indieWIRE conducted a survey of various critics in attendance at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. We asked them to grade 34 (in honor of the festival’s 34th birthday) of the more buzzed premieres at the festival. Here are the results:
1. A Serious Man (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Peter Sciretta, /Film: A+
David Fear, Time Out New York: A+
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: A
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: A
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: A
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: A
Mark Olsen, LA Times: A
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: A
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: A
Joe Leydon, Variety: A
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: A
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: A
Michael Tully, Hammer To Nail: A
Sean Means, The Salt Lake Tribune: A
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: A-
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: A-
Peter Knegt, indieWIRE: A-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: A-
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: A-
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: B+
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B+
David Ansen, Newsweek: B-
Current Average: A-
2. Up In The Air (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Joe Leydon, Variety: A+
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: A+
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: A+
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: A+
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: A
Peter Sciretta, /Film: A
David Ansen, Newsweek: A
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: A
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: A
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: A-
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: A-
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: A-
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B+
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: B+
Peter Knegt, indieWIRE: B
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B
David Fear, Time Out New York: B
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: B-
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: C
Current Average: A-
3. The Informant! (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: A
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: A
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: A
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: A-
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: A-
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: A-
Mark Olsen, LA Times: A-
David Fear, Time Out New York: A-
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: B+
Matt Singer, IFC.com: B+
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B+
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: B+
David Ansen, Newsweek: B+
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: B
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle: B
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: C
Current Average: B+
4. The Art of The Steal
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: A-
Mark Olsen, LA Times: A-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B+
Matt Singer, IFC.com: B+
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B+
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: B
Current Average: B+
5. A Single Man (Film Page)
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: A
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: A
Marjorie Baumgarten, The Austin Chronicle: A-
Mark Olsen, LA Times: A-
Peter Knegt, indieWIRE: A-
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: A-
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: A-
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: B+
David Ansen, Newsweek: B
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B-
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: C+
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C-
Current Average: B+
6. White Material
[indieWIRE review]
David Fear, Time Out New York: A-
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B+
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B+
Marjorie Baumgarten, The Austin Chronicle: B+
Michael Tully, Hammer To Nail: B
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: B-
Current Average: B+
7. The Damned United (Film Page)
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: A-
Mark Olsen, LA Times: A-
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today: B+
David Ansen, Newsweek: B+
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: B
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: B-
Current Average: B+
8. Ondine (Film Page)
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: A
Marjorie Baumgarten, The Austin Chronicle: B+
Mark Olsen, LA Times: B
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: B
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: C+
Current Average: B+
9. Solomon Kane
Scott Weinberg, Cinematical: B+
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: B
Current Average: B+
10. The Road (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: A
Mark Olsen, LA Times: A
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: A-
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: A-
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: A-
David Fear, Time Out New York: A-
Peter Sciretta, /Film: A-
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: B+
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: B
Matt Singer, IFC.com: B
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: B-
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: B-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B-
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: C+
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: C
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: C
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: C-
Current Average: B
-This story continues on page 2-
11. Micmacs
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: A-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B+
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: C
Current Average: B
12. Whip It (Film Page)
Matt Singer, IFC.com: A-
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle: B+
B. Ruby Rich: B+
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: B+
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B+
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B+
Peter Knegt, indieWIRE: B
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: B
Sean Means, The Salt Lake Tribune: B
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: B
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: B
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: B-
Mark Olsen, LA Times: B-
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: C+
Peter Sciretta, /Film: C+
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C
Current Average: B
13. Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: A-
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: A-
Peter Knegt, indieWIRE: B+
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B+
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: B+
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: B
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: B
Marjorie Baumgarten, The Austin Chronicle: B
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: B?
Peter Sciretta, /Film: B
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B-
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: C+
Michael Tully, Hammer To Nail: C
Current Average: B
14. Get Low
Joe Leydon, Variety: A+
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: A
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: A
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: A
Scott Weinberg, Cinematical: A-
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: B
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle: B
Peter Sciretta, /Film: B
Mark Olsen, LA Times: C+
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: C
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: D
Current Average: B
15. The Invention of Lying (Film Page)
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: B+
David Fear, Time Out New York: B+
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: B
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B
Matt Singer, IFC.com: B
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: B-
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: B-
Current Average: B
16. Harry Brown (Film Page)
Joe Leydon, Variety: B
David Fear, Time Out New York: B
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: B-
Current Average: B
17. Youth In Revolt (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: B+
Peter Sciretta, /Film: B+
Mark Olsen, LA Times: B+
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: B
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: B
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: B-
Marjorie Baumgarten, The Austin Chronicle: B-
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: C+
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: D
Current Average: B
18. Mother & Child
Gregory Ellwood, HitFlix: B
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B
Peter Knegt, indieWIRE: C
Current Average: B-
19. Leaves of Grass (Film Page)
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: A-
Joe Leydon, Variety: B
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: B-
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: C-
Current Average: B-
20. Capitalism: A Love Story (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: A
Sean Means, The Salt Lake Tribune: A-
Peter Sciretta, /Film: A-
B. Ruby Rich: B+
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B+
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: B+
David Fear, Time Out New York: B
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: B
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: B
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: B
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: B-
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B-
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle: B-
Matt Singer, IFC.com: B-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B-
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: C+
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: C+
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C+
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: C-
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: C-
Current Average: B-
21. Triage
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: B-
Current Average: B-
22. Vallhalla Rising
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: A
Mark Olsen, LA Times: A
David Fear, Time Out New York: B
Scott Weinberg, Cinematical: B-
Michael Tully, Hammer To Nail: B-
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: C+
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: C+
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: F
Current Average: B-
23. Life During Wartime (Film Page)
Mark Olsen, LA Times: B+
Marjorie Baumgarten, The Austin Chronicle: B+
Gregory Ellwood, HitFlix: B
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B-
Michael Tully, Hammer To Nail: B-
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: B-
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: B-
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: B-
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: C+
Peter Sciretta, /Film: D
David Ansen, Newsweek: D
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: D
Current Average: B-
-This story continues on page 3-
24. The Men Who Stare At Goats (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: A-
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B+
David Ansen, Newsweek: B+
Mark Olsen, LA Times: B
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: B
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: B
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: B-
David Fear, Time Out New York: B-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B-
Matt Singer, IFC.com: C+
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: C+
Peter Sciretta, /Film: C+
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: C
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: C
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: C
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: C
B. Ruby Rich: C
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: C-
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C-
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: D
Current Average: C+
25. The Boys Are Back (Film Page)
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: B
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B
David Fear, Time Out New York: B-
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today: B-
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: B-
David Ansen, Newsweek: C+
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C
Matt Singer, IFC.com: C
Mark Olsen, LA Times: C
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: C-
Current Average: C+
26. Solitary Man (Film Page)
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: B
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: C
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C
Current Average: C+
27. Cracks (Film Page)
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: B-
Mark Olsen, LA Times: C-
Current Average: C+
28. Tanner Hall
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: C+
Mark Olsen, LA Times: C-
Current Average: C
29. Love & Other Impossible Pursuits (Film Page)
Mark Olsen, LA Times: B
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: D
Current Average: C
30. Chloe (Film Page)
[indieWIRE review]
B. Ruby Rich: B+
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: B-
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: C+
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C+
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: C+
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: C
David Ansen, Newsweek: C
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: C-
David Fear, Time Out New York: D
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: F
Current Average: C
31. Trash Humpers
[indieWIRE review]
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: A
Michael Tully, Hammer To Nail: A
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: B
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C+
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: D
Marjorie Baumgarten, The Austin Chronicle: D
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: D-
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema: F
Current Average: C
32. Jennifer’s Body (Film Page)
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: B+
Peter Sciretta, /Film: B
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: B
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: B
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: B
Mark Olsen, LA Times: B-
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: B-
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York: B-
Sean Means, The Salt Lake Tribune: B-
David Ansen, Newsweek: C+
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today: C
David Fear, Time Out New York: C
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: C
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago: C
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle: C
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog: C
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: C-
Scott Weinberg, Cinematical: D+
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper: D+
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club: D+
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: D
Current Average: C
33. Creation
[indieWIRE review]
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere: C+
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today: C+
Mark Olsen, LA Times: C
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: C
Noel Murray, A.V. Club: C
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE: C-
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: C-
David Fear, Time Out New York: C-
David Ansen, Newsweek: C-
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: D
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: D
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood: F
Current Average: C-
34. Dorian Gray
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix: D
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post: F
Current Average: D-
Participating Critics
Sam Adams, Philadelphia City Paper, L.A. Times, A.V. Club (twitter)
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly (link)
David Ansen, Newsweek (link)
Marjorie Baumgarten, Austin Chronicle (link)
Alex Billington, FirstShowing.net: (link)
Gregory Ellwood, HitFix (blog)
David Fear, Time Out New York (blog)
Ben Kenigsberg, Time Out Chicago (blog)
Peter Knegt, indieWIRE (blog)
Eric Kohn, indieWIRE (blog)
Joe Leydon, Variety (blog)
Eric Lavallee, IonCinema (blog)
Karina Longworth, SpoutBlog (blog)
Lou Lumenick, The New York Post (link)
Mark Olsen, LA Times (blog)
Sean Means, The Salt Lake Tribune (blog)
Noel Murray, A.V. Club (link)
B. Ruby Rich (link)
James Rocchi, MSN Movies (link)
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York (blog)
Peter Sciretta, /Film (link)
Matt Singer, IFC.com link)
Anne Thompson, Thompson on Hollywood (blog)
Scott Tobias, A.V. Club (link)
Michael Tully, Hammer To Nail (link)
Scott Weinberg, Cinematical (link)
Jeffrey Wells, Hollywood Elsewhere (blog)
Susan Wloszczyna, USA Today (link)
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