76 Days Review TIFF 2020
The Plot
Director Hao Wu’s & Weixi Chen’s detailed documentary account of life inside the 76 day lockdown in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The original epicentre of the COVID 19 global pandemic. Following a small team of hospital workers as they struggle to deal with the unprecedented medical crisis and a relentless stream of patients.
The Good
It’s hard to understate the global appetite for some degree of understanding about the reality of the frontline in what has become a global war against a virus. As the original source of the outbreak Wuhan a city of 11 million people has long been the focus of much of that global scrutiny and deep desire for answers. Given the fiercely secretive nature of the Chinese government, the reality of the 76 day long lockdown in this particular city has long been a natural focal point for that intensive international interest.
Given the previous absence of any evidence of the unique experience of this city, this documentary instantly becomes deeply significant as the first globally accessible first had account. In many ways what the documentary does or indeed doesn’t show is equally important. Even if it has potentially been filtered to appease the Chinese government by ensure the most positive presentation of the heroically humane medical efforts. It is at least any kind of footage that has allowed to escape the social media blackouts and deeply private Chinese state.
Accepting the footage as authentic documentation of life with a Wuhan medical team it showcases an astonishing degree of dedicated kindness and compassion by medical professionals doing their best to care for COVID 19 patients in the most complete sense of that word. It’s a place where every nurse or doctor wrapped in layers of PPE, hazmat suits and safety goggles seemingly still makes time to hold the hand of frightened ‘gradma’ or forge astonishing conversational connections with young mothers, grandpas and anyone else under their care.
The intimately shot footage appears to have been made with completely unrestricted and continuous access. From an astonishing opening sequence where one woman surrounded by a crowd of PPE clad professionals reacts hysterically to the death of her ‘Papa’, it’ startling to see such raw human anguish actually being shared on screen.
The film is packed with an endless array of small moments of human kindness and despair that gives an emotive impression of what life inside a COVID 19 ward could truly be like. For many who have sought to understand this reality better this will be compelling and deeply impactful viewing.
The Bad
With increasing global cynicism about both the reality of the disease and the way international government particularly the Chinese government have handled this crisis, there will undoubtedly be many who question the validity of a documentary like this which claims to offer such a complete record of life inside the previously deeply secretive epicentre of what ultimately became a global pandemic.
There are those that will immediately seeks to dismiss footage of Chinese medical staff bravely battling to save patients with relentless kindness and surprising calm as most likely merely an act of state censored propaganda. Some will accuse the filmmakers of selective presentation of footage to show the Chinese virus response in the most rose tinted light, others will go further and accuse the filmmakers of outright fabrication.
The film’s astonishing production values and camera work will no doubt be held out as evidence that the film is more artificial that it would admit. The constant presence of the camera in what would even under normal circumstances be a fraught and deeply private environment is truly surprising. As is the fact that the footage has a perfectly framed seamlessly edited quality that would put the most expensive multi-camera medical drama series to shame.
The filmmakers would defend this as merely an act of skilled camerawork and effective editing. But it is a little odd to comprehend how a small or even singular team of filmmakers could possibly have organically captured so many conveniently powerful moments in a claustrophobic environment populated by hazmat suit clad medical workers frantically battling to save a tsunami of the sick and dying.
Likewise while many people will no doubt hope to find wider answers about the origin of the virus or the true scale of its human impact in this footage. In reality those fundamental questions about this disease remain unanswered. At best this is a small scale portrait of the lives of specific medical workers, not some sweeping revelatory analysis of a global event of historic proportions.
The Ugly Truth
76 Days is a slickly produced documentary which if taken as truly authentic, shines light on reality inside the epicentre of the pandemic which has swept the world in 2020 with truly devastating consequences. Though some may question what the documentary doesn’t show, it does display an astonishing array of deeply human moments. It feels like a real portrait of desperately sick people and the kindness of those seeking to save and comfort them.
Review by Russell Nelson
Wolfwalkers Review TIFF 2020
The Plot
In 17th century Ireland during the height of Oliver Cromwell’s puritanical reign a hunter’s young daughter ventures out into the untamed woods and strikes up an unlikely friendship with a wild girl. Their powerful newfound bond potentially holding the key to saving them both and the magical wolf pack that protects the forest.
The Good
The Oscar nominated animation studio behind The Secret of Kells, The Breadwinner and Song Of The Sea once again deploys a stunning combination of uniquely whimsical 2d animation, excellent performances and evocative soundtrack to bring another slice of Celtic folklore magically to life on screen.
As astonishingly effective voice cast boasting the familiar sounds of Seam Bean breaths even more rich life into lusciously animated characters that live with a magic of their own. Honor Kneafsey and Eva Whittaker are two sparkling young vocal talents that fit perfectly with the young friends from radically different worlds. Their infectious spirit and sincere affection for one another is a powerful force in giving the film immeasurable heart.
The film’s fantastical story also serves as an elegant allegory for the tension between tyrannical puritanism and a more free spirited natural order. The films historical setting is distant enough in time not to interfere with the authentically mythical aura it creates. But for those older audiences familiar with that portion of British history it does lend the film an additional layer of meaning.
The beautiful rendered and uniquely styled 2d animation has a vivid organic quality, reminiscent of the very finest offerings of Japan’s iconic Studio Ghibli. It’s a testament of the true power of this more traditional and deceivingly complex art form that it is able to capture the vibrant untamed spirit of nature in a way that few live action films are ever able to achieve.
Like most of the most timeless fables this story draws upon a deep history of mythology and the raw liberated power of nature juxtaposed fiercely against man’s frequently destructive and oppressive nature. Wolves have long served as a common symbol of that fusion between true magic and nature, lending this story of the women who help bridge that divide a weight of mythic power.
The film is undeniably gorgeous to look at and moves with a fluid pace of brisk action and adventure. But what will likely linger with audiences most is the rich spirit of the film and the vivid dream world it so evocatively taps into.
The Bad
Perhaps for the very youngest audiences some of the film’s darker subtext will at times be a little too mature. Though they will undoubtedly enjoy its many playful joyous moments and lovely comforting visuals, they may not quite absorb the full weight of the film’s darker elements. However for older children and grownups alike the film can be richly enjoyed on several different levels.
Perhaps those most fiercely loyal to historical accuracy may find the liberties the film takes with turning Oliver Cromwell into a fairy tale villain. However the filmmakers would likely defend this as being an attempt to capture the spiritual truth of Ireland’s experience with British rule rather than a literal retelling.
The Ugly Truth
Wolfwakers is a visually enchanting fantasy adventure and a near perfect piece of family filmmaking. It has an authentic spiritual charm and poignant whimsy perhaps missing from the recent trend of endless animated sequels. It is original modern storytelling imbued with the deepest magic of the past.
Review by Russell Nelson
MLK/FBI Review TIFF 2020
The Plot
A documentary film exploring newly declassified US government documentation of the FBI’s relentless surveillance campaign against Martin Luther King Jr.
The Good
Director Sam Pollard has carefully assembled a complete visual record of the fraught and deeply adversarial relationship between Nobel Prize winning civil rights spokesman Martin Luther King Jr and J Edgar Hoover’s FBI.
In 2020 this diligently detailed documentary account of a darker time in American history serves as a useful reminder of where humanity has been and just how far the wheels of progress have already turned. Archival footage of the openly violent conflict that tore apart the very fabric of American society during the 1960s perhaps puts some of our present day concerns into context.
Martin Luther King Jr remains one of the most iconic and influential voices of modern history and this film contains a vast reservoir of some of his most eloquent and persuasive public oration on the always emotive and dangerous issues of racism. Many of his words resonate with the same passion and intelligence today as they did over half a century ago.
This documentary provides audiences with a dramatic reminder of the alternative to simple blind rage in the face of our problems. It also speaks strongly to the abuse of power often possible by law enforcement agencies operating with apparent impunity.
The film is a good starting point for anyone hoping to learn from the mistakes of the past and speaks powerfully to our present day lives on a number of different levels.
The Bad
Whilst this documentary is well assembled and will no doubt serve as a useful historical introduction for those of a younger generation discovering this chapter of world history for the first time, most people familiar with even the most general details of Martin Luther King Jrs life and political struggles will uncover relatively little that they did not already know. The facts that Dr King was the subject of intensely prolonged scrutiny by law enforcement and that his private life was more sordid and complex than his public persona as a spiritual leader have long been accepted facts.
While this documentary serves as a good archive of King’s own eloquent words and provides a solid record of the exact scale of FBI intrusion into his life and inner circles. It does truly unearth any fresh revelations and does little to change a now well established narrative about Martin Luther King Jr. Given all the obvious forces of violent oppression that Dr King literally faced, it perhaps seems slightly less important to focus so exclusively on this narrow aspect of unethical law enforcement monitoring.
The Ugly Truth
MLK/FBI is a well-crafted and concise account of two of the most influential and controversial political figures of the late 20th Century. The conflict between them illustrates many of the polarizing ideals and tensions that still seem to threaten the stability of our increasingly perilous present day.
Review by Russell Nelson
The Kid Detective Review TIFF 2020
The Plot
A once celebrated and respected kid detective, now 31, continues to solve the same trivial mysteries between hangovers and bouts of self-pity. Until a naïve young client offers him a daunting last chance at redemption by hiring him to solve her boyfriend’s brutal murder.
The Good
The Kid Detective has a unique and wildly enjoyable tone that seamlessly blends playfully wry and self-aware comedic charm with unashamedly serious film noir drama. It’s a simple premise that expertly juxtaposes the quaint small-town setting and quirky inhabitants with the typically gritty motifs of gumshoe detective drama.
There’s something deeply poetic about Adam Brody’s casting in the role as washed up child prodigy Abe Applebaum. As an actor who has actually faced the potentially crushing weight of his own overwhelming adolescent achievements. As a star of the wildly popular teen dramedy The OC, his own career since has been forged under the shadow of that overnight sensation status. It lends an extra dimension of sincerity to watching an evidently jaded man struggle to forge a legitimately adult identity in the wake of ever fading pubescent glory. His eternally youthful face is more weatherworn and authentically aged, having evolved from a relentless teenage quip machine into a more subtle and likeably restrained charm.
Brody’s note perfect performance captures the fragile and fundamentally broken nature of the character. Traumatised by very real pain and striving desperately for some form of closure. His legitimately young co-star Sophie Nelisse is by contrast a wide eyed delight as Caroline, the girl who places an unlikely amount of trust in the former boy wonder. The pair work excellently together in giving the film a playful whimsical tone without ever being outright silly or childish.
Watching Brody’s well-intentioned detective tactlessly interrogating high schoolers and sneaking awkwardly around suburban homes could have quickly descended into ridiculousness, but there’s something sincerely heartfelt about this story and the film makes devastating shifts into truly gripping suspense thriller.
This film is not just a simple slice of whimsical comedy, it’s also a legitimate Sherlockian mystery that shockingly sucker punches audiences with astonishingly devastating denouements.
The Bad
It’s exceedingly rare to have nothing bad to say about a film. This is one such occasion. Some may find the film’s basic premise off-putting or assume the films early flashes of childishness are all it has to offer. But I urge those people to give the film a chance. It is so much more than you think and a legitimately rewarding adult experience.
The Ugly Truth
The Kid Detective is a sensational slice of cinematic genius packed with wit, heart and charm. Adam Brody and Sophie Nelisse are a perfect pairing that take audiences from fits of giggles to stunned gasps. It’s difficult to do justice to just how special and truly original this film is. It is undoubtedly one of the finest gifts of this year’s Toronto Film festival and a must see future cult classic.
Review by Russell Nelson
Monday Review TIFF 2020
The Plot
Wildly sexual and romantic sparks fly when two Americans Chloe and Mickey meet in Greece and launch into an unlikely relationship, facing the immediate pressure of her imminently planned departure back to America. Their powerful connection instantly provokes difficult questions about whether or not it’s possible for such a spontaneous encounter to actually lead to a serious future.
The Good
Monday is a sensuous and wildly passionate romantic drama instantly ignited by the bristling chemistry instantly created between the astonishingly gifted talents of Sebastian Stan and Dennis Gough.
Sebastian Stan oozes the most undeniable charisma on screen. Beyond his indisputably chiselled and perfectly handsome good looks there’s a warm truly appealing lustre to his character. It will be hard for audiences to avoid being quickly swept up in his relentless wit and explosive passion. It’s truly rare to see such an authentic display of raw magnetism on screen. He is exactly the type of person that could propel a virtual stranger to abandon their existing life plans in favour of a sun drenched life together.
There’s also a vulnerability and authentically raw quality to his performance that gives the film layers and nuance. The film pushes beyond the initial adrenaline fuelled rush of a new relationship and through the at times difficult process of uncovering flaws and unforeseen problems.
Denise Gough delivers a flawless American accent and makes Chloe a wonderful counterpoint to Sebastian Stan’s Mickey. Despite their obvious chemistry there are clear differences between her maturely composed Lawyer and his free spirited man-child musician. The tensions between their two very different worlds literally explodes when their wildly different social circles collide. It’s a very stark illustration of the unexpected trauma that can follow taking a leap of faith with a new romantic partner.
Beyond the films amazing captivating central pairing a special mention must be given to Yorgos Pirpassopoulos playing Mickey’s flamboyant best friend Argyris. He is a persistently joyous and sincere voice in the film that helps invest audiences even more affectionately in Stan’s character. Likewise the film’s excellent and uplifting soundtrack injects consistent pounding energy into proceedings. It gives the film a pulsating hedonistic quality that embodies the rampant real life abandonment of true unrestrained passion.
Ultimately the complex course of this new couple’s recklessly romantic path is compellingly joyous and whistful in ways which will no doubt linger with an audience long after the film ends. There is a true sexual intensity to their performances rarely captured on screen.
The Bad
Much like life’s real passions and romantic adventures it’s a little shame that this film can’t just maintain its early optimism and joyous abandonment. It would be easy to spend much longer getting to simply enjoy these two characters swimming in their heady uncomplicated lust. It’s perhaps unwelcome when the reality of problems and ugly truths starts to emerge. It’s painful and imperfect in ways that are tragically honest and self-destructive. It’s a little genuinely disheartening to see the film lurch from sunny escapism to starkly bleak reality.
The film isn’t the simply escapist romantic fantasy its early portions seem to promises it to be. That may give the film more depth and drama but it won’t necessarily be what every audience wants to see.
The Ugly Truth
Monday is a truly compelling unflinching portrait of the course of new romance and passion in its purest form. It’s a headlong dive into the uniquely sex soaked and intense rush of new love and the grounding at times painful aftermath. Two astonishing lead performance combine in the most bravely intimate of ways to invest audiences in these characters in totally authentic ways.
Review by Russell Nelson