Welcome back to part duex of my TIFF ‘19 preview. Yesterday, we covered the films that I absolutely cannot miss or I’ll stay in Toronto until next year. Today, we’re toning it down just a tiny bit to the films that are calling my names like sirens pulling me ashore. (I think that’s what sirens did, right?). Anyways, let’s get to it.

Films Worth Going Out Of My Way For

Marriage Story

Source: TIFF/Netflix

The film formerly known as “UNTITLED NOAH BAUMBACH PROJECT” now has a name. The man behind THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES is back and he’s not alone. With Scarlett Johansson, (King) Adam Driver, and Laura Dern, MARRIAGE STORY is the story of two artistic partners going through an awful, angry divorce with a child stuck in the middle. Given the pedigree all involved bring, it’s safe to say this has big awards season hopes and should be extremely moving.

THE LIGHTHOUSE

What do you get when you combine Robert Eggers (The Witch), Robert Pattinson (one of the most talented actors working today) and Willem Dafoe? Well, I’m not quite sure yet since it’s only played at Cannes, but in my imagination it’s an instant classic from three masters of their craft. While it already has distribution with the Gods over at A24, it doesn’t have a release date. I’d imagine it’s going to be early 2020, but I’m not willing to wait.

How To Build A Girl

Source: Lionsgate/TIFF

Are you one of the idiots who missed BOOKSMART? If so, you may have missed the amazing coming out party of Beanie Feldstein. Don’t wait any longer! Go see her in this British comedy from Coky Giedroyc. Beanie will play a working-class teenager trying to reinvent herself as trendy music critic in London. Add Chris O’Dowd and Emma Thompson and this should be on everyone’s list.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD

Based on the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, Armando Iannucci (DEATH OF STALIN) is back and ready for festival season. There’s not a ton of info to go on, besides TIFF saying it brings back Iannucci’s “sardonic wit.” The cast is stacked with Dev Patel in the lead, Queen Tilda Swinton right beside him as well as Hugh Laurie, Gwendoline Christie, Peter Capaldi, Benedict Wong and Ben Whishaw. If DEATH OF STALIN taught me anything, it’s don’t wait until Iannucci’s films come out on Netflix to see them.

THE CANNES COLLECTION

This is what I’m calling the group of films that premiered at Cannes and I’m jonesing to see. It includes THE LIGHTHOUSE (already called out above), PAIN & GLORY and PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE. I’m a sucker for the festival hype machine, even if it does lead me astray sometime. Nonetheless, these all seem to be getting nearly universal praise coming out of Cannes, and I’d love to see each of them if I can swing it in my schedule.