“The Land Of Steady Habits”
Cast: Ben Mendelsohn, Edie Falco, Connie Britton, Thomas Mann
Synopsis: Anders Hill (Mendelsohn) retires from his finance job and leaves his wife Helene (Falco) in an attempt to re-discover himself.
What You Need To Know: Ben Mendelsohn may be Hollywood’s go-to bad guy since he’s played sinister figures in films like “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and the upcoming reboot/remake/whatever of “Robin Hood.” But in the upcoming film “The Land Of Steady Habits,” where he plays a middle-aged man dissatisfied with his life’s direction and tries to start anew, he relievingly gets to demonstrate his softer and vulnerable side. In an interview with Vanity Fair, director Nicole Holofcener spoke about how she recognized the soulfulness present in his acting ability when casting him as the film’s lead. Whether this steadily working character actor will get his due on the Oscar front remains to be seen since it’s a September release. But the fact that it’s playing at TIFF, an awards campaign pit stop, hints that Mendelsohn and the film may end up somewhere in the conversation.
Release Date: September 14 — Matt St.Clair
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Ben Falcone
Synopsis: When Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception. An adaptation of the memoir “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer.
What You Need to Know: Featuring strong talent behind the camera, including director Marielle Heller of “Diary of a Teenage Girl” acclaim and TIFF staple Nicole Holofcener (“Enough Said” “The Lands of Steady Habits“) co-writing the script with Jeff Whitty, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” would be of interest no matter the subject matter. This film, based on a true story, stars Melissa McCarthy who, despite recent box office woes, remains one of the most recognizable talents in the industry. Given McCarthy’s ability to provide nuance to characters that may feel broad in less skilled hands, the film provides an opportunity for the acclaim she once received when she burst onto the scene in her Oscar-nominated “Bridesmaids” role. Additionally, it has been three long years since we have had the privilege of a Heller-directed movie. Hopefully the talent behind, and in front of, the camera reach levels we have seen in the past.
Release Date: October 28 – Karl Schleider
“Maya”
Cast: Roman Kolinka, Aarshi Banerjee, Suzan Anbeh
Synopsis: The film follows a 30-year-old man named Gabriel, a French war reporter who was taken to hostage in Syria and then heads to India after months in captivity.
What You Need to Know: Mia Hansen-Løve has quickly established herself as one of the finest talents working today despite failing to amass a huge following. However, her fans are dedicated and know films such as “Goodbye to First Love,” “Eden” and “Things to Come” were modern masterclasses in sprawling character studies. “Maya” seemingly follow suits with regular contributor Roman Kolinka filling the leading role this time after playing supporting characters in “Eden” and “Things to Come.” With every project, Hansen-Løve manages to surprise us by taking similar themes of love, old and new, and finding a story that services it while also, simultaneously, keeping it fresh. Hansen-Løve is one of most humanistic directors working today.
Release Date: Awaiting Distribution — AJ
“White Boy Rick”
Cast: Richie Merritt, Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Bruce Dern, Jonathan Majors, Bel Powley, Piper Laurie
Synopsis: The film weaves the infamous rise and fall of Detroit crime legend-turned-informant Ricky Wershe Jr., a.k.a. White Boy Rick.
What You Need to Know: “‘71” director Yann Demange could factor into the big 007 director discussion here soon with Danny Boyle’s recent departure. Until then, let’s see if his Motor City-set crime drama hoists the same white-knuckled stress fest as “‘71” put on display a few years ago. The trailer sizzles with that Scorsese-patented, locale-based crime charm and Demange’s relentless pacing. Supporting player McConaughey, in particular, is beginning to rustle up a bit of awards talk, so keep a keen eye on this one as it hits Toronto. The McConaissance seems to have cooled a bit after its mid-decade explosion, but the actor continues to take inspired roles. Maybe this, October’s Hitchcock-y “Serenity,” and next spring’s Harmony Korine effort “The Beach Bum” will give the McConaissance its second wind. Either way, it’s a thrill to have Demange back and building on the promise we saw in that 2014 debut.
Release Date: September 14 — Cory Woodroof
“Halloween”
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Will Patton, Virginia Gardner, Andi Matichak
Synopsis: Laurie Strode comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers.
What You Need to Know: “Halloween” seems a bit out of place standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the majority of the films included on the TIFF lineup. Nevertheless, its inclusion may be an indication that David Gordon Green believes in the project’s merits enough to toss it out onto the esteemed festival circuit. As yet another entry into an already haggard franchise, the forthcoming slasher flick is unlikely to dissuade naysayers but may possess enough gruesome nostalgia to charm longtime horror geeks. Luckily for both parties, Green is an eclectic enough director to keep things interesting — “George Washington,” “Pineapple Express,” and “Stronger” are all included on the filmmaker’s portfolio — and the fact that Danny McBride co-wrote the script suggests there is more to the movie than meets the eye. Likewise, with John Carpenter returning to compose an original score and Jamie Lee Curtis praising the film as both empowering and socially relevant, “Halloween” may offer an entertainingly brutal return to form for the series.
Release Date: October 19 — JC
