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Toronto International Film Festival Standout Films, Performances

Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon stars in one of the Toronto International Film Festival's standout films, Wild.

Not everyone can make it all the way to Toronto to experience the best in the future of film. Thankfully, Us Weekly's Film Critic and Deputy Editor Mara Reinstein hit up the Toronto International Film Festival for you, to select some of the standout performances from this year's batch. Here are Us Weekly's picks: 

Foxcatcher

In a word, gut-wrenching. Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo are Olympic wrestlers whose brotherly bond is severed by their abusive, eccentric benefactor (an unrecognizable, hypnotic Steve Carell). Director Bennett Miller (Moneyball) builds his real-life crime saga slowly and with gripping tension. You’ll leave the theater shaken. (In theaters November 14)

Wild

Welcome back to the Oscar fold, Reese Witherspoon. The actress gets down and dirty for this dramatic adventure, playing a distraught divorcee and former drug addict hiking solo up the Pacific Crest Trail. (It’s an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s best-selling memoir). As a steely-eyed heroine, she is flat-out fierce. (In theaters December 5)

Related: PHOTOS: Biggest Oscar snubs of all time

Nightcrawler

Behind every piece of sensational crime-scene footage on your local TV newscast is an intrepid sleaze with a video camera. Jake Gyllenhaal — looking like he hasn’t showered, eaten a green vegetable or seen daylight in months — perfectly embodies him in this provocative and perversely funny outing. (In theaters October 17)

Men, Women & Children

The Web leads to a web of problems for Adam Sandler, Jennifer Garner and Ansel Elgort in this ensemble dramedy. Up in the Air director Jason Reitman has crafted another insightful and unflinching modern-day snapshot, this time honing in on our Facebook this/Tweet that culture. Maybe lay off social media for a bit after taking this in. (In theaters October 17)

Related: PHOTOS: Best red carpet looks from the 2014 Oscars

The Last 5 Years

Alrighty Pitch Perfect and Smash fans, this one is dedicated to you. In this gem of a musical (based on a cult favorite off-Broadway show), Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan chronicle their up-and-down New York City romance via lovely original songs. And even amid their heartbreak and passion, Kendrick squeezes in a killer zinger about Russell Crowe’s vocals. Applauseworthy! (In theaters February 14). 

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