“Papillon”
Synopsis: Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek try to survive and escape the brutality of the Devil’s Island penal colony.
What you need to know: Ostensibly a remake of the Franklin J Schaffner’s 1973 classic, with Hunnam and Malek a diluted version of Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman’s embattled duo, there is potential for a different take here. The original Henri Charrière source novel was a massive bestseller before the movie, and even if it’s biographical authenticity has since been doubted, there is plenty of meat in its pages that wasn’t explored before. Malek showed serious chops in Mr Robot, Hunnam originally had cool potential before going down the money slide into glossy soulless dreck like King Arthur, and director Michael Noer’s documentary roots could bring the grit. If it plays tough and mean enough this could still be one of the few ‘remakes’ to step away from the shadow of its predecessor. Well, maybe…
“Stronger”
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, Clancy Brown
Synopsis: When Jeff Bauman lost both his legs in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, he not only helped the FBI track down the suspects, but managed to triumph over his injuries and become an icon for a city wrestling to get back on its feet.
What You Need To Know: There’s no doubt that a film about such a traumatic and fresh wound as the Boston Marathon bombing is walking a tightrope; there is justice to be done to the victims, to the first responders, to the city, to the nation, all while ideally not alienating a marginalized and disenfranchised population. But David Gordon Green’s “Stronger” admittedly is aiming for a more focused mark than the broad-scoped scale of last year’s subtly titled “Patriot’s Day.” And while Green has had a terribly inconsistent career — he last visited Toronto with the sparkling dud that is “Our Brand Is Crisis” — he’s got a hell of a story on his hands, and with Gyllenhaal taking the lead (his last Toronto premiere, “Demolition,” was similarly lackluster), things are still looking promising.
“Battle of the Sexes”
Cast: Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Elizabeth Shue, Sarah Silverman, Chris Parnell
Synopsis: Based on the true story of the ridiculous tennis champ and hustler Bobby Riggs attempt to discredit women’s tennis by playing and beating the top female players, and the brickwall he hit in Billie Jean King.
What You Need To Know: The pairing of newly minted Fall Film Festival circuit darlings, Emma Stone and Steve Carell is enough to sell our ticket to “Battle Of The Sexes.” Not only are Stone and Carell reliable comedic forces, but both have been steadily moving toward more rewarding, emotionally grounded roles, and for all the 70s pomp that ‘Battle’ promises, it appears as though it’s also going to pack in some nuance and substance. The third feature from the directing team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris — whose “Little Miss Sunshine” essentially became synonymous with Sundance — ‘Battle’ looks poised to strike a nerve in today’s political climate, where casual sexism (stoked from the highest office in the land) has once again reared its ugly, shameless head.
“Kings”
Cast: Halle Berry, Daniel Craig, Lamar Johnson
Synopsis: A foster family in South Central a few weeks before the city erupts in violence following the verdict of the Rodney King trial in 1992.
What You Need to Know: Deniz Gamez Ergüven’s first feature film, 2015’s “Mustang,” was both one of the best films of the year and one of the greatest depictions of the bonds of sisterhood in film ever. It’s a film that can reduce you (re: me) too ugly tears each and every time you watch it. All of this to say that the director’s follow up was always going to be a fascinating one, especially when she decides it will also be her first feature length English language film. Starring two highly recognizable faces as the leads, the subject matter could lend itself to some dicey storytelling, but in Ergüven we must trust to deliver a nuanced and delicate story about some powerful and devastating events. It would be a tricky subject for any filmmaker, not just once still rising to her ultimate potential. At the very least it will be nice to see Halle Berry get to sink her teeth into a role again and watch as Daniel Craig further plants himself outside the James Bond market. – AJ
“Mary Shelley”
Cast: Elle Fanning, Maisie Williams, Joanne Froggatt
Synopsis: The love affair between poet Percy Shelley and 18 year old Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, which resulted in Mary Shelley writing Frankenstein.
What You Need to Know: The first female filmmaker in Saudi Arabia, Haifaa Al Mansour made waves a few years ago with her poignant and introspective coming of age film “Wadjda” which followed a young girls pursuit in winning a bike. Handling gender dynamics, cultural expectations and generation disparity while also wringing any humor and drama she could from the script, Mansour’s debut was staggering in the sheer talent explored. All of makes her next film, the showier “Mary Shelley” all the more exciting as those same elements will come into play, albeit, in much different packaging. A period piece and also a biopic, it will be interesting to see if the director is able to hold tight to her cinematic sensibilities or if the film will veer off into the familiar territory based on its make-up alone. – AJ
