TIFF Quick Thoughts – Part Two: Drifter, Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother, Misty Green, I Play Rocky, The Ultra Runner

Part One Here.

​Here’s part two of my TIFF quick thoughts (part three coming soon). It’s been fun writing these thoughts because it’s finally given me time to sit down and think about all the films I watched during the festival. The four days were a blur, and now I’ve enjoyed learning more about the films and their creators. Enjoy!

Drifter

• Directed by – Sung Kang
• Starring – Sung Kang, Tamara Braun, Gregory Cruz
• Why I watched it – Sung Kang is one of my favorite actors, so when I heard he directed Drifter, I had to see it.

Quick Thoughts

• The racing sequences are gorgeous. DP Bruce Thierry Cheung will be getting a lot of work.
• The opening drifting scene through an abandoned skate park made me very happy
• I love a good underdog story.
• It’s wild that Kang shot the film in 22 days.
• Drifter is my second favorite film I watched at TIFF (Bucking Fastard is #1).
• The racing community showed up for this movie. There are so many professional drivers.
• Filmed in Barstow and nearby California deserts, the on-location shooting adds a welcome authenticity.
• The ending is too tidy (and the drug subplot isn’t super necessary), but it doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment.

Randon Awards

• Best Set of Three Stoplights Award
• Best Paint Brush Moment Award
• Best 2026 Movie Car Award (Lola is the best)

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

• Directed by – Bassam Tariq
• Starring – Mahershala Ali, John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito, Abubakr Ali, Tramell Tillman
• Why I Watched It – Mahershala Ali is an excellent actor, and I wanted to watch him beat people up

Quick Thoughts

• It opens with a bathroom fight, which is always a good sign.
• There’s a recurring bit about furries that got big laughs.
• Your Mother (x3) successfully combines action with religious beliefs.
• The world needs more villainous John Cho.
• After the MCU Blade film fell apart, it’s nice that Bassam Tariq and Mahershala Ali worked together to tell an original story.

Random Awards

• Best Usage of Super Nice Mormon Missionaries Award
• Best Gold Teeth Award
• Best Quest for Breast Milk Award
• Best Henchmen Award

Misty Green

• Directed by – Chris Rock
• Starring – Rosalind Eleazar, Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick, Topher Grace, Chris Rock
• Why I Watched It – The idea of Chris Rock writing and directing an A24 film was too good to pass up.

Quick Thoughts

• Rosalind Eleazar is a star. She owns the screen.
• Chris Rock has a lot on his mind.
• I wish the TV show Red Eye existed. I’d watch it.
• Eleazar should release an album of 1990s alternative cover songs (her cover of Creep is wonderful).
• Rock put together a cast loaded with talent. The talent is wild.
• Eleazar is the glue that holds together about 43 different elements. Once again, Rock had a lot on his mind.

Random Awards

• Best 2026 Physical Examination
• Best Purse Brawl Award
• Best Eviction Award
• Best Bit About Casting a Non-Singer to Star in a Musical
• Best Feud With a Casting Agent

I Play Rocky

• Directed by – Peter Farrelly
• Starring – Anthony Ippolito, AnnaSophia Robb, Matt Dillon, P. J. Byrne, Toby Kebbell, Stephan James, Tracy Letts, Jay Duplass as John G. Avildsen
• Why I Watched It – I’m a big fan of Rocky, and I figured the film would be a crowd-pleaser.

Quick Thoughts

• The audience in the packed theater LOVED I Play Rocky. When it ended, someone behind me said: “I love movies.”
• I’m 95.4% certain it will receive a “Best Casting” Academy Award nomination.
• Like Rocky, the film is built to be a crowdpleaser. It succeeds
• Tracey Letts is the best.
• The word of mouth will be massive.
• Toby Kebbell and P.J. Byrne work well together

Random Awards

• Best Ice Skating Laugh of 2026 Award
• Best Learning That an Actor Can’t Box Award
• Best Negotiating Award
• Best Worst Dad Played by Matt Dillon Award
• Best Conversation in a Car Owned by an Unknown Person Award

The Ultra Runner

• Directed by – Mila Aung-Thwin
• Starring – Tiberiu Ușeriu
• Why I Watched It – The documentary looks beautiful, and I’m unfamiliar with the insane world of ultramarathons, so I gave it a shot. It’s wonderful.

Quick Thoughts

• Running provides momentary freedom from worries. I totally understand why Tiberiu runs
• The Romanian locations are gorgeous. I want to walk the Via Transilvanica
• Van Royko’s cinematography is gorgeous.
• Ultramarathon’s are wild. The athletes push their bodies past their physical limits.
• Tiberiu Ușeriu is an ultra-charismatic guy. I enjoyed learning about his life and why he competes in ultramarathons.
• There’s a great line about not remembering beautiful moments because the character was too busy trying to survive day to day.
• Good Stuff.

Random Awards

• Best Toenail Removal Scene Award
• Best Documentary Cinematography Award
• Best Ice Cream Offer Award
• Best Scene Recreations Award
• Best Reason to Not Pick Up Strangers in Romania Award