Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck shocked many in the film world when it won the TIFF People's Choice Award, beating out strong contenders like Emilia Perez and Anora. The film, based on short stories from Stephen King's 2020 collection If It Bleeds, has divided critics but captivated audiences, making its win even more fascinating. But with its triumph at TIFF, the question arises: Does Chuck have the momentum to carry it toward Oscar glory?
Historically, the TIFF People's Choice Award has been an excellent predictor of awards season success. In the past 14 years, 12 winners have gone on to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, with four films, including 12 Years a Slave and Nomadland, taking home the top prize. While The Life of Chuck might not be an obvious Oscar contender based on its reviews, TIFF voters clearly saw something special in Flanagan's heartfelt narrative.
The film, starring Tom Hiddleston as the titular Chuck, along with a powerhouse cast including Mark Hamill, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, and Jacob Tremblay, tells its story in reverse. It begins with Chuck's death and moves backward through his life, culminating in a haunting look at his childhood as an orphan living in a supposedly haunted house. This structure, while unconventional, has been praised for its emotional weight and thematic resonance.
However, critical reception has been mixed. While the film holds a solid 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, its Metacritic score of 66 suggests that it might not be universally loved by critics. My own take? The Life of Chuck is a deeply creative, yet undeniably sentimental, film. It's Flanagan's most wholesome work, and that's where the divide lies—it's less eerie, more endearing.
Flanagan diehards seem to embrace the emotional tone, but will Oscar voters? Only time will tell if Chuck follows its TIFF success with a major awards push. What's certain is that the film's heartfelt storytelling has made it a true crowd-pleaser, and with the right distribution deal, it might find an even broader audience in the coming months.
