"Room" Wins Big & Surprises at TIFF

The People's Choice Award (the Toronto Film Festival's Best Picture Award) has been given to films such as "Silver Lining's Playbook", "12 Years A Slave" and "The Imitation Game" to name a few. To say this award isn't an indicator of Oscar success (whether you're nominated for Best picture or actually win the whole thing) is foolish.

In a festival full of high-profile films such as "Spotlight", "Brooklyn" (the crowd pleasers), "The Danish Girl" (awards-bait) and other buzzy films such as "Our Brand Is Crisis", "Freeheld" and "Black Mass" (just to name a few), it's easy to lose track of all of the films attempting to make a splash.

So you understand the surprise that came this afternoon when "Room", starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, William H. Macy and Joan Allen, won the People's Choice Award. Last year's winner, "The Imitation Game", screamed Oscar; A World war II drama distributed by Harvey Weinstein, starring Keira Knightley and Benedict Cumberbatch. Brie Larson's performance in the film, has been included on a lot of potential Best Actress shortlists, though far lower than a lot of her competition (namely Carey Mulligan, Saorsie Ronan, Lily Tomlin, Cate Blanchett, Alicia Vikander, Jennifer Lawrence and Emily Blunt). However, with this added laurel, I believe this not only cinches her chances at a nomination, but boosts the film's overall chances as well. You'd have to go back all the way to 2007 to find a film that won the People's Choice Award that was not at least nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.

Based on the source material alone (without giving away anything) "Room" will play very well for audiences (it played tremendously well at TIFF). Critics singled out the performances of Allen (who is a three time Oscar nominee) and newcomer Tremblay at TIFF, which could find love if the film catches on in the way I expect it to. I believe this will finally bring in distributor A24 to the awards game they've been trying to play for the last couple of years with films like "Spring Breakers", "The Bling Ring" and "A Most Violent Year".

Overall, "Room" is one of my most anticipated of the year. I loved the book, and the fact the film (and BRIE LARSON) have a fighting chance in this year's awards race makes me happy, whatever the ultimate destiny of the film is.

"Room" opens in limited release on October 16.

Watch the latest trailer for the film below.