alcala, a serial killer who made an infamous appearance on a dating game show in the 1970s. The film promises to examine how women interact with men to keep themselves safe. Kendrick also stars in the film alongside Daniel Zovatto, best known for playing a cult leader in HBO Max/Crave’s “Station Eleven.”
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“Zone of Interest” — Since the release of the 2013 sci-fi horror flick “Under the Skin,” director Jonathan Glazer has treated audiences to just two short films: “Strasbourg 1518,” inspired by a case of dance mania in the 16th century, and the genuinely unsettling thriller “The Fall.” With his knack for the disturbing comes this left-field festival risk: a romance set against the backdrop of the Holocaust in which a Nazi officer falls for the commander’s wife at Auschwitz.
Honourable mentions go to: “Boy Kills World,” “Close To You,” “Knox Goes Away,” “Monster,” “Stop Making Sense” and “Wicked Little Letters.”
— By David Friend, Noel Ransome, Cassandra Szklarski and Nicole Thompson in Toronto
Influential Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki’s first feature in 10 years will open this year’s Toronto International Film festival.
“The Boy and the Heron” is hand-drawn, written and directed by Miyazaki. The coming-of-age film is centered on a boy whose mother is killed during the Second World War, and the magical world he enters.
Miyazaki, who won an Oscar for the critically acclaimed and commercially successful 2001 film “Spirited Away,” is considered a brilliant storyteller and has inspired animators around the world.
“The Boy and the Heron” set box office records in Japan when it opened earlier this month despite no promotion or marketing from Studio Ghibli.
Miyazaki is also behind the 2013 Oscar-nominated drama “The Wind Rises” and the 1988 classic “My Neighbor Totoro.”
