Nine Things We Learned From TIFF’s 2019 Slate: ‘Judy,’ ‘Marriage Story,”Hustlers’ & More

The Toronto International Film Festival should be riding high. The 2018 festival included world premieres of critically lauded films such as Claire Denis’ “High Life,” Matthew Heineman’s “A Private War,” Steve McQueen’s “Widows,” Sebastián Lelio’s “Gloria Bell,” Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk” and Alex Ross Perry’s “Her Smell.” And its audience winner, “Green Book,” became the first TIFF debut to win Best Picture since “The Hurt Locker” in 2010. For a festival that has been battling Venice and Telluride for “being first,” Cameron Bailey and his crew should be flexing their muscles over the seeming return of Toronto’s global influence. And they likely are, even if the Peter Farrelly directed drama has become synonymous with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ tendency to take two steps forward (“Moonlight”) and then one step back (“Green Book”). That win has made many wondering if TIFF can use its public relations spotlight on a film that is truly worth celebrating.

This year’s first wave announcement confirmed a lot of industry speculation while still delivering some genuine surprises.  Even if those surprises didn’t include a world premiere at TIFF itself or answer our pressing question.  The Toronto staple not only goes first with its reveal, but they give away much of their competitors own slate with the designation of “World,” “International,” “Canadian” and “North American” premieres.  After some quick Nancy Drew-ing we have some thoughts on how the next few months are going to shake out.

Best Picture nominee: And then there was one
Since the field was expanded to more than five nominees, TIFF has had at least one world premiere earn a Best Picture nomination eight of the 10 years. Two of those years, 2011 and 2018, it had no nominee at all. Even with “Geen Book’s” win this past February, this has put it somewhat at the back of the pack of festivals in terms of where studios or consultants want to plant their frontrunner debuts. This year there are five films that could snatch what is likely just one Best Picture nominee slot based on a TIFF world premiere: Taika Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit,” Marielle Heller’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” Kasi Lemmons’ “Harriet,” Destin Daniel Cretton’s “Just Mercy” and maybe even Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out.”  While Fox Searchlight also has Terrence Malick’s “A Hidden Life” entering the awards fray it’s worth noting they have gone without a Best Picture nod just twice over the past 12 years. Focus Features, on the other hand, has had two TIFF world premieres earn Best Pic nods in “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Theory of Everything.” Place your bets on who comes out on top now.

Telluride’s lineup is pretty stacked
That long drive to Colorado is going to be worth it. Noah Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” Edward Norton’s “Motherless Brooklyn” (hope its better than that CinemaCon sneak), Pedro Almodovar’s “Pain and Glory,” Boon Jong-Ho‘s Palme d’Or winning “Parasite,” Fernando Meirelles, “The Two Popes,” James Mangold’s “Ford v. Ferrari,” Semi Chellas’ “American Woman,” Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” Safdie Brothers’ “Uncut Gems,” and Rupert Goold’s “Judy” should all be at the influential Oscar member fest.

Venice gets the most anticipated first
We know Venice will debut Steven Soderbergh’s “The Laundrymart,” Baumbach’s “Marriage Story,” Rupert Gold’s “Judy,” Meirelles’ “The Two Popes,” Todd Phillips’ “Joker,” Mangold’s “Ford v. Ferrari” and Atom Egoyan’s “Guest of Honour,”among others, for now.  What else? We’ll find out in less than 48 hours.

Are you ready for some fun?
Lorne Scarfia’s “Hustlers” with Jennifer Lopez, Constance Wu, Cardi B and Lizzo is premiering in Toronto. That’s all you need to know.  Oh, and Universal bringing the animated “Abomnibale” might be fun too (it worked for “Sing” three years ago).

Netflix is once again there in force
Who needs Cannes when you have Venice, Telluride and TIFF love?  Netflix hits Toronto with Craig Brewer’s “Dolemite Is My Name” featuring a potentially awards-worthy turn by Eddie Murphy (world premiere), Soderbergh’s “The Laundrymart,” Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” (more on that later) and Meirelles’ “The Two Popes” which is shaping up as a play for Jonathan Pryce. Comparatively, streaming competitor Amazon Studios only Scott Z. Burns’ “The Report,” which debuted at Sundance.  Among other studios, Warner Bros. matches Netflix with four premieres (“Just Mercy,” “Joker,” “Motherless Brooklyn,” “The Goldfinch”).

Buy me, please
These films are looking for major acquisition love at what has become North America top market (sorry Sundance, but it’s true): Roger Mitchell’s “Blackbird” with Kate Winslet, Sam Neil and Susan Sarandon; Cory Finley’s “Bad Education” with Hugh Jackman, Allison Janey and Alex Wolff; Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s “The Friend” with Gwendoline Christie, Casey Affleck, Dakota Johnson and Jason Segel; Michael Winterbottom’s “Greed” with Steve Coogan, Isla Fisher and Asa Buttefield; “The Full Monty’s” Peter Catteno returns with “Military Wives” which is another feel-good British dramedy; Alejandro Amenábar’s “While at War” (could be Argenitina’s submission); Justin Kurzel attempts a comeback with “True History of the Kelly Gang” starring Russell Crowe, Charlie Hunnam and Nicholas Hoult; Drake Doremus is back yet again with the terribly titled “Endings, Beginnings” featuring Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan and Sebastian Stan; and Coky Giedroyc’s “How To Build A Girl” is an intriguing novel adaptation with Emma Thompson, Alfie Allen, Chris O’Dowd and Beanie Feldstein. Spend wisley.

Please, tell me more
So, Wayne Wang has a world premiere with “Coming Home Again” which doesn’t even have an IMDB profile (it stars Justin Chon). Semi Chellas’s “American Woman” already bombed with critics at Tribeca but is having a gala premiere in Toronto. Really? I know Chella is Canadian, but…John Crowley’s prestige drama “The Goldfinch” debuts at TIFF and then opens nationwide on Sept. 13 so it must be really good, right? Does anyone want to see the life of Helen Reddy in Unjoo Moon’s “I Am Woman” starring a relative unknown in Tilda Cobham-Hervey?

Believe the hype
The fact “Judy” is at all three initial fall fests means that Rene Zellweger‘s performance as Judy Garland should be taken very, very seriously. Baumbach’s “Marriage Story” is also at all three fests and going to be the buzziest awards title to start off the season. “Uncut Gems” is debuting at Telluride a full three and a half months before its release.  Trust, A24 isn’t taking the chance on lingering bad reviews unless they truly believe.

Missing and could be added later
Who wasn’t part of the announcement that we thought would be? James Gray’s “Ad Astra,” Benedict Andrews’ “Against All Enemies,” Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women,” David Michod’s “The King,” Tom Harper’s “The Aeronauts” and Melina Matsoukas’ “Queen & Slim,” among others.  And chances are a bunch of those will find there way to TIFF before the festival kicks off on Sept. 5.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from Sept. 5-15.  Look for coverage from all three major fall festivals on The Playlist.