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Explore Lauren Bradshaw’s in-depth reviews of top movies at the Toronto International Film Festival. From “A Star is Born” to “The Joker”, read festival reviews here first!
POETIC LICENSE is a hilariously entertaining comedy with an ambitious directorial debut from Maude Apatow. It's hard to believe this is her first film, because she expertly balances an ensemble cast, as well as the script's complex tone, which has a lot of emotion within the comedic moments. More than anything, I also love that… Continue reading Movie Review: Poetic License
I was on a high, excited that I hadn't seen a bad film so far during my time at the Toronto International Film Festival. All of that changed, however, when I saw THE SMASHING MACHINE, which is the most disappointing film I have seen this year. Admittedly, I had high hopes—I love fighting movies and… Continue reading Movie Review: The Smashing Machine
Watching BAD APPLES was the most fun I have had in a movie so far at the Toronto International Film Festival. This dark comedy is entertaining, hilarious, and you will never guess what’s coming next. Let's be real, Saoirse Ronan always delivers...but she is especially a riot in this one. I've seen other critics describe… Continue reading Movie Review: Bad Apples
Sometimes I hear a movie premise and think to myself, "Wow, that is such a fantastic idea. Why didn't I come up with that?" And that is exactly how I felt when I heard about A24's imaginative, fantasy rom-com, ETERNITY. The film reminds me of the world-building created in THE TRUMAN SHOW, mixed with the… Continue reading Movie Review: Eternity
The second I saw the premise of I SWEAR, I knew I had to prioritize seeing it at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year. The film is based on the inspirational true story of Scottish social activist John Davidson, showing his life before and after he was diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Tourette Syndrome… Continue reading Movie Review: I Swear
CHRISTY has been my biggest cinematic surprise this year. I go into every movie optimistically hoping I will like it, but judging from the rapturous reaction from the crowd at the Toronto International Film Festival, this film was a hit. CHRISTY is an easy crowdpleaser that will make you cheer, cringe, and cry. I did… Continue reading Movie Review: Christy
Honestly, it's hard not to enjoy a movie like JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME. Part love letter, part character study, part career retrospective, this film does a phenomenal job exploring the beloved comedy icon. It utilizes interviews with the people that knew him best, from close childhood friends, to family members, to fellow actor-comedians like… Continue reading Movie Review- John Candy: I Like Me
One of my favorite parts of this job is getting to interview brilliant filmmakers like writer/director Michael Gracey (who also directed THE GREATEST SHOWMAN). If his latest film BETTER MAN is any indication, it is impossible for the man to create anything other than a spectacle. Much should be said for the fact that the… Continue reading Interview: Michael Gracey Director of Better Man
THE PIANO LESSON, adapted from August Wilson's 1987 play, is a powerful reflection on family legacy and the ghosts that haunt generational trauma. Under the steady direction of Malcolm Washington, the energetic camera makes you feel like a fly on the wall of a deeply personal family story. But even more than that, the film… Continue reading TIFF Interview: John David Washington, Danielle Deadwyler, and Malcolm Washington for THE PIANO LESSON
CONCLAVE was one of the films that has most surprised me this year, mostly because on paper the film doesn't look like one I would immediately be drawn to. It was *the* talk of the Toronto International Film Festival, and a movie I have loved to recommend to my friends. Having seen the movie now… Continue reading Interview: CONCLAVE Director Edward Berger