The first, the aforementioned indie, was Hateship Loveship, a drama based on an Alice Munro story brought to the screen by director Liza Johnson. The movie stars Kristen Wiig as Johanna Perry, a mouse of a woman who has worked as a caretaker for her whole life. Her current gig is in the home of Nick Nolte's Mr. McCauley, who has hired her to care for his granddaughter Sabitha (Hailee Steinfeld). She finds herself attracted to Sabitha's ex-con addict father (Guy Pearce) after he is kind to her on a visit and sends her a brief note in a letter to his daughter. When Johanna writes back, Sabitha and her friend Edith turn all mean girl and start corresponding with her as him leading her to eventually take off (with some stolen property) to show up on his doorstep unexpectedly and all sorts of complications follow.
I had seen Wiig at TIFF last year in a more serious role and this movie illustrates again that she is a very good actress. My heart just broke for this woman who has never really had a life of her own taking tiny steps towards her own happiness. I also thought the relationship between Sabitha and Edith dealing with all their teenage shit was really natural and well done.
Movie Grade: B+
Next up was 12 Years a Slave by director Steve McQueen (Hunger, Shame) which premiered at the beginning of the festival (geez that seems like a long time ago) to both critical and audience acclaim. In fact, it was anointed as the festival's People's Choice winner at the awards ceremony yesterday. And it is an excellent movie that I'm sure you'll be hearing more about in the months to come.
The true story of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free man living in Syracuse in 1841 who is kidnapped and sold into slavery and the horrors he endured at the hands of the men (and women) who enslaved him. Ejiofor will no doubt be nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Soloman, and rightfully so, but he is also surrounded by a great supporting cast in roles big and small including Michael Fassbender, Sarah Pauley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Alfre Woodard and Lupita Nyong'o. There are some scenes that were just brutal to watch (I will admit to averting my eyes on a couple occasions) but I would absolutely recommend seeing it. It will be hitting theatres next month.
Movie Grade: A
Finally, my last movie of TIFF for 2013 was the charming, bittersweet romantic comedy Enough Said starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini in one of his last roles as Eva and Albert, two divorcees who end up finding love together. Of course, it can't be that easy, and it turns out that one of her clients and new friends (she plays a massage therapist) is his ex-wife and she just can't stop herself from listening to her complaints about Albert and starting to internalize them herself. It's a grown up movie about real relationships and both leads turn in great performances in roles that are very different than we're used to seeing them in. It actually opens next weekend and I hope it does well.
Movie Grade: B+
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