AwardsWatch - Toronto International Film Festival

‘North Star’ Review: Kristin Scott Thomas Gets Personal as She Tackles Family Dynamics and Loss in Directorial Debut Inspired by Her Own Life | Toronto

Abe Friedtanzer September 14, 2023

The absence of a parent in childhood or adulthood can be just as powerful and impactful as the presence of one. Losing multiple parents can... Read More

‘Knox Goes Away’ Review: Michael Keaton’s Dementia-Stricken Hitman Anchors a Focused Character Study | Toronto

Abe Friedtanzer September 13, 2023

A hitman with dementia trying to carry out one last job is the kind of premise that could easily go off the rails and devolve... Read More

‘Reptile’ Review: A Benicio del Toro and Alicia Silverstone Reunion Can’t Save Convoluted Crime Drama | Toronto

Ryan McQuade September 13, 2023

On his way to another showing of a property he is trying to sell, Will Grady (Justin Timberlake) gets an alert on his phone from... Read More

‘Fingernails’ Review: Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed’s Chemistry is the High Point in Christos Nikou’s Analog Dating Dramedy | Toronto

Kevin L. Lee September 13, 2023

Christos Nikou opens his newest film with a quote, or a common consensus in the scientific community: that the first signs of heart problems can... Read More

‘Next Goal Wins’ Review: Michael Fassbender is Pitch Perfect in Taika Waititi’s Enjoyable Underdog Sports Story | Toronto

Mina Takla September 13, 2023

Conventional but still enjoyable, Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins presents the real story of the American Samoa football team, who had broken the record for... Read More

‘Lee’ Review: Kate Winslet and Andy Samberg Excel in Ellen Kuras’ Largely Unambitious Debut Feature | Toronto

Mina Takla September 13, 2023

Making the transition from cinematography to directing, Ellen Kuras delivers a biopic that, while boasting competent technical credits, lacks the ambition, risk-taking and ferocious nature... Read More

‘Pain Hustlers’ Review: David Yates Delivers a Conventionally Accessible Look at Corporate Greed | Toronto

Mina Takla September 13, 2023

In Pain Hustlers, David Yates embarks on a different kind of project that couldn’t be further away from his recent franchise output (most notably 7... Read More

‘Poolman’ Review: Chris Pine Skims the L.A. Underbelly in Homage to Classic Noir | Toronto

Daniel Bayer September 13, 2023

Chris Pine loves noir films. Mostly Chinatown, but really just noir films in general. This much is clear from his directorial debut Poolman, in which... Read More

‘The Teacher’ Review: Farah Nabulsi’s Feature Debut is a Mildly Satisfying, if Narratively Muddled, Take on Repressed Anger | Toronto

Mina Takla September 11, 2023

Palestinian British filmmaker Farah Nabulsi’s previous short film, The Present, catapulted her to worldwide acclaim with its heartfelt story about parental love and sacrifice. Now... Read More