October 17, 2025

WIFF’S WEEKEND WATCH LIST — 10/17

Check out our recommendations of what to watch this weekend.

iF you WANT action

the package

Vincent Georgie: Gene Hackman is strong in this exciting film.

Synopsis: Army Sgt. Johnny Gallagher (Gene Hackman) is reassigned after he angers Col. Glen Whitacre (John Heard) at a meeting of American and U.S.S.R. military types. Gallagher’s new job is to shepherd detainee Thomas Boyette (Tommy Lee Jones) from Europe to the U.S. But when Gallagher loses track of his prisoner, he asks his ex-wife, a servicewoman with access to Boyette’s background data, for help. As the chase leads Gallagher to Chicago, the intrigue ramps up in way he couldn’t have imagined.

Available on Apple TV and Amazon Prime.

if you want something fun

look who’s talking

Vincent Georgie: Conceptually, the “baby can talk ” shenanigans of the film’s script set expectations quite low when this film went into production. Filmmaker Amy Heckerling’s finished creation surprised and delighted audiences, as it was an enormous world-wide box office hit. On a $7.5M budget, the film brought in nearly $300M globally. Discover, or re-discover, this fun charmer of a film.

Synopsis: The romantic ups and downs of accountant Mollie Jensen (Kirstie Alley) are viewed cynically by a most unusual bystander — her talking newborn, Mikey (Bruce Willis). She becomes pregnant through an affair with a married man, Albert (George Segal), and then counts on the friendship of taxi driver James (John Travolta) once she discovers Albert is a lying cad. Although Mikey likes James, and James cares for both the baby and Mollie, she isn’t sure she can settle down with a blue-collar boyfriend.

Available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.

if you WANT thrills & chills

extreme measures

Vincent Georgie: Thanks to appealing, star performances by Hugh Grant and the ever-reliable Gene Hackman, this film is a quality thriller that is a perfect weekend entertainment. Easy recommendation. The film also marks a major departure away from befuddled rom-com leading man for Grant. Director Michael Apted deserves a lot of credit for elevating the material into something fairly intelligent and sophisticated.

Synopsis: Dr. Guy Luthan (Hugh Grant) treats a homeless man with strange symptoms, but then the patient disappears out from under his care — along with any files pertaining to him. In trying to track the man down, Luthan gradually begins to suspect there is a conspiracy, which is leading him to the highly respected Dr. Lawrence Myrick (Gene Hackman). Unfortunately, the powers behind it would prefer he not snoop around, and Luthan finds himself being destroyed both professionally and personally.

Available on Apple TV, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.

DOUBLE FEATURE

past wiff centrepiece films

Vincent Georgie: Each year, we select one country to highlight with a major film screening in the middle of the Festival. At WIFF 2025, we are celebrating Italy with the tremendous behind-the-scenes Italian Opera documentary Ai Weiwei’s Turandot. Take a look at the last two countries we celebrated – Poland and Morocco – with two well-loved films that were our Centrepiece Films. The first is a visual wonder, and the second is memorable for its wonderful music and high emotion.

the peasants

A late 19th-century Polish village is a hotbed of gossip and ongoing feuds, held together by pride, tradition, and a deep-rooted patriarchy. Jagna finds herself caught between the conflicting desires of the village’s richest farmer, his eldest son, and other leading men of the community.

Available on Apple TV, YouTube, and Amazon Prime.

everybody loves touda

Touda is a Sheikha, a traditional Moroccan singer. Performing in the bars of her provincial town under the gaze of men, she plans to leave for the lights of Casablanca, to gain recognition and ensure a better future for her son.