Film festivals are tricky business for filmmakers. Yes, they provide instant buzz, as a successful debut at Cannes, TIFF, Venice, or Sundance can do wonders for the publicity for your project. However, there are two edges on that sword because a negative debut can almost completely crater a film. And sadly, that happens more times than we like to admit. This year, it appears that might have happened with Mark Wahlberg’s TIFF film, “Good Joe Bell.”

READ MORE: ‘Good Joe Bell’ Is A Redemptive Drama That Succumbs To Its Own Shallow Straight Gaze [TIFF Review]

According to Solstice Studios, the distributor is moving forward with the release of the highly-anticipated film, now retitled “Joe Bell,” but the film isn’t going to be the same one that was screened in Toronto.

Continue reading ‘Joe Bell’: Mark Wahlberg’s Festival Drama Goes Back To The Editing Room After Lackluster TIFF Response at The Playlist.

Near the beginning of the film is a scene where Joe Bell (Mark Wahlberg) stands in front of an assembled group of high schoolers to speak about bullying. The gruff father shares two points: Understanding begins at home and everything will be fine if you are true to yourself. The story about a dad walking cross country, from Oregon to New York, to raise anti-bullying awareness for his son, often travels with the same slightness.

Continue reading ‘Good Joe Bell’ Is A Redemptive Drama That Succumbs To Its Own Shallow Straight Gaze [TIFF Review] at The Playlist.

Not to overstate the obvious, but yes, it’s been a weird, horrible year as the pandemic not only upended our lives but the entire film and television industry. This year, that meant, so far, no SXSW, no Cannes, and no Telluride since the geniuses in the White House and their poor response meant the United States was hit the hardest (two of those three festivals being American, obviously).

Continue reading Toronto International Film Festival 2020 Preview: 15 Films To Watch at The Playlist.