#Nicole Kidman Destroyer TIFF movie premiere

[bugsbucky]

The Premiere

Sebastian Stan x Reader

Summary: Sebastian takes you, his girlfriend to the premiere for his movie Destroyer where you become starstruck from not only meeting his co-star Nicole Kidman, but freaking out over the fact she already knew of you.

Warnings: None, just some light teasing from Sebby over your starstruck demeanor and some fluff.

Word Count: 694

Authors Notes: this is written for @the-ss-horniest-book-club​ and also my very first time for writing Sebastian. I’m not entirely sure how I did! 

Your dress fanned across the red carpet as you walked with linked arms around Sebastian. Cameras flashing and journalists yelling his name wanting to ask him some questions about the movie Destroyer. You were so happy to be here, you’ve only been to one or two of these in the past, since you’re not an actress and Sebastian was more keen to keep you out of the public eye, almost fainting when he invited you here tonight. 

“Sebastian hi!!!” one journalist shoved a mic in his face and started to ask questions with you standing awkwardly behind him, smiling at the photographers and watching the other stars arrive. You gasped when you saw the blonde goddess step out of her limousine. Fans screaming with cameras flashing. Nicole Kidman, you admired this woman ever since you were younger and followed every movie she ever made, didn’t matter to you how big or small the role was. She was your role model and you had fangirled like crazy when Sebastian told you about the new project he was doing with her. 

You were tugging on the sleeve of his jacket when he turned to look over his shoulder and smiled down at you. Your eyes fixated on the blonde beauty smiling and waving at the cameras and Sebastian chuckled next to you. He excused himself from the journalist, taking your hand in his and walking you over towards Nicole. 

“Nicole! Hey!” Sebastian greeted her first and you shyly hid behind his towering form nervously. They embraced in a hug and pulled away. “This is my girlfriend, Y/N.” he laughed as he stepped aside and you tried to shadow step him to keep hidden. 

“Y/N! Of course, I’ve heard so much about you darling.” Nicole pulled you into a tight hug and you were limp in her arms as you couldn’t believe this was really happening. When Nicole pulled away, she was still smiling ear to ear, “You know, he never shuts up about you and I couldn’t wait to meet you!” Nicole keeps talking, chuckling and sharing glances with Sebastian, and you just keep standing there with no voice and you’re aware your mouth has probably fallen open too widely.

“Nicole! We need you to come here for an interview.” A taller gentleman said as he motioned towards the crowd of journalists waiting to ask their questions. Nicole apologised and walked behind the man. You were left gobsmacked that she knew of you, your role model knew you. She knew your name and knew what you looked like. 

“Baby?” Sebastian grins, knowing you’re totally gone with the moment. “Y/N?” he clicked his fingers in your face and you snapped out of it. 

“She- she knew me?” you blinked and stared at your boyfriend like he had grown a second head. 

“Of course. I’m friends with her and we talked a lot about our personal lives, you being my top subject.”

“She knew me.” you repeated, earning a belly laugh from your man. 

“Y/N seriously? You’ve met Chris Evans, Scarlett, even Margot and you’re starstruck over Nicole?” he teases, kissing your cheek lovingly. 

“But she KNEW me!” 

“She does and if you checked your instagram more often, you would also know she follows you too.” he chuckled with a shake of his head.

“WHAT???!” you yelled a little louder than you meant to. The other stars of the movie walked past, greeting Sebastian as they did. 

“Come on. The movie is about to start and I’d really love for you to watch it before you die from the excitement.” 

“But she knew me…” you whispered for a final time. And of course during the screening at tiff, Nicole had decided to sit right next to you making it impossible to follow the plot of the movie on the screen. Your eyes widened as you stared admirably at her side profile. 

“Don’t wanna be that guy to tell you, but you look super weird right now.” Sebastian chuckled in your ear next to you. 

“I don’t care.” you whispered back grinning. “She kn-”

“You say that one more time and I’m gonna shove my fingers in your mouth.” 

“Rude. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Tags: @jobean12-blog​​ @marvelgirl7​​ @godofplumsandthunder​​ @hawksmagnolia​​ @deanthedemon​​ @crushedbyhyperbole​​ @jamesbarnesappreciationclub​​ @littleredstarfish​​

[eurynome827]

HBC TIFF Tuesday!

A moment on his performances in the films...

The Martian (TIFF premiere 2015)

What can I say about the plot?

Yes. However, he turned in a solid performance in a well-received movie directed by a legend with a great cast and these are all good things. Would I rather have two hours of my darling sweet space boy being sassy about his science experiments, being adorable while spacewalking, looking cozy and cuddle-worthy in those amazingly soft NASA hoodies, and of course being the most bashful boy to join the million mile high club? A thousand times yes.

I, Tonya (TIFF premiere 2017)

A criminally underrated performance, made all the more compelling by the mental hurdles he went through to put himself in the headspace of an abuser. He has nothing left to prove to anyone and left it all on film.

Destroyer (TIFF premiere 2018)

I'll go to my grave saying this was the best movie I saw in 2018. Karyn Kusama directed a beautiful and haunting film that will stay with me forever. Nicole Kidman was revelatory. It doesn't all come together without his performance as Chris. Without him, the entire plot doesn't make sense - a beautiful, understated and heartbreaking performance.

Endings, Beginnings (TIFF premiere 2019)

This movie is going to end me.

These films are not only tied together by their premieres at TIFF. They are all examples of how he comes into the workplace focused, dedicates himself to his craft, is a respectful coworker and becomes the sort of actor you want to work with again and again. Then on top of all that he shows up to TIFF looking like a full course meal.

Have I mentioned how much I love him?

[mikethefanboy]

TIFF Destroyer Screening Premiere! Nicole Kidman! Sebastian Stan! Tatiana Maslany! Shamier Anderson! And More!

TIFF Destroyer Screening Premiere! Nicole Kidman! Sebastian Stan! Tatiana Maslany! Shamier Anderson! And More!

Destroyer has been getting amazing buzz from the Toronto Film Festival. I hear that Nicole Kidman is a lock for a best actress nomination!

At the Tiff premiere Nicole Kidman, Sebastian Stan, Tatiana Maslany and more were on hand to support the film.

Check out the pics from the event below!

Nicole Kidman, Megan Ellison, Founder of Annapurna Pictures, Sebastian Stan, Nicole Kidman, Karyn Kusama,…

[weekendwarriorblog]

The Oscar Warrior: Analyzing the Ridiculously Overcrowded Lead Actress & Actor Fields

For whatever reason, I’ve been biding my time on doing any significant writing about the Oscar season, maybe because I took the early festival and awards seasons off and also, maybe because somewhere inside me, I hoped someone might actually pay me to write something again.

By now, I feel like I’ve seen every movie of any significance for awards season with only two movies still-to-screen (The Mule, Welcome to Marwen). The fact these two movies are not screening for BFCA members before the Critics Choice nominations (and possibly not the HFPA who vote for the Golden Globes) makes me think their respective studios would rather focus on stronger films.

What I’ve always found interesting is that sometimes voters, including critics, have a tough time distinguishing a great performance from a great script and even a great make-up job. There are a few cases every year where an actor’s transformative look and performance are hailed for awards, when much more credit needs to be given to the screenwriter and make-up departments. That’s also partially the case this year, but not entirely.

LEAD ACTRESS

The Top Contenders

So far there are only three actors I feel are definite Oscar nominees in this category, which leaves two slots for a LOT of other possibilities, as well as room for a few surprises.

Likely to be one of this year’s many first-time nominees with her amazing leading role in Bradley Cooper’s A Star is Born, pop superstar Lady Gaga already has such a huge fanbase from her music, concerts and videos. The fact she excels playing a role not to unfamiliar to herself – a songwriter-turned-pop-star--will make it easier for Oscar voters to accept her as an actor worthy of a nomination. If Gaga is nominated, it will be the first time an actor has been nominated for a role that’s previously been played by Liza Minelli and Judy Garland, and considering the film’s success at the box office (close to $200 million domestic) will make the movie and Gaga both very popular choices among voters.

With six Oscar nominations but no Oscar on her mantle yet, Glenn Close is the epitome of a well-deserving acting veteran respected by her peers. Her title role in the drama The Wife got many Oscar prognosticators excited that this might be her year to win an Oscar. The movie itself didn’t have the type of vocal fans that might get the movie into any other nominations, although it made almost $8 million, which is decent for Sony Pictures Classics, who also released Julianne Moore’s Oscar-winning film Still Alice.  Close is also fortunate that there have been quite a few recent winners in this category that didn’t necessarily appear in a Best Picture nominee with Moore being a good example as well as Meryl Streep in The Iron Ladyand Cate Blanchett in Blue Jasmine. It’s almost guaranteed that Close will win some of the precursors, such as the corresponding SAG category, but she has tough competition in Lady Gaga.

The third actor who has impressed critics and early voters is British actress Olivia Colman, star of Yorgos Lanthimos’ costume drama The Favourite. Colman has been acting mainly in England for decades, only getting to these shores with movies like Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz, The Iron Lady and a few others, and she’s scheduled to take over the role of Queen Elizabeth in the next season of Netflix’s The Crown. There’s a lot of people questioning whether her role really should be considered the film’s lead, as opposed to Emma Stone, but Fox Searchlight are wisely pushing the never-nominated Colman over the film’s two previous Oscar winners, Stone and Rachel Weisz, who may both get nominated in the supporting category.

The Strong Competitors

If we assume the three above are nominated, that leaves two more spots for somewhere between three and five possibilities.

One of the performances that got a lot of attention out of the September festivals is Melissa McCarthy playing Lee Israel in Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me?, and with an amazing 98% on RottenTomatoes, the critics certainly got behind her (even Rex Reed!).  It’s only grossed $6.6 million at the time of this writing although it never went particularly wide. Although McCarthy was previously nominated for Bridesmaids, people who see this movie are impressed by the way she downplays the role to create an even funnier character. That said, McCarthy’s appearances in other bad movies this year, such as The Happytime Murders, might hurt her chances to win an Oscar, at least this year. (I feel the film is still a comedy but for some reason, it’s being pushed to the Golden Globes as a drama.)

Arriving later in the game, Emily Blunt’s performance as the title character in Mary Poppins Returns follows in the footsteps of Julie Andrews, who won her only Oscar in 1965 for playing that role. Blunt is a joy to behold whether she’s singing and dancing or just teaching manners to the three kids in the movie. Shockingly, Blunt has yet to be nominated for an Oscar despite having five Golden Globe nominations (and one win) thanks to the HFPA’s “Comedy/Musical” category. It shouldn’t be too big a surprise if she wins that Golden Globe this year, especially with Lady Gaga (and maybe even McCarthy) shifted over to drama.  Blunt also impressed many with her “supporting” performance in hubby John Krasinski’s thriller A Quiet Place, but that performance might be too far into genre territory, as is the case with…

Previous nominee Toni Collette is pretty amazing in Ari Aster’s directorial debut, the chilling horror film Hereditary, and people have been raving about her performance since the movie debuted at Sundance. Even so, there’s still a stigma surrounding genre films, despite the fact Collette received her first nomination for M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense, and she should get a ton of support in the coming month from critics groups.

Viola Davis already won an Oscar for her role in Denzel Washington’s Fences, but she’s front and center for Steve McQueen’s star-studded heist film Widows, and she gives an amazing performance among an ensemble cast all giving great performances. The movie hasn’t really taken off at the box office, so one wonders if the Academy’s acting branch will accept it and Davis more than the moviegoing public has.

Also Worth Noting…

We’ll start with the other big newcomer to Oscar season, and that would be Mexican actor Yalitza Aparicio, who shines in the primary role of a pregnant maid in Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma. Some might feel she’s at a disadvantage not being a known name, but Aparicio has been out doing the rounds more than any other actor this season, and audiences/voters love her and the movie! I wouldn’t be surprised if the L.A. Film Critics pick her in this category and she sneaks into a few other nominations, but she has tough competition to get into the Oscar category. I’m thinking she’ll get a Critics Choice nomination in this category, but bolstering it with a SAG and/or Golden Globe nomination will help awards voters take her seriously.

Last year, Saoirse Ronan received her third Oscar nomination for Lady Bird, but she’s even more amazing in the title role ofMary, Queen of Scots, more of a traditional costume drama than The Favourite, but playing an amazing royal who has often been a mere footnote in other movies about British royalty.

Another previous Oscar winner getting a lot of attention for a new role is Nicole Kidman as the lead in Karyn Kusama’s crime-thriller Destroyer, playing an extremely glammed-down police detective trying to find a murderer. The Academy loves Nicole, but this is a tough film and role, and some might credit much of what impresses to the make-up artist.

There’s something to be said about Felicity Jones playing beloved Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Mimi Leder’s On the Basis of Sex, yet another biopic, and Jones is past due for another nomination, but sadly, this might not be deemed as strong as some of the other performances.

The Outliers

Things aren’t looking good for a number of fantastic actors getting into the Oscar race when you already have eight of them vying for two possible slots in the category, and yet… there’s even more!!

Another previous winner, Julia Roberts gives a stirring performance as the mother of a drug addict in Peter Hedges’ Ben is Back, which is a much stronger drama on the subject than the recent Beautiful Boy. This premiered at the Toronto Film Festival where it received decent acclaim, but Roberts is getting more attention for her new show Homecoming, which might take away from her Oscar chances.

One of the most impressive performance of the year is Rosamund Pike’s take on war journalist Marie Colvin in Matthew Heimeman’s A Private War, and though many say she’s better in this than she was in her Oscar-nominated role in David Fincher’s Gone Girl, it feels as if the movie isn’t getting as much attention as some of the others above.

The same can be said for a few movies and performances that premiered at Sundance way back in January: Keira Knightley in Collette, Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Kindergarten Teacher and Kelly MacDonald in Puzzle, all great performances that received great notices out of Sundance but seem to have been forgotten in recent months. (Only The Kindergarten Teacherhas been getting a big awards push by Netflix, including screeners and even subway ads!)

Lastly, I loved Emma Thompson’s performance in the drama The Children Act, feeling like it’s one of her career bests, but the movie premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2017, and distributor A24 has been giving it a limited theatrical release focusing more on its DirecTV partnership. The exact same path was followed by Jessica Chastain’s Woman Walks Ahead, which didn’t get nearly as much attention in the year since its TIFF debut as it should have. Chastain is so overdue for an Oscar!

The Nominees: Gaga, Close, Colman, McCarthy and Blunt with possible spoilers from Davis and Collette.

LEAD ACTOR

This category is starting to become a little clearer as films are screened (or not screened) and a couple favorites come to the fore, so I guess this isn’t nearly as overcrowded as I once thought.

The Top Contenders

Until people had a chance to see Adam McKay’s political biopic Vice, there was some uncertainty whether Christian Bale’s transformation into former Vice President Dick Cheney would be worthy of awards. As the film was screened over Thanksgiving weekend, voters have been so blown away by his performance that he quickly moved into the frontrunner position. Sure, a lot of credit can be given to the make-up and McKay’s Oscar-worthy script – similar to last year’s winner Gary Oldman -- but Bale seems to get so lost into the role of the former VP that you almost forget you’re watching an actor.

Before Bale came along, people were wowed by Bradley Cooper’s performance in A Star is Born, opposite Lady Gaga, while also directing and performing music. Cooper is such a favorite among Oscar voters with three consecutive acting nominations between 2013 and 2015 that he’s guaranteed another nomination and could move closer to frontrunner status considering that he’s doing more schmoozing with press and voters than Bale has been doing.

Speaking of another performance that seems to make you forget it’s an actor and not the real person, there’s Rami Malek’s performance as Freddie Mercury in the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. The movie has been doing huge business despite mixed reviews, but even the negative reviews can’t deny the powerful performance given by Malek as he vanished into the role performing Queen songs. The only problem with Malek winning is that there’s a stigma to Bryan Singer getting the only directing credit despite being fired from the movie (on top of other allegations of wrongdoing), and that could hurt Malek’s chances among voters.

Another Academy favorite is two-time nominee Viggo Mortensen, whose performance as Italian-American bouncer Tonylip in Peter Farrelly’s Green Book has won over many fans. Mortensen let a N-word slip during a press conference which could hurt his chances, as could the backlash against the movie being a “white savior” story which will keep Mortensen from coming anywhere close to being a frontrunner, especially with the Academy’s recent push for diversity.

The Strong Competitors

It’s kind of crazy that the four actors above are almost guaranteed nominees, which means there’s only one place left for EVERYBODY ELSE!

Ethan Hawke has impressed the critics with his performance as a priest in Paul Schrader’s First Reformed, and there’s a good chance he might get his third Oscar nomination for the role, although it’s a movie that didn’t get as much attention as it deserved when it was first released and Hawke was busy promoting his own movie Blaze over this until fairly recently. Wins with the New York Film Critics Circle and at the Gotham Awards last week will get more people watching the movie, including Oscar voters. Watch for Hawke to win the Independent Spirit award the night before going to the Oscars, and he’ll continue to be the critical fave.

One of the performances that burst out of the gate with notices at Venice, Telluride and Toronto was Ryan Gosling’s portrayal of Neil Armstrong in Damien Chazelle’s First Man, but the movie has fallen out of favor in the months since, not doing particularly well in its theatrical release. Gosling’s performance is also fairly unemotional (deliberately so), so that might hurt his chances at getting a third nomination.

Willem Dafoe was nominated last year for his supporting role in The Florida Project, which he lost despite being the frontrunner for many months, but his performance as Vincent Van Gogh in Julien Schnabel’s At Eternity’s Gateis a much more impressive feat. Unfortunately, Schnabel’s gone for an artsier take on the biopic (more in the vein of Terrence Malick) which might turn off Oscar voters. It hasn’t really made waves in theaters either.

The Outliers

Previous supporting actor nominee Lucas Hedges (for Manchester by the Sea) gives two strong performances in dramas released this fall, Boy Erased and Ben is Back, and it’s clear Hedges is an actor who is going to continue to have an impressive career.

Another actor who has had an amazing career and will be retiring soon is Robert Redford, who starred in David Lowery’s The Old Man and the Gun and received some nice notices. If the Academy isn’t going to nominate him for All Is Lostfive years ago, it’s highly doubtful they’ll nominate him for a film that quickly got lost in the shuffle of festival season.

Another actor who had quite a breakout year was John David Washington, son of two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington, who carried Spike Lee’s latest BlacKkKlansman but also gave a strong performance in the lesser-seen Monsters and Men. Again, I don’t think Washington got enough raves for his performance in Lee’s movie as much as the movie did itself.

Still Unseen (By Me, At Least)

Clint Eastwood’s The Mule was thought to put him back in the Oscar game, but Warner Bros. has decided it’s not an awards contender, and the same can be said for Universal, who don’t feel as strongly about Steve Carell’s performance in Robert Zemeckis’ Welcome to Marwen, which won’t be screened for awards groups before their deadlines.

The Nominees: Bale, Cooper, Malek, Mortensen, Hawke with Gosling as the possible spoiler.

Over the next couple weeks, we’ll be seeing the Golden Globe, Critics Choice and SAG nominees that might paint a clearer picture of which actors will be nominated at the Oscars. I probably will write one or two more features about this year’s Oscar race.

[thegloober]

2018 Fall Movie Preview: 10 Films We’re Excited About

by Nick Allen

September 18, 2018   |  

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One strange truth about the American moviegoing calendar: the second half truly starts in September, even if that’s only four months left. But within September, October, November, and December you get a whole heap of big movies, some hoping for prestige, some box office dollars, some even both. Now’s the time where studios are showing off their big guns, whether they be crowd-pleasing awards hopefuls or recognizable tentpole properties, while select smaller distributors are throwing their brightest gems into the mix for hopes of end of the year attention. The fall season is basically “Summer: Redux,” but with the promise of flashier performances, period pieces, and a long-gestating James Cameron project. 

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To sift through this massive heap of movies, some of which we’ve seen at previous festivals like the Toronto Film Festival (click here to read all of our TIFF coverage) or the Venice Film Festival (click here to read all of Glenn Kenny’s coverage), we’re going to touch upon just a few we’re excited about. As with every time one of these lists is made, there are honorable mentions: Joseph Kahn’s “Bodied” (finally coming out on November 2), Ike Barinholtz’s “The Oath” (October 12), the documentary about Nadia Murad “On Her Shoulders” (October 19), Damien Chazelle’s Neil Armstrong movie “First Man” (October 12), “A Star is Born” (October 2), Tyler Perry’s “Nobody’s Fool” (November 2) and many, many more. Release dates are subject to change, of course. 

Below is a list of our ten most anticipated titles in what promises to be a very busy fall. We’ll be covering these films among many more at RogerEbert.com, so be sure to check back for all of our reviews. 

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10. “Bumblebee” 

I never did finish punishing myself with all three hours of Michael Bay’s “Transformers: The Last Knight,” but I still have room in my heart for a good movie based around sassy sports car Bumblebee. A big part of that has to do with the ever-burgeoning charisma of John Cena, the lighter tone this story is marketing itself with, and the new blood of director Travis Knight. It could prove to be a great refresher for a franchise that took itself way too seriously from the start, but with a character who helped kick off the first “Transformers” movie back in 2007 for a reason. “Bumblebee” stars Hailee Steinfeld, Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux, Pamela Adlon, John Cena, John Ortiz, the voice of Peter Cullen and more. (December 21) 

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9. “Mortal Engines” 

“Mortal Engines” might be the blockbuster underdog of the season, as it arrives as part of the mega-budget battle royale that is mid-December—“Mortal Engines,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 3D,” “Alita: Battle Angel,” “Bumblebee,” “Aquaman” and “Holmes & Watson” are all coming out in that two-week span, fighting for holiday moviegoers. So this new venture, which comes with a Peter Jackson co-writing credit as directed by one of his effects guys Christian Rivers, might be left behind if it can’t make a name for itself. I’m very on-board with the premise: a dystopia where cities are on wheels, and fighting for space. Amazing special effects are a given, but another apocalyptic hero’s journey sounds like dangerous territory all on its own. “Mortal Engines” stars Caren Pistorius, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang, Robert Sheehan, Jihae and more. (December 14) 

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8. “Widows” 

It’s a bit stunning to think that “12 Years a Slave” came out five years ago, and that we haven’t seen any features from Oscar-winning director Steve McQueen since then. I’m all the more excited, then, to see how he returns to feature filmmaking with this modern tale about corruption and bank heists in Chicago, featuring an incredible cast. And as a Chicagoan who kept his eye out for “Widows” sets throughout the city, I’m very curious as to what landmarks they’ll use. Did they end up using footage they shot at the bowling alley near my old apartment? “Widows” stars Viola Davis, Liam Neeson, Jon Berthal, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Carrie Coon, Robert Duvall, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Jacki Weaver, and more. (November 16) 

7. “Destroyer” 

This project comes with two heavyweights who make for a dream collaboration: director Karyn Kusama, who freaked out audiences a couple years ago with her dinner party thriller “The Invitation,” and Nicole Kidman, who has become an instant awards favorite for her port. The supporting cast is of great promise as well: Toby Kebbell, Tatiana Maslany, Sebastian Stan, Scoot McNairy, Bradley Whitford. (December 25) 

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6. “Alita: Battle Angel” 

Even before he directed “Avatar” around ten years ago, James Cameron has been talking abut adapting Yukito Kishiro’s manga books for a groundbreaking blockbuster. But as fate will have it, it’s Robert Rodriguez who will bring this story to the silver screen, with a rumored 1,500 special effects shots and a main character who is shot in 3D among the movie’s live-action. And for a filmmaker who has made an incredible amount of movies across styles and demographics, this looks to be Rodriguez’s biggest endeavor yet. Here’s hoping that the script by Rodriguez, Cameron and Laeta Kalogridis makes this long-anticipated journey worth it. “Alita: Battle Angel” stars Lana Condor, Jennifer Connelly, Elle LaMont, Eiza Gonzalez, Michelle Rodriguez, Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Mahershala Ali, a whole lot of 0s and 1s and more. (December 21) 

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5. “Burning”

A lot of Cannes 2018 movies are going to be fighting for your attention in the upcoming months: Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” which won the Palme d’Or, Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum” which reportedly features great young non-actors, among others. But “Burning” might have the biggest buzz, having wowed audiences in France and done it again at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it grew an even bigger, more immediate following. I don’t know much else about this movie from Lee Chang-dong, other than that it’s adapted from a Haruki Marakami short story, and that it features a great performance from Steven Yeun. Also, something about a cat? I look forward to becoming a “Burning” fan myself, hopefully I can make that happen when it plays the Chicago International Film Festival next month. “Burning” stars Ah-In Yoo, Steven Yeun, Jong-seo Jeon, Soo-Kyung Kim, Seung-ho Choi and more. (November 2) 

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4. “Overlord” 

Count me as someone who genuinely dug “The Cloverfield Paradox,” outside of its marketing strategy of a surprise Super Bowl Sunday release. My excitement about the possibilities of the “Cloverfield” franchise are nonetheless stoked for a WWII spin, as seems to be the case with Julius Avery’s gory-looking “Overlord.” From the packaging it looks like a “Call of Duty” game in monster mode, which isn’t the worst premise for a popcorn movie if you can add some sharp humor and brutal action scenes. I suspect the “Cloverfield” connections will be the cherry on top. “Overlord” stars John Magaro, Wyatt Russell, Pilou Asbaek, Bokeem Woodbine, Jovan Adept, Helene Cardona and more. (November 9) 

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3. “If Beale Street Could Talk” 

I was happily not surprised to hear that the next film from “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins could very easily be one of the year’s best, a sentiment that rippled among reviewers after its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (read Brian Tallerico’s rave for the movie here). Jenkins’ adaptation of James Baldwin’s novel of the same name, starring KiKi Layne, Stephan James, and Regina King, looks to be another display of his vital artistry. I will not be watching the trailer for this one, but I will be seeing this movie as soon as I can. “If Beale Street Could Talk” stars Layne, James, King, Colman Domingo, Teyonah Parris, Michael Beach, Aunjanue Ellis, Brian Tyree Henry and more. (November 30) 

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2. “Roma”

I have many vivid memories of seeing Alfonso Cuaron’s most recent films in theaters, laying witness to the gripping cinematography of “Children of Men” and the out-of-this-world experience of “Gravity.” I have no doubt I will be engrossed by his latest film, “Roma,” which had Cuaron acting as his own cinematographer, and telling a more personal story. This is another movie in which I only need the festival buzz (click here to read Brian Tallerico’s four-star review) to confirm that I’ll be seeing it on the biggest screen and as soon as I can. “Roma” stars Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Aubrey, Carlos Peralta and more. (December 14) 

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1. “Vice”

Adam McKay’s followup to “The Big Short,” has been kept secret for a long while—it was earlier titled “Backseat,” and aside from a name change and some unofficial photos, not much is known about this Dick Cheney biopic, starring Christian Bale. But the success of “The Big Short,” as the rare movie that both entertained and informed about something as dry as the housing crisis, has me anticipating “Vice” with very high hopes. Not to mention that one of Bale’s very best performances came from working with McKay on “The Big Short,” a collaboration that could very recreate that magic. “Vice” stars Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Bill Pullman, Sam Rockwell, Lily Rabe, Alison Pill, Eddie Marsan, Tyler Perry, Shea Whigham and more. (December 14) 

Next Article: Shadow of the Tomb Raider Continues Modern Legacy of Beloved Character Previous Article: How the Fall Festivals Shaped the 2018 Oscar Race

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[lindyhunt]

TIFF 2018: We Hand Out the Awards You Won’t See at the Oscars

As always, the selection of films at TIFF runs the gamut—from A-lister-packed films like Widows to low-budget indies like Firecrackers; from quiet, reflective sci-fi films like High Life to soaring romances like A Star is Born. That range is what makes TIFF such an exciting festival for film buffs and critics alike, but this year, there did seem to be a bit of a theme: Pretty Damn Dark. Seriously, it’s been an emotionally draining festival, what with young kids OD-ing, people dying (so much dying), and institutional racism ruining people’s lives. But you know what this also means: Oscar Bait. We’ve already done our round-up of the films getting the most awards buzz, but there’s plenty else we felt deserved, um, a different kind of recognition. Here, our favourite moments from the festival that won’t snag an Oscar but did earn some accolades in our book.

So-Good-You-Wished-It-Was-Real Chemistry

The Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper lovefest is one we hope never ends. And we’re not just talking about those hand-in-hand red carpet photo-ops. (Though we’ll definitely take more of those too.) After receiving her second standing ovation of the night for A Star is Born—in which people were brought to their feet mid Q&A solely in recognition of her incredible acting talent—Gaga was left speechless and moved to tears. And even then, in her moment in the spotlight, she talked about Cooper. “I am spoiled,” she said, “I watched [Cooper] work tirelessly on this film, giving it everything. You never stopped.”

To which Cooper said: “I can’t imagine having the courage to do this without her. I knew she was going to give all of herself to me and become the actress she wanted to be, and I would give all myself to her and be the musician Jackson had to be.” I know, we’re crying too.

Most NSFW Scene of the Festival

Not to give too much away—though there’s no way to verbally paint an accurate picture of this highly visual and confounding scene anyhow—but there’s a bit in Claire Denis’ High Life in which Juliette Binoche enters a ‘Fuck Box’ and well, proceeds to help it live up to its name. There’s waist-length hair flying about, pulleys and ropes, and a silver dildo. Need I say more?

Most Jaw-Dropping Visuals

Nope, I’m not talking about First Man, though the claustrophobic camerawork of the film was exceptional. I’m talking about Free Solo, an awe-inducing documentary about Alex Honnold, the first man to scale the 3000ft El Capitan cliff in Yosemite National Park without any safety equipment. Yep, with just his fingers and toes, and a little sack full of chalk to help with his grip. The film’s team of cinematographers and directors are expert climbers themselves, and the sweeping shots of Yosemite, bird’s-eye view of Honnold’s ascent, and close-ups of his intricate movements (that at any moment could send him plummeting to his death) are truly a sight to behold.

Most Unexpected Celebrity Guest

This one was close. The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau showed up at Patria for the First Man post-premiere party, where he shook hands with fellow Internet boyfriend, Ryan Gosling. Iconic? Yes. Strange? Also yes. But having a government official show up to a TIFF party is not nearly as strange as having Paris Hilton show up to a TIFF party. Hilton, Queen of selfies, hotel chains and the 2000s, arrived at Soho House for The Death and Life of John F. Donovan post-premiere party, a film that her Ken doll-esque fiance, Chris Zylka, makes a brief appearance in.

Most Batshit Wild True Story

There are several moments—in fact the entire film is a series of these moments—where you find yourself thinking: this shit is NUTS. It’s unbelievable. It’s surreal. It’s absurd. And you have to keep reminding yourself that it’s all true. Based on the story of a writer, played by Laura Dern, who writes a best-selling series of novels under a pseudonym and then enlists her boyfriend’s sister, played by Kristen Stewart, to play the role of that fictional writer in real life, it’s a wild ride: there are bad accents, bad wigs and hard-to-believe turns of events. Except, again: it’s ALL TRUE.

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Giving us life on #TIFF18 Day 10/11: Kristen Stewart, dressed in head-to-toe couture, crouching in a garden ����, looking like the Avenger we wish we had. . Her film JEREMIAH TERMINATOR LEROY (with your BFF Laura Dern) premieres today and you can still snag 🎟s to this and more at tiff.net/available . . . . . . #kristenstewart #lauradern #jtleroy #jeremiahterminatorleroy #avengers #netflix

A post shared by TIFF (@tiff_net) on Sep 15, 2018 at 6:18am PDT

The Big-Hearted Heartthrob

First off, Timothée Chalamet should take home all heartthrob-related awards, from now until eternity. When the Oscar-nominee stepped onto the red carpet for Beautiful Boy, he spent nearly 30 minutes posing for selfies with screaming fans, and entertaining weird requests like signing a burger and a peach. (The latter, of course, in reference to his infamous Call Me By Your Namescene.) Here’s a guy who doesn’t seem to hate the spotlight, and who graciously shows his Chalamaniacs all the love and attention they so desperately desire.

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Most Badass Female Cast

We are conditioned to expect heist movies—or any gritty crime movies, really—to have men at the centre. Which is why this film, directed by Steve McQueen and co-written by McQueen and one Ms Gillian Flynn, is such a breath of fresh air, despite its dark subject matter. Viola Davis is the fierce commander of this ship, which Elizabeth Debicki and Michelle Rodriguez hesitantly climb aboard. It’s rare enough to see a film in which women commit “bad” acts but rarer still to see one in which the women’s guilt, shame or redeeming qualities aren’t needlessly played up. Only complaint? Carrie Coon is criminally (ha) under-used.

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#Repost @ViolaDavis: It was such an honor to join our Director Steve McQueen and this phenomenal cast at the World Premiere of #WidowsMovie. Thank you for having us, Toronto! #TIFF18

A post shared by Widows (@widowsmovie) on Sep 10, 2018 at 3:32pm PDT

Best On-Screen Lewks

There’s some amazing costume design driving some of this year’s best films: Colette’s Belle Epoque-era Parisian flair—especially powerful because it helps underscore Keira Knightley’s character’s own evolution and self-acceptance; the 1990s grunge of Jonah Hill’s Mid90s; If Beale Street Could Talk’s saturated 1970s outfits; and Natalie Portman’s wild, sequinned get-ups in Vox Lux. But Mahershala Ali steals the damn show. In Green Book, he gives us a masterclass in style: from impeccably fitted tuxedos to casual plaid suits to a dramatic gold-embroidered kaftan draped in gold chains. Like I said, lewks.

Photography via IMDB

Most Huggable Hound

A tie between the miniature goldendoodle Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper bring home in A Star is Born—which I have convinced myself is Cooper’s pet IRL—and Ponce, the scruffy mutt that’s dog-napped from Lucas Hedges and Julia Roberts in Ben is Back.

Makes-You-Wish-it-Was-Still-the-90s Soundtrack

Jonah Hill’s directorial debut, Mid90s, had the best—and most nostalgic—soundtrack of the festival. Sadly, the song list isn’t yet available anywhere on the Internet. But here’s what I can tell you: it features Seal and Morrissey, and was composed by the same duo of dudes behind the music in The Social Network and Gone Girl. One Twitter user went so far as to say that the film “literally might have the single greatest soundtrack of any movie ever.” It’s a bold claim, and I can confirm Mid90s lives up to the hype.

Most Stressful Experience

Hotel Mumbai is 125 minutes long, and those are 125 incredibly stressful minutes. Based on the horrific 2008 terrorist attacks on the city of Mumbai, the film fills viewers with dread right from the opening sequence: when the half-dozen terrorists arrive on the shores of Mumbai and immediately begin setting their plan into motion. For the next two hours, aside from the sounds of gunfire, explosions and screams on screen, the theatre was about as silent as during a screening of A Quiet Place. People were literally sitting on the edge of their seats, hands over mouths, shoulders stiff with tension. In other words: this film does its job of depicting a harrowing, terrifying ordeal exceptionally well.

Photography via IMDB

Most Gender-Balanced TIFF Yet

TIFF’s programming team has long been dedicated to creating a more gender-balanced festival, and this year it hit its highest mark yet, with 36 percent of its 2018 slate of films directed by women. The festival’s artistic director, Cameron Bailey, also signed a gender parity protocol during the Share Her Journey rally on opening weekend. This year’s festival also boasted a huge line-up of films with women at the center: from Nicole Kidman in Destroyer and Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me? (both films directed by women) to Natalie Portman in Vox Lux and Julianne Moore in Gloria Bell. Canadian films Mouthpiece and Firecrackers also come from all-women teams, with two female protagonists in each, as well as female directors and cinematographers.