The 18 Movies We’re Most Excited to See at Venice and TIFF

As a film enthusiast with a deep appreciation for both animation and real-life stories, I am thrilled to see such a diverse array of films gracing our screens this season.

Stephen Sondheim, in a way, expressed it succinctly: You’re planning to attend the festival? The festival?! It’s the FILM FESTIVAL?! Two significant film festivals are scheduled for the upcoming fortnight in Venice and Toronto, shaping the cinematic landscape for the rest of the year. Potential Oscar nominees will surface, blockbuster films might disappoint, and a few may unexpectedly generate widespread acclaim. Vulture will be present at both events with Alison Willmore and Nate Jones in Venice, and Bilge Ebiri and Joe Reid in Toronto. They’ll be providing updates on the standout (and lackluster) films they watch, focusing particularly on those listed below – the movies we’re eagerly anticipating and can’t wait to see, organized by festival. These are the films that pique our curiosity and excitement the most.

Venice Film Festival

Babygirl

Initially, I was not particularly enthusiastic about Dutch filmmaker Halina Reijn’s debut with A24’s movie titled “Bodies Bodies Bodies”, a comedy about a wild party gone awry. However, her upcoming film is generating quite a buzz, with terms like “erotic thriller”, “forbidden romance”, and “Harris Dickinson” attached to it. Nicole Kidman, who has been garnering attention as one of the leading ladies in cinema due to her numerous on-screen romances with Zac Efron, is playing a CEO who gets entangled with a significantly younger intern (Harris Dickinson). The film is said to be quite steamy! Let’s wait and see! — Alison Willmore

Familiar Touch

Kathleen Chalfant is a theater legend who has yet to find the perfect platform for her skills on-screen – that might be changing now. At 79 years old, she portrays Ruth, a woman whose dementia requires her to transition into an assisted living facility. However, Sarah Friedland’s debut film Familiar Touch isn’t just another downward spiral towards despair like Still Alice, but instead offers a compassionate exploration of a fresh phase in life filled with both agony and happiness. The movie was jointly created with the residents and staff of an authentic California retirement home, although it also features established actors such as H. Jon Benjamin, Carolyn Michelle Smith, and Andy McQueen. — A.W.

The Room Next Door

Here I am, excitedly sharing the news about Pedro Almodóvar’s debut English-language feature, which brings together two remarkable actresses, Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore, for their first joint movie endeavor. This captivating film is adapted from a novel by Sigrid Nunez, an author currently generating a lot of buzz in literary circles. Intriguingly, her previous book, “The Friend,” was also adapted into a movie (starring Naomi Watts and a Great Dane) that will be premiered at TIFF. – A.W.

2073

Asif Kapadia initially made a name for himself creating narrative films, but he’s most recognized today for movies like Senna, Amy, and Diego Maradona, which are documentaries constructed solely from archival footage to create captivating montages of renowned individuals as they were documented by cameras, both in public and private moments. His upcoming film, 2073, is a thought-provoking blend of genres. Classified as nonfiction, it’s a time-travel story set in a dystopian future and stars Samantha Morton and Naomi Ackie. It’s both intriguing and shrouded in mystery! What particularly piques interest is that Kapadia has acknowledged La Jetée as an influence on his work. — A.W.

Joker: Folie à Deux

Five years ago, Todd Phillips’ film “Joker” earned the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, placing it among cinematic greats such as “Brokeback Mountain,” “The Battle of Algiers,” and “Rashomon.” This recognition was followed by controversy about the movie’s potential to provoke violence and a successful Oscar campaign for lead actor Joaquin Phoenix. It was certainly an unusual period! Now, Phillips and Phoenix are reuniting for a sequel, with Lady Gaga also joining the cast following her previous Venice appearance in “A Star Is Born.” The synopsis: You’ve witnessed Joker’s life, laughter, and murder; now prepare to see him experience love with Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn. In this narrative, she appears as a troubled fellow inmate of the imprisoned Arthur Fleck. One might label it a tragic romance or foolish love. Additionally, there are musical sequences, reminiscent of films like “One From the Heart” and “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.” As another Joker might say: He’s somewhat like a singing person. — Nate Jones

The Brutalist

Instead of trying to express dance through architecture being pointless, let’s consider if movies could be a more effective medium? Thus emerges Brady Corbet’s latest film: a 70-mm., three-and-a-half-hour masterpiece that tells the story of a fictional Hungarian Holocaust survivor (Adrien Brody) who tries to spread the beauty of raw concrete architecture with the assistance of an enigmatic patron (Guy Pearce). Corbet’s earlier works, such as The Childhood of a Leader and Vox Lux, share similar themes with Brutalist design – stark, cold, imposing – hinting that this film might be the ideal blend of style and substance for festival season. — N.J.

Maria

In 2016 and 2021, Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín broke the mold for biopics with “Jackie” and “Spencer,” exploring the complex minds of iconic women through a free-flowing narrative style. His latest addition to this unofficial trilogy is “Maria,” focusing on the latter years of opera legend Maria Callas, portrayed by Angelina Jolie who last appeared in “Eternals.” Some may forget her role in “Eternals.” Could Jolie replicate the success of her co-star Renée Zellweger, who won both a Supporting Actress and Lead Actress Oscar for musical biopics? For this to occur, two conditions must be met: First, Academy voters should show more favor towards Larraín’s unique style than in the past. Secondly, the film needs distribution in the U.S., which at present seems uncertain (though whispers suggest it has already been acquired and is waiting for a major festival announcement). — N.J.

Queer

A year following the cancellation of Challengers ‘ opening-night slot at Venice due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, director Luca Guadagnino presents to us Queer. Embrace it! It’s a film adaptation of William S. Burroughs’ semi-autobiographical novel from the 1950s, not published until 1985. The story revolves around a drug-addled author who falls for a young sailor during a trip to Mexico City. Daniel Craig portrays the Burroughs character in what promises to be the most sensual portrayal of William S. Burroughs ever seen on screen. (Outer Banks ‘ Drew Starkey, unrelated to Ringo, plays the sailor.) The film re-teams Guadagnino with Challengers screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes, and for those who thought the tennis drama lacked threesomes, rest assured: Guadagnino claims there are numerous and quite explicit sex scenes. Is this Guadagnino making up for the missing Armie Hammer peach scene? — N.J.

Pavements

Befitting the most arch of ’90s alt-rock bands, Alex Ross Perry’s Pavement movie is a Russian nesting doll of meta concepts. (Perry has compared it to a mash-up of Martin Scorsese’s highly fictionalized Dylan doc Rolling Thunder Revue and Todd Haynes’s I’m Not There.) Level one of this “semiotic experiment”: a documentary about the band, featuring old concert footage. Level two: a filmed version of Slanted! Enchanted!, a jukebox musical written by Perry that features the group’s music. Level three: a satirical Pavement biopic that stars Joe Keery, Nat Wolff, and Fred Hechinger, among others. Stay tuned to see how Perry dramatizes the scene where the second drummer drowns. — N.J.

Toronto International Film Festival

Eden

Renowned filmmaker Ron Howard, best known for his Academy Award-winning work on “A Beautiful Mind” and other popular movies such as “Apollo 13” and “Backdraft,” hasn’t had a major, critically acclaimed blockbuster hit in quite some time. In fact, it’s been much longer than one might suspect! Apart from debating the merits of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” or “Hillbilly Elegy,” it’s safe to say. However, there’s a certain intrigue surrounding his upcoming film, “Eden.” This Galapagos-set production, originally titled “Origin of Species,” brings together an impressive cast including Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Sydney Sweeney, Daniel Bruhl, and Ana de Armas as a group of settlers. As the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) description suggests, they soon discover that “hell is other people.” The genre seems to be a blend of thriller, social satire, perhaps even reminiscent of “Triangle of Sadness” and “A Perfect Getaway.” Despite potential flaws, it could mark Howard’s reentry into enjoyable filmmaking. — Joe Reid

Conclave

In simpler terms, the passing of the pope necessitates the Vatican to initiate the solemn and clandestine process of choosing a new one. The prospect of Ralph Fiennes leading the College of Cardinals, who are responsible for the selection, is intriguing enough, but add Isabella Rossellini as a stern nun and a book with an unexpected (and possibly controversial) plot twist, and I’m ready to overlook my reservations about director Edward Berger’s previous work, “All Quiet on the Western Front.” Despite my mixed feelings towards his last film, I hope he can handle a talented cast that includes Fiennes, Rossellini, John Lithgow, and Stanley Tucci. As someone who appreciates grand Catholic ceremonies, I eagerly await the outcome. – J.R.

Nightbitch

Sound the alarm for another potential Amy Adams Oscar nod! After a hiatus since her role in Hillbilly Elegy, she’s back in the Best Actress race. However, this isn’t your typical Oscar-worthy character for Adams – she takes on the role of a housewife and mother who transforms into a werewolf (a shape-shifting wild dog, to be precise). This is quite different from previous performances like Kathy Bates in Misery or Marion Cotillard’s portrayal of Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, where an actress won an Oscar for playing a creature from the horror genre.

Saturday Night

The premiere night of the first-ever Saturday Night Live performance would have been electric, filled with excitement and chaos, as suggested by numerous reminiscences about its iconic early period. Jason Reitman is banking on it making for an engaging movie. However, the trailer for the Columbia Pictures film has sparked some skepticism due to its direct dialogue and a perceived air of self-importance that’s drawn comparisons to Aaron Sorkin. Nevertheless, these concerns make the film even more intriguing. The real allure lies in the impressive ensemble cast of rising talents portraying comedy legends. Gabriel LaBelle from The Fabelmans is cast as Lorne Michaels, while Cooper Hoffman takes on NBC exec Dick Ebersol. Cory Michael Smith, known for his role in May December, plays Chevy Chase, and Dylan O’Brien, famous from Teen Wolf and the Maze Runner films, portrays Dan Aykroyd. Rachel Sennott, who starred in Bottoms, plays writer Rosie Shudter. The concept of one rising generation of talent playing another is intriguing. If Reitman can avoid overusing heavy-handed dialogue, we could be in for a treat. — J.R.

The Wild Robot

In the past, Chris Sanders developed the animated film “Lilo & Stitch” for Disney. After leaving to work at Dreamworks on the “How to Train Your Dragon” series, his most recent project is a movie adaption of Peter Brown’s children’s book about a robot lost in the wilderness who ends up caring for an orphaned gosling. Lupita Nyong’o lends her voice to the robot, while Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, and Ving Rhames provide supporting voices. The unique, curved character designs of Sanders are combined here with an animation style that gives a painterly texture. Although it is still 3-D animation, the handmade quality should suit this tender story well. (Bilge Ebiri’s review)

Hard Truths

After a long hiatus since the release of his last film, Peterloo in 2018, Mike Leigh, renowned as Britain’s master of cinematic everyday life, has returned with a new project. Over the years, he’s been vocal about the challenges faced by filmmakers in this era dominated by franchises and streaming platforms. Therefore, the emergence of his latest work is indeed cause for celebration. What makes it even more exciting is that it features Marianne Jean-Baptiste, a talented actress known for her stellar performance in Leigh’s Palme d’Or winner and Oscar-winning film, Secrets and Lies, from 1996. – B.E.

M. Son of the Century

Director Joe Wright (known for films like “The Darkest Hour”, “Anna Karenina”, and “Atonement”) is creating a streaming series that delves into the ascension of Benito Mussolini. Given his unique style, this production is unlikely to be a run-of-the-mill period drama. Instead, it’s expected to showcase Wright’s signature blend of youthful rave culture and his parents’ puppet theater aesthetic, which often results in works that are both handcrafted and monumental. His recent work, the 2023 musical “Cyrano”, underscores this point as one of the standout modern musicals. The prospect of Wright taking on the dynamic, melodramatic tale of Mussolini’s rise, a story that has already inspired a masterpiece in Italian filmmaker Marco Bellocchio’s 2009 epic “Vincere”, is intriguing and hard to resist. – B.E.

No Other Land

Originating from a group of Israeli and Palestinian artists, this documentary is skipping premieres at Venice and Toronto. Instead, it debuted earlier this year at the Berlin Film Festival, where it bagged two prestigious awards. Since then, it’s been generating both acclaim and controversy worldwide. Now, expect to see it at many of the significant autumn film festivals. This film is making quite a splash! Spanning four years, the movie follows the friendship between Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist and journalist, and Yuval Abraham, an Israeli journalist. Together, they document (and sometimes resist) the forced evacuation and demolition of Adra’s village by joint forces of the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli settlers. Packed with striking footage, this film is bound to spark conversations in the coming months, perhaps even years. — B.E.

Blue Road — The Edna O’Brien Story

Edna O’Brien, renowned for her novel-writing skills, was more than just a celebrated author; she led an extraordinary life filled with controversy. Often referred to as a vivacious bon vivant, she dared to defy the conventions of both Irish and British society. Throughout her life, notable figures such as Robert Mitchum, Marlon Brando, and Richard Burton intersected with hers, in aspects ranging from intellectual discussions to romantic entanglements. A forthcoming documentary by Sinéad O’Shea, produced before O’Brien’s recent passing, aims to delve into every facet of her life, featuring O’Brien herself on screen and Jessie Buckley lending her voice in a narration. — B.E.

2024-08-29 00:56