Podcasts about toronto film festival

Benjamin Pajak makes his second appearance on the show to talk about his new movie, The Life of Chuck. He stars alongside Mark Hamill, Tom Hiddleston and Kate Siegel among other amazing actors. The Stephen King story was adapted and brilliantly directed by Mike Flanagan. The movie has received rave reviews and took home the audience top prize at the Toronto Film Festival. Benjamin also starred in The Music Man on Broadway alongside Hugh Jackman and received critical acclaim in performances at the New York City Center Encores.

This psychological thriller was written, produced and directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods and stars Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher & Chloe East. In this film, 2 Mormon missionaries are sent to a man's house to answer questions about their faith, however things take a dark and twisted turn when the man is not who he claims to be. This film debuted on the Toronto Film Festival in September of 2024 and then hit theaters nationwide in November later that year before landing on the streaming service, MAX, in March of 2025. Hugh Grant's performance earn him Best Actor nominations from the Golden Globes & the Critics' Choice Awards.

This animated film was written and directed by Chris Sanders, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Peter Brown and has a voiceover cast that includes Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Conner, Bill Nighy, Catherine O'Hara, Ving Rhames & Mark Hamill. In this film, a robot crash lands in the forest and takes on the responsibility of raising and protecting a newborn bird and meets new friends and encounters odd enemies along the way. This movie debuted at the Toronto Film Festival on September 8th, 2024 before hitting theaters nationwide on September 27th. The film has been nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes and the British Academy Film Awards.

This week on End Credits, we get wild! We will shine a light on a movie that seems to have missed most people's radar and it's all about embracing your inner animal, and other stuff. We're going to talk about Nightbitch, which you can stream now on Disney+ of all places, and we're also going to hit the metaphorical slopes out west and chat about a famous film festival. This Wednesday, January 22, at 3 pm, Adam A. Donaldson and Candice Lepage will discuss: Sundance Hall of Fame. It's the biggest independent film festival in the world, which may be an oxymoron, but there's now doubt that for nearly 50 years, the Sundance Film Festival in Party City, Utah has been very important in finding and promoting major new films and filmmakers. With the 2025 festival now underway, we will talk about some of the all-time Sundance films across three different categories, and why they're so synonymous with the festival. REVIEW: Nightbitch (2024). What if a stay-at-home mother became so frustrated with her domesticity that she turned into a dog at night? This is the ludicrous premise of Nightbitch, the novel-turned-film that premiered at the Toronto Film Festival last fall and yada, yada, yada, now you can stream it on Disney+. The film does have a silly premise, but it's trying to get at something real with Amy Adams playing a harried Mother trying to reckon with her life as a mom and her life as woman. We'll talk about why you shouldn't sleep on Nightbitch. End Credits is on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca Wednesday at 3 pm.

Send us a textThe Last Showgirl Movie Review! Pamela Anderson | Jamie Lee Curtis | Dave Baptista!  Kathy and Mark review the The Last Showgirl, a 2024 American drama film directed by Gia Coppola and written by Kate Gersten. It stars Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, Kiernan Shipka, Billie Lourd, and Jason Schwartzman.#thelastshowgirl #pamelaanderson #jamieleecurtis #davebautista #moviereviews Cinemondo is excited to announce that co-host, Burk Sauls, book, One Hundred Movies: Burk's Favorite Movies Volume 1, is available on Amazon!  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DML5K363?ref_=pe_93986420_774957520Get early access to these reviews by joining Patreon or our YouTube channel! YouTube Membershiphttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvt8UhKoTahIIRGIwxzUVVA/joinPatreonhttps://www.patreon.com/CinemondoPodcastJoin this channel to get access to fun perks like exclusive content and private Discord channel!:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvt8UhKoTahIIRGIwxzUVVA/joinOfficial Swag https://shop.spreadshirt.com/cinemondoNew videos daily!!Subscribe for the latest movie reviewshttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvt8UhKoTahIIRGIwxzUVVA?sub_confirmation=1

As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, a collection of films titled From Ground Zero, created by Gaza-based filmmakers, has earned a place at the Oscars. The project, overseen by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, includes 22 short films spanning documentary, animation, and drama.The films aim to share the voices of people living through the conflict in Gaza, offering a glimpse into their fears, dreams and hopes."The idea for From Ground Zero came immediately, in the second month of this ongoing war, to try to pick up films and stories from Gaza," Masharawi told RFI.He explained that the goal was to give filmmakers in Gaza the chance to make their own films.As a recent report from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) underlines the toll of the war on Palestinian journalists, RFI spoke with him and his team in Paris.RSF says Israel responsible for one-third of journalist deaths in 2024The shorts, ranging from three to six minutes, are "a mix between fiction, documentaries, video art and even experimental films," he said."We are filmmakers, we are dealing with cinema. Even if it's a catastrophe, it's very tough with all the massacres. But we were also trying to make cinema, to add life, to be optimistic and to add hope."The 112-minute collection is presented as a feature film in two parts. Contributors include Reema Mahmoud, Muhammad Al Sharif, Tamer Nijim and Alaa Islam Ayou.From film festivals to the OscarsAfter premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in September, From Ground Zero toured film festivals across Europe, North Africa and South West Asia in November and December.Screenings have taken place at the French Arab Film Festival near Paris, the Bristol Palestine Film Festival and in London. Additional showings are scheduled for Morocco and Egypt.Earlier this year, Masharawi held an outdoor screening of the film during the Cannes Film Festival to protest its exclusion from the event.Now, the collection has been selected to represent Palestine at the Oscars in March 2025, with hopes of a wider release in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.UN rapporteur says Israel's war in Gaza is 'emptying the land completely'Emerging voicesThe project was made possible by the Masharawi Fund for Gaza Filmmakers, launched in November 2023 to support creative talent from the territory.Masharawi, who is from Gaza, is one of the first Palestinian filmmakers to have directed cinema projects in the occupied Palestinian territories.His first film, Travel Document, was released in 1986, followed by The Shelter in 1989 and Long Days in Gaza in 1991.The executive producer of the film, Laura Nikolov, who is French and based in France, is travelling with Masharawi to promote the film around the world."It's a very unique project," she told RFI. "We have now translated it into 10 different languages. We made this to allow the voices of the Gazan people [to be heard] and it's working. I think we've reached more than 60, perhaps 80 screenings and festivals."With its selection for the Oscars, Nikolov is hopeful that the film will reach even wider audiences."This means it will be shown in cinemas in the United States," she said, adding that they hope to expand its reach across Europe and the Middle East.

He is a celebrated author, entrepreneur, leadership maven, and a founding Board Member of Burning Man Project. He's a serial contributor to the culture and the cause.In this episode, Chip and Stuart explore how to use the 10 Principles to make conversations interesting and how a description of Black Rock City always becomes a riddle.They resist the urge to quiz newbies on the 10 Principles, while they also say that Burners should not take themselves too seriously. They try on the notion that nothing matters and everything's humorous.They make sense of big ideas like collective effervescence, emotional equations, and the need for aesthetics and beauty.They talk about a deep diversity of ritual gatherings around the world, and the influence of the global community emanating from Regional Burns.They talk about all this and more, and somehow it all make sense. wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_Conleychipconley.comwww.meawisdom.com LIVE.BURNINGMAN.ORG

A marvelously enlightening and heart warming episode of the struggles and triumph of two wonderfully gifted and determined creative people. Singer/songwriter, producer Keira Wesley-Busher who resenting released her debut album SONIC COMFORT and Award Winning Film Producer/Director/Actor Kenya Cagle, Present of Caglevision, whose new film on Amazon Prime, MY KING, has won Best Drama at the Couch Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival among others. Wonderful conversation with both.Produced, directed and host by Stephen E Davis

In this conversation, Erik Poppe - the director of “Quisling - The Final Days”, which just premiered at TIFF following the Norwegian Film Festival, discusses his journey from photojournalism to filmmaking, emphasizing the role of art in raising questions and engaging audiences. He reflects on his influences, including Francois Truffaut's 1970 film ‘The Wild Child”, the importance of personal narratives, and the challenges of portraying controversial characters - how creating empathy for these characters can be challenging yet rewarding.Erik also shares his insights on his filmmaking process, the significance of preparation for film festivals, and how art's primary role is to provoke thought and discussion - through simplicity and truthfulness.What Movies Are You Watching?Like, subscribe and follow us on our socials @pastpresentfeature

Rob Moran| EP 326 Exploring Comedy, Hollywood Tales & Behind-the-Scenes Stories with Rob Moran Join us for an entertaining and insightful journey with actor and comedian Rob Moran as he delves into his diverse career in Hollywood. From discussing the burgeoning film industry in Atlanta and the perks of its tax credit, to sharing personal stories about working with legends like Norm MacDonald, Woody Harrelson, and the Farrelly brothers, Rob offers viewers a unique glimpse behind the scenes of iconic films like 'Dumb and Dumber,' 'There's Something About Mary,' and 'Kingpin.' Hear about his memorable experiences on 'Police Story' and 'Navy SEALS,' his fascinating encounters with celebrities, and humorous anecdotes from film sets. Learn about his transformation from being diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome to becoming a stand-up comedian, his views on modern filmmaking, and his ongoing creative projects, including a Broadway musical adaptation. This episode is filled with heartwarming, humorous tales and exclusive insights that movie enthusiasts won't want to miss.  Chapters 00:00 Celebrating Milestones and Memories 03:02 The Evolution of the Show 06:11 Rob Moran: A Scene Stealer's Journey 09:05 Friendship with Norm Macdonald 11:57 The Impact of Comedy on Life 14:51 Memorable Roles and Experiences 18:04 Persistence in the Industry 20:54 The Power of Connections 24:06 Behind the Scenes of Days of Our Lives 27:03 Exploring Horror and Comedy in Film 31:17 First Experience in Horror Film 34:10 Working with Jim Carrey 35:38 The Changing Landscape of Comedy 37:09 Memorable Moments from Dumb and Dumber 41:30 Ad-libbing in Comedy 43:53 Chemistry with Co-stars 49:00 Tattoos and Personal Stories 52:22 Reflections on Career and Advice 59:56 Breaking News: Broadway Musical Adaptation   Takeaways

Bonus Nick Schager as he talks about a new season - maybe two more - of Shogun and his favorite films from the Toronto Film Festival.  Please Like, Comment and Follow 'The Christopher Gabriel Program' on all platforms:    The Christopher Gabriel Program is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts.  ---  The Christopher Gabriel Program   | Website | Facebook | X | Instagram |   ---  Everything KMJ   KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's episode of the Black Girl Nerds podcast, we welcome movie directors Karen Chapman and Samir Oliveros, both had films to premiere out of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.  Chapman's 'Village Keeper' and Oliveros' 'The Luckiest Man In America'. Segment 1: Born to a Guyanese family that nurtured her instinctive creative problem solving skills, award-winning artist Karen Chapman has always been acquainted with versatility. Her steep background in documentary storytelling developed a voice and style that is compassionate, compelling and brave. Preparing her for an expansive repertoire of films that includes documentaries, narratives, animation, interactive-virtual reality and installation. At the service of every story, Chapman always strives to center work that is grounded in impact. Chapman, a graduate of Norman Jewison's Canadian Film Center, had her earlier short film Measure debut at the Toronto Film Festival in 2019 and win the International Hollywood Foreign Press and Residency Award at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, which she attended. Her most recent film, the documentary Quiet Minds Silent Streets, had a world premiere at TIFF in 2022. Host: Jamie Segment 2: Samir Oliveros was born in Bogotá, Colombia. His first feature, BAD LUCKY GOAT, funded through kickstarter, premiered at SXSW in 2017 and went on to play over 70 festivals including BFI London and TIFF Next Wave. His AFI thesis, CACTUS BLOSSOM, was awarded with a DGA Jury Prize. He is a founding partner in PLENTY GOOD, the production company behind CHRONICLES OF A WANDERING SAINT, winner of the Adam Yauch Hornblower award at SXSW 2023 and nominated for 3 independent Spirit Awards. Host: Jamie Music by: Sammus Edited by: Jamie Broadnax

Christina from Denmark returns to tell us all about her experience watching Lufthaus make their debut performance on a UK stage at Creamfields.  Jocelyn from USA is back to explain how she was lucky enough to attend the world premiere of Robbie's Better Man movie at Telluride Film Festival, as well as the Canadian premiere at Toronto Film Festival. Don't worry, we don't discuss any Better Man spoilers, except for the one big surprise that we think everyone knows by now! ======If there is an advert in this episode details will appear below:============**About Robbie Williams Rewind**Join husband and wife Matt and Lucy, as they rewind through legendary pop star Robbie Williams' solo career. Each episode, they have a guest fan to help us relive Robbie's incredible music and tours.Visit: robbiewilliamsrewind.com to discover more episodes, track listings & photos!Follow: @rewindrobbie on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter & TikTok.

Now that all of the Big Five film festivals (Berlin, Cannes, Sundance, Toronto, and Venice) have ended and handed out their awards, it's time for Sophia and Nick to recap how their premieres will influence the rest of awards season. Listen as they discuss initial reactions from Venice, Telluride (18:31), and TIFF (37:21), and preview some releases coming at the New York Film Festival (46:21). Afterwards, they answer some fun listener questions related to buzzy performances and their chances at competing on Survivor, older films that would pair well with recent releases, and some category specific possibilities, like in Screenplay or Picture. If you're curious about what audiences think of Anora, Conclave, Saturday Night, The End, Nightbitch, The Brutalist, Maria, Hard Truths, or The Last Showgirl (with Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis), or want to learn more about these movies, then this is the episode for you! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Sophia @sophia_cimFollow Nick @sauerkraut27More content including updated nomination predictions @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

EPISODE 118: Volker Bertelmann aka Hauschka is an international acclaimed pianist, composer and experimental musician. In 2023 he was honored with an Academy Award and a BAFTA in the Best Score category for his work on All Quiet on the Western Front (directed by Edward Berger). His score to Garth Davis' Oscar-nominated film Lion, which he composed in collaboration with Dustin O'Halloran, was nominated for multiple awards: Oscar for Best Original Score, Golden Globe for Best Original Score, Best Score at the Critics' Choice Awards, and for Best Film Music at the BAFTAs. Bertelmann has provided music for several leading films and television series. He composed the score for Patrick Melrose, The Old Guard, Stowaway, the episode “Red Book” from Black Mirror, and Life After Life for BBC. He also composed film scores for Adrift, the 2018 romantic drama directed by Baltasa Kormákur, and, again in collaboration with O'Halloran, for Ammonite, which was short-listed for The Academy Awards in 2020. In 2022, he scored War Sailor, which was an official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival. Volker Bertelmann has just worked with Oscar-winning director Edward Berger again on the film Conclave, which was presented at the Toronto Film Festival in 2024. Bertelmann, who in his solo work goes by the name Hauschka, is a uniquely innovative pianist; he is renowned both for his trademark sound, which he achieves by preparing the piano with various small objects, and his ability to improvise entire performances. His output is prodigious: he tours extensively, and has produced over twenty albums and EPs, both solo and in collaboration with others. He has worked, among many others, with the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, where he was the artist in residence, with Múm, the Icelandic experimental musical group, and with the Grammy-winning violinist Hilary Hahn. hauschka-net.deContact us: makingsoundpodcast.comFollow on Instagram: @makingsoundpodcastFollow on Threads: @jannkloseJoin our Facebook GroupPlease support the show with a donation, thank you for listening!

Erik Childress spent six days at this year's Toronto Film Festival and is here to dish on a bunch of the films he saw. They include the latest works from Francis Ford Coppola, Pedro Almodovar, Ron Howard and Sean Baker. Films about the aging plight of women in entertainment with Demi Moore, Elisabeth Moss and Pamela Anderson run the gamut from great to dismal. The Vatican and religion have their share of bad guys too. Erik splits his votes on a pair of relationship dramas as well as films about Press Your Luck and Saturday Night Live. Nicole Kidman and Amy Adams handle their unsatisfying home lives in wildly different manners. Plus, the latest Stephen King adaptation from Mike Flanagan wins both the festival's Audience Award as well as Erik's heart. All this and more on a recap of this year's fest. 0:00 - Intro 2:21 – The Luckiest Man In America 8:09 - The Substance 15:24 - The Last Showgirl 19:28 - The Life of Chuck 25:28 - We Live in Time 28:22 - Anora 34:06 - Eden 38:41 - Nightbitch 44:36 - Shell 46:54 - Conclave 50:22 - All of You 53:35 - Heretic 1:00:16 - Friendship 1:02:51 - The Room Next Door 1:05:01 - Relay 1:09:18 - The Assessment 1:13:53 - Saturday Night 1:22:02 - Megalopolis 1:29:20 - Babygirl 1:33:38 - Riff Raff 1:37:05 - Outro

This week, our hero and host, Neal Pollack, welcomes back Greg Ford to the podcast to talk about 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.' It's the second season of The Rings of Power, and the makers of that show have doubled down on what was bad about the first season: Boring characters, slow storylines, and nonsensical world building. For resident Tolkien fans, it's a real disappointment, though the show does look terrific despite the extremely mediocre acting and lame fan service. We cannot recommend it with good conscience.But Stephen Garrett can recommend many of the films coming out of this year's Toronto International Film Festival with good conscience. There was tons of crowd-pleasing Oscar bait this year, including the Papal succession movie Conclave, Babygirl, starring Nicole Kidman on all fours, a documentary about Pharrell Williams where everyone is a Lego figure, and a biopic about Robbie Williams where the star is played by a chimpanzee. You heard it here first! Listen up and get your fall movie viewing calendar ready. It should be fun.Why does this new Ronald Reagan biopic feature a narrator, played by Jon Voight, who's an ex-KGB agent? If you're trying to turn nonbelievers into Reagan fans, this is not the way to do it. Contributor Adam Hirschfelder joins Neal to talk about the strange trip that is 'Reagan.' Dennis Quaid plays Ronald Reagan, a good bit of casting. Apparently, Ronald Reagan single-handedly defeated Communism and had nothing to do with the Iran-Contra Affair. Is that true? It's not up for this podcast to decide. But we can certainly decide that 'Reagan' is a silly film, an unintentional comedy that plays like a sketch-show parody of a Reagan biopic.OK, that's all we wrote. We thank you for listening, this week and every week!

He's an internationally renowned DJ, a Miami style icon and the pregame opener for the Miami Heat for the past seven years. But perhaps the most intriguing facet of DJ Cardi is his humility. This is no small feat for someone who just returned from working a private gig for Dakota Johnson at the Toronto Film Festival. But catering to A-list stars like Leonardo DiCaprio or regularly performing at the Cannes Film Festival, Formula 1 Grand Prix and Pegasus World Cup is just another day's work for the Miami native.  If that's not enough, Cardi is a recognized fashion aficionado. Forbes recently hailed him as “one of Miami's style icons,” where he curates soundscapes for brands such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Vogue.  On Oct. 12, the celebrity DJ will return to Key West to support United Way of Collier and the  Keys — a retirement benefit to celebrate Monroe County's longest-serving elected official, Andy Griffiths.  DJ Cardi joins the Florida Keys Weekly Podcast to discuss his love for South Florida, the influences that shaped his eclectic style and his love for exquisite cuisine and movies.  Limited tickets remain for DJ Cardi, performing at Andy Griffiths' “Gone Fishing” retirement benefit for United Way of Collier and the Keys on Oct. 12 at the Beachside Resort. Tickets are on sale now and available on web or Facebook at United Way of Collier and the Keys. https://uwcollierkeys.org/event/andy-griffiths-retirement-party/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 253 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade and Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello take a look at the awards landscape now that we're in a post-Venice, Telluride and Toronto film festival world. With Venice, led by jury president Isabelle Huppert, choosing Pedro Almodóvar's The Room Next Door, Telluride critics and audiences both going for Sean Baker's Anora and Toronto voters choosing Mike Flanagan's currently distributor free The Life of Chuck as the People's Choice, there's plenty to talk about in how these choices impact the Oscar race, solidifying some early predictions and changing up others. Telluride saw strong showings for early frontrunner Conclave and late surprise September 5, which just got a Paramount pick up and a prime awards release date while Saturday Night seems to have peaked and cratered in a matter of days. With Nicole Kidman winning the Volpi Cup at Venice for Babygirl and Sony Pictures Classics choosing to push both Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore in TRND for lead consideration, the Best Actress conversation gets more exciting and fruitful by the day. Angelina Jolie, Mikey Madison, Amy Adams and more are all circling that final five. But a lot of internet chatter hyper-focused on that TIFF win for The Life of Chuck and understandably so; all of but one of the last 15 winners there earned a Best Picture Oscar nomination. That stat caused lots of scurrying, lots of extra math, and for many, finding a place for it in their new top 10. But, stats fall every year and sometimes instinct beats out overthinking. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 51m. We will be back next week to do discuss the latest film release, The Substance. Till then, let's get into it. Music: “Modern Fashion” from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

In this episode Larry Gilbert sat down with the multi-talented actor Oliver Trevena, a name synonymous with success in Hollywood, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. With over 20 years in the entertainment industry, Trevena has seamlessly navigated various roles from acclaimed TV host to award-winning actor, producer, and philanthropist. Trevena's journey in the spotlight began with his charismatic presence as a TV host for major shows like Young Hollywood and The Hollywood Reporter, where he interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment. He's also fronted red carpets for prestigious award shows, including The Grammys and The American Music Awards. But his career didn't stop there. Over the last few years, Trevena has transitioned from hosting to acting, and what a journey it has been. Oliver has starred in over a dozen feature films, sharing the screen with Hollywood heavyweights like Gerard Butler in Plane, Nina Dobrev and Aaron Eckhart in The Bricklayer, and Olga Kurylenko and Harvey Keitel in Paradox Effect, the latter earning him the Breakout Actor Award at the Rome Film Festival. With the recent Toronto Film Festival premiere of The Cut, where he co-stars alongside Orlando Bloom, Trevena's name continues to rise in Hollywood's elite circles. While his acting resume grows, Trevena is also making waves behind the camera. He produced and stars in Another Day in America, which recently hit the festival circuit, and he just wrapped production on Icefall, starring alongside Joel Kinnaman and Danny Huston. Trevena's upcoming projects include two television shows: Beachy Head, which he co-created with Danny Cannon and stars Dougray Scott, and London Son, both of which he is producing with Pulp Fiction producer Lawrence Bender. Beyond Hollywood, Trevena's impact is felt on a global scale through his philanthropic efforts. For over a decade, he's served as an ambassador for Not for Sale, a worldwide organization fighting human trafficking and modern-day slavery. His dedication earned him an award from the Duchess of York. His passion for humanitarian work doesn't stop there—Trevena produced a documentary in India, spotlighting the importance of female education and raising awareness about forced child marriage. Trevena is not just an entertainer; he's also a savvy entrepreneur. As the founder of Ollywood Media, he's built a thriving business centered around investments, production, and brand creation. Recognized as one of the "Top 20 Entrepreneurs to Watch," Trevena has merged his deep connections within the entertainment world with his creative vision to launch global brands like Allsaints, DOGPOUND, and Next Health. His most recent venture, Caliwater, co-founded with close friend Vanessa Hudgens, has attracted an all-star group of investors including Gerard Butler, Glen Powell, and Ryan Tedder. With a packed schedule of upcoming films, TV projects, and entrepreneurial ventures, Oliver Trevena continues to redefine what it means to be a multi-hyphenate in the modern entertainment industry. Whether he's acting, producing, or leading philanthropic initiatives, Trevena's passion for storytelling and making a difference shines through every endeavor. Tune in to the full episode to hear Oliver's inspiring story of perseverance, the lessons he's learned from his 20+ years in the entertainment business, and how he balances his Hollywood success with his business ventures. Follow Larry GIlbert on ⁠Instagram⁠. Follow the My Fame, Explained podcast on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube

As polls show Harris and Trump in a close race, Democrats try to focus on pulling more weight to their side through legislation and community outreach. But will the political payoff be enough? Also, today's stories: Ukrainians grapple with either, facing Russian soldiers or fleeing their homes, a chance for communities to go back to college, and a look into the Toronto Film Festival. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Laurent Belsie for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

David, Richard, and special guest Hillary Busis call in from Toronto in the midst of a very busy festival, where the Oscar race is rapidly taking shape. Along with Rebecca, they discuss some of the best films to premiere in Canada this past weekend, including Hard Truths and The Wild Robot, and ponder what's best positioned to win the festival's audience award—a crucial Oscar harbinger.Share your thoughts on Little Gold Men. As a token of our appreciation, you will be eligible to enter a prize drawing up to $1,000 after you complete the survey.https://selfserve.decipherinc.com/survey/selfserve/222b/76152?pin=1&uBRANDLINK=5&uCHANNELLINK=2

Shōgun and The Bear are off to a strong start thanks to the Creative Arts ceremony — Awardist host Gerrad Hall and EW TV critic Kristen Baldwin break down that winners there and offer final predictions for the televised ceremony. Plus, we recap our trip to the Toronto International Film Festival with a preview of our upcoming interviews with 2025 Oscar contenders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David, Richard, and special guest Hillary Busis call in from Toronto in the midst of a very busy festival, where the Oscar race is rapidly taking shape. Along with Rebecca, they discuss some of the best films to premiere in Canada this past weekend, including Hard Truths and The Wild Robot, and ponder what's best positioned to win the festival's audience award—a crucial Oscar harbinger.Share your thoughts on Little Gold Men. As a token of our appreciation, you will be eligible to enter a prize drawing up to $1,000 after you complete the survey.https://selfserve.decipherinc.com/survey/selfserve/222b/76152?pin=1&uBRANDLINK=5&uCHANNELLINK=2

Josh has returned from the Toronto Film Festival was a bunch of great movies in his brain and more importantly a couple of great conversations for you! First up Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander teaming up for the mesmerizing THE ASSESSMENT, and later on Josh catches up with Dakota Johnson who has turned to directing with LOSER BABY! Subscribe here⁠ to the new Happy Sad Confused clips channel so you don't miss any of the best bits of Josh's conversations! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! ZocDoc -- Go to ZocDoc.com/HappySad UPCOMING EVENTS! Kathryn Hahn 9/13 -- tickets here! Kate Winslet 9/23 -- tickets here! Zachary Quinto 9/29 -- tickets here! 10th Anniversary event with Sam Heughan & David Harbour 10/17-- ⁠tickets here!⁠ Andrew Garfield 10/4 -- tickets here! Anna Kendrick 10/22 -- tickets here! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world. ToI founding editor David Horovitz joins host Jessica Steinberg on today's episode. Horovitz discusses the latest Hezbollah attack in the northern coastal town of Nahariya, and the mounting concerns regarding the terrorist organization in Lebanon, and whether the threat can be contained by diplomatic means. Horovitz then describes the anguished but clear comments made to the prime minister by the bereaved father Rabbi Elhanan Danino, whose son, Ori Danino, was one of the six hostages killed in Hamas captivity ten days ago. During a condolence call visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Danino told Netanyahu that it was his policies that led to the death of his eldest son. Horovitz also reviews the latest machinations on the part of Justice Minister Yariv Levin regarding the appointment of a new High Court president. He also speaks about the Toronto Film Festival screening of 'Bibi Files,' the documentary about the Netanyahu graft trials, and the prime minister's attempts to stop the Canadian screening. For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel's ongoing live blog. Discussed articles include: Hezbollah drone hits Nahariya high-rise, as over 20 rockets fired at north After Hezbollah strike on Nahariya, residents say government abandoned them Gantz says military focus should shift from Gaza to Lebanon: ‘We're late on this' Top US official warns of ‘catastrophic consequences' to war in Lebanon – reports Bereaved father of hostage to Netanyahu: ‘My son was murdered in a tunnel you built' Levin mulls legislation to change majority for appointing Supreme Court president ‘Bibi Files' Canada premiere puts PM interrogation footage on screen for first time Court denies Netanyahu bid to block Canadian screening of leaked interrogation footage Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod Waves. IMAGE: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walking outside his office at the Knesset in Jerusalem on September 9, 2024. (Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johnny talked with Len Berman and Michael Riedel about the passing of James Earl Jones. They also hit on the Toronto Film Festival hits and misses.

NTD Good Morning—9/6/20241. Georgia High School Shooting Suspect to Appear in Court Today2. Father of GA School Shooting Suspect Arrested, Charged3. Judge Allows DOJ to File Evidence in J6 Case Before Election4. Judge to Decide Trump Hush Money Sentencing5. Trump Speaks at NY Economic Club6. RFK Jr. off Wyoming Ballot7. Israeli West Bank Raids Successful but Residents Suffer8. Biden Announces $7 Billion for Rural Energy9. Judge Pauses Plan to Cancel More Student Debt10. Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty in Tax Evasion Trial11. Can a Hostage Deal be Reached?12. Japan, Australia to Expand Joint Military Exercises13. Blinken Meets With Haitian Leaders14. New French PM Faces Divided Parliament, Protests15. Super Typhoon Slams Southern China16. Opening Night at the Toronto Film Festival 202417. Taiwanese Workshop Turns Waste Into Sunglasses18. Rome May Limit Tourist Access to Trevi Fountain19. DOJ Accuses Russia of Election Interference20. US Voters Being Targeted by Chinese Influence21. Hunter Biden Pleads Guilty in Tax Evasion Trial22. Judge Pauses Plan to Cancel More Student Debt23. NY Mandates Panic Buttons for Large Retailers Under New Law24. A Look at Harris, Trump Economic Proposals25. Voters React to Harris' Capital Gains Tax26. Drones Help Locate 3-Year-Old Missing in WI Cornfield27. 5G Towers: Connectivity vs. Compatibility28. Time-Lapse Video Captures Beautiful Scenes From the ISS

Erik Childress returns to the Toronto Film Festival this week and he has some films worthy of putting on your schedule if you are attending or to keep an eye out for the future. He also has a schedule in place that he walks through letting you know what he plans on seeing day-by-day providing a little preview of both the daily grind of a festival and even more films that caught his eye and may catch yours as well. 0:00 - Intro 1:20 – Shook 3:26 – Shepherds 5:29 – Mr. K 10:19 – Matt and Mara 14:38 - Do I Know You From Somewhere 19:18 – Day-by-Day Schedule Plan 38:10 - Outro

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As a child growing up in Barbados, Minnie Driver developed an affinity for the water—and her love for the beach and its restorative properties has only grown since. For Driver, recharging is necessary: since her breakthrough role in the 1997 classic Good Will Hunting, she's starred in a slew of feature films (two of which are set to premiere at this year's Toronto Film Festival) and television shows—the most recent being as Queen Elizabeth I in The Serpent Queen—and she hosts her own podcast, Minnie Questions. On this week's episode of Table for Two, the actress sits down for lunch with host Bruce Bozzi to discuss why she gravitated towards the performing arts, what she thinks people overlook about Margot Robbie's talent, and the ideology behind her podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's that time of year again! With the Fall festivals coming up Josh and NextBestPicture.com editor in chief Matt Neglia break down the biggest movies of the season, from blockbusters like GLADIATOR 2 and WICKED to smaller films yet to be seen including CONCLAVE, A COMPLETE UNKNOWN, and THE LIFE OF CHUCK. This is your insider's guide to what to keep an eye out for! Subscribe here⁠ to the new Happy Sad Confused clips channel so you don't miss any of the best bits of Josh's conversations! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! BetterHelp -- Visit BetterHelp.com/HSC today to get 10% off your first month Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

LIVE FROM NEW YORK (and Toronto) IT'S ... A BUNCH OF MOVIES. This week on the podcast J.Catherine Traverse and Emilio are joined by J. Kim Murphy to talk about all the movies announced for the NYFF Main Slate and TIFF Centerpiece, Wavelengths, and Docs. We try to figure out what's missing from these announcements, what we are excited to check out in person and if the Saturday Night trailer blew its whole Don Pardo wad. Excelsior! Our twitter is @CannesIKickIt Our instagram is @CIKIPod Our letterboxd is CIKIPod Enjoying the show? Feel free to send a few bucks our way on Ko-fi. Thanks to Tree Related for our theme song Our hosts are @andytgerm @clatchley @imlaughalone @jcpglickwebber You can find Jackson at @RobertKennedySr

On episode 243 of The AwardsWatch Podcast, Executive Editor Ryan McQuade is joined by AwardsWatch Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson and AwardsWatch Television Editor Tyler Doster to talk about Deadpool & Wolverine and discuss their favorite films of 2024 so far. Before we get into the meat of this week's episode, a couple of major pieces of news dropped this past week. First up is the first trailer for James Mangold's A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet as music legend Bob Dylan. The film will be releasing in December, most likely heading straight to theaters and skipping the upcoming fall film festivals. Erik and Tyler were largely positive on the trailer, but Ryan had some…other thoughts that's well worth the listen. After that, the team broke down the announcements of the full line-ups for the Venice and Toronto Film Festival, as well as the opening night film for the New York Film Festival. We are starting to find out where all the films are going for each festival, setting up the upcoming Oscar season. More on that and some predictions of next week's podcast. Moving right along to the main review for the week, Deadpool & Wolverine, which destroyed all competition at the box office this past weekend while also showing a divide amongst critics and audiences. Ryan and Erik give their thoughts, which were just as mixed as our review from our own Jay Ledbetter that is up on the website. After talking about the film, Ryan, Erik, and Tyler discussed at length their favorite films of 2024, as we are pasted the halfway mark of the year and there have been plenty of good movies to discuss. Some of the titles mentioned are Babes, I Saw The TV Glow, Challengers, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Ghostlight, National Anthem, Sing Sing, and more. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music and more. This podcast runs 1h42m. We will be back next week to talk about the latest release, Trap, as well as talk about some Oscar predictions before the fall festival season begins. Till then, let's get into it. Music: “Modern Fashion” from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), “B-3” from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

Jim Poole says “The human race appears to be in a race to erase the human race.” And at a time when “many people seem to have lost control of their lives,” NuCalm is the perfect remedy, argues Poole, the visionary CEO behind the stress management technology. “We have a tireless passion for helping people reclaim control of their lives,' says Poole. “And we can do it with the world's most powerful neuroscience. We have a culture of service. We don't serve for reciprocity or credit, we serve because we want to, we can, and we love to. It's our mission and it's our purpose and we will leave an indelible legacy on the human condition.” NuCalm is a unique, patented technology that's clinically proven to lower stress and improve sleep quality. It guides brain wave function reliably, safely, and effectively, with no drugs or side effects, using physics, mathematics, and algorithms in neuroacoustic software underneath music. Poole, 55, is an accomplished business executive with extensive experience in the healthcare, biotechnology, medical, financial services, market research, and IT industries. Since 2009 he has managed the strategic direction and ongoing operations of NuCalm, a neuroscience company with an expertise in evidence-based personalized wellness and performance. NuCalm stands alone as a pioneer in neuroscience that provides humans with the power to change their mental state on demand, without drugs or side effects.  In July 2015, the U.S. Patent Office granted NuCalm the first and only patent for “Systems and Methods for Balancing and Maintaining the Health of the Human Autonomic Nervous System.” In August 2021, the U.S. Patent Office granted NuCalm the first and only patent for “Methods and devices for applying dynamic, non-linear oscillations and vibrations to elicit a physiological state change in humans.” Poole has successfully launched global products, managed growth strategies, and optimized business operations for both large and small organizations. Prior to joining NuCalm, he founded Focused Evolution, a global management strategy consulting firm. As Managing Partner, Poole oversaw mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, and growth strategies for venture capital and private equity firms. Focused Evolution managed the largest private equity acquisition in the history of the dental industry for Credit Suisse DLJ Merchant Banking Partners in 2007 and 2008. Poole has lectured on applied neuropsychobiology, the human stress response, sleep and recovery, brain wave management, and business strategies across the globe, from the Royal College of Physicians in London to the 20th Annual Congress for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics in Los Angeles, from Beijing to St. Petersburg to Parliament to the Pentagon and Quantico to the Toronto Film Festival and the Consumer Electronics Show, the NFL Combine and the Super Bowl, across Europe, the United States, Canada, and India. NuCalm has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, FORBES, Access Hollywood, NASDAQ, MSNBC, CBS, the TODAY Show, and more.   Watch and learn more here! Want 15% off for LIFE on NuCalm - use the code KATIE at checkout. https://nucalm.com/ Stay connected: https://www.chonacas.com/links/ Business: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiechonacas/    

It's time to jump in the pool! Chris Pine's directorial debut was in theaters for two weeks tops, but we were able to dive in and experience it on the big screen. In the film, Chris Pine plays poolman Darren Barrenman. He fights for what is right in Los Angeles, which leads him down a path of corruption & real-estate & water & power. Pine assembled an impressive cast including Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz, Ray Wise, Juliet Mills, and DeWanda Wise. Poolman premiered at the Toronto Film Festival to wretched reviews, so we knew we had to see it! Never watch this film, but do listen to our take on Chris Pine's Poolman!

We discuss the hottest news of the week!Celebrity DeathsWeekend Box OfficeNew 'X-Men '97' WriterFeige on "Superhero" Movies'Captain America: Brave New World' First Trailer'Gladiator II' First Trailer'We Live in Time' Trailer'Severence' Teaser'Watchmen: Chapter One' Trailer'5Hrek' "Poster"Ron Howard's ‘EDEN' to Premiere at Toronto Film Festival in SeptemberBehind the Scenes Teaser for ‘Stranger Things' S5Emma Roberts Blames Internet for 'Madame Web' FloppingCollege Football 25'The Boys' S4E7 Spoilers'The Acolyte' Episode 7 Spoilers'TwisterS' Opens this Week!Join the conversation on social media - @MACandGUpodcast

Today on the show we have Oscar® nominated filmmaker and screenwriter Joe Wright.Joe has established himself as one of Hollywood's top directors with his rare ability to captivate global audiences through his extraordinary cinematic craft.Most recently, Wright directed the psychological thriller THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW, starring Amy Adams, Julianne Moore, and Gary Oldman. The film follows an agoraphobic psychologist whose life is turns upside down when a befriended neighbor suspiciously disappears. The film was released by Netflix in May 2021.Previously, Wright directed the war drama the Academy Award winning film DARKEST HOUR. Written by Anthony McCarten and starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill, the film follows Churchill's early days as the British Prime Minister during World War II. At the 90th Academy Awards, the film earned four nominations, including ‘Best Picture' and won for ‘Best Actor' and ‘Best Makeup and Hairstyling'. The film was also additionally nominated for nine BAFTA Awards including ‘Best Film' and ‘Best British Film', four Critics Choice awards, and a Golden Globe award.Wright made his directorial debut in 2005 with the critically acclaimed film PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen and Donald Sutherland, the film was adapted from the Jane Austen novel of the same name and garnered commercial and critical success.Wright received the BAFTA Award for ‘Most Promising Newcomer' and also won the ‘Best Director of the Year' award from the London Film Critics Circle. The film also received an additional five BAFTA nominations including ‘Best Screenplay-Adapted', four Academy Award nominations including ‘Best Actress' for Knightley and ‘Best Original Score' and two Golden Globe nominations including ‘Best Film'.His sophomore directorial feature was an adaptation of Ian McEwan's ATONEMENT, which was released in 2007 by Universal Pictures. Reuniting with Keira Knightly and also starring James McAvoy and Saoirse Ronan, the film opened the 64th Venice International Film Festival, making Wright the youngest director to ever open the event.The film went on to receive thirteen BAFTA Award nominations in major categories including ‘Best Director' for Wright and ultimately won for ‘Best Film'. At the 80th Academy Awards the film also picked up seven nominations including ‘Best Picture' and won for ‘Best Original Score' and earned seven nominations at the Golden Globes, winning ‘Best Motion Picture – Drama' and ‘Best Original Score'.In 2012, Wright released his film adaption of Leo Tolstoy's historical romantic drama ANNA KARENINA, which first premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. Marking his third collaboration with Keira Knightley, the film depicts the tragedy of Russian aristocrat and socialite ‘Anna Karenina', whose affair with ‘Officer Count Vronsky' leads to her ultimate demise.His adaptation earned four nominations at the 85th Academy Awards, six nominations at the BAFTA Awards including ‘Best British Film', a Golden Globe nomination, and two Critics Choice Awards.Additional filmmaking credits include the 2015 prequel PAN starring Hugh Jackman; the 2011 action thriller HANNA with Saoirse Ronan; and the 2009 drama THE SOLOIST starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.His new film is the magical Cyrano starring Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.Too self-conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano de Bergerac helps young Christian nab her heart through love letters.  This musical adaptation of Edmond Rostand's classic play tells the story of Cyrano de Bergerac as he pines for the affections of the beautiful Roxanne, who has fallen in love with another man named Christian de Neuvillette. Though Cyrano understands that his social status and physical appearance will forever keep him apart from his lady love, he offers his skills as a gifted poet to Christian in an effort to bring the two lovers together once and for all.Enjoy my enlightening conversation with Joe Wright.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support.

The CFL Gambling Podcast (@CFLGamblingPod) dives into the CFL 2024 win total market with their East Division Win Total Episode. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Justin Mark (@JMarkFootball) break down every single team in the CFL East and project who you should be betting on in prior to the first games kickoff. Will the Toronto Argonauts be a under play since star QB Chad Kelly is suspended for the first 9 games of the season? Will Ryan Dinwiddie have the Argo's offense rolling despite Kelly's suspension? What do we make of Scott Milanovich in a full season with Bo Levi Mitchell with the Hamilton Tiger Cats?Are the Montreal Alouettes due for a Grey Cup Championship hangover in 2024? Will the Ottawa Redblacks show some signs of life and smash the win total over? Is the CFL East Division the weakest its been in recent years? Which CFL East team won the offseason the most? Did the Toronto Argonauts lose too much on the defensive side of the ball to be considered serious contenders in 2024? We talk it all and more on this episode of The CFL Gambling Podcast. JOIN the SGPN community #DegensOnlyExclusive Merch, Contests and Bonus Episodes ONLY on Patreon - https://sg.pn/patreonDiscuss with fellow degens on Discord - https://sg.pn/discordDownload The Free SGPN App - https://sgpn.appCheck out the Sports Gambling Podcast on YouTube - https://sg.pn/YouTubeCheck out our website - http://sportsgamblingpodcast.comSUPPORT us by supporting our partnersNYRA Racing code SGPN200 - $200 Deposit Bonus Promo code SGPN200 - http://nyrabest.com/sgpn200Underdog Fantasy code SGPN - Up to $250 in BONUS CASH - https://play.underdogfantasy.com/p-sgpnRoyal Retros code SGPN - 10% off - https://www.royalretros.com/Gametime code SGPN - Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code SGPN for $20 off your first purchase - https://gametime.co/Football Contest Proxy - Use promo code SGP to save $50 at - https://www.footballcontestproxy.com/ ADVERTISE with SGPNInterested in advertising? Contact sales@sgpn.io================================================================Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER CO, DC, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY Call 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) Call 1-800-327-5050 (MA)21+ to wager. Please Gamble Responsibly. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS, NV), 1-800 BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI)

Hi Everyone, We're a little late with this episode and it's all my fault! As I mentioned in my May 1st blog post (sign up here for updates), for the first time in four years, I conducted an amazing interview with Sheila Kohler and forgot to hit record on Zoom. Sheila--the most gracious person on Earth--forgave me for wasting 45 minutes of her time and agreed to re-record the episode. Thank you to Sheila for sitting down with me twice! After I recovered from the shame, I realized this might be a great boon for readers. I loved Cracks—the short story, the novel, and the movie! You will find links to all three below. It was fascinating to talk about Sheila's adaptation from short story to novel and to hear about the making of the movie and the decision to set the movie in England rather than South Africa. I hope you have had time to read the short story and the novel. What did you think of the movie? Let me know if you have any follow-up questions or comments. I would love to hear. Here are the links: Content Warning: Sexual Assault Cracks, the short story, by Sheila Kohler Cracks, The Novel by Sheila Kohler, available at Bookshop and Amazon. Cracks, The Movie In other news... I am taking a sabbatical from the podcast this summer to rest, regroup, and figure out what direction to take this show in in the future. I love doing it, but every now and then, I think it's a good idea to reevaluate and hone in on what has been valuable and what parts need to go. My first guest in the fall is Tim Tomlinson. Although I will be talking to him about one of his short stories, he has a new book coming out this month. It looks terrific! Check out kellyfordon.com for a picture of the cover and publication information from Nirala. Cheers! Kelly Sheila Kohler Bio: Sheila Kohler was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, the younger of two girls. Upon matriculation at 17 from Saint Andrews, with a distinction in history (1958), she left the country for Europe. She lived for 15 years in Paris, where she married, did her undergraduate degree in literature at the Sorbonne, and a graduate degree in psychology at the Institut Catholique. After raising her three girls, she moved to the USA in 1981, and did an MFA in writing at Columbia. In the summer of 1987, her first published story, “The Mountain,” came out in “The Quarterly” and received an O.Henry prize and was published in the O.Henry Prize Stories of 1988. It also became the first chapter in her first novel, “The Perfect Place,” which was published by Knopf the next year. Knopf also published the first volume of her short stories, “Miracles in America,” in 1990. Kohler has won two O.Henry prizes for “The Mountain” 1988 and “The Transitional Object” 2008. She has been short-listed in the O.Henry Prize Stories for three years running: in 1999 for the story, “Africans”; in 2000 for “Casualty,” which had appeared in the Ontario Review; and 2001 for “Death in Rome,” a story which had appeared in The Antioch Review. “Casualty” was also included in the list of distinguished stories in The Best American Short Stories of 2001. In 1994 she published a second novel, “The House on R Street,” also with Knopf, about which Patrick McGrath said, in “The New York Times Book Review: ” “Sheila Kohler has achieved in this short novel a remarkable atmosphere, a fine delicate fusion of period, society and climate.” In 1998 she published a short story, “Africans,” in Story Magazine, which was chosen for the Best American Short Stories of 1999, was read and recorded at Symphony Space and at The American Repertory Theatre in Boston and was translated into Japanese. It was also included in her second collection of stories,” One Girl,” published by Helicon Nine, which won the Willa Cather Prize in 1998 judged by William Gass. In 1999 she published her third novel, “Cracks,” with Zoland, which received a starred review from Kirkus, was nominated for an Impac award in 2001, and was chosen one of the best books of the year by Newsday and by Library Journal.” Cracks” also came out with Bloomsbury in England, was translated into French and Dutch, and will come out in Hebrew. It has been optioned six times by Killer films and Working Track 2. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September, 2009, and at the London film festival and came out here in the summer of 2010 and is now on Netflix. It is directed by Jordan Scott, with Eva Green in the role of Miss G. In 2000 Kohler received the Smart Family Foundation Prize for “Underworld,” a story published in the October “Yale Review.” In 2001 she published her fourth novel,” The Children of Pithiviers,” with Zoland, a novel about the concentration camps during the Vicky Period in France in Pithiviers and Beaune la Rolande. In 2003 she was awarded a fellowship at the Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Institute to work on a historical novel based on the life on the Marquise de la Tour du Pin, a French aristocrat who escaped the Terror by bringing her family to Albany, New York. Also that year she published her third volume of short stories, “Stories from Another World” with the Ontario Review Press. She won the Antioch Review Prize in 2004 for work in that magazine. Both “ The Perfect Place” and “Miracles in America” came out in England with Jonathan Cape and in paperback with Vintage International. “The Perfect Place” was translated into French, German, Japanese, and Portuguese. Her fifth novel, “Crossways,” came out in October, 2004, also, with the Ontario Review Press edited by Raymond Smith and Joyce Carol Oates. It received a starred Kirkus Review and is out in paperback with the Other Press as well as “The Perfect Place.” Kohler has published essays in The Boston Globe, Salmagundi (summer 2004, 2009), The Bellevue Literary magazine, and O Magazine,”The Heart Speaks” ( May 2004), “What Happy Ever After Really Looks Like” (2008) and reviews in The New Leader and Bomb as well as essays in The American Scholar in 2014 and 2015. Kohler began teaching at The Writer's Voice in 1990, going on from there to teach at SUNY Purchase, Sarah Lawrence, Colgate, CCNY , Bennington and Columbia. She has taught creative writing at Princeton since 2008 and now teaches freshman seminars there . Sheila's sixth novel, “Bluebird or the Invention of Happiness” was published in 2007, and the paperback was published with Berkely in 2008. “The Transitional Object” in Boulevard won an O.Henry prize and is included in the 2008 volume. Her tenth book, “Becoming Jane Eyre” came out with Viking Penguin in December, 2009, and was a New York Times editor's pick. Casey Cep wrote in the Boston Globe about this novel: “With an appreciation for their craft and sympathy for their difficult profession, Kohler's “Becoming Jane Eyre'' is a tender telling of the Brontë family's saga and the stories they told.” Her eleventh book “Love Child” was published by Penguin in America and by La Table Ronde in France. In June of 2012, her twelfth book “The Bay of Foxes,” was published by Penguin. “Dreaming for Freud” was published by Penguin in 2014. It will be translated into Turkish In 2013 the story, “Magic Man” was published in Best American Short Stories. Sheila Kohler published her memoir “Once we were sisters” in 2017 with Penguin in America and with Canongate in England and Alba in Spain. Sheila's latest novel is “Open Secrets” published by Penguin in July 2020. Kohler currently lives in New York and Amagansett. ***

We're down a Cinebud this week, but worry not because we called in a couple of Jokers to compensate.To be more accurate, our very special guests joining us on this episode are two of the people who worked on viral and cinematic sensation The People's Joker: composers Justin Krol and Quinn Scharber. The Milwaukee-based duo are the driving force behind the film's score and thus have enjoyed a front-row seat to its tumultuous and controversial existence.We won't get too into the legal weeds here, but to summarize: The People's Joker debuted at the Toronto Film Festival back in 2022, was shelved under the threat of legal action from Warner Bros., snuck in a secret midnight screening at the Milwaukee Film Festival in 2023 and then finally began its proper theatrical run last month.With Kpolly on the sidelines for this one, Dori uses her finely honed interviewing skills to get Krol and Scharber chatting about their early days as Milwaukee musicians, their connection to the movie's star/creative force Vera Drew, and the chutzpah required to get into this very competitive field.Produced and edited by Marcus Doucette

First, Kara Warner talks to the Oscar-nominated star of Poor Things, who says his comic blowhard performance could be the first of many funny roles if anyone wants to cast him in one. Then American Fiction writer-director Cord Jefferson tells Katey Rich about how he had to get talked into witnessing his film's blockbuster Toronto Film Festival premiere, and what gives him hope for the future of Hollywood.Join our first ever Oscar Pool! Email us at littlegoldmen@vf.com, and please put "Oscar Pool" in the subject line to register.(Subject to availability)Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vfawardsinsiderFollow our hosts: @kateyrich, @rilaws, @beccamford, @davidcanfield97Our editor and producer is Brett Fuchs

Director: Hayao Miyazaki Writers: Hayao Miyazaki Starring:  Runtime:  2 Hour 4 Minutes Synopsis:  Already acclaimed as a masterpiece in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki's new film begins as a simple story of loss and love, and rises to become a staggering work of imagination. Already acclaimed as a masterpiece in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki's new film begins as a simple story of loss and love, and rises to a staggering work of imagination. Coming after the maker of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke announced his retirement, The Boy and the Heron is an especially precious gift, and possibly the final film we will see from one of cinema's greatest artists. As a boy, Miyazaki read Genzaburo Yoshino's novel How Do You Live? and embraced it as his favourite. This film was initially announced as an adaptation of that book, but Miyazaki uses it instead as one of many layers in a dazzling tapestry that draws even more upon his own youth. During the Second World War, young Mahito Maki (Soma Santoki) suffers a heartbreaking family tragedy and must move immediately to the countryside, where his father (Takuya Kimura) works for a family making planes for Japan's military, as Miyazaki's own father did. Isolated, Mahito begins exploring the mysterious landscapes and encounters a grey heron, persistent in its presence. The boy also happens upon an abandoned tower. Curious, he enters. From there, The Boy and the Heron expands into a wondrous, often-startling phantasmagoria. Visually, the film shows Miyazaki at the height of his powers, filling the frame with gorgeous compositions, vibrant colour, and arresting movement. As it draws you deeper into its mysteries, The Boy and the Heron becomes richer, stranger, and more profoundly beautiful. This is a singular, transformative experience in film, and not to be missed.   Everyone knows that Kriss doesn't watch anime but thanks to the Toronto Film Festival and the pre-festival buzz that Hayao Miyazaki's latest Studio Ghibili film was receiving, Kriss added The Boy and the Heron to his TIFF coverage list. And the film did not disappoint. Even for those that do not typically gravitate to anime or Studio Ghibili films, this film will definitely be relatable in its themes around grief, finding oneself and what it means to be a "good person". Another thing that works very well for this film is the time period around when this film takes place. Set during the Pacific War during World War 2, there are a lot of subtle (or not so subtle depending on one's understanding of history) that set a much darker and grim tone for this film. That understanding of some of the background action and characters only serves to make The Boy and the Heron even more of an intriguing and engaging films. Image credit: Courtesy of TIFF There have been a lot of great animated films this year but The Boy and the Heron might be one of the best looking films of the year. Audiences should definitely seek out IMAX showings of this film where possible. Even without IMAX, the film is absolutely stunning and pushes the bar higher for what audiences should demand from animated film visuals. The Boy and the Heron has received a lot of pre-festival buzz and it's all well worth it. Listen as Kriss, Ro and Brandon discuss The Boy and the Heron and dive deeper into the film and what makes it so good. The Boy and the Heron is now playing in US theaters. Follow more of our Toronto Film Festival 2023 Reviews and Coverage on our Press Page Page: https://press.mtrnetwork.net Follow us on Social Media: MTRNetwork MTRNetwork @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork

Director: Justine Triet Writers: Justine Triet, Arthur Harari Starring: Sandra Hüller, Samuel Theis, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner Runtime:  2 Hour 31 Minutes Synopsis:  The much-lauded winner of this year's Palme d'Or, Justine Triet's fourth feature has cemented her status as one of today's great filmmaking talents. Unfolding over two-and-a-half hours like a compulsively readable novel, the riveting Anatomy of a Fall is both a dissection of an intimate relationship and of the judiciary process. Sandra (a ferocious, magnetic, and edgy Sandra Hüller, also at the Festival in Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest) is a successful German writer who lives in the French Alps with her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) and their visually impaired son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). A brilliant, decibel-bursting opening scene suggests tensions in their isolated chalet, so when Samuel is discovered dead in the snow beneath one of their windows, suspicion is quickly aroused. Did he take his own life, or was he pushed to his death? When the investigation proves to be inconclusive — its varying angles hinting at the microscopic examination to come — Sandra is ultimately indicted and put on trial. A captivating and sharply directed, written, and acted courtroom procedural, Anatomy of a Fall also functions like a trenchant autopsy of confirmation bias and ambiguity itself, with the court an operatic arena in which every gesture, word, and past interaction are ripe for judgment. As scrutiny turns to Sandra's complex character and her tumultuous relationship with Samuel — their artistic rivalries, romantic jealousies, and contempt — the couple's young son becomes the key witness. Taut, suspenseful, and thrilling until the final moment, Anatomy of a Fall progresses like a heady puzzle that tackles the messiness of existence and the often-elusive nature of truth itself. Anatomy of a Fall is one of those International films that actually feels even better if you watch it  as a foreigner. There's something about watching a court room drama from another country from the perspective of a foreigner with no sense of the criminal justice system in that country. In this film in particular, its jarring to see how the prosecutors and judge hound Sandra (Sandra Hüller) as the accused. What makes a good court room dramas work is its ability to pull the audience into the situation. Anatomy of a Fall takes it a step further and even adds in whodunit elements to have the audience completely guessing as to if Sandra is guilty or not. It's as if the film treats the audience as the traditional jury and each scene is laid out as a way for either the defense or prosecution to present their case in order to sway the jury. Where Anatomy of a Fall succeeds where other films fail is that at no point does it take the audience for granted and what's presented never feels like an empty red heron. Witnesses make mistakes. Scenarios seem implausible but not impossible, leaving room for doubt. Director Justine Triet does a brilliant job of pulling the audience into the situation of this movie and making them FEEL the tension and environment. If you already didn't have strong negative feelings about rapper 50 Cent's song P.I.M.P, then you will probably dread/hate the song after. The obnoxious use of the song by the victim (Sandra's husband) is enough to drive the audience crazy. It's not really a downside though as it's clearly done on purpose. The whole point is to pull the audience into the moment and start thinking things like "Maybe Sandra did it because of how annoying he is" and "She has to be lying when she says the song didn't annoy her because it's annoying me".  Anatomy of a Fall is definitely well worth the watch. The drama and tension leads right up through the end of the film and will leave audiences engaged the entire time. Listen as Kriss is joined by the Review Crew to talk about this film. Anatomy of a Fall showed at the Toronto Film Festival 20...

Director: Alexander Payne Writers: David Hemingson Starring: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph Runtime:  2 Hour 13 Minutes Synopsis:  Paul Giamatti stars in Alexander Payne's latest about the bond that forms between a strict professor and a belligerent student he's stuck supervising over the winter holiday at an elite boarding school. Barton men don't lie. This is just one of the many rules Professor Hunham (Paul Giamatti) takes much too seriously as he hands out poor grades at an elite boarding school in 1971. As he dismisses the politics that come along with educating the children of people in high places, he's punished by the headmaster who gives him a most undesirable assignment for the winter break: to stay at the school and supervise the students who are unable to go home. Hunham resolves to have the students suffer with him, forcing them to start studying next semester's curriculum ahead of time. Among them, 15-year-old Angus (Dominic Sessa), bright but belligerent, makes a ruckus. Teacher and student become foes, antagonizing one another and tiring themselves out, as Mary (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), the school cafeteria manager, observes from the sidelines, herself alone after recently losing her son in the Vietnam War. As the petulant pair succumb to the depressing truth that they've got little else but each other this holiday season, Professor Hunham starts to soften up and they begin to see themselves in one another. Giamatti gives a career-high performance as the risible teacher who delights in doling out punishment, while newcomer Sessa makes an immediate name for himself, revealing layers of complexity to his character's rebellious nature. With The Holdovers, director Alexander Payne (Downsizing, TIFF '17) makes a delicate point about how a first impression never tells the whole truth and shows that the pains and tragedies that feel specific to us actually make us a lot more alike than unalike. The Holdovers is one of those fun, throwback films that manages to remind us of one of those Christmas films from the 80's (set in the 70's) but still has more modern sensibilities. On the surface, it would look like your typical "Teacher stuck with a rebellious teenage and they bond and learn more about each other as their misadventures go on" but there's a lot more to The Holdovers. This is really a film about the masks people wear to prevent people from getting too close. The way that people sometimes retreat into their own heads in order to not confront those things that really trouble and scare them. The three main actors/actresses of The Holdovers also form a really great ensemble that plays extremely well off of each other. This is an example of the classic "Don't judge a book by its cover". None of the characters behave how you would think after first meeting them and that also adds to how enjoyable this film is. Paul Giamatti continues to show how he is such a versatile actor who can take on any challenge presented to him. Initially he comes off as just your stereotypical hardass of a teacher that believes in following the rules over everything but as the film goes on you start seeing there's much more to who he is and why he is the way he is. Dominic Sessa plays the spoiled, asshole kid to perfection but also the audience realizes fairly quickly there's a lot more to what is behind his behavior. It's not revealed until much later in the film and when it does, it's absolutely heartbreaking. The true glue that brings this film together is Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Lesser films would have made Mary's character an afterthought and not given her a solid arc. Instead, The Holdovers recognizes her importance to bridging the gap between Hunham and Agnus but also allows her to go on her own journey with grief and loss.  The Holdovers is an enjoyable surprise that will definitely hit the right emotional buttons for the holidays. Listen as Kriss and the crew talk about The Holdovers.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki Writers: Hayao Miyazaki Starring:  Runtime:  2 Hour 4 Minutes Synopsis:  Already acclaimed as a masterpiece in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki's new film begins as a simple story of loss and love, and rises to become a staggering work of imagination. Already acclaimed as a masterpiece in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki's new film begins as a simple story of loss and love, and rises to a staggering work of imagination. Coming after the maker of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke announced his retirement, The Boy and the Heron is an especially precious gift, and possibly the final film we will see from one of cinema's greatest artists. As a boy, Miyazaki read Genzaburo Yoshino's novel How Do You Live? and embraced it as his favourite. This film was initially announced as an adaptation of that book, but Miyazaki uses it instead as one of many layers in a dazzling tapestry that draws even more upon his own youth. During the Second World War, young Mahito Maki (Soma Santoki) suffers a heartbreaking family tragedy and must move immediately to the countryside, where his father (Takuya Kimura) works for a family making planes for Japan's military, as Miyazaki's own father did. Isolated, Mahito begins exploring the mysterious landscapes and encounters a grey heron, persistent in its presence. The boy also happens upon an abandoned tower. Curious, he enters. From there, The Boy and the Heron expands into a wondrous, often-startling phantasmagoria. Visually, the film shows Miyazaki at the height of his powers, filling the frame with gorgeous compositions, vibrant colour, and arresting movement. As it draws you deeper into its mysteries, The Boy and the Heron becomes richer, stranger, and more profoundly beautiful. This is a singular, transformative experience in film, and not to be missed.   Everyone knows that Kriss doesn't watch anime but thanks to the Toronto Film Festival and the pre-festival buzz that Hayao Miyazaki's latest Studio Ghibili film was receiving, Kriss added The Boy and the Heron to his TIFF coverage list. And the film did not disappoint. Even for those that do not typically gravitate to anime or Studio Ghibili films, this film will definitely be relatable in its themes around grief, finding oneself and what it means to be a "good person". Another thing that works very well for this film is the time period around when this film takes place. Set during the Pacific War during World War 2, there are a lot of subtle (or not so subtle depending on one's understanding of history) that set a much darker and grim tone for this film. That understanding of some of the background action and characters only serves to make The Boy and the Heron even more of an intriguing and engaging films. Image credit: Courtesy of TIFF There have been a lot of great animated films this year but The Boy and the Heron might be one of the best looking films of the year. Audiences should definitely seek out IMAX showings of this film where possible. Even without IMAX, the film is absolutely stunning and pushes the bar higher for what audiences should demand from animated film visuals. The Boy and the Heron has received a lot of pre-festival buzz and it's all well worth it. Listen as Kriss, Ro and Brandon discuss The Boy and the Heron and dive deeper into the film and what makes it so good. The Boy and the Heron is now playing in US theaters. Follow more of our Toronto Film Festival 2023 Reviews and Coverage on our Press Page Page: https://press.mtrnetwork.net Follow us on Social Media: MTRNetwork MTRNetwork @InsanityReport @TheMTRNetwork

Director: Justine Triet Writers: Justine Triet, Arthur Harari Starring: Sandra Hüller, Samuel Theis, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado Graner Runtime:  2 Hour 31 Minutes Synopsis:  The much-lauded winner of this year's Palme d'Or, Justine Triet's fourth feature has cemented her status as one of today's great filmmaking talents. Unfolding over two-and-a-half hours like a compulsively readable novel, the riveting Anatomy of a Fall is both a dissection of an intimate relationship and of the judiciary process. Sandra (a ferocious, magnetic, and edgy Sandra Hüller, also at the Festival in Jonathan Glazer's The Zone of Interest) is a successful German writer who lives in the French Alps with her husband Samuel (Samuel Theis) and their visually impaired son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). A brilliant, decibel-bursting opening scene suggests tensions in their isolated chalet, so when Samuel is discovered dead in the snow beneath one of their windows, suspicion is quickly aroused. Did he take his own life, or was he pushed to his death? When the investigation proves to be inconclusive — its varying angles hinting at the microscopic examination to come — Sandra is ultimately indicted and put on trial. A captivating and sharply directed, written, and acted courtroom procedural, Anatomy of a Fall also functions like a trenchant autopsy of confirmation bias and ambiguity itself, with the court an operatic arena in which every gesture, word, and past interaction are ripe for judgment. As scrutiny turns to Sandra's complex character and her tumultuous relationship with Samuel — their artistic rivalries, romantic jealousies, and contempt — the couple's young son becomes the key witness. Taut, suspenseful, and thrilling until the final moment, Anatomy of a Fall progresses like a heady puzzle that tackles the messiness of existence and the often-elusive nature of truth itself. Anatomy of a Fall is one of those International films that actually feels even better if you watch it  as a foreigner. There's something about watching a court room drama from another country from the perspective of a foreigner with no sense of the criminal justice system in that country. In this film in particular, its jarring to see how the prosecutors and judge hound Sandra (Sandra Hüller) as the accused. What makes a good court room dramas work is its ability to pull the audience into the situation. Anatomy of a Fall takes it a step further and even adds in whodunit elements to have the audience completely guessing as to if Sandra is guilty or not. It's as if the film treats the audience as the traditional jury and each scene is laid out as a way for either the defense or prosecution to present their case in order to sway the jury. Where Anatomy of a Fall succeeds where other films fail is that at no point does it take the audience for granted and what's presented never feels like an empty red heron. Witnesses make mistakes. Scenarios seem implausible but not impossible, leaving room for doubt. Director Justine Triet does a brilliant job of pulling the audience into the situation of this movie and making them FEEL the tension and environment. If you already didn't have strong negative feelings about rapper 50 Cent's song P.I.M.P, then you will probably dread/hate the song after. The obnoxious use of the song by the victim (Sandra's husband) is enough to drive the audience crazy. It's not really a downside though as it's clearly done on purpose. The whole point is to pull the audience into the moment and start thinking things like "Maybe Sandra did it because of how annoying he is" and "She has to be lying when she says the song didn't annoy her because it's annoying me".  Anatomy of a Fall is definitely well worth the watch. The drama and tension leads right up through the end of the film and will leave audiences engaged the entire time. Listen as Kriss is joined by the Review Crew to talk about this film. Anatomy of a Fall showed at the Toronto Film Festival 20...

Director: Alexander Payne Writers: David Hemingson Starring: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da'Vine Joy Randolph Runtime:  2 Hour 13 Minutes Synopsis:  Paul Giamatti stars in Alexander Payne's latest about the bond that forms between a strict professor and a belligerent student he's stuck supervising over the winter holiday at an elite boarding school. Barton men don't lie. This is just one of the many rules Professor Hunham (Paul Giamatti) takes much too seriously as he hands out poor grades at an elite boarding school in 1971. As he dismisses the politics that come along with educating the children of people in high places, he's punished by the headmaster who gives him a most undesirable assignment for the winter break: to stay at the school and supervise the students who are unable to go home. Hunham resolves to have the students suffer with him, forcing them to start studying next semester's curriculum ahead of time. Among them, 15-year-old Angus (Dominic Sessa), bright but belligerent, makes a ruckus. Teacher and student become foes, antagonizing one another and tiring themselves out, as Mary (Da'Vine Joy Randolph), the school cafeteria manager, observes from the sidelines, herself alone after recently losing her son in the Vietnam War. As the petulant pair succumb to the depressing truth that they've got little else but each other this holiday season, Professor Hunham starts to soften up and they begin to see themselves in one another. Giamatti gives a career-high performance as the risible teacher who delights in doling out punishment, while newcomer Sessa makes an immediate name for himself, revealing layers of complexity to his character's rebellious nature. With The Holdovers, director Alexander Payne (Downsizing, TIFF '17) makes a delicate point about how a first impression never tells the whole truth and shows that the pains and tragedies that feel specific to us actually make us a lot more alike than unalike. The Holdovers is one of those fun, throwback films that manages to remind us of one of those Christmas films from the 80's (set in the 70's) but still has more modern sensibilities. On the surface, it would look like your typical "Teacher stuck with a rebellious teenage and they bond and learn more about each other as their misadventures go on" but there's a lot more to The Holdovers. This is really a film about the masks people wear to prevent people from getting too close. The way that people sometimes retreat into their own heads in order to not confront those things that really trouble and scare them. The three main actors/actresses of The Holdovers also form a really great ensemble that plays extremely well off of each other. This is an example of the classic "Don't judge a book by its cover". None of the characters behave how you would think after first meeting them and that also adds to how enjoyable this film is. Paul Giamatti continues to show how he is such a versatile actor who can take on any challenge presented to him. Initially he comes off as just your stereotypical hardass of a teacher that believes in following the rules over everything but as the film goes on you start seeing there's much more to who he is and why he is the way he is. Dominic Sessa plays the spoiled, asshole kid to perfection but also the audience realizes fairly quickly there's a lot more to what is behind his behavior. It's not revealed until much later in the film and when it does, it's absolutely heartbreaking. The true glue that brings this film together is Da'Vine Joy Randolph. Lesser films would have made Mary's character an afterthought and not given her a solid arc. Instead, The Holdovers recognizes her importance to bridging the gap between Hunham and Agnus but also allows her to go on her own journey with grief and loss.  The Holdovers is an enjoyable surprise that will definitely hit the right emotional buttons for the holidays. Listen as Kriss and the crew talk about The Holdovers.

Months after his film American Fiction took home the Toronto Film Festival's audience award, Jeffrey Wright is no longer on strike and able to talk to Chris Murphy about the film that resonated with him in surprisingly personal ways. Then, David Canfield talks to Charles Melton, who was as thrilled as you might imagine to share the screen with Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman in May December, and who holds his own with a performance that draws on his Army brat childhood and his insistence on never fitting into a single box. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vfawardsinsider Email us at littlegoldmen@vf.com Follow our hosts: @kateyrich, @rilaws, @beccamford, @davidcanfield97  Our editor and producer is Brett Fuchs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taissa Farmiga is back on the big screen with THE NUN 2 so we're looking back at her whole career in this 2022 chat! Plus Josh recaps his Toronto Film Festival experience. UPCOMING EVENTS! 10/9 -- Come see Josh and Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells at the 92nd Street Y in NYC! Virtual tickets available too. Get your tickets here! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes of GAME NIGHT, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!⁠ NordVPN --