TAGGED AS: festival, movies, toronto
(Photo by HBO Films)
Our 2020 Toronto Film Festival Movie Scorecard
The Toronto International Film Festival went mostly virtual for its 45th edition, which continued the rollout for Oscar hopefuls Nomadland and One Night in Miami, and hosted the premieres of Spike Lee’s latest joint, David Byrne’s American Utopia, and the Kate Winslet/Saoirise Ronan romantic drama Ammonite. See everything that played at the festival with enough reviews for a Tomatometer in our Toronto Film Festival 2020 Movie Scorecard. —Alex Vo
#46
Critics Consensus: Led by stellar performances and artfully helmed by writer-director Florian Zeller, The Father presents a devastatingly empathetic portrayal of dementia.
Synopsis: Anthony (Academy Award Winner, Anthony Hopkins) is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne
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#45
Critics Consensus: A ruefully funny calling card for debuting director Emma Seligman, Shiva Baby transcends its sitcom setup with strong performances and satisfying insights.
Synopsis: While at a Jewish funeral service with her parents, a college student has an awkward encounter with her sugar daddy
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#44
Critics Consensus: A raw, fly-on-the-wall recounting of hospital life in Wuhan in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, 76 Days is an engrossing and potent documentary - and a surprisingly comforting portrait of humanity.
Synopsis: Health care workers and patients combat the COVID-19 outbreak during a lockdown in Wuhan, China.
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#43
Critics Consensus: Beans opens a compelling window into the indigenous coming-of-age experience -- and serves as an affecting debut for Kiawentiio.
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Beans is on the edge: torn between innocent childhood and reckless adolescence; forced to grow up fast and become
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#42
Critics Consensus: A strikingly nuanced documentary, No Ordinary Man pays moving tribute to its subject's remarkable life -- and lasting impact on the lives of others.
Synopsis: American jazz musician Billy Tipton developed a reputable touring and recording career in the mid-twentieth century, along with his band
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#41
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Exploring the ongoing cultural colonization of Indigenous peoples in North America and how modern colonization has focused on Indigenous history,
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#40
Critics Consensus: Quo Vadis, Aida? uses one woman's heartbreaking conflict to offer a searing account of war's devastating human toll.
Synopsis: Bosnia, July 11th 1995. Aida is a translator for the United Nations in the small town of Srebrenica. When the
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#39
Critics Consensus: A glimpse of local government at work that's as patiently observant as it is engrossing, City Hall adds another insightful gem to master documentarian Frederick Wiseman's filmography.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Frederick Wiseman examines the rich history of Boston City Hall.
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#38
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A lifelong Yakuza, released from prison after 13 years, journeys to find the mother who abandoned him as a child.
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#37
Critics Consensus: An enchanting debut for writer-director-star Suzanne Lindon, Spring Blossom captures first love with fittingly delicate beauty.
Synopsis: Suzanne (Suzanne Lindon) is sixteen. She is bored with people her own age. From the outside, everything appears lovely in
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#36
Critics Consensus: Fauna is an inebriating shot of cultural critique on our obsession with narco-soaps that's as funny as it is absurd and may be increasingly enjoyable with subsequent viewings.
Synopsis: Luisa and Gabino visit their parents in a mining town in the north of Mexico. Their father’s only interest in
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#35
Critics Consensus: A poetic character study on the forgotten and downtrodden, Nomadland beautifully captures the restlessness left in the wake of the Great Recession.
Synopsis: Nevada kırsalındaki bir şirket kasabasının ekonomik çöküşünün ardından Fern, minibüsünü doldurur ve yola koyularak modern bir göçebe olarak geleneksel toplumun
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#34
Critics Consensus: A hauntingly powerful reflection on larger-than-life figures, One Night in Miami finds Regina King in command of her craft in her feature directorial debut.
Synopsis: On one incredible night in 1964, four icons of sports, music, and activism gathered to celebrate one of the biggest
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#33
Critics Consensus: Helmed in elegant and exhilarating style by Spike Lee, David Byrne's American Utopia is a concert film that doubles as a joyously cathartic celebration.
Synopsis: Singer David Byrne and a group of international musicians perform songs from the hit Broadway musical "American Utopia."
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#32
Critics Consensus: A searing swipe at late-stage capitalism, I Care A Lot is an exhilarating pitch black comedy with a wicked performance from Rosamund Pike.
Synopsis: Poised with sharklike self-assurance, Marla Grayson (Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike) is a professional, court-appointed guardian for dozens of elderly
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#31
Critics Consensus: Despite solid performances, New Order's merciless brutality and unfocused gaze threaten to derail its message.
Synopsis: Conceived six years ago, Michel Franco's near-future dystopia feels ripped from headlines that haven't yet been written. While protests rage
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#30
Critics Consensus: MLK/FBI presents a sobering overview of the American intelligence community's efforts to discredit and destroy a leader of the civil rights movement.
Synopsis: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is remembered today as an American hero: a bridge-builder, a shrewd political tactician, and a
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#29
Critics Consensus: A profoundly uplifting portrait of the refugee experience, Limbo is distinguished by its offbeat tone -- and overall impressive work from debuting director Ben Sharrock.
Synopsis: Recently nominated for two BAFTA® awards for Best British Film and Best Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer,
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#28
Critics Consensus: Take one part deftly directed tragicomedy, add a dash of Mads Mikkelsen in vintage form, and you've got Another Round -- an intoxicating look at midlife crises.
Synopsis: Four high school teachers consume alcohol on a daily basis to see how it affects their social and professional lives.
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#27
Critics Consensus: A restless and riveting fable, Night of Kings sees writer-director Philippe Lacôte in full command of his craft.
Synopsis: A young man is sent to "La Maca," a prison in the middle of the Ivorian forest ruled by its
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#26
Critics Consensus: The rare film that captures the passion that drives the mastery of creative pursuits, The Disciple reaffirms writer-director Chaitanya Tamhane as an emerging master of his craft.
Synopsis: A vocalist who has devoted his life to the study of classical Indian music begins to question whether he will
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#25
Critics Consensus: Anchored by the believable bond between its leads, Wildfire tells a heartfelt and realistic story of sisters peering into their family's past.
Synopsis: Two reunited Irish sisters uncover secrets from their mother's past.
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#24
Critics Consensus: Violation presents a powerful depiction of one woman's trauma -- and its uncomfortably gripping aftermath.
Synopsis: With her marriage about to implode, Miriam returns to her hometown to seek solace in the comfort of her younger
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#23
Critics Consensus: With Gaza Mon Amour, writer-director duo Arab and Tarzan Nasser sweetly subvert expectations with a charming tale of middle-aged love and laughter.
Synopsis: An old fisherman is in love with Siham, a woman who works at the market with her daughter. One day,
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#22
Critics Consensus: Notturno contemplates the cost of war in starkly human terms by surveying the lives of people living under the threat of destruction.
Synopsis: Filmed over three years on the borders between Iraq, Kurdistan, Syria, and Lebanon, this documentary captures everyday life in the
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#21
Critics Consensus: Well-acted and solidly directed, Concrete Cowboy lassos old-fashioned uplift with its story of a father and son in a little-seen corner of American culture.
Synopsis: The film follows 15-year-old Cole, who's forced to live with his estranged father Harper in North Philadelphia, where, despite the
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#20
Critics Consensus: Pieces of a Woman struggles to maintain momentum after a stunning opening act, but Vanessa Kirby's performance makes the end result a poignant portrait of grief.
Synopsis: Martha (Vanessa Kirby) and Sean (Shia LaBeouf) are a Boston couple on the verge of parenthood whose lives change irrevocably
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#19
Critics Consensus: Its title may be unwieldy, but Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time looks at the nature of love with commendable clarity.
Synopsis: A neurosurgeon returns to Budapest to reunite with the love of her life: a man who says they have never
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#18
Critics Consensus: True Mothers uses an intractable conflict to explore the bonds of parenthood with director/co-writer Naomi Kawase's usual sensitivity and grace.
Synopsis: An adopted son's mother receives an unexpected visit from the boy's biological mother.
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#17
Critics Consensus: It's narrative twists and turns hinder the effectiveness of its message, but Enemies of the State is a fascinating and timely look at the erosion of trust and truth.
Synopsis: An average American family becomes entangled in a bizarre web of espionage and corporate secrets when their hacker son is
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#16
Critics Consensus: The chemistry between Saoirse Ronan and a never-better Kate Winslet helps Ammonite transcend its period romance trappings.
Synopsis: In 1800s England, acclaimed but unrecognized fossil hunter Mary Anning (Kate Winslet) works alone on the rugged Southern coastline. With
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#15
Critics Consensus: Part creature feature, part war movie, and part social commentary, Shadow in the Cloud doesn't always blend its ingredients evenly -- but it's frequently pulpy fun.
Synopsis: In the throes of World War II, Captain Maude Garrett (CHLOË GRACE MORETZ) joins the all-male crew of a B-17
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#14
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Filmmakers Joel Bakan and Jennifer Abbott examine the influence of corporations on every aspect of modern society.
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#13
Critics Consensus: Penguin Bloom's fact-based story could have been adapted with greater nuance, but strong work from Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln adds some much-needed heart.
Synopsis: In 2013, Samantha Bloom (two-time Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts), her husband Cameron (The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln) and their
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#12
Critics Consensus: As messy and complex as the relationship at its center, Falling's repetitive nature can be taxing, but its heart is clearly in the right place.
Synopsis: FALLING follows John (Viggo Mortensen) who lives with his partner, Eric (Terry Chen), and their daughter, Mónica (Gabby Velis), in
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#11
Critics Consensus: While not François Ozon's best work, Summer of 85 serves as a beguiling, bittersweet ode to teen love and its lingering after-effects.
Synopsis: When Alexis capsizes off the coast of France, David comes to the rescue and opens his eyes to a new
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#10
Critics Consensus: Good Joe Bell's heartfelt message -- and Reid Miller's stirring breakout performance -- are unfortunately undermined by formulaic storytelling.
Synopsis: From filmmaker Reinaldo Marcus Green (MONSTERS AND MEN; upcoming KING RICHARD), along with the Academy Award-winning writing team behind BROKEBACK
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#9
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: A team of activists, legislators, and civilians in Taiwan go up against a parliament filled with hyperactive zombie mutants.
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