As we return from TIFF 2024 we present some of the standout films we saw at the festival. This was our inaugural year attending the Toronto International Film Festival (with special thanks to the TIFF and Rotten Tomatoes Media Inclusion Initiative for helping us participate) so we weren’t able to screen everything there (including some of the heavier hitters), but we saw some outstanding films. Here they are in alphabetical order.
All of You
Stars Brett Goldstein and Imogen Poots have an undeniable chemistry in this romantic drama set in the not too distant future. In a world where a test to determine your soulmate exists, best friends Simon (Goldstein) and Laura (Poots) must traverse what the implications of the test mean for their relationship. Goldstein’s signature patter is all over the film as he serves as co-writer.
Babygirl
Seeing this one with a full audience was both deeply uncomfortable and also incredibly bonding. Babygirl got one of the most visceral reactions out of the crowd (of the screenings we were at) with Nicole Kidman as a high powered executive who enters into a relationship with a brash intern, played by Harris Dickinson.
Conclave
Set during a papal election, Conclave will surely be called timely with different candidates for pope mapping to current political leanings. While this could’ve been a cut and dry awards bait film, the tension and thriller aspects elevated it to something more. Ralph Fiennes, Isabella Rosellini, John LIthgow, Carlos Diehz, and Stanley Tucci under the direction of Edward Berger make it something more spiritual.
Emilia Pérez
Don’t let the fact that this film is a musical scare you away, the thriller set against the collision of the criminal underworld of Mexico City was a refreshing marriage of format and story. While a trio of women lead the film (Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofía Gascón) it’s Gascón as the titular Pérez who gave a mercurial and memorable performance for us.
Friendship
Fans of the awkward comedy rejoice, reigning king of the genre Tim Robinson makes his starring feature debut in this. In collaboration with writer / director Andrew DeYoung, Robinson manages to make his character disturbing and disturbingly relatable. Robinson plays an everyman who becomes obsessed with his cool new neighbor, played by Paul Rudd. It’s a perfect balance of absurdist and earnest.
Heretic
Hugh Grant in his villain era is what makes this film work. It’s a creepy creed driven thriller that had folks hooked.
K-Pops
Grammy winner Anderson .Paak makes his feature directorial and starring debut as an aspiring musician who finds success in unexpected ways. This was one of the most energetic and lively films we saw at the festival. It absolutely nailed the struggles of mixed identity, Korean competition culture, and .Paak and real life son Soul Rasheed are able to translate their dynamic onscreen with ease.
Nightbitch
Amy Adams helps embody and externalize the journey that most women (and particularly mothers) will immediately recognize.
Piece By Piece
A bit overwhelming to start, but this Pharell Williams biopic in the medium of LEGO ends up being not only an impressive piece of animation, but a spotlight on some of his prolific contributions to some of the most popular modern songs.
Sketch
An utterly charming and creative unpacking of emotions. Seth Worley wrote and direct an introspective but also accessible to all ages meditation on emotional overload. Tony Hale stars as a widower and father to two kids, played by Kue Lawrence and Bianca Belle). It was amusing and visually exciting, but also contained unexpected depth.
The Assessment
Another not too distant future film, this time where population control is highly regulated. A couple (Elizabeth Olsen and Himesh Patel) apply for the process and are sent an assessor (Alicia Vikander). Vikander gives a chaotic and calculated performance as the evaluator, and there are a bevy of well written but intentionally skin crawling-ly cringe moments.
The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos
Another unexpected discovery in this one, and inspired by true events, The Legend of the Vagabond Queen of Lagos follows Jawu. She lives in the Agbojedo community (a floating slum) and finds herself having to combat forces much greater than herself. Directed by Nigeria’s Agbajowo collective, the film provides a cohesive and compelling story while weaving in impressive action.
The Life of Chuck
You’d think that a film by Mike Flanagan adapted from a Stephen King story would be an outright thriller. Yet The Life of Chuck proved to be one of the more heartwarming and contemplative films we saw during the festival. A tapestry of talent don’t hurt the pedigree, with Tom HIddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Penjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill all giving wonderfully contained performances.
The Mother and the Bear
An unexpected Canadian treat, The Mother and the Bear was another semi-interactive audience experience. Groans and preemptive oh-nos abounded during this tale of a Korean mother needing to fly over to Canada to deal with her daughter who gets into an accident. What unfurls is a story of self discovery that any of us with immigrant families would view as aspirational.
The Substance*
While technically we got a chance to see this before TIFF, this film has been haunting our dreams since. Demi Moore plays an aging star obsessed with the adoration she received in her heyday. She goes so far as to take a substance that manifests a younger version of herself, but everything ain’t what it’s cracked up to be. We were nearly ill during our screening, as body horror is an understatement for what one will witness.
The Wild Robot
A much needed break from some of the more morose and dramatic fare of the fest. The Wild Robot is one of Dreamworks’ most original films in years, exploring what it means to be different, and found family. Voice performances by Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, and Mark Hamill all compliment the painted style.
We Live in Time
Come for the infamous carousel horse, stay for the electricity between leads Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield.
We had a tremendous time at TIFF 2024 and congratulate all the folks who put it on or had projects there.