While Netflix has successfully reshaped how we watch TV series, its foray into film hasnB次元官网网址檛 achieved anywhere near the same level of water-cooler chatter.
But that may change this week as the streaming giant heads to the Toronto International Film Festival with a heavy slate of movies that could bolster its reputation with cinephiles, appeal to mainstream audiences and grab some Oscar buzz along the way.
Eight Netflix films will screen at TIFF in the coming days, marking the largest number of movies the company has ever brought to the festival.
Its lineup includes historical epic B次元官网网址淥utlaw King,B次元官网网址� starring Chris Pine, which becomes the first-ever movie from a streaming giant to open an international film festival with its debut Thursday.
After that, Netflix showcases world premieres of the thriller B次元官网网址淗old the DarkB次元官网网址� as well as a Quincy Jones documentary and the mid-life crisis drama B次元官网网址淭he Land of Steady Habits.B次元官网网址� But itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淩oma,B次元官网网址� a new black-and-white film by B次元官网网址淕ravityB次元官网网址� director Alfonso Cuaron, thatB次元官网网址檚 riding high on accolades from a debut at the Venice Film Festival last month. Critics predict itB次元官网网址檒l be a contender at the next Academy Awards.
All that positive attention bodes well for Netflix if the company wants to strengthen its image as a home to prestige films, and not a factory thatB次元官网网址檚 pushing mediocre movies into the marketplace, said Hannah Woodhead, a U.K.-based film critic.
B次元官网网址淣etflix is trying to demonstrate to all the naysayers that theyB次元官网网址檙e a viable studio and not just any streaming service,B次元官网网址� said Woodhead, who writes for the Little White Lies film site.
B次元官网网址淚t almost seems like a public relations offensive.B次元官网网址�
But NetflixB次元官网网址檚 track record hasnB次元官网网址檛 exactly helped its regard in some corners of the film community.
Unlike other streaming giants like Amazon, the company has notoriously shunned a theatrical release for most of its films, agreeing only to the smallest rollouts in order to qualify certain movies for the Oscars.
It was enough to push organizers at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival to effectively boot Netflix from its red carpet premieres last May. A new rule banned any films from competing for the festivalB次元官网网址檚 most prestigious prize if they werenB次元官网网址檛 playing in FranceB次元官网网址檚 theatres.
The decision singled out Netflix and led the company to walk away from the Cannes festival.
Netflix isnB次元官网网址檛 hitting it out of the park in Hollywood either.
Even though itB次元官网网址檚 thrown significant money behind award campaigns for movies such as B次元官网网址淢udboundB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淏easts of No Nation,B次元官网网址� the company has failed to capture any trophies in a major Oscar category. Will SmithB次元官网网址檚 big-budgeted B次元官网网址淏rightB次元官网网址� didnB次元官网网址檛 impress critics and quickly vanished from the conversation.
Related:
Instead, Netflix has seen a number of its most buzzworthy titles in lighter fare, like the holiday romance B次元官网网址淎 Christmas PrinceB次元官网网址� and teen comedies B次元官网网址淭he Kissing BoothB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淭o All the Boys IB次元官网网址檝e Loved Before.B次元官网网址�
Dozens of other films, some which were hot off film festival buzz, have fallen off the radar within days of appearing on the streaming platform. Netflix doesnB次元官网网址檛 provide viewership figures, which makes it impossible to accurately gauge how many people watch their films.
Those detractions havenB次元官网网址檛 necessarily hurt NetflixB次元官网网址檚 position with filmmakers who sometimes just want to get their dream project off the ground. Many boast about their creative freedom under the streaming giantB次元官网网址檚 roof B次元官网网址� but the sentiment isnB次元官网网址檛 always positive.
The Netflix brand took another knock this summer when the filmmakers behind B次元官网网址淐razy Rich AsiansB次元官网网址� acknowledged they turned down a steep offer from the company in favour of a traditional Hollywood distributor who promised a full theatrical release and the promotional thrust that comes with it.
Jason Gorber, a film critic based in Toronto, doesnB次元官网网址檛 think experiences like the one with B次元官网网址滳razy Rich AsiansB次元官网网址� will threaten NetflixB次元官网网址檚 posture because it was such an anomaly in the film market.
Most small or mid-sized movies are lucky to see any sort of major release without getting trampled by blockbusters, he said. He considers NetflixB次元官网网址檚 relationship with organizers at TIFF as mutually beneficial to both of their interests.
B次元官网网址淭he festival is providing the showcase, glitz and the glamour for a bunch of films that probably wouldnB次元官网网址檛 have done spectacularly well theatrically anyway,B次元官网网址� Gorber argues.
B次元官网网址淓ach gets their chance to be a theatrical experience, the attention that comes with it and then Netflix gets the advertising.B次元官网网址�
Rounding out the eight films Netflix plans to screen at TIFF this year are movies that mightB次元官网网址檝e never seen a theatrical release anyway.
Maggie GyllenhaalB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭he Kindergarten TeacherB次元官网网址� is a challenging drama that was warmly received at other festivals but lacks real commercial prospects, while B次元官网网址�22 JulyB次元官网网址� follows the story behind NorwayB次元官网网址檚 deadliest terrorist attack, and B次元官网网址淕irlB次元官网网址� chronicles a young ballerina considering gender reassignment surgery.
Gorber believes movies like these, which donB次元官网网址檛 have major box-office prospects, have a chance to thrive on streaming services where they can be discovered over time. He said if Netflix continues to invest in a diverse lineup of commercial and riskier projects, heB次元官网网址檚 prepared to call himself a supporter.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 spectacular the films they put their money behind,B次元官网网址� he said.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
