TIFF 2022 | Pre-Fest: Must-See Films At The Festival, Part 3

TIFF officially kicks off tomorrow, and I have one final round of films to spotlight ahead of the festival!

It is tempting to rehash the situation that has ensued at Venice Film Festival regarding Don’t Worry Darling and the behind the scenes drama. No, TIFF is not screening Don’t Worry Darling, but stars Harry Styles (who is expected to be in attendance at TIFF) and Florence Pugh both have films screening at TIFF.

We can have conversations after the festival about whether The Wonder or My Policeman was better as their Don’t Worry Darling drama continues to unfold. But for now, I have a few other films to spotlight that manifest drama in the most desirable way: on screen.

Here are four more films to look out for at TIFF:

Biosphere

Program: Special Presentations

In a surprise announcement, the World Premiere of Mel Eslyn's directorial debut Biosphere was added to the TIFF lineup. Starring Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass, the film follows these two characters - the last two men on Earth in the not-too-distant future - as they try to “adapt and evolve to save humanity.”

While I had hoped the Taylor Swift appearance at TIFF might’ve meant the surprise screening would be for Amsterdam, Biosphere seems like a worthy choice. Eslyn is the long-time president of Duplass Brothers Productions and has produced many film festival-debuted films with Mark, including Spin Me Around (Sundance), Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off (SXSW), I’ll Show You Mine (Seattle International Film Festival), and The Drop (Tribeca Festival) in this year alone. Meanwhile, Brown is enjoying generally positive reception for co-starring in the Sundance debuted comedy Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul, which recently released in theaters and on streaming.

With these two being the only credited actors in this film, Biosphere seems intriguing. After all, what does “adapt and evolve to save humanity” mean? I suppose we will find out when the film debuts on Saturday the 10th at TIFF.

How To Blow Up A Pipeline

Program: Platform

Climate change is a hot button topic that many are passionate in their stance on. But how far would you go to execute you activism? How To Blow Up A Pipeline, based on the controversial non-fiction book by Andreas Malm, revolves around a woman named Xochitl (Ariela Barer) whose actions of activism are escalating. When property damage, symbolic acts of violence, and aggressive threats aren't enough, she collects a group of friends, lovers, and strangers, each with a hard-luck story, to execute the most audacious protest mission possible: blow up a West Texas pipeline.

Vigilante justice makes for interesting stories, and what How To Blow Up A Pipeline seems to offer is a high stakes tale of taking matters into one's own hands. And while activism to prevent climate change is something many can get behind, I'm very interested in how this movie will challenge those who support Xochitl's objective, but not her extreme actions, and what the story ultimately has to say in the end.

Daniel Goldhaber's feature directorial debut, Cam, debuted at Fantasia Film Festival in 2018 and is currently Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes 93%. Does the World Premiere of How To Blow Up A Pipeline at TIFF mean we're in for something even more impressive?

Roost

Program: Gala Presentation

On the subject of thrillers, here's another one that stands out. In Roost, 17 year old Anna (Grace Van Dien) develops a crush on someone she met online. Not a boy her age, but a 28 year old man who, without invitation, ends up at her home. What follows promises to be an anxiety-ridden, yet contemplative, thriller from New York-based director Amy Redford.

Another World Premiere thriller at TIFF, Roost seems to have nail-biting appeal. Further described as a "cat and mouse" kind of story, this premise is very much in line with what I enjoy about a thriller, and I’m very interested in seeing exactly how entertaining this movie turns out to be.

A Jazzman’s Blues

Program: Gala Presentation

A story of forbidden love and family secrets, Tyler Perry’s latest film A Jazzman’s Blues takes place over decades - from the 1940s to the 1980s - in this musically-inclined romance murder mystery. In the 1940s, Bayou and Leanne meet and fall in love. But when their relationship is forbade by Leanne’s relatives, the two part ways only to meet again years later. Though they are in new, more complicated places in life, their passion for each other reignites despite dangerous secrets from their past, and letters found in the late 1980s may hold the key to what ultimately happens to Bayou.

Tyler Perry’s entertainment career knows no limits. He’s an actor, writer, director and producer, from stage to screen, across many genres. A Jazzman’s Blues seems to be another example of how versatile he is as a storyteller. It’s a story that feels big in scope, yet also appears carefully manicured - the script, after all, is Perry’s first one ever written over 25 years ago. It will be interesting to see what trademarks of Perry’s are instilled in this project - and perhaps what new elements he might introduce with this intriguing story.

A Jazzman’s Blues will begin streaming on Netflix September 23rd.