The Toronto International Film Festival reserves its opening weekend for world premieres, or films that have never played at Sundance, Cannes, Venice, or Telluride. Unfortunately for the festival, it seems that most of this season’s films with serious awards prospects have chosen not to wait. Case in point: two films that opened in prime time slots on Friday night, Unstoppable (5.30pm at Roy Thomson Hall) and We live in time (9.30pm at the Princess of Wales Theatre). Both are very engaging and moving, but also have very narrow award paths.
Unstoppablethe directorial debut of the Oscar-winning editor William Goldenberg (of 2012 Argon), tells the true story of Antonio Roblesborn with one leg and into a broken family, but who despite this manages to become a world-famous college wrestler. Jharrel Jeromea talented Emmy winner for When they see usdoes a particularly good job of portraying Robles, aided by some top-notch visuals. Very good too Jennifer Lopez like his mother; Bobby Cannavale like his abusive stepfather; and Michael Pena AND Don Cheadleas his high school and college coaches, respectively.
Unstoppablewhich drew many tears and received a two-minute standing ovation (encouraged by the presence of the real Robles), is not entirely different Rockywhich he repeatedly refers to in numerous ways. The difference is that we have now seen numerous sequels to Rocky and countless similar imitations, which have collectively somewhat desensitized the public (and award-winning voters) to underdog, against-the-odds sports stories, even when they are true and well-crafted.
In an awards season that is so sparse for male actors, I wouldn’t completely rule Jerome, who is only 26, out of the running for Best Actor. But unless the influential TIFF Audience Award goes to this film, I think Amazon/MGM will probably have to settle for a nice limited theatrical and streaming reception before the year is out.
In the meantime, We live in time It's the latest film of John Crowleythe Irishman who led 2015 Brooklyn for best film, actress (Saoirse Ronan) and nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, only to fall back to earth with the critical and public flop of 2019 The GoldfinchCrowley's new film is neither wonderful nor award-winning. Brooklyn nor frustrating and not very favorable to rewards as The GoldfinchIt falls somewhere in the middle.
Based on an original screenplay by My first meeting with Nick Payne, We live in time – Pleases Constellationsthe 2015 play that Payne is probably best known for, is a two-hander that jumps back and forth in time. It stars two of the game's most likable movie stars, Andrea Garfield AND Florence Pughlike a young couple who fall in love, live their lives, and face a tragic situation, though not necessarily in that order. And succeed in achieving what they seemingly set out to do.
The film, which A24 will release on a date yet to be determined, is a good old tearjerker, a more modern and daring take on something that, let's say, Walter Pigeon AND Greer Garson would have acted together 80 years ago. Is it, however, something that has the kind of scale and authority that Academy members usually respond to? Probably not.