TIFF: All the best films we saw at Toronto Film Festival, ranked (including ‘Sound of Metal’) – USA TODAY

TORONTO – The poutine may be warm north of the border, but it’s the films that are really hot this time of year.

Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing with a huge crop of big movies, from the anticipated “Joker” and Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” to Taika Waititi’s anti-hate satire “Jojo Rabbit” and the Judy Garland biopic “Judy” with Renee Zellweger.

Between all the screenings, interviews and the occasional coffee to keep us upfront, we’re going to be keeping folks up to date with reactions on all the big movies we’re seeing. (And because we like to rank things, we’re doing that, too.) So here’s the best stuff we’ve seen at TIFF so far, and keep coming back as we update throughout the festival:

6. ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’

Now this is how you get kids into Charles Dickens, with slapstick comedy, a modern sense of humor, endless zingers and Tilda Swinton mad at donkeys. The delightful and often goofy take on the classic Victorian novel has its spunky title character (Dev Patel) tell his charming and embattled story, from having nothing to a little something, rinse and repeat, while interacting with kooky sorts like his aunt Betsy (Swinton), kite-loving and off-kilter chap Mr. Dick (Hugh Laurie) and dog-loving dim love Dora (Morfydd Clark). Director Armando Iannucci’s version is also surprisingly touching, keeping you chuckling while stealthily warming your heart with Master David’s class-breaking shenanigans.

5. ‘Just Mercy’

Director Destin Daniel Cretton’s solid legal drama doesn’t do anything particularly innovative but then again, with this cast and such a rousing, inspiration real-life story, it doesn’t really need to. Michael B. Jordan proves his star power yet again as a young Harvard-school lawyer who heads to Alabama in the late 1980s and helps out death-row inmates such as Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), wrongfully convicted for the murder of an 18-year-old white girl. Just when you think it’s predictable, some emotionally brutal scenes keep you hooked into the inequality of the era, and the cast is superb. Brie Larson gets a meaty role as another legal eagle, and Foxx turns in a stellar performance as does Rob Morgan, playing a troubled war veteran with an execution date.

4. ‘Honey Boy’

We’re in the middle of the Shiassance and for anyone who’s paid attention to Shia LaBeouf’s tumultuous Hollywood career, “Honey Boy” – which he co-wrote – is an intriguing, autobiographical character study. Shia – or in this case, Otis – is seen as a “Transformers”-era malcontent (Lucas Hedges) forced to go to rehab to deal with PTSD from his crazy childhood. In parallel fashion, the film also shows Otis as a child star (Noah Jupe) working on a TV show and living in a rundown motel with his abusive father (LaBeouf), a former rodeo clown. Directed by Alma Har’el, the film digs into the way we lie to ourselves and others around us – including actors – and features strong showings from Jupe, Hedges and especially LaBeouf. Between this and “Peanut Butter Falcon,” he’s back, y’all.

3. ‘Pain and Glory’

Those wondering when the heck Antonio Banderas will finally nab an Oscar nomination should pay attention, because this might be his best chance yet. In Pedro Almodovar’s Spanish drama, Banderas is a world-renowned director in the twilight of his career, facing chronic physical anguish as one of his best-loved works is getting a high-profile re-release. The occasion leads him to squash a 30-year-old feud with the film’s star (and try out heroin), reconnect with an old lover and also flash back to formative childhood experiences and time spent with his loving mother (Penelope Cruz). Banderas lends gravitas, humor and grace to one of his greatest roles, giving a boost to Almodovar’s highly personal effort.

2. ‘The Report’

The CIA’s questionable torture practices get the “Spotlight” treatment with director Scott Z. Burns’ exceptional and rather nonpartisan look at a questionable period in government history. Adam Driver stars as Daniel Jones, a hard-driving staffer for Sen. Barbara Feinstein (Annette Bening) tasked with investigating the morality and legality of “enhanced interrogation techniques” used in the wake of 9/11, getting stonewalled to get the report done and then dealing with powerful figures in Washington – including in the White House – who don’t want it to see the light of day. While the supporting cast is full of standouts, from Bening to Jon Hamm (as chef of staff Denis McDonough), Driver and his character’s dogged pursuit of the truth get all A’s on the “Report” card.

1. ‘Sound of Metal’

This one rocks unlike everything else at the festival. With an awesome focus on sound design, director Darius Marder lets an audience experience what it’s like for a hard-rock drummer (Riz Ahmed) to lose his hearing after being exposed to constant noise. The musician is forced to confront being suddenly deaf, what it means for his relationship with his girlfriend/bandmate (Olivia Cooke) and how he needs to cope to maintain a sense of self but also not revert to previous addictions. Ahmed is fantastic at communicating a wide range of emotions during his character’s odyssey, from absolute anger to calm optimism, and the film itself is profound, innovative, heartbreaking, uplifting and even a little breathtaking.

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