Bryan Sudfield’s 27 Films of TIFF 2023
As the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival reaches its conclusion, I thought I’d look back on all 27 films I watched throughout my six-day period of attendance. This being my first ever TIFF, the excitement was through the roof. Plenty of major awards buzzed titles made their way to Toronto, yet the smaller, under-the-radar films piqued my interest even more. You walk in knowing little to nothing about a handful of titles, some of which could end up being alongside the awards-buzzed films you had known of prior to the start of the festival.
Here are all 27 films I saw at TIFF, ranked from best to worst.
1. The Holdovers
Alexander Payne returns with his strongest outing since 2013’s Nebraska after disappointing audiences with Downsizing (2017). Paul Giamatti is absolutely phenomenal, but Da’Vine Joy Randolph and newcomer Dominic Sessa deserve equal praise. An incredibly warm picture that had me guffawing one minute and bawling the next.
Credit to Focus Features via Variety.
2. Hit Man
Richard Linklater’s action-noir romcom is his strongest outing in years, thanks to the staggeringly slick screenplay and Glen Powell’s smooth charisma. One of the, surprisingly, sexiest pictures you’ll have seen in recent memory.
Credit to Barnstorm Productions via The Hollywood Reporter
3. Anatomy of a Fall
The Palme d’Or winner acts as a patient yet harrowing courtroom drama that will leave your skin crawling throughout the entirety of its two-and-a-half-hour runtime. Sandra Hüller is extraordinary, showcasing a performance for the books.
Credit to NEON via Variety
4. Sing Sing
Led by an incredible turn from Colman Domingo, Sing Sing is a heartfelt tribute to the RTA program and how art can help one feel whole in the darkest of times. Massive shoutouts must be given to the ensemble, including former Sing Sing inmates.
Credit to ‘Sing Sing’ and A24 via TIFF
5. Dream Scenario
Nicolas Cage delivers one of his strongest performances to date in a ferocious absurdist horror dramedy that left me howling from start to finish. A nightmare I was ecstatic to keep witnessing.
Credit to A24 via TIFF
6. The Zone of Interest
Jonathan Glazer’s horrifying Holocaust drama is unlike any you’ll ever see. Instead, it is a haunting portrait of a family building the “perfect home”. The sound design will be ingrained in my memory for a long time.
Credit to A24 via IMDb
7. The Boy and the Heron
Hayao Miyazaki’s first film in a decade is a rousing cumulation of his 40-year career, containing some of his moving storytelling to date. A fantastical coming-of-age journey that longtime fans of the animator will surely eat up.
GKids/Studio Ghibli via Variety
8. American Fiction
Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut cuts deep into its discussions on how Black stories are presented in a nail-biting yet wickedly entertaining satire. Jeffrey Wright delivers a career-best performance that shouldn’t be ignored.
Credit to MGM via Variety
9. Close To You
Starring Elliot Page in his rawest performance to date, the incredibly personal tale punches you in the gut way more than anticipated. One of the hidden gems of this year’s festival.
Credit to ‘Close to You‘ via Variety
10. How to Have Sex
Molly Manning Walker’s celebrated directorial debut, which premiered at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, was an emotionally tense story following three British teenage girls on a holiday filled with drinking, clubbing, and relationships. Mia McKenna-Bruce is a star in the making.
Credit to ‘How to Have Sex’ via TIFF
11. Woman of the Hour
Based on the haunting true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala appearing on The Dating Game in the midst of his murder spree, Anna Kendrick’s directorial debut is a terrific showcase of blending wits and thrills without feeling gimmicky.
Credit to Netflix via TIFF
12. Flora and Son
Sing Street helmer John Carney’s latest is another charmer of the Irish filmmaker’s catalog. A celebration of music, motherhood, and discovery featuring a wonderful Eve Hewson at the center.
Credit to Apple TV+ via TIFF
13. Memory
A gut-wrenching yet intimate outing from Michel Franco, containing phenomenal performances from Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard.
Credit to ‘Memory’ via TIFF
14. His Three Daughters
Azazel Jacobs’ newest work showcases a heartbreakingly honest look into a broken family, anchored as an acting showcase for stars Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, and Natasha Lyonne.
Credit to ‘His Three Daughters’ via TIFF
15. Quiz Lady
Sandra Oh and Awkwafina have fantastic banter with one another in this delightful comedy that is a must-see for avid game show watchers.
Credit to 20th Century Studios via TIFF
16. The Queen of My Dreams
An endearing coming-of-age family odyssey filled with charm and a fantastic dual performance from star Amrit Kaur.
Credit to ‘The Queen of My Dreams’ via TIFF
17. Fingernails
A fascinating lo-fi sci-fi romance akin to Eternal Sunshine, led by wonderful turns from Jessie Buckley and Riz Ahmed. It is a tad repetitive by the third act, yet it still provides a wholly unique commentary on modern dating.
Credit to Apple TV+ via Indiewire
18. Dumb Money
Craig Gillespie’s biographical dramedy on the GameStop short squeeze can present itself as The Big Short-wannabe at times, yet the ensemble delivers, and not an ounce of fat is to be found. Easily can see this claiming a spot as one of the year’s big crowd-pleasers
Credit to Sony via The Hollywood Reporter
19. Dicks: The Musical
The first musical under A24 contains 86 minutes of pure exaggeration, over-the-top gags and gut-bustlingly hilarious musical numbers. Director Larry Charles, stars/screenwriters/songwriters Aaron Jackson and Josh Sharp created something truly unforgettable
Credit to A24 via TIFF
20. Hell of a Summer
An entertaining homage to the classic 80s slashers, even if you know where it’s going within the first 10 minutes. The passion of co-directors Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk and the ensemble was present in every frame.
Credit to ‘Hell of a Summer’ via TIFF
21. Rustin
Colman Domingo delivers a wonderful turn as Bayard Rustin. Unfortunately, the rest of the biographical drama doesn’t sit on the same level as the work he delivers – nothing unique from a narrative or stylistic standpoint.
Credit to Netflix via TIFF
22. Next Goal Wins
Taika Waititi’s long-delayed sports comedy, starring Michael Fassbender, is far from being ground-breaking cinema. Instead, it follows the route of crowd-pleasing sports romps that will surely keep audiences smiling. Despite some odd narrative decisions made throughout, this meets the textbook definition of “an average, at best, watch.”
Credit to Searchlight Pictures via TIFF
23. Evil Does Not Exist
Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest was an unfortunate downgrade from his Oscar-winning Drive My Car. A commentary on corporate greed told in a unique fashion, yet the pacing moves at a snail-like pace, and the emotional attachment is lacking.
Credit to ‘Evil Does Not Exist’ via TIFF
24. Gonzo Girl
Patricia Arquette’s directorial debut contains fantastic performances from Willem Dafoe and Camila Morrone. Yet, the screenplay lacks any interest in its storyline or characters despite all the potential surrounding this semi-autobiographical tale of Cheryl Della Pietra.
Credit to ‘Gonzo Girl’ via TIFF
25. Origin
Ava DuVernay is one of the most exciting voices working today, which makes calling her latest a colossal disappointment even more heartbreaking. What would’ve worked better as a documentary, the story of Isabel Wilkerson (played by an excellent Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) jumps back and forth in a disjointed structure that causes the emotional heft to not land in any way, shape, or form.
Credit to NEON via Variety
26. Knox Goes Away
Continuing the trend of films helmed by actors, the neo-noir thriller, from star Michael Keaton, follows a contract killer diagnosed with dementia. Like the title character, the film surrounding him was also very easy to forget, due to its lack of thrills and meanderingly sluggish pacing.
Credit to ‘Knox Goes Away’ via TIFF
27. Poolman
Chris Pine’s directorial debut was a colossal misfire, which is unfortunate due to Pine’s likable presence in the industry. Following an LA-based Poolman, the noir comedy fails to provide any laughs or any mystery you’d look for in a film billed to be “If Chinatown and The Big Lebowski had a baby”. Without question, the biggest letdown of this year’s TIFF.
Credit to Poolman via TIFF
List courtesy of Bryan Sudfield
Feature Image Credit to Studio Ghibli/GKids via Digital Spy
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