“Roman Israel, Esq.”
Cast: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Shelley Hennig
Synopsis: Denzel Washington Stars as Roman Israel, a driven, idealistic defense attorney who, through a tumultuous series of events, finds himself in a crisis that leads to extreme action.
What You Need To Know: Ever since his feature-length debut in 2014 with “Nightcrawler,” writer-turned-director Dan Gilroy has been at the top of our list of talent to watch in Hollywood. Previously titled “Inner City,” Roman Israel, Esq” is about the titular lawyer dealing with crises in an overburdened Los Angeles criminal justice system. Meanwhile, Colin Farrell plays a cutthroat peer of Washington’s, attempting to lure him to his firm. It sounds like tremendous stuff from Gilroy, and we can only imagine the kind of script he’s cooked up for this one. The director is staying right in his wheel house, covering many similar themes as he did in “Nightcrawler”, and if he can bring some of the paranoid, seamless directing of his first film, expect this one to be a hit. The pairing of Gilroy and Washington seems like a powerhouse and many of us would love to see the storied actor add another Academy Award to his shelf.
“Woman Walks Ahead”
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Michael Greyeyes, Sam Rockwell, Ciarán Hinds
Synopsis: The story of a portrait painter from 1890s Brooklyn, who travels to Dakota to paint a portrait of Sitting Bull, and becomes embroiled in the Lakota peoples’ struggle over the rights to their land.
What You Need To Know: Jessica Chastain has been really putting her money where her mouth is about the need to support and work with female directors. Her latest ally is Susanna White, the filmmaker known for robust TV work like “Masters of Sex,” “Billions,” “Boardwalk Empire,” “Generation Kill,” the U.K’s 2006 version of “Jane Eyre.” Less successfully, the thriller “Our Kind of Traitor,” just didn’t work at all, but a sweeping historical drama transporting audiences to 19th-century American frontier starring Jessica Chastain? We’re intrigued.
“Hostiles”
Cast: Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemmons, Stephen Lang, Timothée Chalamet
Synopsis: In 1892, a legendary Army captain reluctantly agrees to escort a Cheyenne chief and his family through dangerous territory.
What You Need To Know: Director Scott Cooper came out of the gate with “Crazy Heart,” earning Jeff Bridges a long-overdue Oscar for Best Actor. But despite great stars and ensembled he faltered somewhat with uneven pictures like “Black Mass” and “Out of the Furnace.” Let’s be blunt: Cooper has the potential to just utterly slay with an all-time classic, he understands movies, has a great affinity for directing actors and has great taste (listen to him in any Q&A and you know he’s done his cinephile homework). But for whatever reason, true greatness has eluded him. Until now? We’re on pins and needles awaiting word about “Hostiles,” which also could be a major acquisitions title for a hungry studio.
“Disobedience”
Cast: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams
Synopsis: An Orthodox Jewish woman returns to her hometown upon the death of her father, a local rabbi. When she starts to show interest in an old friend, the two draw scrutiny from their conservative community.
What You Need to Know: This film, co-written by British playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz and director Sebastian Lelio, is based on Naomi Alderman’s eponymous novel. Lelio will be debuting both “Disobedience” and “A Fantastic Woman,” his piece about a young transgender woman, at TIFF 2017. Alderman is renowned for her woman-centric prose (she’s been mentored by Margaret Atwood, if that’s any indication), and the filmic adaptation of “Disobedience” is shaping up to build on that legacy. With renowned actresses Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams in the lead roles, this film deftly explores lesbian identity against a backdrop of religious intolerance. If you’re starving for some great female protagonists — and/or want to see Rachel2 fall in love — keep an eye on “Disobedience.”
“Euphoria”
Cast: Eva Green, Alicia Vikander
Synopsis: Ines (Alicia Vikander) and Emilie (Eva Green) travel through Europe together toward an unknown destination, unpacking their issues with each other along the way.
What You Need to Know: Celebrated Swedish filmmaker Lisa Langseth (“Pure,” “Hotell”) reunites with her muse Alicia Vikander to direct her own script. Little is known about the story, though it will apparently explore the topic of euthanasia — but do you really need to be convinced to see a film with Vikander and Eva Green as the leads? Much like TIFF 2015’s “Into the Forest” by Patricia Rozema, the film promises to explore a sisterly relationship within a somewhat surreal setting. “Euphoria” marks Langseth’s second premiere at TIFF, where she will compete against 12 other films (five of them female-directed) in the festival’s juried “Platform” competition.
“On Chesil Beach”
Synopsis: Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle are nervous newlyweds honeymooning in the titular 1960s English resort with life altering repercussions.
What you need to know: Ian McEwan has adapted his own Booker prize nominated novella for theatre director Dominic Cooke making his cinematic debut. Ronan was McEwan’s first choice for the lead, and the slim page length source material could make it ideal for an intense two hander feature. It will be interesting to see how big or small it goes on screen, especially with the original author on script, as the novella also spreads through an entire lifetime of melancholy recrimination and regret. McEwan is a notoriously bitter pill, so this could be harder edged than it’s Brit luvvy appearance suggests.
