Toronto International Film Festival 2022 Preview
Within every Fall season comes a slew of film festivals showcasing the latest films from established auteurs to up-and-coming filmmakers that are ready to debut to the public. Some of these films gain traction from audiences and even Academy Awards voters to grant Oscar attention. This comes from filmmakers to acting ensembles. And this year is no different, many of the most talked about films of the fall Oscar season debut at the Toronto International Film Festival and with the festival beginning rather soon, let’s dive into some of the biggest highlights to come from the festival.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (dir: Rian Johnson)
If we are talking about the revitalization of a bygone genre, Rian Johnson sought the impossible with his 2019 film, Knives Out. Having an ensemble cast of the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, and Don Johnson among others in a whodunnit murder mystery and ultimately becoming a smash hit. After many requests for what is next in the adventures of Benoit Blanc, Johnson has reteamed with Craig to deliver a sequel. Glass Onion sees Rian and Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc with a new cast and new mystery.
The cast includes Dave Bautista, Edward Norton, Leslie Odom Jr, Jessica Henwick, Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, and Ethan Hawke among others, and it takes place on a private Greek island and the mystery of a tech billionaire turning up dead.
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is set to release in theaters in November and on Netflix in December.
The Fabelmans (dir: Steven Spielberg)
Even after remaking one of the most infamous musicals of all time with West Side Story, Steven Spielberg seemingly cannot take a break. With his first time at the festival, Spielberg is back with The Fabelmans. The film stars Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Julia Butters, Gabriel LaBelle, and filmmaker David Lynch and tells the semi-autobiographical account of Steven Spielberg’s childhood and how he grew his passion for filmmaking. Spielberg reteams with composer John Williams and cinematographer Janusz Kamiński to present an intimate story.
The Fabelmans is set to hit theaters in November.
Empire of Light (dir: Sam Mendes)
After the critical and box office hit, 1917, director Sam Mendes returns with Empire of Light. Set in 1980’s England, the film is about a poignant and intimate romance that takes place in a stunningly old cinema. Mendes has always had a personal connection with cinema as a whole and with Empire of Light, he is set to be a love letter to cinema.
The film stars Michael Ward, Olivia Colman, Colin Firth, and Toby Jones.
Empire of Light hits theaters in December.
Walk Up (dir: Hong Sangsoo)
With every film festival comes a new film from infamous South Korean filmmaker, Hong Sangsoo, and this year at Toronto International Film Festival is no different with his latest, Walk Up. Why Sangsoo garners so many fans throughout the last decade is his complex ideas within mundane and simple stories. He is a visual storyteller, at times having the character’s motions or actions paint the dialogue for the scene. Walk Up tells the story of a film director and his daughter reminiscing on various existential topics and the intimacy in their relationship.
This film’s release date is not yet announced.
The Whale (dir: Darren Aronofsky)
Nearly five years since Aronofky’s last film, mother!, the eccentric director brings audiences a new psychological drama about the connection between a 600lb professor and his daughter. The film stars Brendan Fraser and Sadie Sink and is one of the most talked about films of the festival. Aronofsky is a filmmaker who enjoys complexity within his films, for better and for worse, and many believe with The Whale he is doubling down and bringing an emotionally dwelling drama.
The film has already debuted early this month at the Venice Film Festival to an overwhelming standing ovation, which brought Fraser to tears.
The film hits theaters in December.
The Menu (dir: Mark Mylod)
A pleasant surprise that many film enthusiasts love to see being greenlit is the medium-budget dramas with large casts. Films like: Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling and the recently released Where the Crawdads Sing prove that they can turn heads among critics and moviegoers. The latest under the umbrella category is Mark Mylod’s The Menu. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and Ralph Fiennes among others, and tells the story of a couple traveling toward a remote island to try an infamously fancy and extravagant restaurant. However, things are not what they seem.
The film plans on serving audiences on November 18th, 2022.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (dir: Eric Appel)
One of the many genres many filmgoers often scoff at or tend to roll their eyes towards is the musical biopic. However, after Baz Luhrmann stunned audiences with his audacious Elvis biopic, many wonder why can’t these larger-than-life figures be given the exact treatment. The next installment in the genre covers one of the most influential comedians of our time, Weird Al Yankovic. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story takes the approach of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story by making a parody/spoof film into the musical biopic genre. At TIFF, the film is premiering via the Midnight Madness portion of the festival. Daniel Radcliffe takes on the mantle of the comedian as well as starring Evan Rachel Wood.
Weird: The All Yankovic Story will be available to stream on Roku on November 4th, 2022.
Women Talking (dir: Sarah Polley)
It is always joyous to see a Canadian filmmaker present their film at a Canada-based film festival, especially if it has received triumphant amounts of praise and word of mouth from other festivals. Women Talking stars Claire Foy, Rooney Mara, Jessie Buckley, and Ben Whinshaw among others, and tells the story of a group of women in a religiously spoken colony having to reconcile after a series of sexual assaults occurred. The film received nothing but praise when it premiered at the Telluride Film Festival a few days ago.
The film is set to release on December 2nd, 2022.
The Banshees of Inisherin (dir: Martin McDonagh)
In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reteam for this fable about two lifelong friends who reach an impasse, with alarming consequences for both. The latest from Oscar-winning writer-director Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri).
Oscar-winning writer-director Martin McDonagh is arguably one of the greatest voices in modern screenwriting, with a propensity for pitch-black comedic tone and even darker dramatic touches. Banshees surrounds a wounded friendship and the perils of petty grievance.
The film is set to release on October 21st, 2022.