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TIFF Day #9 – 2024

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Hello NEON Community.

Today was my last day of screenings, and I officially passed the “30 films” mark.

My first film of the day was one I was eager to see – QUEER, dir Luca Guadagnino (Italy, USA) “Brilliant, audacious author, meet brilliant, audacious director: it takes risk to translate the work of William S. Burroughs for the screen, but Oscar-nominated filmmaker Luca Guadagnino’s (Call Me by Your Name, TIFF ’17) spin on the Beat legend’s autobiographical novel matches its source material in vulnerability and taboo-smashing adventurousness. Starring Daniel Craig and featuring supporting turns from Jason Schwartzman and Oscar nominee Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread), Queer is a hallucinogenic odyssey bathed in desire.” My first Guadagnino film at TIFF is one of my favorite memories…it was a screening of I AM LOVE – which is still one of my favorite films for the 17 years I’ve been attending the festival.  On top of that, other Guadagnino films have played very well for us at THE NEON – CALL ME BY YOUR NAME and CHALLENGERS are among them.  This story is told with magical and drug-induced imagery in wonderful ways, and the Craig’s performance is really quite wonderful.  The film is a slow burn, and I think it might grow on me in time…but about half way through, I was feeling underwhelmed (though I thought the last 20 minutes were very strong).  I had been told by some industry folks that the sex scenes were more than theater-goers could handle – so I was prepared…but in the end,  they weren’t as risqué as I’d thought they might be.

Next up was a complete surprise.  I like Tom Hiddleston & Chiwetel Ejiofor, so I decided to try THE LIFE OF CHUCK, dir Mike Flanagan (USA) “Mike Flanagan takes a detour from the macabre with this adaptation of a uniquely structured Stephen King novella that unravels a seemingly ordinary accountant’s world. The world feels like it’s ending and everybody’s saying goodbye to Chuck. Wherever Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) goes, he can’t get away from Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston). His face is showing up on billboards, window signs — even TV commercials. What’s so special about this seemingly ordinary accountant and why does he warrant such a sendoff?” (taken from TIFF catalog) This is told in three parts, and Part 3 is where we start.  It’s inventive and plays with genre in an interesting way (Part 3 is a scary end-of-days sci-fi genre (but seeming more like real-life these days) and Parts 2 & 1 are origin story dramas.  At the end of the day, it’s a film about memories and how we’re shaped as adults. Some may say it’s a little too saccharine, but I absolutely adored this film – and it is definitely in my Top 5 of this year’s festival!

My last film of the festival was from the “Midnight Madness” category – THE SUBSTANCE, dir Coralie Fargeat (United Kingdom, United States of America, France) “Demi Moore portrays a fading Hollywood star feuding with the manifestation of her younger self (Margaret Qualley) in this award-winning body-horror satire from writer-director Coralie Fargeat (Revenge)” (taken from TIFF catalog) This film has a lot to say about beauty and age standards for television and film (and even the general public), and it’s hyper-stylized.  It’s a kind of DEATH BECOMES HER directed by Cronenberg, and it’s very fun (and rather grotesque).  For the first 90 minutes, I wished we had booked it at THE NEON next week…but then it jumped the rails and became a full-on gore fest…I’m glad we didn’t. (I think a large part of our regular customers would revolt…plus it will be playing at the multiplexes.)  Overall, I personally liked it – but it absolutely not for everyone.

So that’s that!
32 Films (33 screenings overall – I saw 1 film 2 times), 2 sit-down interviews with a big star and a big director, lots of connections with other people in the business, 1 star-studded party and a couple good meals.  Thanks for coming along on this ride with me.  I hope to see you soon at THE NEON.

Take care,
Jonathan

 

TIFF Day #8 – 2024

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Hello NEON Community.

Things are winding down at TIFF.  Lines are shorter and energy is dwindling (especially mine)…but today had a couple nice surprises in store!

Nobody plays tormented better than Sarah Paulson…so I went to see HOLD YOUR BREATH, dir Karrie Crouse, Will Joines (USA) “Sarah Paulson returns to her home in genre work in this supernatural and psychological film from Karrie Crouse and Will Joines…In dust bowl Oklahoma of the 1930s, a mother (Paulson) nears the breaking point as she tries to protect her daughters from deadly windstorms and the impact of her own harrowing past. ”  (taken from TIFF catalog) Though the set-up was great and the photography is lovely (sometimes almost sepia-toned), this film didn’t trust its own material enough.  The addition of jump scares just for the sake of jump scares cheapened the experience.  Though this film is not without some wonderful, haunting moments (like when Sarah is sewing late at night and sews the fabric to her skin without realizing it), I can ultimately see why Searchlight has decided to move this one directly to the Hulu streaming platform instead of giving it a theatrical release.

The next film on today’s list was fantastic! WILL AND HARPER, dir Josh Greenbaum (USA) “This heartfelt documentary from director Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) follows Saturday Night Live alumni and close friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele as they traverse the US by car following Steele’s announcement of her transition.” (taken TIFF catalog). This roadtrip doc is full of friendship, laughter, and a desire to better know a friend…it also deals with some emotional truths that many Americans have never faced.  We were told at the beginning of the screening that we would be joined by special guests for a Q&A afterward…and it was delightful to process the film with the director, producer as well as Will Ferrell and Harper Steele!  Harper right away addressed the fact that many people who transition don’t have the resources or the support that she has had.  That said, the inner struggle and turmoil when deciding to come out was just as strong for her.  I highly recommend this film. It works! (the photo below is one that I snapped during the Q&A)

My last film of the day was an unsettling and transfixing period piece. THE GIRL WITH THE NEEDLE, dir Magnus von Horn (Denmark, Poland, Sweden) “In Magnus von Horn’s stylish and audacious blend of true-crime drama and expressionist nightmare, a young seamstress trying to survive in post-WWI Copenhagen makes a fateful connection with one of the era’s most infamous figures.” (taken from TIFF catalog) At the end of the day, this is a horror film.  That said, it’s not what you think of for today’s horror market.  It’s beautifully shot, the script is terrific, the score is inventive…yet there’s something upsetting and potentially sinister at most every turn.  It’s hard to say I “like” this film, but I do think it’s quite brilliant.

Tomorrow is my last day of films…and it’s likely going to be a short day.  I’ll at least hit 30 films by tomorrow – and I’m very anxious to see Luca Guadagnino’s new film QUEER – starring Daniel Craig.

Thanks for checking in,
Jonathan

TIFF Day #5 – 2024

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Hello NEON Community!

Today didn’t go entirely as planned…I didn’t get some of the tickets I had hoped to get for this evening (like the new Walter Salles film – I’M STILL HERE).  (I’m sure Sony Classics will let me take a look at it somewhere else…but I really love seeing how crowds respond to films before we book them.  Watching them by myself is OK – but watching films with film lovers is a different experience.)

My first movie of the day was THE DEB, dir Rebel Wilson (Australia) “Rebel Wilson’s directorial debut is a bold, outrageous, and funny Australian musical about two very different teenage cousins who initially clash but eventually join forces to make their mark on their town’s annual debutante ball.” (taken from TIFF catalog). Unfortunately, I’m not permitted to write anything about this film right now.  This film has not premiered anywhere yet – and all critiques are “embargoed” until after this upcoming weekend.  (You’ll have to come back on this page next week if you want to know what I thought of this new musical.)

If you’ve been reading my blog on a daily basis, you know that I wrote how I couldn’t wait to see THE ROOM NEXT DOOR again.  So I didn’t.  I saw Almodovar’s brilliant, vital new film from a much better seat today.  It truly is so special.  I love when characters reference literature & works of art and they’re familiar to me…it feels like an even stronger connection to the characters and the director.  From Dora Carrington’s relationship to Lytton Strachey to James Joyce’s THE DEAD to Buster Keaton and so many more.  The production design, the costumes, the score.  Everything is so intentional…even the spines of books as the two leads walk through a bookstore.  Brilliance.

Next up was one that will be talked about a lot this Oscar season – CONCLAVE, Edward Berger (USA, UK) “Oscar nominees Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci lead a brilliant ensemble cast in All Quiet on the Western Front director Edward Berger’s stunning adaption of Robert Harris’ high-stakes drama, in which Cardinals gather at the Vatican to elect a new Pope.” (taken from TIFF catalog) Vatican City at the time of a Conclave is the perfect setting for a high stakes thriller because the Catholic Church works so much like other board rooms or election cycles…with conflicting ideas and attempts to make change or step back from change. It’s fascinating! Ralph Fiennes gives a homily to all the gathered Cardinals in the first 30 minutes of the film – and it is the best I’ve ever heard.  It rattled many and was embraced by others.  The performances here – particularly from Fiennes, Isabella Rossellini and newcomer Carlos Diehz, are exceptional…as is the score.

My last film of the day was 100% unplanned.  After I went back to my apartment and worked on NEON-related details (show schedules, website updates, etc.), I decided to try my luck of getting in a “rush” line for a film called HERETIC.  I waited about 85 minutes, and several people got in…but I was not so lucky.  When that didn’t work out, I hopped in the next available film – 100% a surprise – CROCODILE TEARS, dir Tumpal Tampubolon (Indonesia, France, Singapore, Germany) “In this slow-burning suspense thriller from debut filmmaker Tumpal Tampubolon, a young man and his overbearing mother’s lives on their isolated crocodile farm are turned upside down with the appearance of a young woman.” (taken from TIFF catalog) This little film is terribly unsettling.  With crocodiles writhing around waiting to be fed, with mom suggesting that the one giant white crocodile is “papa,” and the announcement that Arumi (Johan’s new girlfriend) is pregnant – it seems like terrible occurrences are just around the corner.  It’s a solid film, but I don’t think it would do well as a theatrical engagement for us.

Tomorrow, my boyfriend Jake is joining me in Toronto.  Though he and I will only see a couple movies together, it will be nice to have him here for my last few days.  If flights are on time and all goes as planned, his first film (tomorrow night) will be BABYGIRL – starring Nicole Kidman.

Thanks for reading!
Jonathan

TIFF Bound! Submerging In Cinema!

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Hello NEON Community,

Thanks so much for checking in.  I’m making a list and checking it twice…and three times…and four times…all in an effort to squeeze in as many films as possible from the 50+ films I’d like to see over the next several days at The Toronto International Film Fest.  In the end, I’ll only have room for 30-35 screenings, so some films will have to wait.

It’s early morning on Wednesday, Sept. 4, and I’m about to head to the airport.  When I get to Toronto, I’ll head right to the industry hub where I’ll get my credentials for the festival.  My pass will allow me to see a handful of public screenings (those are the ones with directors & stars in attendance with interesting Q&A’s) as well as numerous press and industry screenings (which are generally no-frills – but full of folks like me as well as some high profile journalists and studio execs…all kinds of people from the industry).

I’m staying in a condo just a couple blocks from the middle of everything,  and I’m very excited about several films…and it’s always fun to discover films I didn’t know I needed to see.

Here are couple titles I’m excited about:

THE ROOM NEXT DOOR – Pedro Almodovar’s English-language feature film debut – starring Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore.  If you’ve read my blog and newsletters before, you might know that Almodovar is my favorite director of all time.  I can’t wait for this one.  It just received a 17-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival earlier this week.

WE LIVE IN TIME – the new film from John Crowley (director of BROOKLYN) – starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.  I think this film looks lovely, and I’m a big fan of BROOKLYN.

MISÉRICORDE, the new film from Alain Guiraudie (director of STRANGER BY THE LAKE) is on my list as well.

In addition to movies, I’ll get to sit in on an interview with Cate Blanchett at an event called IN CONVERSATION: CATE BLANCHETT.  I’ve been a fan for years (and there was even that time when I was a co-worker of sorts)…so I’m anxious to see her in this scenario.

Every day, I’ll take notes when I’m seeing movies.  I’ll assemble those notes each night and publish my posts.  This serves as a way for me to get my thoughts down on a daily basis…and to take you along for the ride.

If you’re in Dayton, please stop in to keep my co-workers company at THE NEON.  Thanks for all of your support.

More soon,

Jonathan

Toronto Film Fest – PreFest

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Hello Everyone.

After numerous delays (due to heavy fog in Dayton and Detroit), I’m back on schedule.

I took a taxi from the airport to the Hyatt Regency on King Street West just in time to get my accreditation before they closed for the evening.  I  was also able to get a couple tickets for public screenings tomorrow and Friday.  In addition to numerous press and industry screenings, I’ll see RUST AND BONE on Thursday (starring Marion Cotillard, directed by Jacques Audiard (A PROPHET)) and ANNA KARENINA on Friday  (starring Keira Knightley and Jude Law, directed by Joe Wright (ATONEMENT)).

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I’ll average 3+ films a day over the next 8.5 days, and I’ve got a list of films I can’t wait to see…but I’m also anxious to see films that aren’t being talked about yet.

Check back for daily updates.  I’m off to read my catalog and started picking out more titles…then to bed before midnight (which won’t happen again during this trip).

All the best,

Jonathan