With the Toronto International Film Festival about to begin, Dakota and Rachel look at the movies that we are most excited about seeing. You can listen to podcast episode 206: TIFF 2022 Preview that pairs with this blog post as we talk more in depth about our choices. Here we present the same five picks we are hoping to see, and some honourable mentions.
Dakota’s Pick’s
Directed By: Park Chan-wook
Starring: Tang Wei, Park Hae-il
Synopsis: A detective investigating a man’s death in the mountains meets the dead man’s mysterious wife in the course of his dogged sleuthing.
Why I’m Excited: This is Park Chan-wook’s first feature film since 2016’s excellent The Handmaiden. Decision to Leave has already been announced as Korea’s entry in to the Best International Film category at the Oscars, which positions it as a major awards player. The film seems to blend multiple genres, something Chan-wook excels at, while still maintaining an edge of your seat thriller.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Directed By: Rian Johnson
Starring: Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Ethan Hawke, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Katheryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr.
Synopsis: Famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc travels to Greece for his latest case.
Why I’m Excited: Knives Out was one of the most fun movies of recent years and Netflix giving Rian Johnson all of the money in the world to make a franchise out of his Benoit Blanc character has me very excited. Whodunnit’s have lately become my catnip and this stacked cast has me fiending for the follow up.
Directed By: Ruben Östlund
Starring: Thobias Thorwid, Harris Dickinson, Charlbi Dean, Woody Harrelson
Synopsis: A cruise for the super-rich sinks thus leaving survivors, including a fashion model celebrity couple, trapped on an island.
Why I’m Excited: Ruben Östlund has achieved a rare feat by becoming a two time Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Festival (putting him in illustrious company alongside the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Haneke, Ken Loach and the Dardenne’s). It satirizes the rich in a way that Östlund seems uniquely suited to do after seeing his art world take down The Square.
Directed By: Tobias Lindholm
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Jessica Chastain, Kim Dickens, Noah Emmerich
Synopsis: An infamous caregiver is implicated in the deaths of hundreds of hospital patients.
Why I’m Excited: Jessica Chastain and Eddie Redmayne both have turned in some phenomenal performances, but both have been adrift the last few years picking projects that aren’t great. Hopefully working with Tobias Lindholm, the frequent writing partner of fellow Dane, Thomas Vinterberg, puts them back on the right track. Also interesting to consider is what angle and tone this subject matter takes.
Directed By: Henry Selick
Starring: Keegan Michael-Key, Jordan Peele, Angela Bassett, James Hong, Ving Rhames, Lyric Ross
Synopsis: Two scheming demon brothers, Wendell and Wild, must face their arch-nemesis, the demon-dusting nun Sister Helly, and her two acolytes, the goth teens Kat and Raul. However, Raul cannot see them so Kat helps Wendell and Wild to help him.
Why I’m Excited: This is the return of a few really interesting creatives. Henry Selick hasn’t directed a feature film since Coraline back in 2009 and the stop motion master is back. It also reunites comedy duo Key and Peele, who had bit parts in Toy Story 4, but haven’t been leads together since 2016’s Keanu. If the idea of a Henry Selick directed movie starring the hilarious Key and Peele doesn’t excite you, nothing will.
Rachel’s Picks
Note: Dakota and Rachel shared the same first pick, Decision to Leave.
Directed By: Darlene Naponse
Starring: Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, Braeden Clarke, Rossif Sutherland
Synopsis: Two Indigenous characters have an encounter that sets off a cosmic and environmental connection link to the past and future.
Why I’m Excited: It’s safe to say that anything Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers does has my attention. She’s a phenomenal actress and director, and a major player in the growing Indigenous filmmaking community in Canada. Stellar places her opposite up-and-coming actor Braeden Clarke in a love story amid a natural catastrophe in Northern Ontario. Directed by Darlene Naponse, Stellar looks to be a cosmic and poetic emotional event.
Directed By: Stéphane Lafleur
Starring: Steve Laplante, Larissa Corriveau, Fabiola N. Aladin
Synopsis: A behavioural research team observes and attempts to replicate the experiences of the first manned mission to Mars.
Why I’m Excited: Blending absurdist humour with existential sci-fi, Stéphane Lafleur’s latest looks to be a unique take on the final frontier. It’s been 8 years since Lafleur’s last film, Tu Dors Nicole, landed on TIFF’s Canada’s Top 10, and Viking promises to be a strong return to the festival for the French-Canadian director.
Directed By: Clement Virgo
Starring: Lamar Johnson, Aaron Pierre, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Kiana Madeira
Synopsis: Two brothers facing questions of masculinity, family, race and identity
Why I’m Excited: Clement Virgo is something of a Toronto filmmaking legend who shockingly hasn’t released a film since 2008 (though, he’s been busy in the television realm). Brother is an adaptation of David Chariandy’s novel of the same name about the struggles of an immigrant family living in Scarborough, and given Virgo’s own journey to Canada, it wouldn’t be surprising if the film is filled with personal touches. Virgo’s work is appreciated by many, but has been also criminally overlooked — let’s hope Brother changes that.
Directed By: Martin McDonagh
Starring: Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan
Synopsis: Two lifelong friends find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for both of them.
Why I’m Excited: Martin McDonagh reunites with his In Bruges actors, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson — that’s pretty much all one needs to be convinced to watch Banshees. Add Barry Keoghan into the Irish fold and there’s no way we’re missing this one. Individually, their reputations precedes them; but together, they’re already a proven team that will hopefully deliver another darkly-humoured film that will leave us with deep, unsettling thoughts.
Dakota’s Honourable Mentions
Moonage Daydream, Broker, The Son, Sanctuary, ROSIE
Rachel’s Honourable Mentions
The Whale, Sidney, Black Ice, I Like Movies, The Wonder
What movies are you most excited to see at TIFF this year? Let us know on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Look for more great festival coverage coming your way!
