“Lakewood”
A parent’s worst nightmare brought to life, “Lakewood” stars Naomi Watts as Amy Carr, a mother out for her regular morning run when she receives a shocking phone call: her son is caught in the middle of an active shooter crisis. Directed by diverse Australian filmmaker Philip Noyce (“Rabbit-Proof Fence”), “Lakewood” is “a tribute to the power of a community working together in the face of calamity.” With only a smartphone as her means of communication, Watts is sure to give a masterclass performance, balancing fear and heroism in the face of a disaster taken out of her control.
“The Man Woman’s Ball”
Ever since “Breathe,” Mélanie Laurent (likely still best-known for her fierce performance in “Inglorious Basterds”) hasn’t stopped hopping on board various creative projects. Described as “a chilling tale of spectral visions and institutional abuse set in 19th-century France,” “The Mad Women’s Ball” shines a light on the corrupt birth of psychiatry and how discriminatory practices still plague women’s access to medical care. Being admitted to a clinic prone to hypnotize patients and enact therapeutic nonsense, Eugénie (Lou de Laâge) finds herself locked away by an intolerable father. Based on Victoria Mas’ novel, ‘Mad Women’s Ball’ critiques the laden misogyny still plaguing scientific fields today.
“Silent Night”
Definitely not your run-of-the-mill holiday season film, “Silent Night”—the debut of director Camille Griffin—is a “pitch-black comedy rooted in brilliantly conceived characters and wry observations about class and social order.” After their Christmas party is crashed by a toxic cloud looming over the U.K.—one that may cause a mass extinction event—Nell (Keira Knightly), Simon (Matthew Goode), and their son Art’s (“Jojo Rabbit” star Roman Griffin Davis) cozy, annual gathering devolves into festive madness—people bleeding from the eyes as viral videos spread across the nation. Pronouncements are made, altercations are had, as it appears the end is nigh.
“The Starling”
Starring Melisssa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd, Timothy Olyphant, and Kevin Kline (who also has two movies at TIFF), “The Starling” looks to be another possible awards vehicle for the “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” star. Grappling with grief after the death of her infant daughter, Lilly (McCarthy) starts seeing a therapist, Larry (Kline), at her husband Jack’s (O’Dowd) clinic. But Larry is more veterinarian than psychologist these days, which becomes a blessing in disguise when an aggressive starling starts attacking Lilly’s garden. Returning to indie dramedy mode after helming “Hidden Figures,” director Theodore Melfi’s latest is already set for release by Netflix in late September.
“The Survivor”
One of the most commercially underappreciated performers we have, the always interesting Ben Foster teams with veteran filmmaker Barry Levinson for boxing biopic, “The Survivor.” Foster plays Harry Haft, a Jewish man sent to Auschwitz’s extermination camp, offered a chance at survival if he agrees to entertain his Nazi captors in the fight ring. Intercutting these dark days with later periods in Haft’s life, Harry turns to the only thing he still understands: boxing. Also starring Vicky Krieps and Danny Devito, Levinson’s latest sounds relentlessly intense, an actor like Foster exceptionally well-suited for the hard-hitting role.
“Wolf”
Wrestling with a condition called “species dysphoria,” Jacob (George McKay) believes himself to be a wolf living in a teenage body. Sent to a clinic known as “the zoo”—one specializing in his condition—he is placed under the care of Dr. Mann (Paddy Constantine), nicknamed the “the zookeeper”—a raging narcissist practicing inhuman experiments on his patients. Forming a bond with another dysphoric who fancies themselves a wildcat (Lily-Rose Depp), Jacob and the other “animals” find themselves trapped like mythological test subjects. Caught between leadership and rebirth, the wolf’s Promethean will is put to the ultimate test. (Yorgos Lanthimos much?)
That’s obviously just a taste, but a good primer of some of the top-level, key films to keep an eye on. TIFF runs Thursday, Sep 9 through Saturday, September 18, 2021. Keep it locked in for all our coverage.
Follow along with our full coverage from the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival here.
