Toronto to Oscar: Precious, Creation, Penelope Cruz

Roger Ebert calls Penelope Cruz a “life force,” in Pedro Almodovar’s Broken Embraces — but saves his undying praise for Precious:

Precious,” one of the best films of the autumn, is Lee Daniels’ the story of a physically and mentally abused poor black girl from the ghetto, who summons the inner strength to fight back for her future. It contains two great performances, by Gabourey “Gabby” Sidibe, in the title role, and Mo’Nique as her pathetic mother. Sidibe is the life force personified. Mo’Nique has a closing monologue that reduced some of us to tears. “Precious” will open nationally in less than six weeks, and I will write about it much more when it does. I think it’s a plausible winner of the Audience Award–which is sort of like the grand prize at a festival without any juries or any prizes.

Hollywood Reporter’s Ray Bennett had this to say about Creation:

Thanks to the writing, pacing and Bettany’s nuanced performance, it is one of the best delineations of intellectual and emotional struggle seen on film in many a year. The actor’s scenes with Annie and Emma have an extraordinary tenderness that grips the heart just as Darwin’s scientific dilemma engages the brain. West is unaffected and winning as the girl, and Connelly, with a perfect English accent, shows the wife’s anguish as well as her undying loyalty.

NY Times’ Michael Cieply chats up Jason Reitman whose ties to Toronto run deep, ‚ÄúThat is my slot. That is the location of the birth of my movies.”