October 04, 2024

WIFF’S WEEKEND WATCH LIST — 10/4

Check out our recommendations of what to watch this weekend.

if you want to be impressed

didi

Vincent Georgie: Top winner from the Sundance Film Festival, this is a well-written and acted coming-of-age story. Definitely seek this one out. A quality achievement.

Synopsis: In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love his mum.

Available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime and YouTube.

if you love body horror

the fly

Vincent Georgie: The film that really put filmmaker David Cronenberg on the map, this Jeff Goldblum showcase received a special Oscar for its incredible special effects makeup. There are clearly influences on decades of other body horror films, including WIFF 2024 title THE SUBSTANCE.

Synopsis: When scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) completes his teleportation device, he decides to test its abilities on himself. Unbeknownst to him, a housefly slips in during the process, leading to a merger of man and insect. Initially, Brundle appears to have undergone a successful teleportation, but the fly’s cells begin to take over his body. As he becomes increasingly fly-like, Brundle’s girlfriend (Geena Davis) is horrified as the person she once loved deteriorates into a monster.

Available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Crave, YouTube.

if you are fascinated by musicians

inside llewyn davis

Vincent Georgie: This is a wonderful, moody film that follows a Bob Dylan-esque folk singer songwriter, beautifully played by Oscar Isaac. As written and directed by the Coen Bros, the film has a visual quality and expertly cast supporting bench of character actors to really expand and deepen the film. Well-done.

Synopsis: In 1961 New York City, folk singer Llewyn Davis (Oscar Isaac) is at a crossroads. Guitar in hand, he struggles against seemingly insurmountable obstacles to make a name for himself in the music world, but so far, success remains elusive. Relying on the kindness of both friends and strangers, Llewyn embarks on an odyssey that takes him from the streets of Greenwich Village to a Chicago club, where awaits a music mogul who could give him the big break that he desperately needs.

Available on Apple TV and Crave.

DOUBLE FEATURE

all hail, jeremy strong!

Vincent Georgie: The extraordinary character actor has been working for years and finally exploded into mainstream consciousness thanks to his Emmy-winning role on “Succession”. He will soon be dominating the silver screen at WIFF with his incendiary performance as Roy Cohn in THE APPRENTICE. Take a look at 2 other film performances that foreshadowed his tremendous talents.

the trial of the Chicago 7

The film is based on the infamous 1969 trial of seven defendants charged by the federal government with conspiracy and more, arising from the countercultural protests in Chicago at the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The trial transfixed the nation and sparked a conversation about mayhem intended to undermine the U.S. government.