How much of your life would you give up to help a friend?
That’s the question at the heart of Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s “The Friend,” which stars Jason Segel, Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck, and which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Friday.
The film, which is up for sale, is based on a true story adapted from an Esquire article by Matt Teague, who wrote about a childhood friend who dropped everything, including his job and his girlfriend, to take care of Teague and his family when his wife Nicole was diagnosed with cancer.
Dane (Segel) moves in with Nicole (Johnson), Matt (Affleck) and their two daughters as the cancer takes hold, but we discover that he is struggling with his own demons.
It begs the question: How far do you extend yourself to help someone else, and how much of it is a crutch to avoid facing the demands of real life?
Dakota Johnson “The Friend” TIFF
The film jumps back and forth between time periods and we see the evolution of the three friends over a decade. There is plenty of humor in the film, the interaction between Segel and the two daughters is unerringly charming, and he does great impressions of brooding Affleck. There was laughter heard at the premiere screening at the Princess of Wales theater, ranging from chuckles to explosive roars.
But there’s no avoiding the melodrama of a young, dying mom. As Nicole declines, there is a toll taken on her two caretakers to account for along with her own deteriorating mental state. The film never stops asking: where is the line between making someone happy and caring for someone when times get rough?
It was no great surprise to hear tearful sniffling throughout the theater. And you may find yourself asking: who will be there for you until the very end?
The film explores marital issues and how to find a balance between career and family: Matt often times goes away for work, leaving Nicole and the kids at home alone. This damages the relationship not only between Nicole and Matt, but also between Matt and his oldest daughter. The writer, Brad Ingelsby, and director don’t make Nicole, or anyone in the movie, perfect.
A special shout-out to Cherry Jones who plays a hospice nurse, dubbed “an angel” by doctors, who comes in near Nicole’s end to help out. Before her unexpected cameo, there was pain and panic. When she steps in, there’s serenity.
Segel is back as we know and love him. This is a serious role for Johnson, who is still best known for her role as a sexual ingenue in “Fifty Shades of Grey,” and she steps up fully into the role of aspiring actress, wife, mother and cancer patient. All-consuming grief isn’t uncommon territory for Affleck, who won Best Actor for his performance in 2016’s “Manchester by the Sea.”
Plus, he delivers one of the best lines of the movie: when the husband of a mutual friend insults Dane, Matt offers, “Text me when you guys break up so I can drive to your house and punch you in the face.”
14 Buzziest Movies for Sale at This Year's Toronto Film Festival (Photos)
The Toronto International Film Festival is better known as a launching pad for films about to hit theaters than as a sales market, but the packed slate of projects includes quite a few that will be vying for the attention of studios, indie distributors and streaming services.
"Bad Education"
Perhaps one of the biggest titles for sale, "Bad Education" stars Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Ray Romano and Alex Wolff and is based on the real-life events that took place at writer Mike Makowsky's high school.
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"Citizen K"
Following his critically lauded "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley," Alex Gibney is back with "Citizen K," a documentary about Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who went from communist to political prisoner in a 20-year battle with Putin.
TIFF
"Dads"
Bryce Dallas Howard’s debut feature documentary is about dads -- including her own, Ron Howard. It includes insight from Patton Oswalt on becoming a single parent after the death of his wife, and Hasan Minhaj reflection on his immigrant father's sacrifices. “Dads” is also the first film under Imagine Entertainment’s new documentary division, which has already released “Pavarotti” and has plans for films about Louis Armstrong, Dwyane Wade and last year’s wildfires in California.
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"The Friend"
Based on the award-winning Esquire article of the same name, the film follows a man (Jason Segel) who puts his life on hold to help his friends through a terminal cancer diagnosis. Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck also star in director Gabriela Cowperthwaite's ("Blackfish") film.
TIFF
"How to Build a Girl"
Everyone is obsessed with Beanie Feldstein following her performance in "Booksmart," so this film has become a buzzy title for TIFF buyers. She stars as a teenager trying to reinvent herself as a hip London music critic. Chris O'Dowd and Emma Thompson also star.
TIFF
"There’s Something in the Water"
Canadian Ellen Page turned her eyes homeward for her documentary about toxic fallout from industrial development. But as she explores her native Nova Scotia and visits families who have contracted cancer and other side effects from the toxins, she discovers these incidents have all been localized in poor income neighborhoods often home to indigenous or black communities. Page and Ian Daniel, who directs the documentary-series “Gaycation” with Page, call out the “environmental racism” taking place as native women fight for their land.
TIFF
"The Vigil"
Keith Thomas' horror film follows a young man who has to fulfill his Jewish practice of watching over a deceased family member of the Orthodox community. Of course, he is soon confronted with a malevolent entity.
TIFF
"Wasp Network"
“Wasp Network” will be the 17th narrative feature from the prolific French auteur Olivier Assayas, but this his first political thriller since 2010’s “Carlos.” Edgar Ramírez stars in the spy drama, based on the true story of five Cuban dissidents who were imprisoned by the U.S. in the 1990s on charges of espionage and murder. Penélope Cruz, Ana de Armas and Gael García Bernal also star.
RT Features
"Blackbird"
Susan Sarandon, Sam Neill, Kate Winslet and Mia Wasikowska star in “Notting Hill” director Roger Michell’s remake of the 2014 Danish film “Silent Heart." Sarandon plays a mother who learns she’s dying and chooses to end her life on her own terms. But when her family gathers for one last goodbye, tensions between sisters Winslet and Wasikowska boil back up to the surface.
TIFF
"Red Penguins"
"Red Penguins," the latest documentary from Gabe Polsky ("Red Army," "In Search of Greatness"), follows Steve Warshaw's attempts to change post-Soviet Russian hockey into a sporting event for everyone, with the help of Hollywood executives and advertisers, forever transforming Russian-American relations.
TIFF
"And We Go Green"
Leonardo DiCaprio produces this film about the international Formula E circuit, which is similar to Formula One but with eco-friendly electric cars. On brand for the actor, who even has a foundation dedicated to the environment and Earth's inhabitants.
TIFF
"Rocks"
After "Suffragette," Sarah Gavron is back with "Rocks," which is picking up major word of mouth ahead of the festival. The movie follows a young girl who finds herself struggling to take care of herself and her younger brother.
TIFF
"Guns Akimbo"
This one is for the Daniel Radcliffe fans out there -- a dark sci-fi thriller in which the actor plays the next contestant in an illegal livestreamed death match. Samara Weaving, fresh off "Ready Or Not," also stars.
TIFF
"The Other Lamb"
This sounds like one for fans of Ari Aster's "Midsommar." Michiel Huisman plays a cult leader who is questioned by a young woman born into the cult. Plus, it was featured on the 2017 BloodList for best (then-)unproduced horror scripts.
BloodList
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Toronto 2019: Environmental docs, spy dramas and films with big names will be all the rage at this year’s festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is better known as a launching pad for films about to hit theaters than as a sales market, but the packed slate of projects includes quite a few that will be vying for the attention of studios, indie distributors and streaming services.