For those of you who know me, you already know that I love the Telluride Film Festival. I’m a “lifer”. When I moved to Telluride in 2001, I had no idea how much I’d fall in love with the town, people — and the Film Festival. I haven’t missed a film fest since. And this year’s program exceeded my expectations, as it does every year. I saw 15 films in 4 days. When my dad was alive, he asked me to write reviews of the films I saw at the film festival. He had no intention of ever watching them (“Go to a movie theater? Nah, the floor is too sticky.”). But for whatever reason, he enjoyed reading my take on the films. My dad died a few years ago, so I haven’t written reviews lately, but I liked our ritual, so this year, I’m writing for you.
2014 films I saw:
‘71
Birdman
California Split
Dancing Arabs
Escobar
Foxcatcher
The Gate
The Imitation Game
Keep On Keepin’ On
Life Itself
The Look of Silence
Mommy
Rosewater
Where Eagles Dare
Wild Tales
My favorite of 2014: Foxcatcher.
Starring: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum & Mark Ruffalo. Directed by Bennett Miller (Moneyball, Capote)
This film works on so many levels. It’s an amazing true story that follows John DuPont, an heir to one of America’s largest family fortunes. Miller lets the story unfold. For the first 45 minutes, I wasn’t sure where the narrative was going. It’s suspenseful and builds slowly (which drives some people nuts). It’s a truthful depiction of the “haves” and “have-nots” and how the game is stacked unfairly from the start. Like the fox that is released for a fox-hunt, where the humans have guns and resources, ultimately, the fox is outnumbered and he is easy prey.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1100089/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: A
‘71
First, lemme say. This is a good film. And a really great year…
’71 shows what life was like in Belfast for a “left-behind” British soldier and residents during the height of the Catholic vs. Protestant violence.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2614684/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Grade: B
Birdman
Will blow your mind. Michael Keaton will probably win an Oscar for this role. Edward Norton & Zach Galifianakis are also great. Directed by Alejandro González (Babel – eh, and Biutiful, ugh) but this film is on a new level of film-making craftsmanship. It’s a story about redemption and second chances – and all the devious ways that our alter egos attempt to thwart our plans to live well.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2562232/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Grade: A
California Split
1974. And oh boy, is it ever 1974. Elloit Gould and George Segal in one of the best “buddy” films ever – because it’s not formulaic, it’s just fun. Robert Altman directs this classic tale that includes orange-throwing, goons, bets on naming all the Seven Dwarves (Dumbo is not one). Got to hear stories from Joseph Walsh (screenwriter) and George Segal about making the film in 1974 . Super magical moment. Only in Telluride.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071269/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: A
Dancing Arabs
A story about an Arab boy who is conflicted about attending a prestigious Jewish boarding school in Israel. Not one of my super favorites.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2841572/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Grade: B
Escobar
Unlike previous years, there weren’t many “sneak previews”, but Escobar was one. Starring Benicio del Toro as Escobar. This is a typical cat/mouse chase. Scared white boy running from powerful Mexican drug czar. Feel like I’ve seen this story before.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2515030/
Grade: B
The Gate
Suspenseful. A story that also takes place in 1971 when a French ethnologist studying rural Buddhism in Northern Cambodia was captured and accused of being a spy for the CIA. He is imprisoned and experiences the atrocities of war.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3480146/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3
Grade: B
The Imitation Game
I’m not going to tell you much about this film because I believe you will see it. This film will get a wide release and has a good chance at winning Best Picture this year. Telluride has shown the Best Picture for the last 4 years. (12 Years a Slave, Argo, The Artist and The King’s Speech) and this is the best hope for this year. It’s really good. It’s got everything: WWII, technology/history, and the protagonist is gay. The Academy will love it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: B+
Keep On Keepin’ On
Quincy Jones produced this documentary about Clark Terry, a jazz legend who first met Quincy when he was a kid and became his teacher and mentor. It’s a great story about the power of teaching and connecting with students. A little encouragement goes a long way.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2674040/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: B
Life Itself
I love this film. I cried like a baby. And I never cry. Not in movies. Not in life. I’m no crybaby. This film is a wonderful, truthful, optimistic story. I didn’t expect to love the film or Roger Ebert – who’s life is depicted, but I do.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2382298/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: A
The Look of Silence
This is the companion / follow-up to the documentary, The Act of Killing. Might be the best documentary ever made. Just sayin. The Look of Silence is also excellent. The film attempts to tell “the other side of the story” – from the perspective of the victims who experienced a genocide in 1965 in Indonesia. And even though, it’s almost 50 years later, people still miss those they lost.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3521134/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: A
Mommy
Over-rated. This film was way too dramatic and over-directed. I didn’t love it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3612616/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Grade: C
Rosewater
Directed by Jon Stewart who I was really hoping to meet, but didn’t. The film is good, and Gael García Bernal does a great job. I wondered if Stewart wanted to tell this story out of some feeling of responsibility for what happened to the Iranian-born journalist who was imprisoned for what he said on The Daily Show in 2009.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2752688/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Grade: B
Where Eagles Dare
I fell asleep during this one. I sorta recall snow, gondolas, Clint Eastwood… wasn’t enough to keep my eyes open.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065207/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: N/A – I can’t score this – wouldn’t be fair
Wild Tales
This was the last film I saw of the 2014 Film Fest – and it was AAAMAZING! Such a fun ride. Funny. Smart. It’s 6 shorts, that are totally unrelated, except that each story is more outrageous than the last. Revenge is sweet, and sometimes, it’s really funny. If this film gets released, strap in and see it.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3011894/?ref_=nv_sr_1
Grade: A
Best short film: Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared: This 3 minute film is nuts. You might want to smoke drugs before you watch it. Ready? Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtkGtXtDlQA You’re welcome.
betsyrowbottom 