As a seasoned cinephile who has attended numerous film festivals worldwide, I must say that the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is always a highlight of my year. However, this 49th edition holds a special place in my heart due to the grand return of star power and the warm welcome given to homegrown talent like David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller. The presence of A-listers like Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong’o, Selena Gomez, Elton John, Ana de Armas, Dakota Johnson, and Mark Hamill has breathed fresh air into the festival, making it a true celebration of cinema.
The 49th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival began with the debut screening of “Nutcrackers,” a humorous, audience-friendly movie about fish out of water directed by David Gordon Green and starring Ben Stiller in his acting return after seven years.
2023’s TIFF comeback isn’t just about Stiller’s return to the big screen; it’s a grand welcome back for Hollywood’s elite! Last year, labor disputes caused chaos, keeping stars and scriptwriters off the red carpet and away from promoting their films. But this year, with A-listers like Cate Blanchett, Lupita Nyong’o, Selena Gomez, Elton John, Ana de Armas, Dakota Johnson, and Mark Hamill set to arrive in Toronto over the next 11 days, it’s a breath of fresh air for TIFF organizers, studios, and agencies who had to generate buzz without many big names present.
Apart from the usual Hollywood stars, even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau graced the TIFF premiere on Thursday. In an unexpected move, he lauded Canada’s filmmaking endeavors and thanked Cameron Bailey, the festival CEO, for his role in positioning Canada prominently on the global film scene.
Regarding Stiller, he admitted that his extended break from acting wasn’t deliberate but rather a natural progression of events. He explained this to EbMaster before the premiere. Over the past ten years, he has primarily been involved in directing projects such as the 2018 miniseries “Escape at Dannemora” and the 2022 workplace sci-fi thriller “Severance”. However, when production on “Severance” was halted due to strikes, Stiller found himself with free time. This opportunity led him to take on the role of a strict, workaholic city dweller in “Nutcrackers”, a film that received an exception from unions to film because it was produced and financed independently. In the movie, Stiller portrays a character who suddenly finds himself responsible for four orphaned nephews living on a farm in Ohio.
Despite having some vacant seats at Roy Thomson Hall, the crowd who attended were lively, chuckling and clapping throughout the film’s amusing antics filled with fart humor, a mishap of a nativity scene, and interactions with various farm animals (even making viewers see rotisserie chicken in a new light). The narrative shifts towards sentimentality as the boys strive to create a dance production to attract foster parents – although, as the character played by Stiller remarks in the movie, this version of Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic “isn’t your grandmother’s” “Nutcracker.” Their performance, showcasing samurais, swords, and quirky mustaches, demonstrates the young actors’ ballet skills – and the film’s concluding scene left a few teary-eyed in the audience.
Stiller and his four co-stars – the Janson brothers Homer, Ulysses, Atlas, and Arlo – received a warm welcome at the Q&A session, which prompted everyone to stand up in applause.
“A while back, I decided I’d only engage in something if it truly spoke to me,” Stiller expressed to the audience. “I felt drawn to these young men and wanted to be a part of this project.”
The director behind “Pineapple Express” and the updated “Halloween” series, known as Green, revealed that the concept for “Nutcrackers” came to him during the editing process of the 2023 horror sequel release, “The Exorcist: Believer.” Seeking inspiration, he reached out to an old friend and fellow film school alumnus who had previously collaborated on his 2000 movie “George Washington.” This friend, a mother of four boys with no prior acting experience, provided the spark for his new project.
He expressed that there had been a point where a part of him considered venturing into something new, and that moment prompted him to strive for creating a film devoid of bitterness and cruelty.
Green voiced his hope that “Nutcrackers” would be enjoyed in cinemas, and Stiller agreed, emphasizing the importance of experiencing such films in a theater. He stated, “We should have more movies like this on screen. It’s a nostalgic experience for us, but it’s what audiences appreciate.”
Then, Stiller steered the conversation to a major theme of the movie.
“I would like to talk about the farting,” he said.
One of the Janson siblings carried on the story, recounting one of the more odorous set incidents. “I passed gas continuously for around twenty seconds… I’m just not sure.”
“Stiller emphasized to the film enthusiasts, ‘This was truly remarkable.’ He added, ‘I believe this is the sole discussion about flatulence throughout the entire festival.'”
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2024-09-06 06:47