For the past few weeks, all eyes have been focused on Toronto as the Toronto International Film Festival took shape. Celebrities and media enthusiasts from the globe came to Toronto for an exciting week of movies, parties, glitz and glam. I was able to view a number of films and shows and have reviews and thoughts on each piece I saw.
Junk World is Takahide Hori’s latest film in his stop-world animation series, with previous work Junk Head. The film follows a civil war and several humanoid robots trying to save the world and themselves. One specific robot goes through several world, timeshifts and changing his physical form to save Lady Torys, a humanoid robot who a group is trying to abduct. The film is weird, in a fun and artistic way as you try to understand the happenings alongside the characters. Explosions, deaths, and accidents reveal hilarious scenes like the villains wearing lingerie and BDSM ropes, and that random characters that have been killed contained important memos from other timelines. The film is fun, weird and worth giving a shot!
Sentimental Value is a 2025 comedy-drama film directed by Joachim Trier, featuring Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas. The film chronicles Skarsgård as filmmaker Gustav Borg, who has a tenuous relationship with his daughters that he is trying to repair after their mother’s passing, while also reviving his career. When he makes a film for his daughter Nora played by Reinsve, she declines the role not anticipating actress Rachel Kemp (played by Elle Fanning) to be her replacement. The film is a realistic and emotionally relatable film of father daughter relationships, exploring resentment, grief, trauma, forgiveness and acceptance.
Paul Greengrass’ The Lost Bus is a thrilling tale based on the true story of the fires in Paradise, California and a bus driver named Kevin desperately trying to save a bus of 23 students. Kevin, played by Matthew McConnaughey has been having a rough time in his life, and a rough day but does the right thing as he is the only bus available to evacuate a bus of students from a teacher’s (America Ferreira) class. What they hope will be an easy drop off so they can help their own families results in a few hours of terror as they try to evade the enclosing wildfire. The film gives the fire life like qualities as you follow its roller coaster like path of destruction as it roars through California, destroying everything in its path. The film is jarring, unsettling, terrifying and makes living through a wildfire unimaginable.
Edward Berger’s Ballad of a Small Player is a feast for the eyes as gambling addict Lord Doyle played by Colin Ferrel continues to try his odds at a big win in Macau while being chased by private investigator Betty, played by Tilda Swinton. He befriends Dao Ming, played by Fala Chen who he asks for a loan to have another shot at a win, claiming he would pay any of her debts as well. As she encourages him to curb his enthusiasm, his desire for that last win continues to loom. The film is visually stimulating, tactile, funny and the unexpected ending is worthy of a rewatch.
In the latest of the Knives Out franchise, Wake Up Dead Man, is an amazing film with some of the best stars on the cast including Kerry Washington, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Josh O’Connor and of course Daniel Craig. When a seemingly-beloved priest dies on Good Friday, the town mourns – or do they? Josh O’Connor’s character must figure out how he died to save his own reputation with the help of detective Benoit Blanc. Though nearly three hours, the films pace never staggers, keeping the audience entertained with religious puns and swearing figures of God. This film is a must see.
California Schemin’ is James McAvoy’s directoral debut, telling the story of Silibil N’ Brains, a.k.a. Gavin Bain (Séamus McLean Ross) and Billy Boyd (Samuel Bottomley), a rap duo from Scotland who conned a record label into believing they were Californian to seem more appealing. The movie dives into typical rags to riches tropes including drugs, cheating, grappling with fame, loosing yourself and trying to find it again. The emotional rollercoaster of Silibil N’ Brains’ journey is palpable to the audience and being in on their lie leads to tense moments felt off screen for the viewer.
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, directed by Ally Pankiw, shares Sarah McLachlan’s impetus to start Lilith Fair – an all women musician touring festival in the mid 90s. The documentary shows the amazing lineup McLachlan had year after year, how she put it together, the difficulties women had in the music industry at the time, the asinine questions they were asked for participating in Lilith Fair and the success it brought everyone involved.
Baz Luhrman’s Elvis Presley in Concert is a stunning visual of Presley’s concerts in residency in Las Vegas before his death. You hear his voice throughout the entire film as he talks about his persona, his love of music, his desire to have a family, and defending his stage presence. His performances demand a sing along and his stage presence is palpable through the screen. Luhrman has his signature style in the way certain parts are edited, how songs and scenes are layered and with the fantastic opening scenes.
With so many amazing releases, it’s hard to know what audiences with gravitate toward first!
Hillary LeBlanc
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