The Buzziest Tiff Movies: What The Critics Are Saying

The Buzziest Tiff Movies: What The Critics Are Saying

By jessica ford Sep 02, 2014 7:07 PMTags

The Toronto International Film Festival schedule can really be daunting. We have been pouring over it since it was released and we still haven't figured out what we are going to see. Plus, there aren't a lot of reviews out yet. Some of the movies are world premieres and even some of the biggest film critics haven't seen them. Luckily, a few of the big flicks have been made available for a watch by the experts. Check out what the some of the critics are saying about some of the buzziest movies at TIFF.

Foxcatcher: Based on the true story of Olympic gold medal-winning brothers Mark and Dave Schultz and their terrifying relationship with their multi-millionairefunder John du Pont.

"A film to be considered alongside David Fincher's The Social Network and Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master as a swirling, smoke-black parable of modern America." – Robbie Collin, Daily Telegraph

"If this restrained '80s-set drama largely works despite pacing problems and all-too-readable thematic and psychological arcs, it's thanks to the superb trio of actors." – Jon Frosch, The Atlantic

"A superbly modulated study of a twisted mind with a career-changing performance by Steve Carell." – Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

Whiplash:  The story of a jazz drumming prodigy who is schooled and abused by a tyrannical drumming teacher.

"Demolishes the clichés of the musical-prodigy genre, investing the traditionally polite stages and rehearsal studios of a topnotch conservatory with all the psychological intensity of a battlefield or sports arena." – Peter Debruge, Variety

"A triumphant coming of age tale, and an inverse, perverse, modern Amadeus." – William Bibbiani, CraveOnline

"This is a muscular and accomplished work of kinetic cinema built around two tremendous acting performances ..." – Andrew, O'Hehir, Salon.com

Mommy: A widowed mother gets help from a mysterious neighbor with her troubled and violent son Steve.

"A film of suffocating power and surprising warmth." – Mary Corliss, Time Magazine

"It's an uproariously emotional movie, to all appearances painfully personal and featuring performances which are almost operatic in scale." – Peter Bradshaw, Gaurdian

Maps to the Stars: A satirical take on the Hollywood lifestyle about a family with a psychotherapist, a child star, his momager and a pyromaniac daughter.

"So crisply directed, furiously paced and gleefully performed that you go along for the ride." – Jon Frosch, The Atlantic

"Part showbiz sendup, part ghost story, part dysfunctional-family drama, the movie instead comes across as so much jaded mumbo-jumbo." – Peter Debruge, Variety

"Comes off like a prank more than a coherent take on 21st century Hollywood, even if there are crumbs of truth and wit scattered throughout it." – Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter

Rosewater: A political drama about an Iranian Canadian journalist who was imprisoned by the Iranian government not long after an appearance on The Daily Show.

"The Daily Show's Jon Stewart shows restraint and flashes of dry humour amid the drama with his feature-film debut." – Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

"Imagine a rousing "Daily Show" episode without the jokes. Rosewater is lacking in sophistication, but its attitude is infectious." – Eric Kohn, Indiewire

 

"Through Bahari's eyes, and with utmost respect for the Iranian people, "Rosewater" gazes out at a nation flirting perilously with a new era of social liberties, and finds glimmers of hope in the darkness." – Scott Foundas, Variety

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