CBS Films

We're all amped up for "Seven Psychopaths," Martin McDonagh's follow-up to the sublimely dark "In Bruges" that arrives in theaters on Friday.

With Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson and Christopher Walken, it's got a helluva cast.

But we couldn't help but imagine what a more true-to-life (yet still star-studded) version of "Seven Psychopaths" would look like. One with a lot more, you know, crazy.

Here's where we landed.

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Forget Los Angeles — Canada is where the famous actor-types are at every year in September. The Toronto International Film Festival is a great way to kick off the more "serious" fall movie season as it features more adult-oriented dramas like "Looper," "On the Road" and, uh, "Dredd 3D."

However, just because it's time to get a little more serious with the storytelling now that the summer movie season is over doesn't mean there aren't some good Hollywood fun and games going on, too. Check out the stars getting down up north — and check them out often, as we'll be updating this gallery daily through Sept. 16.

Keep up with all the TIFF movie reviews at Film.com.

[From Hollywood Crush] As circa-1995 Alanis Morissette would hiss, isn't it ironic that Nina Dobrev auditioned for the big-screen adaptation of Stephen Chbosky's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" via Skype, considering the technology wasn't a thing in the early '90s (the time period in which the novel is set)? I mean, don't you think?

Well, it was all part of a journey "The Vampire Diaries" star took to land the role of Charlie's sister Candace — despite a geographic challenge or two.

"I think I was one of the last pieces, probably not the last piece," Nina told MTV News during the Toronto International Film Festival. "But I was in Atlanta filming, and I really loved the script, and I really wanted to be a part of it, but I couldn't get to where Stephen was, so we Skyped my audition. I was in between takes, and I kind of had to be like, 'Guys, I'm going to go to the bathroom. I just have to pee for five minutes.' And then I went and Skyped and auditioned and there was a moment definitely a moment that we both knew this was a right fit and it worked."

For more on what she had to say, head to MTV's Hollywood Crush. And be sure to tune in to MTV on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at 7:56 p.m. ET for an exclusive clip from the movie, followed by a special MTV First interview with the cast on MTV.com at 8 p.m. ET.

CBS Films

With films like "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The King's Speech" having made their international debuts at the fest, the movies showing this year are among those we can't wait to see this fall — in fact, we listed 20 of them before TIFF even kicked off.

So, how did they fare? Well, here's what the reviewers from our sister site, Film.com, had to say...

"Seven Psychopaths": A
Starring Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Christopher Walken and Woody Harrelson. If you love quick dialogue and madcap situations, you'll feel this one came with a bow attached. Read the full review.

"The Company You Keep": C
Starring Susan Sarandon, Shia LaBeouf, Anna Kendrick and Robert Redford. Missing major moral fiber and a clear point. Read the full review.

"Thanks for Sharing": D+
Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Ruffalo, Tim Robbins and Josh Gad. It's like "Shame" as a rom-com, which works about as well as you'd think. Read the full review.

"Silver Linings Playbook": A
Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Tucker and Robert De Niro. Exceptional performances and direction by David O. Russell make this a film to see in theaters. Read the full review.

"The Master": B-
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Jesse Plemons. A movie for students of film history, and for audiences far more patient than average. Read the full review.

RedBud Pictures

"To the Wonder": B-
Starring Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Olga Kurylenko and Javier Bardem. The first and only Malick move that had me checking my watch. Read the full review.

"Imogene": D+
Starring Kristen Wiig, Darren Criss, Annette Bening and Matt Dillon. The real juice comes from the cast of pros, but that's not enough to save a hollow and uninteresting movie. Read the full review.

"The Iceman": C-
Starring Ray Liotta, Chris Evans, Winona Ryder and Michael Shannon. The enemy of all storytelling — and the downfall of "The Iceman" — is disconnection and boredom. Read the full review.

"Bad 25": A-
Starring Michael Jackson. Non-fans will be enthralled by Spike Lee's documentary. Actual fans will be ecstatic. Read the full review.

"Byzantium": C+
Starring Saoirse Ronan, Gemma Arterton and Caleb Landry Jones. It will make moody, gothic fantasy fans happy, but non-vampire lovers will find it a bit, well, lifeless. Read the full review.

StudioCanal

"The Place Beyond the Pines": B
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Rose Byrne and Eva Mendes. There is true beauty in the despair that pervades "The Place Beyond the Pines," a treatise on the compromises we all make to protect and provide for our loved ones. Read the full review.

"Hyde Park on Hudson": D+
Starring Bill Murray, Laura Linney and Olivia Williams. A movie in desperate search of a point, despite a good concept and colorful cast. Read the full review.

"Cloud Atlas": C+
Starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant and Hugo Weaving. It's sort of like the "Matrix" trilogy in micro; it starts out absolutely brilliantly, then segues into a pretentious slog. Read the full review.

SBS Films

"Passion": C
Starring Rachel McAdams, Noomi Rapace and Karoline Herfurt. If director De Palma was trying to call to mind softcore cable movies from the '90s, he succeeded. Read the full review.

"Much Ado About Nothing": C
Starring Nathan Fillion, Clark Gregg and Amy Acker. Everyone from high school kids to hipsters will dig this vibrant and bubbly adaptation from Joss Whedon. Read the full review.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower": A-
Starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller and Paul Rudd. A must-see for fans of the coming-of-age drama... and the book. Read the full review.

"Hotel Transylvania": D+
Voices by Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg. A children's tale missing an innovative story is a miss. Read the full review.

Scott Rudin Productions

"Frances Ha": A
Starring Greta Gerwig, Adam Driver and Grace Gummer. It's a masterpiece at every level at execution. Read the full review.

"Dredd 3D":  B+
Starring Karl Urban, Lena Headey and Olivia Thirlby. The rare remake/reboot that's actually far superior to the original. Read the full review.

"Spring Breakers": B-
Starring Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, James Franco and Ashley Benson. It's shallow, it's boring, it's poignant, it's clever, it's poorly acted, it's intentionally poorly acted. Read the full review.

"End of Watch": C
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña and Anna Kendrick. If you compare it to an average episode of "Criminal Minds," it's pretty good. Read the full review.

"Rust and Bone": B
Starring Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts and Armand Verdure. If you're a lover of international cinema, you'll find much to enjoy here. Read the full review.

MK2 Productions

"On the Road": B+
Starring Kristen Stewart, Garrett Hedlund, Kirsten Dunst, Sam Riley and Viggo Mortensen. A plainspoken and restrained filmmaker's vision based on the classic book. Read the full review.

"Anna Karenina": C
Starring Keira Knightley, Jude Law, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Visually striking, but leaves one of the greatest novelized tragedies entirely bereft of an emotional connection on the big screen. Read the full review.

"Argo": A
Starring Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman and Alan Arkin. Affleck, who also directs, is in complete control of his game here. Read the full review.

"Looper": A-
Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis and Emily Blunt. Fans of rich sci-fi may want to keep a handkerchief on hand lest they find themselves drooling. Read the full review.

Stars at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival

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Turns out Penn Badgley is not just another pretty face – apparently he has a pretty voice as well. Who would've thought "Gossip Girl"'s Dan Humphrey could carry a tune? In his latest film, "Greetings From Tim Buckley," Badgley manages to capture the very essence of one of the most ethereal musicians of the '90s, Jeff Buckley.

Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, "Greetings From Tim Buckley" chronicles the days in the life of Jeff Buckley leading up to a tribute concert for his mostly absent father, 1960s folk artist Tim Buckley.

We caught up with a particularly chatty Badgley to talk about how he prepared to play an iconic music artist, his own personal music background and, of course, his hair.

Smuggler Films

Going into this, were you a fan of Jeff Buckley or his father, Tim Buckley?
I didn't know Tim's music at all. I didn't know Tim existed before this script. And I was a fan of Jeff's. I think I listened to him the perfect amount. I deeply respected him and it was like, "That's Jeff Buckley. Of course, he's amazing," but I didn't know his music that well. I knew his live performances of Sin-é. His album I wasn't a huge fan of because of the broad '90s pop production. I love the music itself but it turned me off to a lot of the production and then once I got past that I just saw how beautiful and amazing it was.

I didn't even listen to him that much leading up to [filming the movie]. I studied him for like a week. Think about it: an entire week of watching one person. But the key there is evoking his qualities and being natural myself and letting the qualities that I have take over as opposed to mimicking him. Mimicry, to me, would have been the worst thing we could have done to this movie because he's not Ray Charles or Johnny Cash. He's this mysterious, misunderstood, weird, tragic icon. And to do him justice, you gotta do something different. I'm only using those examples because that's what everybody's like, they see that and they're like, "You have to look and sound and be exactly like him." And that's not what we were gonna do. There are plenty of biopics where they don't do that but I think that's become the standard … We're trying to get to a deeper, larger soul. We weren’t trying to be some big, bombastic "Look at Jeff Buckley" – it was more like "Look at Jeff Buckley, just for a second."

I'm talking so much because, for the first time, I'm so proud.

What was your musical background before coming into this movie?
I've always loved music. I listen to music the way a lot of actors watch movies. I'm actually cinematically totally uneducated. Haven't seen "Goodfellas" or "Grease." But I just poured over music. Neither of my parents play music. As weird as it was, my parents actually showed me "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys, All 4 One's "I Swear" and an Aaron Neville and Kathy Lee Gifford Christmas album. I mean, my parents have the worst musical tastes. But my dad listened to jazz. There was a Yusef Lateef album and a couple Miles Davis albums he had, the iconic stuff that everybody knows. So my musical background is weird in that I don't really have one. I love music and I've always sung to myself.

Getty Images

You were self-taught vocals and guitar, is that correct? Is what we see on screen all you?
Yeah. But I stopped playing the guitar for about eight years so, when I got this movie, I was like, "Oh, s**t."

[What you see on screen] is all live too. We all did it. The whole concert, everything was real. We played the concert without stopping all the way through. We just did that three times. Thank God it all worked. But the real important thing is that the reason anybody watching the movie feels something is because it was simple and honest and real. And that's the coolest thing about it.

Now that you've had a taste for music, will there ever be a Penn Badgely album? Will you be transitioning to music?
There will never be a Penn Badgely album [laughs]. But for the first time, I'm friends with a bunch of musicians, so I'm playing with them and opening for them. But I've gotta get my legs. There was this thing online of me singing "Lilac Wine." It's good that people liked it, but it's also not representative of what I want to do at all. I got talked into doing that by a good friend who was like "You just gotta play, so do 'Lilac Wine.'" I was like, "No, I can't do that! I've never played before. It's messy – that's Jeff's thing." I want to play music, I like to play music. I don't know where that will go.

The CW

There has been so much fuss over your hair in the past year – do you agree with it?
You know what's so funny about that? It's my hair. On the show ["Gossip Girl"] since day one, it's been such a topic of conversation with producers. And no matter what I do, even if they've asked me to do it a year prior, they're not happy. They're just not happy with my hair. Ever. So what I'm gonna do, I think, finally, when it's over, is just shave it off and get rid of all that. It's like, "Uhh, beard? No beard? I'm sorry – it's my hair. I'm not asking your opinion [laughs]." It’s like, it's long because I'm trying to grow my hair out, would you calm down?!

[From MTV News] It's not quite "The Avengers," but you can bank on the fact that a colorful assortment of heroes and villains will collide when "Captain America" returns for its 2014 sequel, titled "The Winter Soldier."

Based on a run of comic books written by noir-minded writer Ed Brubaker, the "Winter Soldier" story deals heavily with the apparent resurrection of Bucky Barnes, played in "Captain America: The First Avenger" by Sebastian Stan. In the comics, Bucky resurfaces in the form of a brainwashed Russian assassin known as the Winter Soldier, and it's up to his old partner and friend Steve Rogers to bring him back to the side of the angels. Exactly how faithful the Marvel Studios film plans to stick to that source material remains to be seen, but actor Chris Evans insists that the seeds for "Winter Soldier" were planted long ago.

"There were always hints at that," Evans told MTV News about the "Cap" sequel during a Toronto Film Fest interview about "The Iceman," his new hit-man biopic featuring "Man of Steel" villain Michael Shannon. "The best thing about [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige is he's a fan. He's not just a businessman, he's a rabid comic book fan. Even during the first 'Captain America,' well before 'The Avengers,' there were whispers of ['Winter Soldier'] being the sequel. So I'm excited to tackle that."

To find out why he's so excited, head to MTV.com.

[From MTV.com] He's played a dark wizard and a villainous vamp, but actor Jamie Campbell Bower is tackling his most physically demanding role yet in the upcoming "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" as demon-destroying Shadowhunter Jace Wayland.

Based upon the urban fantasy series by Cassandra Clare, "City of Bones" stars Lily Collins as a Brooklyn teen who discovers she's a descendant of an ancient line of half-human, half-angel warriors tasked with protecting Earth from dark forces. Campbell Bower plays her love interest in the film, and the actress had plenty of accolades for her co-star when MTV News caught up with her at the Toronto International Film Festival recently, where she was supporting another film, "Writers."

"When he walked into the room for the audition — I remember telling you this actually, a while ago — that he walked on and that was it. That was Jace. He nailed it," Collins recalled. "He didn't have to try. He's that perfect mixture between being this, like, mysterious Jace and also very endearing and funny, and he brings this wit and charm that only Jamie can bring. You just burst out laughing because he's so deadpan when he delivers things."

For more of what she had to say, head to MTV.com.

Finnick Odair, the dreamiest tribute in Panem, has finally been found, but only after a lengthy search that spanned countless A-list actors and virtual unknowns alike. "Snow White and the Huntsman" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" actor Sam Claflin will star as the trident-wielding Finnick in Francis Lawrence's "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," but once upon a time, there was a very different man in the running for the role: "Tron Legacy" star Garrett Hedlund.

Hedlund confirmed his near miss with "Catching Fire" during a recent interview with MTV News at the Toronto International Film Festival, where he was promoting "On The Road," yet another hotly awaited novel adaptation.

"They did [approach me]," Hedlund admitted to MTV about almost playing Finnick in the upcoming "Hunger Games" sequel. "But I was working on this film at the time. We shot the whole film in 23 days and I was really immersed in it. I couldn't get around [to reading the 'Hunger Games' novels]."

Read what else he had to say at MTV.com.

The powers that be at Marvel have broken their silence on "Guardians of the Galaxy" director James Gunn — and by "powers that be" we mean "Avengers" director Joss Whedon.

Whedon, a friend of Gunn's, recently spoke with MTV News at the Toronto International Film Festival (where he was busy promoting "Much Ado about Nothing," his modernized take on Shakespeare's classic play) about how Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" adaptation is coming together, and what the film's director brings to the equation.

"James is what makes me think it will work," said Whedon. "I myself was sort of like, 'Well, I liked Rocket Raccoon as a kid, but I'm not sure how that plays [to a wider audience].' And then they said, 'Well, we're thinking about using James Gunn.' And I said, 'Oh, then no, you're fine.' He is so off the wall, and so crazy, but so smart, such a craftsman and he builds from his heart. He loves the raccoon. Needs the raccoon."

Head to MTV's Splashpage for more!

It's looking more and more likely that Joseph Gordon-Levitt's days of stalking around Gotham City in a cape and cowl have ended before they ever really started. By the end of "The Dark Knight Rises," Gordon-Levitt's optimistic beat cop John Blake — real name Robin, as it turns out — discovered Bruce Wayne's abandoned Batcave, leaving him the heir apparent to Batman's legacy in Gotham.

Gordon-Levitt hasn't been shy about his beliefs that the ending of "Rises" wasn't meant to be a "to be continued," but a decisive conclusion to the "Dark Knight" trilogy and its themes. Given that Christopher Nolan has also said that he won't be involved in future Batman films, it's a safe bet that further appearances of JGL in Gotham aren't in the cards, either.

But how about that "Justice League" movie that Warner Bros. is currently assembling? It's unclear at the moment how WB plans to connect their superhero team-up (rumored to hit theaters in 2015, the same year as Marvel and Joss Whedon's "Avengers" sequel) to the "Dark Knight" trilogy, if at all. But for the sake of argument, let's say Gordon-Levitt was approached to be a part of "Justice League" — would he even be interested in signing on?

MTV asked the man himself during the Toronto Film Festival this week, but for JGL's answer, you'll have to head to MTV.com.

The next installment of "The Hunger Games," titled "Catching Fire," promises all kinds of changes for the world of Panem. Katniss Everdeen isn't just a Hunger Games survivor, for one; she's a full-blown celebrity now. Civil unrest is catching throughout the 12 districts, too, causing all sorts of problems for Katniss as well as the cruel President Snow.

And here's something else that's new: when "Catching Fire" hits theaters, it'll have a brand new fan in the form of A-List actor Bradley Cooper.

It seems the "Hangover" actor, currently at the Toronto International Film Festival promoting his and co-star Jennifer Lawrence's new film, "The Silver Linings Playbook," is the latest person to catch fire and become a "Hunger Games" fan. "I just saw it," Cooper told a surprised Lawrence when MTV News spoke with the pair at TIFF. "I didn't even tell you? I didn't text you?"

He goes on to further prove his fandom... but you'll have to head to MTV.com to read it.

FilmDistrict

As much as we love all that summer has to offer, fall is where it's at for true cinephiles. The movie lover's season officially kicks off (according to us, anyway) the same day the annual Toronto International Festival launches every year in early September.

As has been the case for several years now, Toronto serves as a platform for studios to launch their Oscar hopefuls and for smaller indies to find a home (and maybe some awards down the line). "The King's Speech," "Slumdog Millionaire," "Precious" and "The Artist" all played at the festival before going on to Oscar glory while films like "Beginners," "Killer Joe" and "Your Sister's Sister," all came into the event without a distributor, and left with one.

As is usually the case, this year's slate looks supremely promising, with new films from Terence Malick, Ben Affleck, Neil Jordan, Brian De Palma, Joe Wright and a slew of others. Some are screening in Toronto shortly before opening in theaters, while others have no release date as of yet. But chances are, if they make a dent at the festival, you'll be seeing the latter ones soon enough.

To distill the massive lineup for your perusing pleasure, we've handpicked the 20 films we're most excited to see at TIFF.

Warner Bros.

'Argo'

If you would have told us 10 years ago that Ben Affleck was poised to become our generation's Clint Eastwood — a good actor who makes an even better director — we would've laughed in your face. And yet here we are, two films in, and Affleck has proved to be just that. His third, "Argo," premieres in Toronto, and, if the buzz is to be believed, it's his best to date, following "Gone Baby Gone" and "The Town." Working on his broadest canvas yet, "Argo" tells the true story of a covert operation to rescue six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979.

'Anna Karenina'

With only four films to his name ("Atonement," "Pride and Prejudice," "Hanna" and "The Soloist"), British director Joe Wright has singled himself out as one of the most eclectic and varied directors out there. Judging by the stunning trailer for his latest, his stock is only set to rise further with his radical take on the literary classic "Anna Karenina," starring his muse, Keira Knightley. Wright, never one to take the boring route, set the majority of the film on an actual stage to save on costs, and add a little theatrical flair to his period epic. Whether his gamble paid off, we have yet to see. But we sure can't wait.

'Bad 25'

It may be hard to fathom, but Michael Jackson's groundbreaking "Bad" album turns 25 this year. To pay tribute to the album's enduring legacy (and to the King of Pop himself), director Spike Lee has crafted what is sure to be the definitive documentary made as yet on the legend, and the album that has come to define him. The documentary features appearances by some of the King's collaborators including Martin Scorsese (who directed the "Bad" video) and Sheryl Crow (who toured with him) as well as those who were inspired by him, including such luminaries as Kanye West, Mariah Carey and Cee Lo Green.

WestEnd Films

'Byzantium'

"Interview With a Vampire" director Neil Jordan returns to the vampire genre with "Byzantium," starring Saoirse Ronan (arguably the most talented under 20 actress working today) and Gemma Arterton. The story centers on two female vampires (Ronan and Arterton), who wreak havoc on an unsuspecting seaside community. Given Jordan's track record since helming the Tom Cruise-starring "Interview" — he has since directed "Michael Collins," "The End of the Affair" and "Breakfast on Pluto," among many others — don't expect a "Twilight" knockoff, but something for the adult set with more on its mind than lust and blood.

'Cloud Atlas'

We were skeptical when we first caught wind that Tom Twyker and the Wachowski siblings had plans to adapt David Mitchell's epic novel "Cloud Atlas" for the screen. The book, which spans the 19th century to a post-apocalytptic future for a tale that shows how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future, seems totally unfilmable on the page. But after catching the stunning six-minute trailer for the independently financed film, consider us sold. Heck, we cried watching the thing.

Open Road Films

'End of Watch'

Jake Gyllenhaal, we're glad to have you back! It's been a year since "Source Code," the actor's last film to hit screens, so it's no wonder we're itching to see his heated turn in David Ayer's high-octane cop thriller, "End of Watch," co-starring Anna Kendrick and Michael Peña. Employing the found-footage aesthetic used in horror films like "The Blair Witch Project" and the "Paranormal Activity" series, "End of Watch" is said to plunge you into the lives of two L.A. cops (Gyllenhaal and Peña). How Ayer's method will pay off is anyone's guess. But, thanks to his cred (he penned the screenplay for one of the best cop films ever, "Training Day"), we have high hopes.

'Great Expectations'

"Four Weddings and a Funeral" director Mike Newell offers another stab at the Charles Dickens' classic with the Gothic-looking "Great Expectations." Folks expecting a modern take on the material, like the dreamy adaptation helmed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow, will be sorely disappointed, but we can't wait to see the story told the way Dickens meant it to be told. Like the novel, Newell's film is set in the mid-1800s. And, judging by the promising international trailer for the film, Helena Bonham Carter seems to be having a total campy ball as a spiteful recluse who tries to get between the two lovers at the center of the tale (played by "War Horse" breakout Jeremy Irvine and Holiday Grainger).

Sony

'Hotel Transylvania'

Celebrated animator Genndy Tartakovsky (best known for his work on "Star Wars: Clone Wars" and "The Powerpuff Girls") makes his leap into feature film animation with this ghoulish tale sure to enthrall both adults and kids alike. Headlined by a great voice cast that includes Adam Sandler, Selena Gomez and Steve Buscemi, "Hotel Transylvania" offers a lighter take on the Dracula story by centering on Dracula's attempts to keep his daughter protected from the vices of the outside world. To do so, he's built the titular hotel, a place where monsters of all kinds have a sanctuary to unwind and be themselves. Dracula's attempts at keeping his daughter in a bubble are thwarted when a human comes upon his castle.

'Hyde Park on Hudson'

Bill Murray is said to give an Oscar-worthy performance as Franklin Delano Roosevelt — the only U.S. president to hold office for three consecutive terms — in "Hyde Park on Hudson," a lighthearted glimpse into the life of the beloved icon. The film depicts one of the last pre-war weekends in 1939, when King George VI and Queen Consort Elizabeth (yep, the same folks played by Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter in "The King's Speech") paid a visit to the president's estate in Upstate New York. To add some drama to the mix, the ever-reliable Laura Linney is said to give a great supporting turn as Roosevelt's distant cousin, whom the president takes a more than friendly liking to.

Anonymous Content

'Imogene'

With her run on "Saturday Night Live" done and her last film to hit theaters, "Bridesmaids," a bona fide hit, Kristin Wiig is set to take the big screen by storm. That's the main reason we're so amped to see her back in leading lady mode in the indie comedy "Imogene," a character study about a down-on-her-luck aspiring playwright, who, at the story's outset, has staged her own suicide just to get her ex's attention. Desperate much? After the botched attempt to win him back, Imogene is remanded to the custody of her mother (Annette Bening), who, as it turns out, is just as messed up as her daughter.

'Looper'

If high-concept sci-fi is your thing, then you're undoubtedly psyched to see Rian Johnson's follow-up to "The Brothers Bloom," "Looper," which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis as the same dude. Yeah, you heard that right. Set in the near future (well, 2072), "Looper" imagines a world where when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gunmen (called Loopers) await to finish them off, thereby erasing their future. So you can imagine one Looper's reaction when the guy they send back for him to kill is his older self. Will this be the next "Matrix?" Only time will tell, but we're hopeful.

The Weinstein Company

'The Master'

Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master" has been courting a ton of praise after selectively screening across the U.S. prior to its Toronto bow, with the majority of critics saying that this is one to beat come Oscar time. Joaquin Phoenix, who last appeared as himself in the divisive mockumentary "I'm Still Here," is said to give the performance of his career as a troubled WWII vet who finds himself under the wing of an enigmatic cult leader (Anderson regular Philip Seymour Hoffman). There's been a ton of speculation as to whether "The Master" is Anderson's take on the birth of Scientology. Having not seen it, we don't know whether it is or not. All we know is that it looks like one of the best films of the year.

'Much Ado About Nothing'

Is there anything Joss Whedon can't conquer? After proving to be a force on the small screen by creating "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," one of the most beloved TV shows of all time, Whedon gave James Cameron a run for his title as King of the World after decimating box-office rivals with his summer smash hit, "The Avengers." And now with his black-and-white indie "Much Ado About Nothing," Whedon is out to prove that he can do Shakespeare... in modern day, no less. In Whedon we trust.

MK2 Productions

'On the Road'

All eyes with be on Kristin Stewart in Toronto, where the "Twilight" beauty is expected to make an appearance in honor of her buzzed-about supporting turn in "On the Road," Walter Salles' long anticipated adaptation of Jack Kerouac's seminal novel of the same name. While most of the focus will be placed on how she reacts when asked about her recent cheating scandal, we're more curious to see her performance as an uninhibited teenager in the epic indie. Both the film and Stewart drew rave reviews at Cannes following its world premiere earlier this year. Her romantic life might be in the stinker, but if the hype is to be believed, her artistic one is flourishing.

'The Paperboy'

"The Paperboy" (a.k.a. the movie in which Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman pees on Zac Efron) was one the most divisive movies to ever play in Cannes, courting both praise and derision, so it's no wonder we're curious to check out this potboiler. In the film, set in Miami in the 1960s, Efron plays a directionless young man drafted to help his journalist brother (Matthew McConaughey) investigate the possible wrongful conviction of a man (John Cusack) on death row. Kidman is said to give a scene-stealing performance as a horned up woman corresponding with the prisoner. In following up his Oscar-winning "Precious" with this lurid tale based on Pete Dexter's novel of the same name, Lee Daniels made one hell of risk. Here's hoping it paid off.

SBS Films

'Passion'

Sure to be the guilty pleasure of the festival is Brian De Palma's sleazy-looking follow-up to his divisive war film "Redacted," "Passion." The thriller finds the "Carrie" director back in "Femme Fatale" mode, pairing Rachel McAdams up with Noomi Rapace for a sexy tale centered on a driven ingenue (Rapace) who engages in a deadly battle with her ruthless mentor (McAdams), a woman she secretly harbors a deep attraction for. We can't wait to see Rapace bury deep into a role as dark as her breakout one as Lisbeth Salander, the original "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." As for McAdams, we can't wait to see her play another mean girl (forgive the pun).

'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'

Emma Watson has a huge fan base thanks to the "Harry Potter" franchise, but she has yet prove her staying power in Hollywood — hence the reason we're so curious to see how she fares as one of the leads in Stephen Chobsky's film adaptation of his own popular novel, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." In the coming-of-age drama, Watson and Ezra Miller star as two high school seniors who take an introverted freshman (Logan Lerman) under their wings to show him the ropes and a good time.

The Weinstein Co.

'Silver Linings Playbook'

Bad-boy director David O. Russell follows up his Oscar-winning crowd-pleaser "The Fighter" with something altogether different – a drama about a teacher (Bradley Cooper) with a troubled past who moves back in with his mother. Russell knows his way around actors ("The Fighter" netted Best Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor Oscars), so we can't wait to see what he wrings out of his new ensemble. Along for the ride with Cooper are Robert De Niro, Julia Stiles, Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Tucker (remember him?).

'Spring Breakers'

Despite its Disney-friendly cast (Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens both headline), "Spring Breakers" ain't for the tween set. Directed by art house madman Harmony Korine ("Trash Humpers") and co-starring Hollywood's anti-conformist James Franco, "Spring Breakers" stars Gomez and Hudgens as two of four female co-eds in an unnamed college town who rob a coffee shop to help pay for their trip to a beach. Unfortunately, things don't go quite as planned, and they end up in the slammer. Franco, sporting dreadlocks and a gold grill, plays a local petty gangster who bails them out. Why Gomez and Hudgens risked alienating their fan base by taking part in this oddball flick is anyone's guess. We couldn't be happier. Is Bieber next?

RedBud Pictures

'To the Wonder'

The ever elusive Terrence Malick usually takes more than 10 years between projects to wow the movie-going public, so you can imagine our disbelief when we learned that his follow-up to last year's stunner "The Tree of Life," "To the Wonder," is ready and primed for Toronto. Whatever caused the legendary director to pick up the pace, we'll likely never know. One thing we know for certain: we couldn't be happier. Rumored to be ever more experimental than his last film (and that's saying a lot), "To the Wonder" stars Ben Affleck as man who brings back a woman (Olga Kurylenko) from Europe to marry, only to fall back in love with his childhood sweetheart (Rachel McAdams). Who doesn't love a highbrow love triangle?

Fox Searchlight

Yes, the Toronto International Film Festival does mark the unofficial start to Academy Award season, but it's not all period pieces and prestige dramas.

Peruse the fest's diverse slate and you'll also catch glimpses of Gerard Butler firing machine guns and Brad Pitt firing off pep talks to a baseball squad.

Compiled with our more "mainstream" film admirers in mind, here are the best of the best we saw north of the border this year.

Warning: Lots of George Clooney, Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan ahead. – By Kevin Polowy and Nigel Smith

10. 'Machine Gun Preacher'

Relativity

This could have been a disaster in the wrong hands: a true story about a white all-American biker who finds God and becomes a crusader for Sudanese children in Africa. Think "Rambo" with a message. In Marc Forster's hands (he's the guy who helmed "Monster's Ball," which won Halle Berry an Oscar), this potentially cloying sentimental tale is anything but. Starring Gerard Butler in his best performance since "300" as the titular preacher, Forster's film is uplifting when it needs to be, but the tears that eventually flow are hard-earned. -- NS

9. 'Ides of March'

Sony

George Clooney directing and starring in a political thriller about amoral partisans and the people who manage their campaigns? No, it's not the liberal love fest/ assault on conservative values you might expect. In fact, Clooney's amoral politico is of the Democratic stripe. Despite some sizable plot holes that will probably hold this one back when it comes to serious Oscar consideration, "March" is still gripping and taut adult fare bolstered by razor-sharp dialogue and driven by another fine lead performance from Man of the Moment Ryan Gosling. -- KP

8. 'Shame'

TIFF

Yes, this is the film where you see all of Michael Fassbender (Magneto in "X-Men: First Class"). It's also much more than that. In this intense character study, Fassbender plays a sex addict living an elite life in Manhattan. His risky lifestyle gets disrupted when his troubled sister (Carey Mulligan) shows up at his apartment with nowhere to go. This buzzed about drama marks the second collaboration between director Steve McQueen and Fassbender (they first worked together on another searing character study "Hunger"). Fassbender goes for broke in "Shame," in a performance that screams Oscar. Mulligan is his match. You've never seen her like this before. -- NS

7. 'Pariah'

TIFF

One of this year's biggest breakouts in Sundance was "Pariah," a coming-of-age drama about a lesbian struggling to come out to her strict family. We finally got to see what all the fuss was about in Toronto, and we weren't disappointed. Newcomer Adepero Oduye is a total breakout in the lead, navigating the film's delicate subject matter with total confidence. Same goes for rookie filmmaker Dee Rees. These are two women we're sure you'll be hearing a lot more about once "Pariah" finally opens this December. -- NS

6. 'Moneyball'

Columbia Pictures

Director Bennett Miller ("Capote") was recently quoted as saying "It's not a baseball movie. Period." We're here to tell you that it damn sure is a baseball movie (sorry Bennett) – and a really good one at that. Brad Pitt is phenomenal as real-life Oakland A's GM Billy Beane, who subscribed to a controversial method of, uh, GMing, in making personnel decisions solely on mathematics and statistics, and Jonah Hill delivers his most serious (but still amusing) performance yet as his wunderkind assistant. Sure, it's also about human relationships, dealing with failure, overcoming odds and thinking outside the box. But it's also a freaking baseball movie. -- KP

5. '50/50'

Summit

The unlikeliest laugh-out-loud movie of the year comes in the form of this comedic drama about a twentysomething Seattle radio producer (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) suddenly diagnosed with spinal cancer ("the more consonants in it, the worse it is," he's told). Seth Rogen is JGL's goofy, hard-partying brother from another mother and provides plenty of bellylaughs. Don't get us wrong, "'Superbad' in Chemo" it's not; there's some heavy s**t going on here. But director Jonathan Levine ("The Wackness") does a remarkable job balancing the somber and the sublime. -- KP

4. 'Take Shelter'

Sony Classics

Michael Shannon is a master at playing crazy. Just see his Oscar-nominated supporting performance in "Revolutionary Road," where he nearly stole the film from its two stars (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet). In "Take Shelter," Shannon stars alongside Jessica Chastain ("The Help"), who is such a magnetic presence that she doesn't let Shannon run off with the picture. In the domestic thriller, Chastain plays loyal wife to Shannon, who’s character goes off the deep end when he stars having recurring nightmares that an apocalypse is brewing. Shannon can do unnerved in his sleep, so it's Chastain that really impresses as a wife that will go to the ends of the earth to keep her family and her sanity afloat while everything around her is falling apart. -- NS

3. 'Drive'

FilmDistrict

Much like Quentin Tarantino managed to make an arthouse movie that happened to be gruesomely violent with 1992's "Reservoir Dogs," Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" – a popular critical pick for film of the year so far – combines an avante garde aesthetic with a handful moments of bone-shaking brutality. Ryan Gosling is again top-notch as a mechanic/stuntman/getaway driver (you just have to see it) for whom things get sticky when he becomes protector of Carey Mulligan and son. It's a slow sizzle, but by the time this race is over you'll be shaken to the core. -- KP

2. 'The Descendants'

Fox Searchlight

Can Alexander Payne, the director behind "Sideways" and "Election," do no wrong? Looks like it. In his latest soon-to-be Oscar-nominated dramedy, George Clooney gives his best performance to date as a father to two in Hawaii whose wife goes into a long coma after a boating accident, only to discover that she was cheating on him. We know this doesn’t sound like a minefield for laughs, but Payne manages to wring some big ones out of this awkward premise thanks to his deft writing and winning cast. He also brings a lot of heart to the proceedings. This is that rare flick that leaves you with both a happy, and a sad cry. -- NS

1. 'The Artist'

Weinstein Company

It's an unbelievably funny, charming, romantic, touching and beautifully shot movie, and sure to be one of Hollywood's biggest stories this year, probably even an Oscar frontrunner. And here's the catch: It's a black-and-white silent film. Yep, no color and no dialogue whatsoever, just old-fashioned title cards. (We really hope you haven't stopped reading.) If there's any justice in the world, the story of a silent film mega-star (Jean Dujardin) whose career goes to shambles with the introduction of sound into pictures in the late-'20s, will be the movie everyone's talking about come Nov. 23. And thus one you're just gonna have to see. -- KP

Toronto Film Festival Photos

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However, just because it's time to get a little more serious with the storytelling now that the summer movie season is over doesn't mean there aren't some good Hollywood fun and games going on, too. Check out the stars getting down up north.

Originally published on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at 12:20 a.m. ET.

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Megan Fox can't seem to give an interview without seeing some tiny nugget of quotage being spun into controversy.

Just look at some of the latest Fox news headlines, which quote the "Transformers" actress as saying she's removing the tattoo of Marilyn Monroe she has on her right forearm because the late icon is "a negative character" who suffered from "personal disorders and was bipolar."

"The point I was trying to make is that I feel like this person, her death was surrounded in negativity and she lived a hard and difficult life and I feel like inking something like that on your skin may not be the best thing to do," Fox told NextMovie exclusively in an interview at the Toronto Film Festival for her upcoming romantic dramedy "Friends With Kids."

"As I've grown I feel like I want very positive things around me and I feel like she suffered, not because I don't love her, but she clearly suffered as a human being."

Fox wasn't even aware that her comments had gone viral until her publicist (one sits in on every interview) brought it up.

"Did I offend the bipolar community or something?," Fox asks her, before noting that "the way [the article] was worded – it was translated from English to Italian back to English – they're not even words I would use."

The publicist explains, "There was a five minute discussion about her love for Marilyn." But as the nature of the celebrity news cycle goes, it's the tiniest pull quote (and here one possibly lost in translation) that spreads like wildfire.

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Fox refuses to be any less candid in interviews ("You cannot live like that. You cannot live in fear. I would be terrorized"), but she has learned some lessons ("I don't joke around as much as I used to, in print, because I know for a fact, even when the journalist prints it exactly like I said, people can't read jokes off of a black and white piece of paper").

Still, you can sense when she feels she might be being goaded. Ask for her thoughts on her unofficial replacement Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's performance in "Transfomers: Dark of the Moon," Fox, who hasn't seen the movie but wants to, responds, "I've only heard good things about her, so I have nothing negative to say."

And then there's the blunt honesty you just have to respect: "I thought the trailer looked incredible. There's a part of me that wants to hate the trailer when it comes out, pick it apart and be like, 'I saw that in the second one.' But I couldn't. I was like, Wow. The trailer's f**king amazing."

TIFF

It's that time of the year again. With summer officially over and awards season brewing, the Toronto International Film Festival launches its assault on the moviegoing masses of the world.

And what an assault it's going to be. From Ryan Gosling putting the pedal to the medal in "Drive" to George Clooney breaking hearts in "The Descendants," to both of them starring in the political drama "The Ides of March," this year's edition promises to be a doozy with a little bit of something for everyone.

Find out what's playing this year by checking out our rundown of the 15 films we're most looking forward to seeing at the festival.

Also Check Out: Think You Know Movies? Download NextMovie’s Trivia Challenge App on iTunes

'50/50'

Summit

This must have been a tough pitch to the studios: a comedy about a 27-year-old guy dealing with cancer. But judging by the promising trailer and top-notch cast (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Seth Rogen, Anjelica Huston and Anna Kendrick), this risky project has the odds to work wonderfully. Gordon-Levitt plays the unfortunate soul, while Rogen brings the funny as his wisecracking best friend who helps him deal with the tough journey ahead.

'The Artist'

TIFF

Black-and-white films are uncommon nowadays, but they still get made ("Good Night and Good Luck," "Schindler's List"). Silent ones? Not so much. Enter "The Artist," a silent, black-and-white nod back to Hollywood's Golden Age. Whether filmgoers will be up for sitting through a love story about a silent movie star (Jean Dujardin) who strikes up a romance with a young dancer on the cusp of stardom, all without dialogue, remains to be seen. Cannes critics went for the romance and awarded Dujardin their Best Actor award. We can't wait to take a trip to the past.

'Butter'

TIFF

This all-star comedy is sure to ruffle some feathers. In "Butter," Jennifer Garner stars as Laura, a determined spitfire of a woman who decides to take up competitive butter carving when her husband unexpectedly retires. In her mind, butter glory can serve as a stepping stone to the presidency. Her path to winning gets derailed when she comes up against an African-American orphan new to the art. To top things off, Olivia Wilde pops up as a stripper/prostitute who seduces Laura's teenage daughter. We're curious to see how this high-concept comedy plays out. Did we mention that it also stars Hugh Jackman, Ty Burell and Alicia Silverstone?

'A Dangerous Method'

TIFF

Anything new from director David Cronenberg ("Eastern Promises," "A History of Violence") is bound to get us excited. His latest, "A Dangerous Method," finds the Canadian master exploring the relationship between psychologist Dr. Jung (Michael Fassbender) and his mentor, Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen). Keira Knightley is rumored to give her most daring performance to date as a Russian patient with daddy issues who comes between the two men and their conflicting ideals. You'll be hearing a lot more about his drama as awards season nears.

'The Descendants'

Fox Searchlight

It's been a whopping seven years since Alexander Payne's last film, the Oscar-winning crowdpleaser "Sideways." The American auteur of such acclaimed films as "About Schmidt" and "Election" is finally back with "The Descendants," a drama with a lot of Oscar buzz going for it. No wonder. This time, Payne has teamed up with George Clooney to tell the story of a man (Clooney) who tries to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife slips into a coma following a boating accident. Things get complicated when the father discovers that his wife was having an affair prior to the mishap. The drama drew glowing reviews at the Venice Film Festival where it just had its world premiere, and we doubt we'll disagree.

'Drive'

TIFF

Ryan Gosling looks like an action hero, so it's high time he acted like one. In "Drive," the first flick in which he throws the punches, he plays a Hollywood stunt performer moonlighting as wheel-man for hire, who gets involved in some deadly business when he tries to help out a single mother (Carey Mulligan). The film earned high marks from the tough critics at Cannes earlier this year, walking off with the Best Director award for Nicolas Winding Refn ("Valhalla Rising"). We can't wait to see what got France all riled up. Bring it!

'Friends With Kids'

TIFF

"Bridesmaids" with kids? That's what this romantic comedy sure sounds like. A bevy of stars from the summer hit (including Kristen Wiig, Jon Hamm and Maya Rudolph) star in this surefire crowd pleaser from Hamm's wife, Jennifer Westfeldt, who starred in and cowrote the indie sleeper hit "Kissing Jessica Stein." In "Friends with Kids" (her directorial debut), Westfeldt stars as a gal who decides to have a kid with her male best friend. Predictably, things don't quite go as smoothly as planned once love gets in the way.

'Hysteria'

TIFF

Ever been curious about how the first vibrator was invented? That's what the British period comedy "Hysteria" sets out to answer. Hugh Dancy and Maggie Gyllenhall front the cast in this film, which stars Dancy as a doctor in Victorian-era England who enlists the help of his best friend (Rupert Everett) to come up with an electrical device to calm women's nerves. Judging by some advance footage, "Hysteria" looks like a rollicking good time with a fun cast. Who knew the Brits were so naughty?

'The Ides of March'

Columbia Pictures

George Clooney steps back into the director's chair for this political thriller. Based on the positive buzz out of Venice, where the film had its world premiere, "The Ides of March" has more in common with his Oscar-winning "Good Night, and Good Luck," than with his disappointing follow-up, "Leatherheads." The film takes place during the final days of an Ohio presidential primary, during which Ryan Gosling, as an ambitious press secretary, goes too far in trying to get his candidate (Clooney) to the top. Clooney's assembled a top-notch cast (including Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood and Philip Seymour Hoffman) for this nail-biter, but according to advance word, this is Gosling's show.

'Like Crazy'

Paramount Vantage

Sundance had a great run this year; "Martha Marcy May Marlene," "Another Earth," "Pariah" and "Take Shelter" were among some of the buzzed-about flicks that had critics raving and audiences applauding. "Like Crazy" was the one that beat them all, winning not one, but two awards at the festival: the Grand Jury Prize and Best Actress for newcomer Felicity Jones. If this victory lap isn't enough to get you excited, we don't know what is.  The film follows two lovebirds who are forced to play the long-distance game when one of them gets deported back to England. We're dying to see what all the hype is about. That, and we love to get our hearts broken sometimes... only in the movies.

'Machine Gun Preacher'

TIFF

Gerard Butler's had it rough of late. Since breaking out in a big way with his chest-baring turn in "300," the Scottish hunk's starred in some pretty middling stuff ("The Bounty Hunter," "The Ugly Truth") that hasn't let him flesh out that rough machismo only he can muster. From the looks of it, his turn in "Machine Gun Preacher" will nix any memories of sub-par romantic comedies. In the Marc Forster ("Monster's Ball")-directed true story, Butler plays Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing biker who finds God and makes it his life mission to fight for Sudanese children who've been forced to become soldiers. Michelle Monaghan ("Source Code") and Michael Shannon ("Take Shelter") round out the stellar cast.

'Moneyball'

Columbia Pictures

Attention, Brad Pitt fans: If you found "The Tree of Life" too confounding, then you'll probably looking forward to seeing Pitt play a real-life figure in the baseball drama "Moneyball." In this film directed by Bennett Miller ("Capote"), Pitt stars as Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland Athletics, who fights hard to create a competitive baseball team despite some tough finances. This is a real passion project for Pitt, who serves as a producer on the film. Originally intended for Steven Soderbergh to direct, "Moneyball" has gone through rewrite after rewrite before making its way to the screen. We're hoping Pitt's dedication paid off.

'Pearl Jam Twenty '

TIFF

Cameron Crowe, we've missed you! The auteur behind such great films as "Jerry Maguire" and "Almost Famous" hasn't released a film since 2005's "Elizabethtown." He's back in full force this year with three projects: the Oscar hopeful "We Bought a Zoo," the Elton John documentary "The Union" and "Pearl Jam Twenty," a documentary chronicling the band's formation and rise to fame.  If anyone's fit for the task of paying homage to the beloved band, Crowe is the guy. Just go by the soundtracks to all his films -- they're killer.

'Take Shelter'

TIFF

This year's hot newcomer Jessica Chastain ("The Help," "The Tree of Life") is rumored to give her best performance to date in "Take Shelter," an oddball drama that drew tons of critical acclaim at Sundance in February. In a supporting turn, she plays wife to a man (Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon) tormented by a series of apocalyptic visions. It's the end of the world as we know it for this guy, and he has Chastain spooked. From the looks of it, "Take Shelter" promises to be a tense and dramatic affair, boasting two of this year's best performances.

'Take This Waltz'

TIFF

Canadian actress Sarah Polley wowed us with her directing skills in her acclaimed filmmaking debut, "Away From Her." She's finally back behind the camera in "Take This Waltz," a romantic drama starring Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman. We couldn't be more psyched to see what Polley has in store for us.  Williams and Rogen play a married couple whose relationship hits a rough patch when Williams' character starts falling for another man. Sounds like a whole lot of heartbreak, something Polley navigated so well in "Away From Her."