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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · 11d

What do Tár, Gone Girl and Basic Instinct have to do with the new #TheHandThatRocksTheCradle? Director Michelle Garza Cervera tells us all about the psychological thrillers that inspired her reimagining.

Watch this clip from our chat & read our interview: bit.ly/4qnqSui

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · 12d

With its blend of satire and sci-fi, #Bugonia is one of the most unconventional films of the year. Yet, even with strong turns from Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone, it still presents a mileage-may-vary scenario for moviegoers at the multiplex.

Our review: bit.ly/3L5jsM3

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · 14d

“Maika and Mary are such incredible actresses. There's so much they do to try to understand every decision their characters are making. And also the way they hold space for chemistry.”

We chat with Michelle Garza Cervera about #TheHandThatRocksTheCradle: bit.ly/4qnqSui

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · 19d

One part It's a Wonderful Life, one part Trading Places, #GoodFortune isn't the uproariously funny twist on A Christmas Carol that audiences might be expecting. Nevertheless, this angelic comedy fantasy has its heart firmly in the right place.

Our review: bit.ly/42GvDVz

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · 26d

More of a follow-up to #Tron than a continuation of #TronLegacy's storyline, #TronAres is a sequel that's less than the sum of its parts, delivering generic sci-fi action and bullet-point nostalgia, rather than something truly groundbreaking.

Our review: bit.ly/4nNqkfu

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 26

That’s a wrap for our #TIFF50 reviews!

2025 marks the 12th year we’ve been covering the Toronto International Film Festival, and after 240 total #TIFF reviews, we’re still going strong!

Make sure you check out all 26 of our #TIFF50 reviews, and let’s do this all again in 2026!

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 26

Bolstered by heart-wrenching performances from Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, #Hamnet is less about Shakespeare and more about how we process grief. Still, it's the movie's message about love that will ultimately uplift viewers.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4pFFdBS

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 26

A journey down the twisty-turny roads of good vs. evil, #OneBattleAfterAnother is thematically dense yet deceptively simple. That said, while this may be one of Paul Thomas Anderson's more serious films, it's also one of his most satirical.

Our review: bit.ly/42f0JmV

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 25

A darkly comedic and satirical look at what can happen when people are pushed to the brink and societal safeguards fail, #BadApples is more than just a scathing critique of lax school policies and the plight of overworked educators.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/3VAlO7C

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 24

A less-than-intriguing political thriller, #TheWizardOfTheKremlin is sluggishly paced and narratively aimless. Paul Dano and Jude Law, however, are excellent, bringing authenticity, gravitas and the odd moment of levity to their roles.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/46RpzvH

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 24

Featuring a non-stop classic rock soundtrack, #MotorCity is a gritty throwback to '70s noir thrillers. But while viewers should be revved up by its homage to the genre, ultimately, this revenge tale feels like a car without an engine.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4nnXq5q

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 23

Offensive in just about every possible way imaginable, #FuckMySon tries to be the modern equivalent of an '80s B-movie. Unfortunately, it never manages to be anything more than 90 minutes of childish humor and gratuitous grotesquerie.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/3KhPyUj

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 23

A story made all the more interesting by its real-life roots, #Roofman is more of a low-key character drama than a flashy heist flick. That said, what really makes this film tick are Channing Tatum's and Kirsten Dunst's performances.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4nmDwIa

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 22

Smartly written and brilliantly directed, #PoeticLicense is as charming and witty as movies get. Factor in the terrific chemistry between its leads, and this is one coming-of-age comedy that's sure to earn high marks from viewers.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/48uc4n1

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 22

Anchored by another scene-stealing performance from June Squibb, #EleanorTheGreat is an endearing tale that delivers heartfelt drama with moments of levity. Still, in the grand scheme of things, it's merely good, as opposed to great.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4muhpOF

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 19

Breezy and lighthearted, #NouvelleVague doesn't take itself too seriously. On the contrary, this authentic-to-the-era love letter to legendary filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard and the French New Wave movement is as whimsical as they come.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/47Ruwpp

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 19

Part Taken, part The Raid: Redemption, with a dash of Oldboy and Max Max: Fury Road mixed in for good measure, #TheFurious is a heart-pounding spectacle that easily ranks as one of the most crowd-pleasing action movies of the decade.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4n3L56c

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 18

With a slapstick horror tone that evokes the early films of Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson, #DeadLover offers up a spooky and silly twist on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Still, its minimalist aesthetic may be off-putting to some viewers.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4nAdiRR

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 17

An excellent contender for the year's most endearing film, #RentalFamily is guaranteed to tug at viewers' heartstrings. That said, it's the universal theme of finding sincere human connections that remains the movie's strongest asset.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/46q6FdY

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 16

Fun, if not extremely conventional, #NewYearsRev understands its wheelhouse and stays within its lane. What makes this comedy stand out, however, is the constant stream of Green Day songs that provide the soundtrack to this road movie.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4mlvr55

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 14

Drenched in the macabre and dripping with dread, #Frankenstein is unmistakably Guillermo del Toro through and through. For all its gothic beauty, however, it feels more like a patchwork of his previous works than life born anew.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/3VggbeI

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 13

A stranger-than-fiction true story that ably balances the serious aspects of its subject matter with its more lighthearted elements, #CaliforniaSchemin makes for a charming tale about following one's dreams and never giving up.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/46hXKex

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 13

“I approached him… and we had a coffee, and we were gonna just sit for like an hour. That turned into six hours, from coffee to dinner… It was like a first date.”

#RentalFamily director HIKARI talks about her first meeting with Brendan Fraser, during a surprise #TIFF50 Q&A.

The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 12

A stylish and surreal journey into the tormented soul of a gambling addict, #BalladOfASmallPlayer is a mesmerizing watch. Just don't expect to another #Conclave, because even though the deck may be stacked, the house always wins.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/4nvqQhD

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The Reel Roundup @benmkwrites.bsky.social · Sep 12

#TheSmashingMachine doesn't shy away from depicting the blood-soaked brutality of wrestling and MMA. If you're looking for drama both in and out of the ring, however, this rousing character study is championship belt material indeed.

Our #TIFF50 review: bit.ly/46mNge7