The Toronto International Film Festival released their first wave of this year’s scheduled films on the program, and I for one was left feeling sad. Where’s Tom Hiddleston?! I thought this was supposed to be his year. I thought Hiddles was supposed to be a bigger contender? Isn’t that what the conspiracies around his photo-op outing with Elizabeth Olsen are all about? Like, the theory is that Tommy is going to do a big Oscar season rollout, complete with a serious girlfriend (Olsen) and a Benedict Cumberbatch-esque media blitz. But Tom’s films were nowhere to be found on the TIFF schedule.
Crimson Peak’s release date is October 16th. I Saw the Light will be released on November 27th. High Rise doesn’t have a release date. Theoretically, any or all of those films could do a premiere at TIFF and they just haven’t been announced yet. But… I don’t see why they wouldn’t have just announced it already if one of those films was coming to TIFF, mostly because they want to lead with the biggest names, the most buzzed-about films. Which makes me think that there really won’t be any Tommy at TIFF. Sad.
TIFF has gotten so much more prestigious and Oscar-baity in the last five years in particular and there have been several Oscar-winners who have had their awards-season journeys begin at TIFF. You can see this year’s list (the first wave, at least) here. Of that grouping… I think it’s very likely that Eddie Redmayne is going to get his second Oscar nomination in two years for The Danish Girl. I think Julianne Moore will probably get some Oscar buzz for Freeheld. I think Ridley Scott’s The Martian is probably going to get a lot of “???” from critics. Tom Hardy’s performances in LEGEND will probably be critically acclaimed. Judging from the first trailer, I think the film about Lance Armstrong’s doping years, The Program, will probably be amazing. What else… Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo, which sounds SO GOOD.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
I saw what you did there. It’s not the full list.
Really looking forward to Hardy in Legend . Also can’t wait to see Trumbo. Saw the play with Brian Dennehy and want to see what Cranston will do with it.
Atom Egoyan has a new film, Remember, with Christopher Plummer! I’m also looking forward to Son of Saul, Trumbo, Summertime, Un Plus Une, and the Stonewall documentary.
All sound intriguing. I wish they would release quality movies throughout the year instead of cramming everything into the last few months. It makes it difficult to see everything
I’m also looking forward to “Legend” – he and Redmayne in another Oscar-bait performance are going to be tough to get around. I saw “The Drop” recently and was blown away by Hardy’s impeccable inarticulate working-class Brooklyn guy. In the nicest way, he managed an “homage” to Brando’s Terry Malloy in “On the Waterfront” while still making his role distinct and his own. I’m very impressed by Hardy these days. Something Toddles is doing isn’t working and I can’t put my finger on what it is.
The Drop is a massively underrated film, surprised it didn’t do better.
I can’t work out what Hiddles is doing wrong either, just can’t work it out… (*cough* pr).
@Catherine – I’m a former native-born New Yorker and I always have a soft spot for gritty NY-based films, so I pay attention to them and I was so disappointed that “The Drop” didn’t get more play. It virtually disappeared the moment it was released and seemed to go straight to DVD (I bought it and have watched it twice, and was even more impressed with Hardy at second viewing). I think it’s slow-paced for all its tension, really more of character study than action-crime and you know how it is today, people have so little tolerance for slower paced films.
I thought The Drop as a film was boring and poorly filmed (underlit all the way through) BUT Hardy and Gandolfini were both superb. Top notch, stellar, amazing technique all the way through. Phenomenal acting in a dull movie. Cute dog, too. (But Noomi Rapace, who was so good in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo movies in Sweden, was incredibly underwhelming, unfortunately.)
Ugh I could die of boredom looking at him and his dull product of nepotism girlfriend.
Tom Hardy is so sexy!!!! Why no pictures of Matt Damon? He is getting hotter every single year, his wife is so lucky….
Second that and it’s not that I don’t find him attractive and talented. But damn who’d want a boyfriend who never puts his damn phone down! He was paying more attention to his phone in those pap photos at Wolesely’s than Olsen!
Legend and Trumbo both sound awesome!
That picture of Elizabeth Olsen out of context is hilarious, “Oh God! What have I done?!”.
This is a very early programme and from what we know here TIFF will have a Hiddleston movie if it depends on them only. BTW last year there was an empty film spot for an official premiere till the last week before the festival. LOL The reason was the producer, so sometimes it’s not happening easily. And Hiddleston is not considered a bait for a festival of the level TIFF achieved over the past few years. He is a fan bait but TIFF has been aiming much higher. No onewill be in a rush to put his name front and centre. Del Toro is anothr story.
Del Toro isn’t taking Crimson Peak to the festivals. [current twitter rumour ‘pinch of salt’]
Hiddleston has had two film premieres at Tiff already, and is popular there. Film Festivals are not just about critics, they sell tickets to the ‘common person’ to make money. OLLA was one of the most popular at Tiff, it was hard to get a ticket for the showings. Granted, OLLA was JJ and Tilda too. But, it was defo riding the Hiddles-train as well.
They want actors that can fill seats, as well as awards.
ISTL is a Canadian funded picture, and TIFF are big promotors of their own movies. I think ISTL will be at Telluride because it’s closer to the American market in that neck of woods. and gain a back entry special ticket to TIFF.
The were still editing ISTL last week, so it wasn’t submitted for any deadlines, so it has to be given a backdoor.
@Mary-Alice It would be nice to see CP there, since it was filmed there. Plus del Toro is a supporter of TIFF in turn. Maybe he can convince Legendary to do one festival?? Especially since Venice seemed to want it badly.
@P’enny I agree, with the Canadian funding/production company in Bron, it’s a possibility. TIFF does accept WIP so they may have seen a rough cut already, and waiting for something more final makes sense. I agree it needs to go to Telluride, especially with a Brit playing Hank. Politically it’s the smart move.
Blonde Dragonfly Lord is doing nothing for me. I love my crumpet ginger.
BLONDIE IN GLASSES is sizzzzzzzle, balcony naked hot to me 🙂
Me too!
I hope he keeps the beefed-up physique he had for The Night Manager and doesn’t run it all off. Is is too cynical of me to think that the hunkier he is while promoting ISTL the more people will notice how truly scrawny he was for Hank? That’s a shameless tactic I know, but every little bit helps. Lord knows it is slightly more dignified than an awkward maybe-date with your onscreen wife.
Blond Hiddles in glasses is so unbelievably hot. It makes no sense but he is.
Dara – hope you’re right about the weight loss tactic, too. I’ve read people talking about Fassy’s “transformation” in Steve Jobs (um, not huge, but OK), but it’s painful to look at some of those Evening Standard award pictures now. My god, he was thin.
I guess his films are not good then. He’ll never win an Oscar.
Meanwhile, Johnny Depp’s Black Mass will be playing at TIFF, Venice and Telluride. He is a big contender and Warner Bros. are launching a big campaign for him.
Never is a very long time.
lol Hiddles if you read oop’s comment, you may realise at age 34 you’re acting career is now over and you’ll never win an oscar b00-hoo. I say, welcome to the greatest actors never to win an oscar club :-p from Richard Burton, Peter O’Toole, Orson Welles… the list is endless.
I’m less confident about Black Mass. It is playing in Venice yes, but it is not in competition. Not a great sign of faith by the studio. It is being released in mid September, not exactly prime real estate on the awards calendar. Depp is coming off a series of critical duds.
That said I do quite like the trailer so we’ll see how it goes.
They wouldn’t be showing it at festivals in the first place if they were not confident in it. It’s not in competition because it’s a big studio movie. Depp’s past few films are irrelevant when it comes to Black Mass. His performance looks pretty Oscar-worthy.
Depp’s string of critical failures is not irrelevant to the Oscar race. As a veteran, he could have built a strong “he is due for an Oscar” narrative if he is coming off a series of strong films but that is not his position right now. Narratives do matter for Oscar campaigns. I am not sure what Depp’s is, unless it is spun as “a veteran actor finding his mojo again after a string of duds”, which is possible.
He is a possible nominee and his trailer looks good, but I don’t put much faith in it right now.
Oh, and showing a movie at festivals does not necessarily indicate a distributor’s confidence in its awards prospects. Demolition is the opening film for TIFF this year and it is quite certainly not an awards contender since Fox Searchlight has set a release date of April 2016.
@Beth No. 2 Sure, but it’s a different case here as it’ll be released shortly after it’s shown at the three aforementioned festivals.
Yep I understand, I was just pointing out that doing the festival circuit is not necessarily a sign of distributor confidence in awards prospects. Setting aside awards considerations, it still makes sense for Black Mass to do Venice and TIFF to build buzz for box office reasons, since it is opening mid-September.
Is it confirmed for Telluride though? I thought Telluride only releases its slate like a day or two before opening.
@Beth No. 2 It’s listed as a Canadian premiere, so people are assuming Telluride, otherwise it would be NA premiere.
THE FIFTH ESTATE. Enough said.
I don’t care if he never wins an Oscar as I think the whole thing is rigged and lacking integrity for the most part. The wording should be…
“And the Oscar for the best lead actor who coincidentally paid for the acadamy’s Bora Bora spa and tan treatments goes to…(insert random untalented actor’s name here)”
The day “Shakespeare In Love” won best movie was the day my belief in an honest system died.
Stick to Indie films Tom. Leave the Hollywood hoopla to the people as fake as their boobs\tans\teeth.
(Angrily stomps across Lilac’s lawn, guzzles a jug of daiquiri mix concentrate, kisses Colin full on the lips then piggyback rides Mark Strong off into the sunset).
–>The day “Shakespeare In Love” won best movie was the day my belief in an honest system died.
Ahahahahahahaaaha I sooo second this
Will you be back for lunch? We’re having pizza
@Secret Squirrel My cynicism set in at age twelve when the word “Braveheart” was read by Sidney Poitier in 1996. I have yet to recover from the shock. I find it to be a way, way worse movie than “Shakespeare in Love.”
Actually, I enjoyed SIL but the system really showed its colors the day Goopie got the lead. That’s what was wrong with the film – yeah yeah yeah we know she got the Oscar for it.
Often, ‘Oscar buzz’ is started before principal shooting wraps..depends on the agent/producer. Only a few pan out..you never know. TIFF is getting bigger, more orchestrated..but I hope it doesn’t change the feel (become Cannes-ian)
Wait, what? What you say there? “Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo” – how in heavens name have I missed this? Johnny Got His Gun is probably the book that had the most effect on me. I don’t think I slept for a month after reading it. Mahousive fan of Trumbo, here.
*off to google*
Yes! I’m excited for it. As I said above, I saw Brian Dennehy in the play and it is devastatingly powerful. Can’t wait to see what Cranston does with the role.
I can’t believe I missed it was even happening! Jealous at you seeing Dennehy.
He is such a force.
I don’t know how this film was off my radar, but I am very excited!
I’m troubled about High Rise– what the hell is going on?
Yes! I was more looking forward to High Rise than ISTL to be honest. The director is edgy and interesting.
Rumors are that it will premier at the London film festival, which given BFI funding does make sense. But the wait is making me anxious.
In terms of world premieres, the list is a bit underwhelming. A large part of the prestige of film festivals is securing world firsts. So far we have Freeheld, The Martian, The Program, Lady in the Van listed as world premieres. They are in the Oscar conversation but are not exactly Frontrunner material and lack star power. That said, there would be other titles added to the slate so maybe we can still have a few surprises.
Venice just announced its slate and I don’t recall seeing ISTL. Think it could go Telluride.
Tom Hardy looks delish in that photo!
@beth2 – the general feeling among festival watchers is that the initial TIFF slate was slightly underwhelming. Not sure why, I thought they had a good mix of quality mainstream films (the Martian), Oscar-baity (Danish Girl) and interesting smaller films from good directors. More to come I’m sure. I thought the Martian clip looked amazing, maybe not Oscar worthy but I’ve added it to my ‘want to see’ list along with Sicario (sp?) with Emily Blunt.
I didn’t see ISTL on the Venice list either, but I wasn’t surprised. That films seems like a much better fit for Telluride. Some films have done both so could still happen.
I was a little surprised not to see High Rise in Venice. I wonder if Wheatley is aiming for BFI in London – Tom has tweeted a few BFI-related things and there is a new feature on High Rise in their Filmmaker magazine.
@Dara – Part of the underwhelming feeling, at least for me, is the absence of big Oscar contenders as world premieres at TIFF, i.e., prestige factor. E.g., The Danish Girl is playing at TIFF but it is not a world premiere. TIFF is styled as some sort of middle-brow, Oscar-friendly territory with films that appeal to a wide audience instead of some niche arthouse fare. I can’t recall what TIFF’s track record was last year, but this year it seems like the big Oscar players are getting their starts in Venice, NYFF, possibly Telluride.
I like the Martian trailer too and I’m fond of Matt Damon. But I’m a bit scarred by Ridley Scott after watching Exodus haha. 😀
As for High Rise, London Film Festival is possible I guess though I was hoping for Venice, especially with the critical praise that Ben Wheatley has had with his last project. In any case, High Rise is unlikely to be an awards contender so any festival outings would be for building buzz and commerical prospects, and finding a buyer for a US release. I didn’t know it was in the BFI mag; I’m a subscriber and will look for it – hopefully I haven’t thrown that issue away!
@Beth2 – I’m a newbie when it comes to festival watching, but I find the whole process of who goes where and why fascinating.
And don’t get me started on Ridley Scott. I didn’t even bother with Exodus, I’m still pissed as hell I paid actual money for Prometheus. What a load of god-awful rubbish, and now I hear word there may be a sequel – oy vey. Martian had better deliver.
@Dara Add The Counselor to Ridley Scott’s awful films list.
@jammy – how does he keep getting good actors to sign on to his films? His track record is really iffy. He’s had a couple of amazing pictures, quite a few enjoyable but not groundbreaking projects and some that have been utter stinkers that, if I were an actor, I would be embarrassed to be seen in. He’s running neck and neck with Michael Mann for my ‘most inconsistent director’ award. And yet actors keep rolling the dice and signing up to work with both of them. I don’t get it.
@Dara, my only conclusion is he is way out of his prime now and also out of touch, which is not a good look with progressive cinema goers of today. I am surprised as well at good actors flocking to work with a man out of his prime (and depth) at this point.
I think as pointed out the full list isn’t quite completed yet, but it is a bit of a disappointment for HIddles’ fans that ISTL is off to a weak start by not appearing immediately. This role is TH’s opportunity to emerge as a first-rank “serious” (read: award noms/wins) film actor, as outside Loki his film career has been small indies like “Only Lovers Left Alive” which failed dismally at box office. TIFF is only the beginning and perhaps if crucial reviews are good and box office decent, the subsequent award festivals, especially SAG, the Globes, PSIF, and BAFTAS could still kick in. After all, “The Imitation Game” got nominated everywhere and what good did it do either the film or Cumberbatch?
OLLA really did not fail dismally at the box office. To do so, it would have had to open on more screens and run to empty seats. Instead, Jarmusch himself limited how many screens it could show on and with very short runs, which made for an extremely limited release. I saw it twice in the one theater it played at here and both showings were full.
Lilacflowers – Do you know why Jarmusch did that, and why the distributor and studio allowed it? If there is audience appetite for it, why not open wider and recoup production costs? I like the film and it certainly deserves to be seen by more people.
If I remember from some of the interviews he gave, he was really angry with some concessions he had to make while filming and disillusioned with the process and just wanted to make films the way he wanted and rather petulantly didn’t care if it didn’t get a wider release. It seemed rather counterintuitive to surviving as a filmmaker. It is a lovely film with fine performances from all involved. Our local art house periodically has late night showings of it
Thanks Lilac, I’m surprised he wielded that power over distribution since it could mean a sizable sum in terms of lost potential revenue for the producers and distributors. Am guessing the players involved fell out with each other and agreed to limit distribution and just take the production outlays as a sunk cost.
For those so inclined, I believe a copy of the US distribution deal between Hanway and SPC is included in the Sony Wikileaks database. No telling if it is the final executed contract, but from a quick glance I did not see anything that gave Jarmusch the right to reject release options – just that Sony would engage in ‘meaningful consultation with Director’ but they retain the right to make the final decision. They also agreed to release in 35 of the 50 largest markets (NY & LA specifically) but no mention of how many screens or for how long (that I saw anyway – my eyes glazed over a little since I’m not fluent in contract-speak).
There’s also a neat little section that specified advances that would be paid if the actors were nominated or won any of the major awards. I’m assuming that’s a standard clause in all contracts based on SAG requirements for its members, but does anyone know if that’s the case?
Thanks Dara for looking this up! On the awards clause, I’m not sure. I’ll just add that for indies, it is common to have a limited release strategy in the first instance (and if there is good word of mouth and strong buzz, the distributor may add more theatres subsequently). If OLLA’s distribution is even more limited than what was originally stipulated then I’m guessing there is some behind-the-scenes reason.
For instance Harvey tried to bury the distribution for Snowpiercer, apparently due to a disagreement with the director over the editing process. TWC also did something similar for The Immigrant though I can’t recall the reason for that one. In these cases, it was the distributor who made the call and I’m still pissed with Harvey over Snowpiercer, one of the best films last year.
what? failed dismally, like Lilacflowers said, it was a very small cinema release in UK and US. But, when it was released in the states, at that time, it was biggest opening weekend for the usual indie film cinema weekend release in 2013. Higher than Lucy, Locke and a couple of other biggies. I think Woody Allen was the only one to beat it by the Summer time.
I don’t know if the reason for not spending more on a wide cinema release was finance, politics or design. I do know that Jim was determined that the film was packaged as a midnight movie, like Betty Blue and the such like. It will continually pop back into late night art-house cinemas for years to come.
It may be that I Saw the Light will premiere at Telluride, and they leave their schedule til the last minute.
Steve Jobs isn’t on the list for TIFF either, but it’s opening at the NYFF at the end of Sept.
I will be surprised if ISTL isn’t at Telluride. Perhaps it’ll make it to TIFF too. Looking forward to this and Legend. And Jobs.
Its nice seeing Hardy’s lovely lips in that snap…can’t wait to hear what he has to say this season. He’s so deliciously crackballs…
@nutballs I wonder if Peter Howell will get to ask him a question.
He ehehehe. I see what you did there, waitwhat!
WW – HA, let’s hope not!
I’m ready to go on a Hardy binge when I get back from camping next week… Locke, The Drop, Inception, Dark Knight Rises, Lawless and if I can find it, Stuart: A Life Backwards…
My guess is Telluride and NYFF.
Yes to the Danish Girl, but not because of Redmayne but because of Matthias Schoenaerts!
Well, I’m actually looking forward to see the reactions for Demolition and why Fox Searchlight moved it to the next year, especially since it was supposed to be Gyllenhaal’s vehicle for an Oscar nod…
I’m sad for Jake. This is supposed to be his year after he was criminally snubbed at the Oscars last year for Nightcrawler. And now both his films – Southpaw and Demolition – are likely out of the race.
Everest is opening Venice, the buzz is huge
Oops wrong post.
Why does Crimson Peak keep getting mentioned as a festival film? I know GDT is an adopted son of Toronto and he’s a big supporter of TIFF year round (not just at festival time) but the film itself just never felt like it was festival material. Sure it’s going to be visually stunning, but it always seemed like it was going to be pushed hard as a mainstream, wide release film for the popcorn munching masses – of which I am proudly one. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still really looking forward to it, but I doubt it’s going to be a groundbreaker.
I’m with you on that – I think CP will have wider audience than Only Lovers Left Alive did because of the appetite for Gothic + sex, but it will still turn into a cult hit on DVD. ISTL is much more likely to get into festival film lineup. Of course, CP might get mentions for costumes, sets, cinematography, that kind of thing, but I doubt for acting . . .
CP will have a wider audience for a number of reasons, not the least being it will open on more screens and has an actual marketing campaign.
CP is considered a tentpole produced by a major Hollywood studio. You betcha they aim for a wide audience than OLLA.
Because several media last week, The Guardian is the one of them, mentioned Jessica Chastain’s performance in Crimson Peak as possible contender for supporting actress and they listed Crimson Peak as a likely presence at film festival.
it sounds like Jessica’s role is definitely the scenery-chewing evil harpy of the film. I expect plenty of selfish rantings and screamings and scary looks in the film.
Word is Legendary doesn’t want it to do any film festivals, but del Toro is trying to convince them.
https://twitter.com/_neverajoy_/status/626356114892963840
That makes sense, if the marketing budget is tight and so is free- time of our three main actors, then it’s best to concentrate on TV interviews instead, and try not overkill the fanbase with repetitive interviews. It’s a mainstream film and needs a lot of pulp-marketing and fun/good chemistry interviews. Like Jessica said on her twitter feed, that it was it was going to a long promo tour for three of them LOL! she was joking of course. But, Jess, Mia and Tom are going to be entertaining together.
I think some of the wording in this post was designed to get some kind of reaction from Tom’s fans. He is harmless and she is bland, this isn’t a Benedict 2.0 situation unless he starts to make the same comments that the otter king has.
Glad someone else said it. Transparent attempt is transparent.
Yup.
I can’t wait to watch Tom Hardy’s dual-performance as the Kray brothers. All the trailers look perfect to me. He’s made for a role like that; so please, bring it on!!! He deserves to get his first Oscar nomination!
Just read that Spotlight with Michael Keaton,ark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, and Rachel MacAdams will be at VFF. Another film I’m looking forward to seeing
What gets me is that a lot of awards have been tailoring to the Oscars the last few years and now film festivals date the Oscar run back even further. Quite frankly I’m really sick of the Oscars being the end all be all and it’s infecting even festivals of late.
I agree completely. This blurring of commercialism, “prestige,” and art house has rendered cinema very boring.
I agree. It’s all gotten so predictable. Yawn.
And as I said above, it results in all the good films being dumped on the market at the same time so that nobody can cram them all in because of the belief that only films released at that time will be remembered. A theory that Blue Jasmine and Grand Budapest proved wrong
Ugh yes, I hate this. I don’t get to go to the movies very often (small child, busy schedules, little money etc) so when I do, depending on the time of year, it feels like I’m either choosing between 10 films I’d like to see, or 5 different mediocre blockbusters I’m not excited about.
Really hoping that the long term memory of Oscar voters continues to be proven! I mean, for the movie industry overall, but also it would be more convenient for me. 😉
I’m so glad Budapest got the attention it deserved. I remembered someone told me Budapest won’t be successful because it was released in March. I’m so glad they were wrong.
If we are lucky, GBHotel will have birthed trends in both quality and timing for cinema in terms of earning awards. While on principle I don’t mind that many quality films are available for my enjoyment during the holiday season, I find they are so mired in their own awards-oriented marketing that I don’t enjoy them as I would otherwise.
I feel your pain. I rationalise it as the Oscars being rarely – if ever – an indication of unimpeachable quality in movies (many of the contenders are your cookie-cutter, middling and safe movies which the Oscar race churns out every year, and sometimes the Academy selects downright awful winners). There are still festivals like Sundance and Cannes where you see much less of this Oscar baiting.
“There are still festivals like Sundance and Cannes where you see much less of this Oscar baiting.”
I’m so glad for that.
I agree with both of you.
Really looking forward to this (despite Keaton’s iffy accent) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg5zSVxx9JM
I totally forgot about this movie. I remember well with this story was all over my at-the-time hometown headlines. The trailer and cast look good!