Yeah, we know. Your eyeballs are likely hurting, and so are ours, but this is the last batch — for now — of peeks of films that are headed to TIFF. But c’mon, this beats new looks at Optimus Prime or whatever right?
If you didn’t see Oren Moverman‘s “The Messenger” rectify that situation pronto and then at least you’ll understand why “Rampart” is one of our most anticipated films for TIFF. Starring a terrific ensemble including Woody Harrelson, Ben Foster, Ice Cube, Sigourney Weaver, Robin Wright, Anne Heche, Cynthia Nixon, Stella Schnabel, Steve Buscemi and Ned Beatty, the story is, of course, based on the titular real-life scandal in the ‘90s, which saw an investigation of crooked L.A. cops end up with 70-plus officers implicated and convicted. Harrelson’s performance has already been hyped as “stone cold,” “insane” and one that will likely be recognized come award season. Synopsis and a batch of images below:
Woody Harrelson gives a ferocious performance as a dirty cop, balancing a home life with two ex-wives as he becomes embroiled in the Los Angeles Police Department’s infamous Rampart corruption scandal.
Also stepping up to the plate in Toronto will be Bennett Miller‘s “Moneyball” and in case you somehow missed all the hype recently around the film, here’s a quick reminder. Based on a true story, the dramedy of sorts centers on Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), the GM and assistant GM that made the 2002 Oakland A’s a highly competitive Major League Baseball team (Beane took them to an AL West Division title) using a modern analytical sabermetrics system, despite having a completely budgeted, low-rent team that were initially the laughing stock of baseball early on in the season. It’s going to be reaching for that inspirational, rousing, little-engine-that-could vibe and early trailers and clips have been promising. Here’s a bit more of the film. [TIFF/TIFF]
Bennett Miller’s follow-up to 2005’s Capote stars Brad Pitt as Billy Beane, the Oakland Athletics’ general manager whose unorthodox approach to fielding a team had a major impact on the game. Jonah Hill and Phillip Seymour Hoffman co-star in this clever and compelling work of sports realism.
