TIFF 40 had its first red carpet snap-fest last night as the stars of Demolition, Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts et al, walked the red carpet. As anticipated the reviews for the flick were a bit lukewarm, but Gyllenhaal got top reviews for his performance — and his beard — which continues a strong run, dubbed the "Jake Quake" by TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey, for the actor.
Michael Moore's Where To Invade Next showed last night as well and surprised a lot of people. Despite the title, it was not a bleak look at the military industrial complex but actually a more hopeful tour of places in the world making progressive breakthroughs that Moore no doubt wishes were implemented in his good ole US of A.
Things seem to have gone less well for the reunited duo of Christopher Plummer and Atom Egoyan. In Remember, Plummer plays a man out to get a Nazi in hiding in America under an assumed identity. The cast is great, also featuring Bruno Ganz and Martin Landau, but early reviews from Venice were not kind. Given that Egoyan lost the plot big time with The Captive, he may well have fallen off a cliff altogether here.
If the business-side of the festival is more your bag, Indiewire has posted its Distributor Guide here.
On the Scene
Oscar-winner and all-around tour de force Julianne Moore has an In Conversation… session this morning at 11:30 a.m. at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Short of bribery, I wouldn't get your hopes up on tickets though.
The would-be blockbuster The Martian is premiering tonight but beforehand at 1:45 p.m. you can watch all the stars in the cyberflesh by tuning into the live stream of the film's press conference here. Sadly this is not just something you can turn up for and hobnob with stars.
The Producer's Ball is at the Royal Ontario Museum tonight. Obviously the gala spotlights producers in the industry at home and internationally and is probably the only event during TIFF where you can hobnob amongst dinosaur skeletons. Past attendees include Hollywood stars like John Cusack and The Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott will host the event and charity auction for TIFF.
In the Spotlight
The Martian is going to debut tonight but it's going to be opening wide within a month of the festival, so another world premiere has my attention today. I Saw The Light stars Tom Hiddleston as country music pioneer Hank Williams. Hiddleston is joined in the cast by Elizabeth Olsen and if things go well, he could feature prominently in the Best Actor race.
It gives me great pleasure to introduce the first clip from I SAW THE LIGHT. @TIFF_NET tomorrow! #MoveItOnOver https://t.co/0xC30AghNF
— Tom Hiddleston (@twhiddleston) September 10, 2015
Ryerson Theatre. 43 Gerrard Street E. 6:00 p.m. 123 minutes
Dark Horse
It screened yesterday as well, but after winning the Grand Prix at Cannes, the Hungarian film Son of Saul looks to be a top-contender for a Best Foreign Film nomination. It's a tough story about a father trying to procure a traditional Jewish burial for his son while imprisoned in a concentration camp.
TIFF Bell Lightbox. 350 King Street W. 4:30 p.m. 107 minutes
