September 10, 2021

In the spirit of the Toronto International Film Festival‘s 2021 hybrid edition, our critics are split! The festival kicked off yesterday with the big screen adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. Some members of the TFCA crew were taken by its unabashed cheese, while others deemed it a hate crime against cinema. Some members don’t seem to mind the casting of 27-year-old Ben Platt as a high school student, although even the positive side admits a level of creepiness.

View from the balcony:

"It's been a minute." – @cameron_tiff pic.twitter.com/7nbfN7t4nX

— Radheyan Simonpillai (@JustSayRad) September 9, 2021

On the plus side

DEAR EVAN HANSEN – Suspend disbelief beyond the musical tropes and snark about lead casting, it's a moving and effective take with exceptional performances, that takes a sticky story and makes it work within context of an emotional piece that earns its tears. #tiff21 pic.twitter.com/1APupMSwyl

— Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) September 9, 2021

Yes! Also, I feel that carping about too-old high-schoolers has been off-limits since Stockard Channing broke the grey ceiling in Grease. She was 33!

— Chris Knight (@ChrisKnightfilm) September 10, 2021

Perhaps Stephen Chbosky should have opted for the de-aging VFX  a la The Irishman

My favourite part watching Dear Evan Hansen was the afternoon shade creeping through the makeup on Ben Platt's face. #TIFF21

— Radheyan Simonpillai (@JustSayRad) September 10, 2021

We’re not sure if Glenn and Rad are referring to the same scene.

My review of the #TIFF21 opening gala, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, is now up @nowtoronto. The changes work really well. Platt is great (he's only creepy in one scene). And Adam Adams has a bigger part than Julianne Moore. https://t.co/j3uuS3uTVD

— Glenn Sumi (@glennsumi) September 10, 2021

Tina’s back! (Although she probably wishes it was for a different assignment…)

https://twitter.com/tinahassannia/status/1436184051711348739

Other members eat the cheese up.

https://twitter.com/cinemablogrpher/status/1436116534754168836

And others cut right through it.

Wow watched #DearEvanHansenMovie and someone needs to go to the Hague. That is all I will say for now… #TIFF21

— sarah hagi (@KindaHagi) September 10, 2021

Meanwhile, as the jury debates Evan Hansen’s fate, some other members braved TIFF Digital Platform for their own opening night alternatives.

Catching up with a Sundance stand-out

#TIFF21
Jockey –
Didn’t know they still made movies like that. A young rider. An older rider. A trainer & the perfect ride. A snapshot of an enduring subculture. Faces that catch the fading light. The final two mins? The expressions on Clifton Collins Jr’s face – sublime pic.twitter.com/nM5KbmtV8r

— Eli Glasner 🎥 (@glasneronfilm) September 10, 2021

Courtney Small raves about the TIFF Docs opener:

In a time when racism and policing is under a larger microscope, Attica is one the year’s must-see films. https://t.co/Kh30vSa5SG #TIFF21

— That Shelf (@ThatShelf) September 10, 2021

And Barry reminds us that there’s no place like home:

Meanwhile, my own personal #TIFF21 Opening Night pic.twitter.com/NOL1KSGlyk

— Barry Hertz (@HertzBarry) September 10, 2021

Stay tuned for more member reactions throughout the festival!