The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (2014)

I have been waiting for this movie since 2013 TIFF. The plot looks good, I love angsty love story. and They have Queen Chastain and McAvoy in one film. Written and directed by Benson, "Them" crafts an emotional and passionate tale of love lost, regained, and ultimately doomed to exist. Almost taking cues from films like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Benson offers up an honest and raw interpretation of love in the shadow of tragedy. Likely not his first choice in which to tell his story, he takes a meticulous paintbrush and strokes through every part of the film with intricate detail, choosing what and what not to tell the audience.

The negative aspect of the film, the audience never acquires an understanding of how this event created two very unhappy people. The only glimpse I receive of their suffering is at the beginning when Eleanor tries to kill herself by jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge. The movie transitions from utter happiness in the opening scene to a suicide attempt hence the sudden mood change. From there on it is downhill with the occasional hope of a happy ending unfortunately never fulfilling though.

St Vincent (2014)

This is one of the underrated movie this year. I kinda like this movie. Bill Murray gave us a brilliant performance. This movie is a touching story. It is about a boy who befriends a crusty curmudgeon in Vincent (Bill Murray) and discovers some facts of life. But the deeper story is that family is really the friends you choose and the wide cast of misfits are brought together by a mix of circumstances and events. They are lost but then are found. The story also showcases the lost heroes of Vietnam. These veterans are dying off and as a nation we have forgotten their contributions in this senseless war.

This is Bill Murray's best role in many, many, many years. The man is considered a comedy legend and I think we all knew he had range but St. Vincent shows just how great he can be. Vincent is a truly, undeniably despicable human being. There is no way around that. He is completely flawed and that is not only the point but the reason you will love him for it. He's pathetic and the empathy you feel for this man and then by the end you actually understand him.

I was blown away by the actor who played Oliver. It was not an easy role to portray-- he had to be able to connect to the audience with his emotion, capture the character's desire to see past the exterior of a person, and he had to make it believable which he did flawlessly.

The Theory of Everything (2014)

Finally I've watched this movie, this is one of the movies I wanted to watch since the day the announced it. And the amazing Eddie Redmayne is here. The story of Stephen Hawking and his then wife Jane, apparently based on a book she wrote about it, which probability explains why there was not much science in the movie, not that I'm complaining, as it was a well played film about a difficult relationship.

he movie starts as the Cambridge student Stephen Hawking meets Jane, and although shy at first, eventually they both get close. Stephen soon learns about his illness and decides to shut Jane off from his life. But Jane insisted on him and stated her for him even though knowing the illness will progress and slowly take Stephen away from her. They get married soon after, and Stephen soon graduates his doctoral study, having more interest to cosmological physics. Jane stands by Stephen as the illness progresses, impairing his locomotion, balance, speech and even swallowing. They have two children and Stephen's work starts to gain spotlight. But little by little, Jane starts to loose her spirit, though she doesn't reveal it.

Eddie Redmayne plays Stephen Hawking brilliantly; delivering a performance that is, at times, so very delicate and at other times fueled with confidence. The wit characteristic of Hawking is presented perfectly and his disease, including the gradual loss of his ability to speak, is handled with respect. Not once is there a moment of overacting, and we are reminded that there is a fully functioning and genius mind within a debilitated body. Felicity Jones plays Jane Wilde beautifully, showing us the strong commitment and inevitable weariness faced by someone in her position.

Best Films and Performances from TIFF 2014

I know it's a little too late. this is the critics reviews about the best of TIFF. here we go

Best Narrative Feature
1. Phoenix
2. Nightcrawler
3. The Duke of Burgundy
4. Force Majeure
5. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
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Best Documentary Feature
1. The Look of Silence
2. Seymour: An Introduction
3. Tales of the Grim Sleeper
4. National Diploma
5. Merchants of Doubt
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