The Winners of the Toronto Film Festival

The Toronto film festival is usually the starting point of the Oscar season. Venice and Telluride come before but neither are as big as Toronto. This year had the premiere of several films that were thought to be Oscar contenders. Now, some are in better shape than others. Here are the Winners of Toronto and what they might get at the Oscars.

WINNERS:

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

The winner of best movie by the crowd was Silver Linings Playbook, a film that has already been penciled in as an Oscar contender (and maybe winner) in February. The film was praised almost unanimously. Brad Brevet from Rope of Silicon gave the film an A+ saying that it is "Destined to be one of the best films of 2012". Kevin Jagernauth from The Playlist gave the film an A saying that
"The film is worth every satysfying minute you spend with it". Laremy Legel at film.com also gave the film an A calling it a film with "Exceptional performances and direction by David O. Russell". Edward Douglas at comingsoon.net gave the film an 8.5/10 saying that it "Pulls you in with its immediacy. Richard Corliss at Time and David Rooney at The Hollywood Reporter also gave the film rave reviews. So the comedy about love and mental illness between Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) looks to be a smash hit. The film is obviously a contender and here's what I think it will win for in February

Lock for Win

Jennifer Lawrence- Best Actress

Lock For Nomination

Best Picture
Bradley Cooper- Best Actor
Robert De Niro- Best Supporting Actor
David O. Russell- Best Director
Best Adapted Screenplay

Possible Nomination

Jackie Weaver- Best Supporting Actress


ARGO

Ben Affleck's Argo was one of the biggest hits of the festival. The film already had buzz coming out of Telluride but Toronto solidified it as a definite Oscar favorite. Roger Ebert flat out called it "The Best Picture winner" and listed several reasons why. Brad Brevet from Rope of Silicon gave the film a B+ while Laremy Legel from Film.com gave the film an A saying that actor/director Ben Affleck delivered a "A vital and thrilling political actioner". Pete Hammond from Box office Magazine gave the film a 5/5 calling it "The real deal". The only negative review came from Richard Corliss who called the film "So-so". The film is the best picture front-runner along with Silver Linings Playbook so what else will it win.

Lock for Nomination

Best Picture
Ben Affleck- Best Director
Alan Arkin- Best Supporting Actor
Best Adapted Screenplay

Possible

Ben Affleck- Best Actor


LOOPER

Rian Johnson's Looper is not necessarily an Oscar contender. Unlike Silver Linings Playbook and Argo, there's nothing that screams out "OSCAR BAIT!!!". But still the people that saw Looper loved it. Brad Brevet from Rope of Silicon gave the film a B+ and said that Rian Johnson "Established himself as a director that we will be talking about a lot in the future." Amy Nicholson from Box office magazine gave the film 5/5 and said that it's the "Coolest, most confident sci-fi flick since 2006's Children of Men". The film recieved an A from Drew McWeeny at HitFix and an A- from Jordan Hoffman at Film.com. The film has an 100% on Rotten Tomatoes so it may emerge as an Oscar contender in the near future.

Possible

Emily Blunt- Best Supporting Actress
Rian Johnson- Best Director
Best Picutre
Best Original Screenplay


THE SESSIONS

John Hawkes and Helen Hunt star in the sex comedy that recieved buzz at Sundance but is getting more attention now that ever thanks to its Toronto premiere. The film recieved a 9/10 from Jordan Hoffman who called the film "Endlessly Fascinating". Todd McCarthy and Peter DeBruge gave the film positive reviews while Raymond Greene at Boxoffice magazine gave the film a 4/5. Brad Brevet at Rope of Silicon gave the film an A and said that it contained "Two of the Best Performances of the year". The film is a definite contender in the race and came out as a major winner from Toronto

Lock for Nomination

John Hawkes- Best Actor
Helen Hunt- Best Supporting Actress
William H. Macy- Best Supporting Actor
Best Original Screenplay
Best Picture
Best Director

THE MASTER

A lot of people had already seen Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master in Venice but Toronto was the premiere for a lot of people. The reaction was strong, though not as strong as some other films at the festival. I'm not going to go into much detail in the reviews since a lot of people have seen it already. Brad Brevet gave it an A- while Laremy Legel gave it a B-. Lisa Schwarzbaum from EW gave the film an A while Leonard Maltin gave the film a good review as well. Here's what The Master might win come Oscar time.

Lock for Nomination

Best Picture
Joaquin Phoenix- Best Actor
Phillip Seymour Hoffman- Best Actor
Amy Adams- Best Supporting Actress
Best Director
Best Cinematograpy
Best Editing
Best Original Screenplay