The2017 Toronto International Film Festivalis almost upon us, and as always, there are way too many good-looking films. Almost every year, our favorite film of the year ends up being something with saw at TIFF, and 2017 looks like it will continue this trends. While we at Collider be seeing more than just these movies, and hopefully there will be some fun surprises that come along and blow us away, these are the 20 movies currently on our radar that we’re carving out time to see at this year’s festival.
The 2017 Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 7 - 17th.
[Note: This list was put together beforeRoman J. Israel, Esqwas announced for the fest, so count that as #21]
Director/Writer:Darren Aronofsky
Cast:Jennifer Lawerence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson, Brian Gleeson, and Kristen Wiig
I’m a pretty die-hard Darren Aronofsky fan, and while it’s only been a few years since his last feature, it looks like he’s lost none of his bite with his latest feature,mother!The movie is sending out a heavyRosemary’s Babyvibe in its marketing, but they’re also going to great lengths to keep the plot details under wraps. I’m not exactly sure what kind of movie this is going to be beyond psychological-horror-that-gives-me-nightmares. But as we’ve seen fromRequiem for a DreamandBlack Swan, Aronofsky never pulls his punches, and so I expectmother!to be thoroughly disturbing. –Matt Goldberg
Molly’s Game
Director/Writer:Aaron Sorkin
Cast:Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Chris O’Dowd, and Bil Camp
As a massiveAaron Sorkinfan (The West Wing4eva), I’m always looking forward to anything he’s doing, butMolly’s Gameis unique in that it marks the Oscar-winning screenwriter’s directorial debut. It’s based on the true story of Molly Bloom, and Olympic-class athlete who for years ran a high-stakes poker game before coming under investigation by the FBI.Jessica Chastainstars as Bloom in what’s sure to be a showstopping role, and that crackerjack Sorkin dialogue is prevalent throughout the film’s debut trailer. But I’m incredibly curious to see Sorkin’s take on this story, which deals with themes ranging from feminism to criminality. –Adam Chitwood
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Director/Writer:Martin McDonagh
Cast:Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes, and Peter Dinklage
I like Martin McDonagh’sIn Brugesas much as everyone else, but I also dig his follow-up,Seven Psychopaths. He makes movies that are dark, twisted, and funny, but also have a surprising emotional undercurrent running through them.Three Billboardslooks to continue that trend as McDormand plays a mother who goes to war against the police department after they fail to make an arrest in the case of her daughter’s murder. It’s heavy subject matter, but the trailer makes it look like it’s firmly in McDonagh’s wheelhouse of going between darkness and biting comedy. –Matt Goldberg
The Florida Project
Director:Sean Baker
Writers:Sean Baker, Chris Bergoch
Cast:Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, and Valeria Cotto
FilmmakerSean Bakerburst onto the scene with the hilarious, heartfelt, and surprising indie comedyTangerine, so his follow-up feature was going to be highly anticipated regardless. ButThe Florida Projectis coasting off of intense buzz from its debut at Cannes and I can’t wait to get a look at the film myself. The drama is set against the backdrop of Orlando, Florida, following the exploits of a young girl and her mother who live week-to-week at a budget motel in the shadow of Disney World.Willem Dafoeplays the motel manager, and the trailer promises an emotional, hard-hitting family-centric drama with themes that speak to the world we live in today. I’ll have my tissues handy. –Adam Chitwood
Darkest Hour
Director:Joe Wright
Writer:Anthony McCarten
Cast:Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Lily James, Stephen Dillane, Ronald Pickup, and Ben Mendelsohn
Gary Oldmanas Winston Churchill is pretty much all you need to know to get you excited forDarkest Hour, but that the film is directed byHannaandAnna KareninahelmerJoe Wrightmakes it all the more enticing. The historical drama is also timely, as it takes place in the early days of World War II and chronicles Churchill’s fight to convince the people of England to stand up against Nazi Germany rather than negotiating a peace treaty. We know how this one worked out, but I’m curious to see how Wright frames the events and, of course, Oldman’s transformation into a larger than life historical figure. –Adam Chitwood
The Shape of Water
Director:Guillermo del Toro
Writers:Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor
Cast:Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Doug Jones, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Michael Shannon
The film has already received rave reviews out of the Venice Film Festival, and it looks like del Toro could finally be back in the Oscar race after his 2006 film,Pan’s Labyrinth, was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Whether it gets any awards love or not, the story of a mute woman falling in love with a merman is so del Toro it would almost reach the point of self-parody if not for his overwhelming earnestness. Guillermo del Toro doesn’t do irony; he only does his pure, unabashed love for creatures, and I can’t wait to see his latest love letter. –Matt Goldberg
Downsizing
Director:Alexander Payne
Writers:Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor
Cast:Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Christoph Waltz, Laura Dern, Jason Sudeikis, and Neil Patrick Harris
Alexander Payne has never really tackled sci-fi before, but it looks like he’s going there with his latest film, which takes place in a world where people have found a way to miniaturize themselves in order to simplify their lives. Although that may sound like a quick dig at the “tiny house” movement, I expect Payne and co-writer Jim Taylor will be able to take it much further than that, especially when they’ve got a top-notch cast at their disposal.Downsizinghas a cute idea at its center, but I expect, like his other movies, that’s really just an entry point for a deeper, more complicated story. –Matt Goldberg
The Current War
Director:Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
Writer:Michael Mitnick
Cast:Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Katherine Waterston, Nicholas Hoult, Tom Holland, Tuppence Middleton, and Matthew Macfadyen
Described as being in the vein ofThe Social Network, the long-in-the-works historical dramaThe Current Waraims to chronicle the battle for electricity supremacy between Thomas Edison (Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Shannon). On top of that, visually dynamicMe and Earl and the Dying GirldirectorAlfonso Gomez-Rejonis behind the camera, and the ensemble is packed with A-list talent. Could The Weinstein Company finally be back in the Oscar race? –Adam Chitwood
Director:Joseph Kahn
Writers:Joseph Kahn and Alex Larsen
Cast:Anthony Michael Hall, Calum Worthy, and Debra Wilson
Joseph Kahn makes movies that are ridiculous, fun, and ridiculously fun.Torqueis one of the best bad films of all time, andDetentiongifted the world with Timebear. Now he’s back withBodied, a movie that that has something to do with rap battles, but I get the feeling that’s really only scratching the surface. While producer Eminem may be the big name draw for the marketing, I’m interested because of Kahn and because it’s the opener for the Midnight Madness program, so it should be delightfully insane. –Matt Goldberg
Suburbicon
Director:George Clooney
Writers:Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, George Clooney, and Grant Heslov
Cast:Matt Damon, Oscar Isaac, Julianne Moore
As a director,George Clooneyis a bit hit and miss, but he seems to be back with a vengeance inSuburbicon. Armed with a long-developedCoen Brothersscript andMatt Damonas his lead actor, Clooney takes on the dark comedy genre with a 1950s-set story of murder, lies, and life in the suburbs. The trailer was hilarious, the cast is aces, and I can’t wait to see what surprises are in store. –Adam Chitwood
