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November 14, 2023

Telluride Film Festival 2023 Reviews

The one and only Ben Kerr (*Telluride KOTO celebrity*) in front of San Miguel County Courthouse, next door to his home away from home for the 5-day 2023 Telluride Film Fest: The Sheridan Opera House.

2023 Telluride Film Fest Films	Film Review
All of Us Strangers	A
All That Jazz (1979)	A
Baltimore	B
Daddio	B
Fingernails	A
Janet Planet	A+
NYAD	A
Poor Things	A+
Rustin	B
Saltburn	A
Tehachapi	B
The Falling Star	B
The Holdovers	A
The Royal Hotel	C
The Zone of Interest	A
Tuesday	C
Wildcat	B

2023’s Oscar race is on. It’s that time again to start talking about who’s work should be recognized. And we all know that the Oscar race starts in our sleepy little mountain town, Telluride.

This year was a special year — the 50th annual Telluride Film Festival! Whoop! Whooop! So we were gifted with a whole extra day to sit in theaters and watch movies. I saw 17 films in 5 days. 3.4 films per day. Not bad. I’ve seen as many as 5-6 films/day in previous years… As this was my 22nd Telluride Film Fest, suffice to say, I do take more naps these days.

Let’s get to it! My best prediction for Best Picture: Poor Things directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. It’s whimsical and smart with incredible set and costume design. The first 30 minutes will have you guessing if you like it or hate it… just stick with it. This brings me to an important demand…errrr, request: Remember: I watched ALL OF THE FILMS REVIEWED HERE IN A THEATER. And if you watch them at home… well, you’re not giving them a fair shot. Because even if you swear up and down that you can watch a film at home without interruption… you can not. These films take 2-3-5-10 years to craft, so the least we can do is give them 2 hours of our undivided attention. Many of the breadcrumb clues a filmmaker gives us about the larger story are simply lost on a small screen. Furthermore, when you *hate* a film… you’ll never really know the film stunk… or if you weren’t present enough to “get it” so you’ll be forced to question your own evaluation of it. See? That’s why you gotta get to a theater. Ok. I’ll hop off my soapbox now.

All of Us Strangers

Spooky strange story about what’s real and what we want to be real. Starring Andrew Scott (cute priest alert for Fleabag fans) and super cute Paul Mescal (starred in TFF22’s Aftersun) who seem to be all alone in the world. Love the layers of symbolism in this film. It’s almost a poem rather than a narrative story. You’ll need to suspend your disbelief to get into the story behind the story. There’s so much realness in this ghost story. 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Release date: December 22, 2023 (theaters)

All of Us Strangers Trailer here

All That Jazz

This was the film selected by Ethan Hawke (guest director, who is invited to program the festival with films that shape them) and it was a good one! One of Dan Hanley’s favorites. And anybody who knows me knows I love to watch Dan Hanley watching one of his favorite films. Now. That’s entertainment. Have you ever seen it? It’s fun!

All That Jazz Trailer here

Baltimore

Baltimore (not the Wire Baltimore… apparently — there’s a whole other Baltimore in County Cork, Ireland!? Who knew!?) is about a wealthy young woman, Rose Dugdale played by Imogen Poots who plans an art heist to raise funds for the IRA. Suspenseful heist film. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. No trailer at the time of publication. No trailer yet.

Daddio

This film wasn’t my super favorite… mostly because it felt like it should have been a play. What was my favorite is that a writer/director, Christy Hall got her film made — and into the Telluride Film Festival! AWESOME! This story didn’t require the glitz of the big screen (but… as I wrote in my first paragraph… this doesn’t mean that you can skip the theater!). Dakota Johnson and Sean Penn talk for a couple hours about their lives and create a bond in a taxi. No trailer yet.

Fingernails

Whoa. Strap in. Watch this film if you’re brave. Feel free to close your eyes and put fingers in your ears (I did). It’s true, there’s some really disturbing images in this film. DISTURBING. However, the disturbing images are there for a good reason. Because people want to know — is our love real? We want certainty and we’ll do anything to be sure. If you loved Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and can suspend your disbelief about what lengths people will go to be in love… you’ll love Fingernails.

Now playing on Apple TV+. Fingernails trailer here.

Janet Planet

Ok – THIS IS THE MOVIE that you get to see because you go to a film festival. This is a tiny little movie. A tiny little amazing story that I have no idea how they will market this film so you know it’s for you. It’s a story about a mom and a daughter living in rural western massachusetts in the 1970’s. It’s not your typical coming of age story about a 10 year old girl who discovers her budding sexuality — nope, this kid is a kid. And she wanders through the movie as a kid, exactly like I did. She loves her mom so completely, the exact way we did before we discovered anything or anybody besides our mom. It’s a perfect movie. No trailer yet.

NYAD

Oooh, I love a girl-power film! NYAD was just released on Netflix about Diane Nyad who swam from Cuba to Florida when she was 60+ years old. Directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi + Jimmy Chin who are longtime Telluride friends — through the climbing community & MountainFilm, also directed Free Solo, which won the Oscar for best documentary in 2018.

NYAD trailer here.

Poor Things

Love the wonder-twins director/writer combo Yorgos Lantimos and Tony McNamera. Their dreamteam work in The Favourite (premiered at Telluride 2018) and the super fantastic amazing best TV show in the last 3 years, The Great is only picking up steam. I predict Poor Things will win Best Picture this year. It’s whimsical and its message sneaks up on you. Mark Ruffalo’s character is a moron. It’s so fun! Girl power.

Poor Things trailer here.

Rustin

George C. Wolfe was in Telluride to introduce Rustin, starring Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin. He has been largely forgotten in our textbooks and this film wants to resurrect his position in history. Architect of 1963’s momentous March on Washington, Rustin challenged authority and never apologized for who he was. The acting is great in this film! The only criticism is that it’s a bit of an afterschool special — no big plot twists here or creative storytelling.

Rustin trailer here.

Saltburn

In the social media age of spying on each other’s big lives, Saltburn captures how we lust for what our friends have. It’s kinda a Talented Mr. Ripley meets Single White Female story. My one beef: I wish the protagonist was a woman… because I loved loved loved Promising Young Woman which, like Saltburn was also written/directed by Emerald Fennell. She writes women so well! This movie would have been even more fun with a woman psychopath.

Saltburn trailer here.

Yup! That’s me and Oscar winning screenwriter/director, Emerald Fennell. NBD.

Tehachapi

French photographer and street artist JR, who directed Oscar nominated FACES PLACES, was in Telluride to promote Tehachapi (see his “pop up” below). Tehachapi aspires to bring attention to the men forgotten and lost in the US prison system. I saw this film in Telluride Town Park all snuggled up with good friends under a shared blanket and a dark sky full of stars. It was not lost on me my privilege that I somehow was born lucky with parents who loved and wanted me. I was given choices and options that the men in Tehachapi were never given the same. No trailer yet.

The Falling Star

I love a good French slapstick comedy! The Falling Star is like a French clown / mime / Buster Keaton flick. Tons of zany setups including a good/evil twin setup. This film is a good palette cleanser. It’s quite a jape! No trailer but here’s a blurb.

The Holdovers

Whoa. This film has a BIG ad budget. I’ve seen an ad for this film about 100x in the last 2 weeks! Yay art film budgets! I love Alexander Payne! That said, he hasn’t had a great film at the Telluride Film Festival in 10 years. I loved Nebraska in 2013 and watch it every few years (that’s Bruce Dern + me below!)… And yes, I realize that Downsizing was only 6 years ago… as I said “great film”. They can’t all be great. The Holdovers is no Election, but the main character (Angus Tully) played by Dominic Sessa, was attending Deerfield as a student when Payne plucked him out of obscurity to play the lead! Move over Reese! This high schooler is about to be a superstar!

The Holdovers trailer here.

Bruce Dern & me in Telluride (outside the Palm Theater) after seeing Nebraska in September, 2013.

The Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel has the not-so-thinly-disguised threat of rape from the first party scene 10 minutes. The whole movie is a power keg building and building and building to a BIG EXPLOSION. Kinda like sex. Oh, I see what she did there. It’s scary and uncomfortable. But the payoff is weak (that’s what she said).

The Royal Hotel trailer here.

The Zone of Interest

I am pretty excited about this film because I absolutely love the actress, Sandra Hüller (also starred in Toni Erdmann / TFF 2016, and one of the very foreign films that I own). All of the story in The Zone of Interest takes place in a residence directly next door to an extermination camp, Auschwitz. Imagining going about your everyday tasks while people were being systematically murdered 50′ from your front door. To me, this story is about our personal power to deny what’s happening around us every day. We know people are being systematically murdered (in Gaza, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo) and we go about our lives. We are safe in our beds at night while many others struggle for their survival. I think this film has a good chance to be recognized as a best picture/foreign category (UK/Poland).

The Zone of Interest trailer here.

Tuesday

3 things about Tuesday:

If you’ve been dreaming of a film with a 45′ tall CGI talking parrot, you’re going to love Tuesday!
Tuesday stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who has been moving out of the ‘slapstick Elaine Benes/Selina Meyer’ lane and into the ‘smart dramedy Nicole Holofcener’ lane. Seriously, JLD, you can do anything! You are amazing. And we will see you win an Oscar one day. But not for this film… because even you… could NOT save this film.
My friend Tom tapped out of this film about 30 minutes in. As he grabbed his backpack, his body language said “nope. nerp. no way. I can not watch another frame of this movie”.

Tuesday trailer here. Just kidding. There’s no trailer yet.

Wildcat

My friend Tom made the joke that every year at the Telluride Film Festival, there’s at least one Wildcat and one Promised Land. This year, there was one of each. Last year’s Wildcat was one of my favorite films of the year! Playing now on Amazon Prime. However… if you insist on watching the 2023 Wildcat, that’s your prerogative. This Wildcat just wasn’t my jam. I didn’t read Flannery O’Connor’s short stories, so I felt lost and disengaged. If you loved them, you may enjoy this film more than I did. Laura Linney’s prosthetic teeth 10 minutes into the film *really* threw me. I couldn’t recover.

Wildcat trailer here. Ok, technically, this is a complete different Wildcat trailer… but enjoy!

2023 Telluride Film Festival Gallery

It’s Jim Looney! The unofficial mayor of Telluride. 🏆

Posted in art films, film festivals, Oscar Films, telluride film festival | Leave a Comment »

Tags: academy awards, art films, Film Reviews, independent films, movies, oscar movies, telluride film festival, yorgos lantimos

August 24, 2023

How to ‘Telluride Film Festival’

If you know me, you know that I *never* miss the Telluride Film Festival. The 50th annual festival kicks off one week from today: August 31st in Telluride, CO. The festival not only curates the best films in the world, it’s a celebration of stories. No matter what we do to earn a paycheck, we are all storytellers. Because it’s the stories that connects us all and gives us purpose and meaning.

So… if you’ve ever been curious about attending the Telluride Film Festival… or any film festival, check out my tips and tricks. Every film fest is a little different so do your research.

Why I love the Telluride Film Festival

Telluride has premiered 10 of the last 15 Best Pictures. The films are curated from thousands of the best films inthe world, so there’s no guesswork… no matter what you see, it’s going to be pretty great. No stinkers. No Marvel movies.
The films do not compete (Cannes, Sundance, Toronto all give prizes) so the art can just be art. There’s no pressure to “be better than another film”. As we know — stories touch all of us in different ways. Comedies hit differently than dramas. At the Telluride Film Festival, the filmmakers can sit back and relax. They are there to be inspired by each other’s work, too. There’s a spirit of celebration instead of competition.
Did I mention “the backdrop” — Telluride’s purple mountains majesty!? Even though we spend the majority of our waking hours inside theaters, when we are outside, the mountains are gloriously restorative.
Tellurideide is a tiny place. It’s very easy to navigate and get from theater to theater. More times for movies!
There are no red carpets. Celebrities like being able to see films and admire the other best films of the year without a glam squad in tow. Also… See #2 – no competition.

The basics:

How to get to Telluride:

Fly in/out of Montrose, CO or Durango, CO. Denver is 6+ hour drive to Telluride through the mountains (and if you must fly to into DIA, then take route 285 — the highway takes you through about 100 miles of the Pike and San Isabel National Forest).

Insider tip: Southwest Airlines flies into MTJ from Denver a couple of times/day and often offers the best rates to get to Telluride.

Huzzah! You made it to Montrose! An epic journey already… For your next challenge: Getting from Montrose to Telluride. Hitch with other airline passengers who are driving up to Tride, take a shuttle, or rent a car, if you wish, but you won’t likely need your car when you get to Telluride. Telluride is a very easy town to walk (and more tricky to park – so walking/biking is fastest).

Where to stay in Telluride:

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I got jokes! It’s true… There are less and less places to stay in Telluride on a budget. I am fortunate and have friends who are generous with their sofas. Network with *anybody* you know there – and hey, now you know me! And/or if your wallet allows, find a sweet place on Airbnb – there are places around… be prepared for $1,000+/night.

Location, location, location… Telluride is where you want to be. Mountain Village requires a gondola ride (FREE) but you might turn into a pumpkin when the gondola stops running at 1AM — and get stuck in town. Look for a place in Telluride.

Ok – you’ve figured out travel + lodging! Good job! Now… onto the SHOW.

This year is the 50th annual Telluride Film Festival. I’ve been attending the big “SHOW” since 2001 (so this year is #22 for me!) and I’ve learned “how to film fest” over the years.

Telluride Film Festival’s program is kept secret until the day the festival begins. Passes goes on sale March 1st every year and sell out within about 20 mins based on reputation. You will not know what you’re about to see — but really, that’s part of the fun! No marketing. No celebrity interviews. No trailers. Just art. For art’s sake. Speaking of which… there’s no prizes at the Telluride Film Festival either. No one is competing. This also adds to the specialness of the fest. Everyone is a winner! Because you’re there!

Survival kit:

Backpack – durable and lightweight – I have one like this from Patagonia
- Industrial strength lip balm (you’ll spend 30-90 minutes waiting in line before each program and at 8,750’ —– the sun is blazing hot)
- Sunscreen (see above)
- Sun hat (again, above)
- Water bottle – (again, for real… 8,750’ is no joke! ) You gotta stay hydrated. Drink at least 100+ oz of water daily to stay ahead of altitude sickness.
- Hot drink bottle – I put a new tea bag into my Stanley travel mug daily and then refill it with hot water – available for FREE at most theaters.
- Your dog-earred TFF Program – sure, it’s fun to refer to the app, but there’s nothing like a paper program to circle your planned itinerary and compare notes before the next “SHOW”. It’s also your memento that you can keep and refer to after 20+ years of attending.
- Snacks! Because actual meals are few and far between. Fruit (non-mushy kind) to throw into the backpack and/or crackers, or stuff that doesn’t make a ton of noise to unwrap is a good choice. Theaters offer candy, soda, etc – but the lines can be long and if you just want a little nosh, it’s good to have on hand. Also, the 2 grocery stores in town have limited supplies over the holiday weekend, so stock up in Montrose, if you can.
- Raincoat (preferably one that covers your butt so you don’t have to sit in wet pants)
- Small umbrella
- And yes, even a super lightweight down jacket because the temps dip 15-20°+ cooler when the sun goes down and if you’re in a theater, that cold air is going to feel a lot colder.
- Hat, mittens & scarf… check night time forecast.
- First aid kit: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Benadryl & saline spray for your nostrils (your nose will get *very dry*)
- Headlamp because the streets can be pretty dark and you definitely want good lighting for riding your bike.

Bike – you just need a little commuter bike that will allow you to get from theater to theater quickly so you can queue up for the next film or hop into the screening that is just starting – having that 10-15 mins that you’d be walking allows you to see 2-3 more films!

NOTE: You can rent a bike (daily/weekly) from Easy Rider (photo above) which is a lot cheaper than some other shops on Main St. Jonny is so old skool that there’s no website. Just a buncha cool bike dudes who fix bikes. Call the shop to reserve your bike because like most things in Telluride, bikes are also a finite resource.

Optional & nice to have:

Lightweight collapsible chair (I have this one) for sitting rather than standing in line when waiting for movies.

What to wear in Telluride:

Jeans, sneakers, a sweater & always have a light jacket. It’s a super casual town so be comfy.

Couple quick housekeeping rules.

Because these films are either World Premieres or North American Premieres, do not ever check your phone during the film. It’s really disrespectful to the filmmaker, and even if she isn’t sitting beside you, it’s distracting and disrespectful to everyone who traveled to be in that theater. Turn your phone off. Please. The only screen you need is the giant one in front of you.

This is it! This is not a drill! The SHOW is about to begin!

AM: Review the program and make a plan for what you MUST SEE and then prioritize those screenings. Remember: the last days of the festival, there will be lots of “TBAs” so you will get more chances to see what’s popular.

Day 1: Films begin after the Main Street Feed – so this is really a ½ day for movies.

PM: Join the Main Street Feed – this is the first big event of the festival. It’s great people-watching and always delicious! Often catered by La Cocina.

PM: Check out the late night films, most of the audiences go to bed early so often it’s a good idea to see those 9PM / 10PM screenings.

Day 2: THIS IS IT! ALL DAY FILMS. Tell your butt to prepare to sit for A LONG TIME!

Most films start at 9AM, if you *really* want to see it, get in line* by 7:30AM. Lines will be long all day.

*NOTE: Talk to people in line. “What have you seen that you LOVED?” Ask people what’s been their favorite. I’ve learned so much about what films to see and which to avoid by simply talking to people in line.

*A quick note about the lines. Refer to your TFF program for how the lines work. I’m not going to share everything here because theaters vary with their “queue protocols”. If you’re in line an hour before the film starts, theater volunteers will give you a paper queue to hold your place. That allows you to walk around, grab a quick bite (this is one of the many times that you’ll be happy to have a bike!) or just lay in the grass and watch the slow moving white puffy clouds in a resplendent gleaming blue sky above.

Day 3: Things start to calm down a bit now – you should have more luck getting into screenings.

Day 4: Same – more chill. Remember to stay hydrated! Drink water! Have a meal! For god sakes, you can’t survive on movies alone… oh, yes, you can.

Day 5: There are 5 GLORIOUS days this year because it’s the 50th so Day 5 is a BONUS! Enjoy the last day of movies, movies, movies!

Then go to the Closing Picnic in Town Park. It’s fun to chill and sit on the grass and take in all the views that you’ve missed over the past 5 days indoors. 🙂

Day 6: Ok, technically, there is NO Day 6… but a few films stick around for the “After the Film Fest – Film Fest” on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – so see everything you missed! And go for a hike! Get up into the mountains. Real life is just around the corner. Start the countdown for next year’s Telluride Film Fest in 359 days…

After the festival, there are 2 things that you can do that will increase your joy factor immeasurably:

Do yourself a favor and write some reviews. It’s fun! And it will help you to remember what you saw.
Stay in touch with the people you met in Telluride. I have acquaintances who I follow their Instagram throughout the year. And I have dear friends who I met by volunteering for the Telluride Film Fest who have become lifelong friends. We see each other outside of Labor Day weekend now because we share a lot more than our love for movies!

Feel free to click around my blog to see the films I loved most. I started writing reviews in 2014, the year of Birdman, Foxcatcher, Life Itself and Wild Tales! 2014 was a truly great year at the Telluride Film Festival.

What will we see this year!?? Stay tuned.

Some of my best memories from the Telluride Film Festival…

(…See the theme? Every photo shows people I love most from this festival — we come for the GREAT movies… but it’s the friendships that keep us returning every Labor Day weekend)

Posted in art films, film, film festival, film festivals, film review, telluride film festival | Leave a Comment »

Tags: academy awards, film festival, telluride, telluride film festival

December 28, 2021

2021 Telluride Film Fest Recap

Well, this was a really weird year. The world continues to be weird. But considering that 2020 had no Telluride Film Fest at all, so I’m grateful that we had one this year. And I’ve said this before in previous posts when I’ve written about my love for the Telluride Film Fest, but in 2021, my gratitude for it was exponentially higher. I go for the films, but I stay for the friends. Well, actually… that’s not even true. I go for the friends, and I stay for the friends. Telluride Film Fest is my favorite thing because it combines lifelong friendships with the best films of the year. What could be better?

I saw 23 films of the 80+ films in the 2021 program. Not bad.

Ok, enough blubbering… let’s get to the films!

List in alphabetical order:

A Hero B

The Automat B+

Belfast B

Bergman Island A

The Card Counter A

C’mon C’mon A+

Cyrano A

The Duke B

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain B

The French Dispatch B

The Hand of God B

Julia B

King Richard B

The Lost Daughter A

Marcel the Shell A

Nuclear Family A

The Power of the Dog A

Procession B

Red Rocket B+

River A

The Same Storm B

Spencer B

Unclenching the Fists C

C’mon C’mon

My #1 super favorite!

To me, this is a perfect film. Truthful dialogue and beautiful performances from Gaby Hoffmann is pitch-perfect in her role as a dedicated (and overwhelmed) mother and wife to a man with mental health challenges and sister to an unattached bachelor (and emotionally stunted and soft-spoken radio journalist) played by Joaquin Phoenix. And the kid, Jesse… wow! Played by the remarkable Woody Norman – what a performance! Shot on black and white film, the film is raw, gritty and real. I hope Mike Mills wins for best screenplay… and this film should get a Best Picture nomination. Maybe even a win!?

C’mon C’mon trailer here

The Power of the Dog

Prediction (and hope!): Jane Campion will win for Best Director

And Jane Campion should win for this epic film. For many reasons… the Academy likes to celebrate a body of work (even though a nomination is supposed to be this film… we know that they like to give prizes for people who have earned this level of achievement throughout their career). This is not the story I expected. I thought it was your ‘typical 1925 Montana rancher’ story… well, I guess that’s not typical to begin with. But this story is less ‘western’ and more of a cat & mouse with the next generation holding more cards than it appears. It’s the kind of film that, the more I reflect on the nuance and rich story, the more I love it. I can’t wait to see it again when it shows in theaters.

The Power of the Dog trailer here

Now playing on Amazon Prime

The Power of the Dog film cast & director

The Electrical Life of Louis Wain

Um. Hello!? Have we officially run out of white men to celebrate? I mean, Louis Wain seems like a nice enough guy who enjoyed painting cats, but I mean… can we see an equally-budgeted film about a woman who did amazing things? Maybe Shirley Chisholm? Huda Shaarawi? Lilian Bland? How about Hedy Lamarr (who invented the technology for cellular phones and bluetooth?) Sure, we got a low budget documentary, Bombshell which was great… but come on, Hollywood, you must do better.

No need to watch the trailer.

If you must, you can see this film on Amazon Prime

The Lost Daughter

This is Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut — and it’s a story that I have ever seen portrayed on film before about a mother (portrayed by Olivia Colman) who has an emotionally-challenged past. Imagine that!? Women telling their own stories! What a world! This is a quiet film full of mysterious mounting suspense between Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson’s characters.

Now playing at the Oriental (Milwaukee) and streaming on Netflix

Cyrano

Prediction: Peter Dinklage will win Best Actor

There are so many great surprises in this film that I don’t want to say much about it. I’ll just say that if you love love… this film is magnificent. It’s a musical directed by Joe Wright and written by Erica Schmidt, based on Schmidt’s 2018 stage musical of the same name. Schmidt’s husband, Peter Dinklage stars as Cyrano. The original music was composed by The National (Matt Berninger, as well as Aaron Dessner + Bryce Dessner (who basically composed every other great film at Telluride Film Fest this year including: The Power of the Dog + River).

Cyrano trailer here

And because we love Peter Dinklage, here’s Peter Dinklage talking about Cyrano.

The Hand of God

We are all longing to travel and see beautiful places. We’ve been cooped up for almost two years, so do yourself a favor and watch The Hand of God to travel, even if just for a couple of hours, to Italy. Immerse yourself in this Italian family full of joy and pain.

The Hand of God trailer here

Now playing on Netflix

Belfast

Kenneth Branagh’s very personal story that follows his upbringing. The story sets in 1969 and the performance of the 9 year-old Buddy is one of the great performances (the other one was by Woody Norman in C’mon C’mon).

Belfast trailer here

Nuclear Family

Prediction: Best Documentary Oscar nomination

This documentary follows the important historical events of Ry Russo-Young and her sister who were raised by their lesbian mothers in the early 1990’s. In the center of the story is a landmark legal case between her biological mother and biological (sperm donor) father. Worth watching.

Nuclear Family trailer here

Now playing on HBO

The Duke

Everybody loves a good heist movie, right? This is a fun one! I also love me some Jim Broadbent — oh and Helen Mirren (who sauntered leisurely around the Telluride Farmer’s Market and looks like a local — I didn’t want to invade her privacy by snapping a photo, so you’ll just have to take my word for it). Helen Mirren is a beauty.

The Duke trailer here

Julia

Oscar-winning directors (Julie Cohen + Betsy West — another Betsy!) of RBG show us the fascinating story of Julia Child. We’ve seen a lot about her life, but this depiction shows a more playful side with candid outtakes of her PBS show.

Julia trailer here

River

Prediction: Best Documentary Oscar nomination

I went to see this as a palette cleanser because I wanted to be immersed in the beauty of nature. And boy! It delivered! I felt like I was floating on a river. Filmed in 39 countries, River is truly an escape.

River trailer here

Spencer

Well, this movie is good, but — haven’t we had enough of Diana’s story? I was engaged with this film, but I left feeling like I didn’t learn anything new. I dug “The Shining” scene of Diana in the giant walk-in freezer in Balmoral Castle was cool. Kristen Stewart’s pouty performance was good, but I am not sure we needed another poor Diana story.

Spencer trailer here

Red Rocket

Yes, this means what you think it means.

This is a fun ride about a porn star (played by Simon Rex) who returns home to turn new tricks with a whole cast of characters from his past. Lots of non-actors makes the story feel real and gritty.

Red Rocket trailer here

The Same Storm

The film was shot entirely during the lockdown of summer 2020, it’s a snapshot of life during quarantine.

The Same Storm trailer isn’t available at the time of publishing

A Hero

I’m not going to tell you what this is about… except that if there was a Curb Your Enthusiasm soundtrack, this film would have been a comedy. Because what starts with a small mishap leads to tension when the stakes keep going up and up and up and up and up… and the audience almost can’t take it.

A Hero trailer here

Playing now on Amazon Prime

Bergman Island

Love me some Vicki Krieps (I could watch Phantom Thread on repeat) and she’s great in this film along with Tim Roth. I love stories about complicated romantic entanglements and this film feels almost like a documentary. It’s so real. Gritty. Messy. And also full of deep love only shared by longtime partners. Loved the escape of visiting Fårö, an island off the coast of Sweden, where Ingmar Bergman shot many of his films, too.

Berman Island trailer here

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

Love Jenny Slate! She is a true original. Did you see Obvious Child? Well, I did. Many times. And I love Marcel. Yes, it’s the same Marcel with 100+ million hits on YouTube. Only in this film, we get an entire story, not just a hang-glider Dorito joke or two. Instead, we are presented a fun, profound look at humanity. Life and death. Family. Marcel knows what’s important.

No trailer yet. Here’s a “first look” – forgive the awful computer V.O.

And/or if you haven’t seen Marcel before… here’s a look at him.

Unclenching the Fists

I didn’t love this one. A bit tedious.

The Automat

This was a really fun look at the early days of automation… for food. It’s a time-capsule. Bonus: a fun interview with Mel Brooks talking about his memories of the Automats around NYC.

The Automat trailer

The Card Counter

(this was a sneak preview so it didn’t appear in the program)

Whoa. Oscar Isaac is blowin’ up! He’s in everything! This is a thrill-ride dynomite powder keg (like all Paul Schrader films) about a military intelligence officer who was ordered to torchure prisoners, and learned he was good at it. Tiffany Haddish, Willem Dafoe and Tye Sheridan co-star in this revenge story.

The Card Counter trailer here

The French Dispatch

Here’s what I have to say about The French Dispatch. Wes Anderson likes making movies. Just like Woody Allen likes making movies… he has a new film coming out in January, Rifkin’s Festival. Imagine that!? He’s 86 years old and he has a new film! Woody has made more than 70 films. And many of them are terrible. A few are good. And then, there’s that pesky stuff about his side interests… molesting kids isn’t great for your career… but I digress… and this is basically how The French Dispatch goes. There’s no real through line. It’s a bunch of short stories. There are fun moments. And as always, the film is art-directed within an inch of its life… but it’s not a great Wes Anderson film. Nope. It’s better than every Fast and Furious film put together, but it’s not a great Wes Anderson film. Like Woody, Wes loves to make movies. So some of them are going to be 7/10 instead of 10/10. That’s ok. I’ll see the next one. And the next one.

The French Dispatch trailer here

Procession

This documentary is bananas. And I don’t mean in a good way. It’s not B-A-N-A-N-A-S in a Gwen Stefani way. This ain’t no hollaback girl. This is a dark and sad film about men who were abused by priests who have never been held accountable. The film depicts six men who were sexually assaulted and their anger in the present day. They are attempting to gain closure. It’s a really hard film to watch… Confession: (on brand) I watched this film on Netflix while folding laundry because I couldn’t give the film my 100% attention.

Procession trailer here

King Richard

I didn’t see this at the Telluride Film Fest because I figured it would be widely available and it was/is. It’s the story of Venus and Serena and their generous, powerful, domineering, future-proofing dad. Specifically, it’s about Richard Williams’s powerful vision to make tennis superstars. Spoiler: he did it.

King Richard trailer here

Missed these and looking forward to seeing in the theater soon:

The Rescue

The Encounter

Muhammad Ali

The Velvet Underground

Bitterbrush

The Real Charlie Chaplin

Becoming Cousteau

Petit Maman

Fauci

Citizen Ashe

Torn

Hungry for more Telluride Film Fest info? Download the 2021 Program here.

See you in 2022!

Posted in art films, film festival, film festivals, film review | Leave a Comment »

Tags: telluride film festival

September 24, 2019

2019 Telluride Film Fest Recap

In queue at the Werner Herzog Theater in Town Park

Telluride was HOT this year. Like actually hot. 80°. I usually pack wool socks and cashmere sweaters, but this year, standing in sun-drenched queues was like hiding out in rhinos. Speaking of hot — so, did Telluride premiere the Best Picture of 2019 this year? Hard to say. Nobody predicted Green Book last year — the first year in a dozen that Telluride didn’t have the North American premiere of the Oscar’s best film. I’m not sure if we had the Best Picture this year or not but my favorite of the 2019 festival was: The Two Popes (currently 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and Variety review here). My review and trailer below.

List in alphabetical order:

The Aeronauts B

Diego Maradona A

Family Romance, LLC B

Judy B

The Kingmaker A

Lyrebird C

Marriage Story A

Motherless Brooklyn B

Pain and Glory A

Parasite A

Portrait of a Lady on Fire A

The Report B

Tell Me Who I Am A

The Two Popes A+

Uncut Gems A

Waves C

The Aeronauts B

This film is about a lady pilot in 1862. Rad. “Pilot” a hot air balloon because airplanes weren’t even invented yet. Airplanes didn’t come along for 40+ years. The Aeronauts is a 2019 biographical adventure film written and directed by Tom Harper and stars that dynamic English duo: Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne (co-starred in The Theory of Everything). This is a movie (as opposed to a film) and feels very Disney – suspenseful with a strong girl-power message.

Trailer: The Aeronauts

Diego Maradona A

Diego Maradona is directed by Academy-Award winner Asif Kapadia (Senna + Amy). He depicts people on their way up and up and up… and then the inevitable fall. The only difference in Diego Maradona is – he doesn’t die tragically as a young man. Somehow. And truthfully, I didn’t know anything about Diego Maradona, which didn’t impact my ability to enjoy his story and this documentary. Kapadia looked through thousands of hours of raw footage from 1980-1995 to create a time-capsule of Maradona’s rise and fall as an Argentine footballer (soccer player) who was worshiped on and off the field. He led Napoli from the bottom of the stats (think: The Bears) to its first league title (think: The Packers in 2011).

Trailer: Diego Maradona

The portrait: The Man, The Legend inside of the Werner Herzog Theater

Family Romance, LLC B

Noteworthy: Werner Herzog introduced this film at the screening I attended and said they shot about 300 minutes, and used about 80 minutes. Not bad. The film is weird, like most Werner films and funny. The acting feels almost like a reenactment, instead of a film. Quirky. Weird. Oddly watchable.

Trailer: Family Romance, LLC

Judy B

Renee Zellweger plays Judy Garland beautifully and will probably get an Oscar nomination for her performance. The story was good, but lacked a little emotional umph. Personally, I love Renee in comedies — Did you see her in Down With Love? Loved that movie and told her that when we spoke for a few minutes after the screening. She said she loves the amazing Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (who doesn’t —- me, too!).

Trailer: Judy

The Kingmaker A

This film makes a strong argument that Donald Trump and Imelda Marcos are related. Or maybe The Don is Imelda’s spirit animal. She should put him in her dilapidated zoo. Lauren Greenfield (who directed Generation Wealth on Netflix now and The Queen of Versailles, has uncensored access to Imelda Marcos. Yup, the lady with all the shoes. She’s back. Even more out of touch. Even more excess. Corruption. Greed. Total disregard for the constituency.

No trailer yet.

Winner: Best film festival t-shirt

Lyrebird C

I won’t remember the name or anything about this film in two years. There wasn’t much to remember or love about this film. Lyrebird is clunky and lacked style/vision. I didn’t care much about the characters or what happened to them. I liked Vicky Krieps performance, but that could be leftover from how much I loved her in Phantom Thread. Talk about style and vision! PTA knows all the tricks.

No trailer yet for Lyrebird. Just as well.

Marriage Story A

Anyone who knows me (well), knows that I love me a good, sad breakup movie. I’ve seen Kramer vs. Kramer about 50 times. It’s gut wrenching and real and I eat that shit up. Marriage Story is the poor man’s K vs. K. Absent was Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, and the 2019 version is Adam Driver and ScarJo. They’re good, but nuance is missing (as it is from almost all scenes directed by Noah Baumbach). How do you add nuance? I am not sure. But I can tell when it’s not there. Even the title of the film — not much nuance. You know? Laura Dern (as Nicole/ScarJo’s attorney) delivers a mid-movie monologue that provides some great comedic lines.

Trailer: Marriage Story

Motherless Brooklyn B

During the introduction to Motherless Brooklyn, the film was described to me and the rest of the packed theater as a “masterpiece”. Um. No. First, it’s unfair to say right before a film, because you’re expecting The Godfather and Motherless Brooklyn is not The Godfather. But, like I said… that’s not really fair. Ed Norton wrote, directed and plays a private detective afflicted with Tourette’s Syndrome, as he ventures to solve the murder of his mentor and only friend. It’s meh. It’s another film that I won’t remember 3 years from now. Damn, good movies (aka: masterpieces) sure are hard to make.

Trailer: Motherless Brooklyn

Pain and Glory A

Pedro Almodóvar’s shares a beautifully personal story about a filmmaker who is afflicted with Woody Allen-level ailments: headaches, backaches, a tendency to choke on any solid food – and general depression. Antonio Banderas steps up to the role he was born to play. He should be nominated for an Oscar for it, and might even win but the film will have limited theater-run. See it in a theater for the full sensory experience.

Trailer: Pain and Glory

Parasite A

Parasite is the best South Korean black comedy thriller film you’ve ever seen. First, this is the only film that my friend Dan told me to ‘Run, don’t walk to see Parasite’. And I did. And it’s great. It’s great for lots of reasons, but my favorite reason is that you’ve never seen this film before. Every plot twist your brain is working on, you’re wrong. It’s going to be fresh and new and I’m not going to tell you anything. Just take my word for it. Or don’t take my word. It won the frickin Palme d’Or at Cannes – 2019.

Trailer: Parasite

Portrait of a Lady on Fire A

Portrait of a Lady on Fire — this is the film that I go to the Telluride Film Festival for. Because even if I happen to see a poster for this film in the lobby of my favorite art-house theater (the Oriental in Milwaukee) or even the trailer, I’m not sure I’d know how great this film is and take myself to the theater. But this film is quiet and nuanced, and the story builds and unfolds at the right pace. That said, it would be a difficult one to get through on TV at home.

Trailer: Portrait of a Lady on Fire

The Report B

We’ve seen these political cat and mouse films before. All The President’s Men did it best. Even The Post is a bit more suspenseful than The Report. These are tricky stories to tell. Adam Driver does a good job and the film is watchable; because unfortunately, we (humans) need to learn over and over that torture doesn’t work (as much as we wish it did… it just doesn’t) so the story feels fresh and new. As the end credits explain, no one was ever charged or censured, and many of those involved in the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” (EITs, more commonly known as torture) at CIA black sites around the world did not merely remain on staff; they were promoted.

Trailer: The Report

Tell Me Who I Am A

This is one of those ultra brutal docs that I will never forget. Like Act of Killing, a Telluride Film Festival selection in 2013 and a documentary that won every award because it’s great and the access to its subjects is unbelievable. What makes a great documentary? Truth. And relatability. This film is about truth and lies. And how the power of truth will set you free. It’s tragic and dark, but love and truth is there, too. Watch it. It will remind you the power of truth and family. And how family secrets will tear you apart. A universal story that anyone can relate.

No trailer released yet.

My fab Film Fest fam

Still with me? Ok — well, here’s my pick for Best Picture!

The Two Popes A+

Confession: I’m a lapsed catholic. And I think it’s relevant to share in my review of The Two Popes. See, I’m not fan of the Catholic faith. My big gripes: 1) Women seen as second-class citizens. Women are less than men — lack of women in powerful positions. Priests. Bishops. Popes. Hello. It’s 2019 and for some reason, the Church is not subjected to equal-opportunity gender laws. 2) Gross displays of wealth in churches despite the Church’s stated mission to “live like Jesus” and spread resources among people who need food, shelter, etc. 3) Duh… sensible birth control — that women control. Yup, abortion… see #1. Ok, but despite (maybe because of) my beliefs about the Catholic Church, I loved The Two Popes. It was my favorite film of the festival. Top prize. And I wasn’t alone. A lot of people said it was their favorite, too. Ok, here comes the disclaimer. To see this film at home is to diminish your chances to see it’s full splendor. Because it’s a quiet story and watching it on Netflix at home while you do laundry and check FB, you’ll miss everything great about it. It’s a shame that this film won’t be seen in theaters because it deserves to be seen in the dark and quiet (ok, I’ll say it — a sacred) space. If you say this film isn’t amazing — I blame the environment, not the film. If Netflix releases The Two Popes in a theater near you, it will be brief, but go and pay the $10. It’s worth it.

Trailer: The Two Popes

Adam Sandler and the Safdie brothers discussing Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems A

Hold onto your butts. Place your bets now. Adam Sandler will get nominated for an Oscar for this performance. He plays Howard Ratner, a jewelry store owner and gambler who is on the verge of winning big and losing big and winning big and… during this 2-hour thrill ride. I heard a few people say “I don’t like Adam Sandler… I won’t like it” and I get that but this film is worth seeing. Adam Sandler transforms himself in this role; you’re not watching Billy Madison.

Trailer to be released on Sept. 24, 2019

Waves C

This film missed its mark for me. The pacing was wrong. It felt heavy-handed, over-directed. It’s overly melodramatic (which is usually my favorite!) but it felt manipulative. Directed by Trey Edward Shults, who has received a lot of praise for his work. I was like “meh”.

Trailer: Waves

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See you in August 2020, Telluride. If not, before. I’m looking at you, MountainFilm.

Posted in art films, film, film festival, film festivals, film review, Oscar Films, Road Trip, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Tags: adam sandler, best films of 2019, diego maradona, Film Reviews, netflix, Oscar Buzz, safdie brothers, telluride film festival, the two popes

September 20, 2018

2018 Telluride Film Fest recap

Version 2

Telluride Film Fest #45 has come and gone. And this year, like an athlete trains for an Olympic event, I am just as committed… to sitting in the dark and eating popcorn and seeing films. Not just any films, the Telluride Film Festival thoughtfully curated films.

I watched 18 films in 5 days. Meals and showers are overrated.

Birds of Passage B
Border B+
Can You Ever Forgive Me? A+
Cold War A+
Dogman A
The Favourite A+
First Man B
Fistful of Dirt B
Free Solo A
The Front Runner B
Girl A+
The Old Man & the Gun B
The Other Side of the Wind B
Roma A+
Shoplifters A
Trial by Fire A
White Boy Rick B
The White Crow A

Birds of Passage B

This film has many of the familiar drug-world ideas we know (a crime family that keeps getting sucked in further and further, The Godfather), with a new twist: family ties that justify bloody drug war meets an indigenous Colombian culture, the Wayuu tribe. This film feels like it should be studied in a film theory class. It’s flawless in its authenticity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cbzb4pXZT0

Border B+

This film by director, Ali Abbasi is not what you think it is. Whatever you think it is, it’s not that. As a border patrol guard, Tina can sniff out the bad guys. Spoiler alert: the interspecies sex is unforgettable. If you like super weird stories, you’ll dig Border.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpwPp0DYyg0

Can You Ever Forgive Me? A+

Can_You_Ever_Forgive_Me_poster

I would watch this film again now. I loved it. Melissa McCarthy will surely be a contender for Best Actress for this role. She is great, as she always is, in this film about Lee Israel, a small-time crook who forges letters from famous writers. The pace and wit of this film (and depth of characters) is what The Old Man & the Gun missed. It’s funny and the details of everyday life are accurate and tell the story (her agent has 80% used-up toilet paper rolls in her bathroom cabinet – I mean… come on, this is a perfect detail of The Perfect Party Hostess). Marielle Heller directs and I hope she will be recognized for her vision to make this film feel real, gritty, but never cheesy. I’ll be seeing this one again when it shows in theaters.

Prediction: Academy Award Winner for Best Actress Melissa McCarthy + Best Film Nominee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvJIaNsf_bY

Here’s a little clip from the Q&A with Richard E. Grant, Melissa McCarthy and Marielle Heller about directing professional theatrical cats.

Cold War A+

Every film fest needs a great love story. Cold War is that. Sexy, romantic, black and white so the scenery and drama of the era feels authentic. This film is coming to the Milwaukee Film Festival — yay! So maybe I’ll get to see it again!

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvPkDdFeTk8

Dogman A

I love this movie. I love the lovable goofball; the main character, Marcello (played by Marcello Fonte, an amateur actor who is beautifully directed by Matteo Garrone (directed Gomorrah, Telluride Film Fest 2008). Marcello is a dog-groomer who turns to drug-dealing to make ends meet. This story turns super brutal due to a super stupid thug. I watched the bloody parts with my eyes and ears closed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpm547O4J0w

The Favourite A+

the favourite pic

Ok, so here it is: The Favourite was my favorite. With stellar performances from Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz and — my prediction for Best Supporting Actress winner: Olivia Colman who is utterly pitiful and totally watchable as Queen Anne. It’s a romp. It’s delightful. It’s silly. It’s savage. It’s everything you want from a 18th century period film where the characters are not well-behaved ladies who simply wear pretty hats and pretty corsets. These are the women you want fighting a war for you because they play dirty.

Prediction: Winner of the Academy Award for Best Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYb-wkehT1g

First Man B

Intergalactic planetary porn. It’s not porn in the sense that you see Ryan Gosling get down with The Queen, Claire Foy (who plays Neil Armstrong’s wife). It’s porn because space is photographed as dangerous and sexy and rocky and hot. This is a space movie for people who really, really like space exploration. This is a really good simulator for space flight.

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4GtJB5WAlQ

Fistful of Dirt B

Splash meets Alien, meets Finding Neverland. Ok, there are some serious clues in that synopsis. This movie gets a lot right. Visually, the place looks bleak (this was the first major feature film shot after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico) and the little boy, Yei gives a great performance.

No trailer available

Free Solo A

alex

Afraid of heights? Well, this movie is going to terrify you. The setup: a brave man, Alex Honnold, is the first and only guy to successfully “free solo” El Capitan, the 3,000+ foot rock wall in Yosemite. Free solo means exactly what you think it means. No ropes. Free climbing. Alex Honnold is totally bananas. And the amazing camera angles allow you to be bananas, too. Spoiler alert: Alex lives. But it doesn’t matter because you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRVZ4SW7WU

The Front Runner B

I wanted to love this, because I love Jason Reitman (Juno, Up In the Air, Thank You For Smoking, Young Adult) but this isn’t his typical movie. The Front Runner refers to Gary Hart (played by Hugh Jackman) running for president in 1988 (and the sex-scandal that unraveled his campaign). In the era of the Trumpster Fire we have now, this story is cute, quaint, the way things used to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAOYDcnVx6E

Girl A+

See this film. It’s really special. The reason I cried (yup, me) was because the story is universal. A parent (loving and supportive dad) and kid (“I know how to do it myself” teenage daughter) try to navigate being different in a world that doesn’t support different. It’s heartbreaking and truthful – which are my drugs of choice. Lukas Dhont won Cannes Camera d’or for best first feature. Whoa. If this is his first film — imagine what he will do next!?

Prediction: Academy Award Nominee for Best Foreign Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdzu26tnUTc

The Old Man & the Gun B

This movie is a love letter to Robert Redford, and it’s Robert Redford’s love letter to movies. Sissy Spacek plays Redford’s girlfriend in this charming little bank robber with a heart-of-gold love story. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s charming and fun. And like any Robert Redford bank robber story, you never cheer for the cops. Casey Affleck, who plays the bad guy law enforcement, understands that he is witnessing something special.

Prediction: Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor Robert Redford

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7rlUe-Thvk

The Other Side of the Wind B

I wanted to love this film because my friend, Dan Hanley LOVED this film. This film took 48 years to complete which is an amazing feat, no matter what the outcome is. To follow this film, you gotta be a real film buff. Dan watches F for Fake a few times a year and loves Orson Welles. To me, this film had no narrative throughline that I could track. It’s a series of bright colors, a recurring naked lady and party montages with the amazingly charismatic John Huston and a young Peter Bogdanovich. I didn’t get it but it sure was fun watching Dan love this film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMWHBUTHmf0

Roma A+

Roma is great. It will be distributed by Netflix, which is a bit of a shame because this film deserves to be seen on a big screen. The film is so rich in black and white (a subtle nod to the black and white-ness of the film narratives) textures and story. The question I kept asking myself is — this is a future-award winning film, maybe the best film of the year… So, are Netflix films eligible for Oscars? Yes, if the film is released at a Los Angeles County movie theater, it can show at one theater and be eligible for Academy Awards. Roma should be a strong contender. Alfonso Cuarón (who came to Telluride with Y Tu Mamá También in 2001 – my first year in Telluride!) has a wonderful gift for subtle storytelling. Often missing in cinema. Confident, personal storytelling.

2016 Telluride Film Fest recap

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As I’ve done in other years, I’d like to share my thoughts about this year’s program at the Telluride Film Festival. 2016 marks my 15th year at the festival. The festival has changed a lot over my tenure and while I could gripe a lot about all the changes I don’t like, the quality of the films is still great. And Telluride *never* disappoints. Labor Day weekend, Telluride and many of my favorite people welcome me with open arms. Cinema Paradiso at 9,000 feet!

20151023_Moonlight_D08_C1_K1_0121.tif

The list of 17 films I saw at this year’s Telluride Film Festival:

Arrival

Bleed for This

Bright Lights

California Typewriter

Chasing Trane

The Graduation

The Ivory Game

Jerry Lewis: Man Behind the Clown

La La Land

Lost in Paris

Manchester by the Sea

Moonlight

Neruda

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer

Sully

Toni Erdmann

Una

_____________________________________

Let’s start with my super favorites. Run (RUN!) to the nearest theater when these films are released:

Moonlight A+

Moonlight is a great film from a soon-to-be well-known director, Barry Jenkins. Side note: I love Barry Jenkins. Not like fan love. Like love-love. Barry and I met about 13 years ago at the Telluride Film Fest and we’ve both returned every year since. We’ve both done grunt work that a film fest requires and like me, Barry loves films and deeply cares about the community of the Telluride Film Festival. Unlike me, he created a film that may be nominated for a few Oscars in 2016. Wow! The film focuses on Chiron through his challenges as a mostly silent young boy being raised by his struggling addicted mother. The story is beautifully told and I’m excited for it to find it’s audience. I believe a film like this has the power to connect people who also feel isolated because their story hasn’t been told. I’m super excited for Moonlight’s Oscar buzz and success. Well done, Barry Jenkins!

2006: Barry Jenkins and I (wearing my hair)

Manchester by the Sea A+

Loved this film. Kenneth Lonergan’s first feature, You Can Count on Me is one of my all time favorites. Lonergan may well be the best screenwriter of his generation. He has the most incredible insights about emotionally damaged people. His observations and the performances he beckons are right on the money. Casey Affleck plays Lee Chandler, a man who lives in silent isolation when his brother dies suddenly and he is named as guardian. This film is funny, smart, sad. All my favorites.

Toni Erdmann A+

Loved loved loved this movie. There’s not too many movies that are this emotionally charged and still fun to watch! I laughed until I cried. Then I cried. Then I laughed some more. Toni Erdmann has everything. A complicated father-daughter relationship story that is very well told. Woman director (YES!), Maren Ade hits this one out of the park. Can’t wait to see all 162 minutes again.

Arrival A

Keeping with Telluride’s tradition of revealing Best Picture for the past 6 years (2010 – The Kings Speech, 2011 – The Artist, 2012 – Argo, 2013 – 12 Years a Slave, 2014 – Birdman, and last year, Spotlight), Arrival is my best guess for 2016 Oscar for Best Picture. It’s got everything. Mystery. The meaning of time (on earth and beyond).

Wakefield A

Part Rear Window and part — I don’t know what — because this funny, creepy, emotionally-revealing film isn’t like any other film I’ve ever seen. Wakefield, adapted from a short story by E.L Doctorow, writer/director Robin Swicord masterfully tells the story of a jealous and selfish husband (Bryan Cranston) who has figured out a way to keep an eye on his world without actually living in his world. Bryan Cranston will likely be nominated for an Oscar for this wacko character.

Una A

Tough subject matter. But this film is emotionally right on the money with it’s depiction of an angry young woman who is seeking understanding from her abuser. Rooney Mara plays a 20-something trying to come to terms with the sexual abuse she experienced as a 13 year old. Una is surprisingly watchable (actually, gripping). It’s by-no-means a feel-good movie, but it’s extremely well done.

California Typewriter A

For the last several years, I’ve seen my last film at the Sheridan Opera House. A special little theater in Telluride and this film delivered. First, I loved the people in this documentary. Quirky. Funny. Real people. And “Dear Santa, I want a typewriter“. Think this doc did what it set out to do. Well done, Doug Nichol.

The Ivory Game B

This documentary tells the story of the uphill battle of protecting elephants despite the rising prices and desire for ivory in China (where it’s still legal to sell ivory). With costly helicopter shots of Africa’s sweeping vistas, The Ivory Game is filmed more like an action film than a sleepy ‘talking-head’ documentary.

La La Land B

I like singing and dancing. I like looking at Ryan Gosling. This fun and surprising opening scene will be talked about for a while. La La Land is a fun ride about falling in (and sadly) out of love. Don’t expect Gene Kelly or Ginger Rogers, because Ryan and Emma are not. But it’s a modern love story with a nod to vintage love stories.

Jerry Lewis: Man Behind the Clown B

A look at the comedic genius of Jerry Lewis. A clown for the ages. Loved Gregory Monro’s depiction of Jerry Lewis and his life’s work.

Bright Lights B

I loved the film, Postcards from the Edge. I feel like Bright Lights is the story behind the story. Part Grey Gardens, part Terms of Endearment, it’s funny and weird and love-filled. I’m a big fan of mother/daughter stories because I’m pretty crazy about my mom. Debbie and Carrie are true entertainers who bravely reveal themselves in this love story.

Lost in Paris B

Wes Anderson goes to Paris! Kinda. I loved the silliness this “when everything goes wrong” journey. Bright colors and playfully stylized, Lost in Paris is fun to watch.

The Graduation B

This is an intense film (reminded me of The Past, another Telluride Film Fest film from 2014) where not much happens, but you feel like something worse is about to happen. The Graduation is about a father who’s overbearing parenting reminds us all to keep our eyes on our own papers.

Chasing Trane B

John Coltrane was a master of his craft and this film shows us how much family, joy and music he packed into his short life. Coltrane died at 40, but this film exposes his struggles and triumphs.

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer B

Whoa. Do not invite Norman for dinner. This guy is a wheeler dealer like no one you’ve ever seen before onscreen. He makes Glengarry Glen Ross look like a picnic. Coffee (and peanuts) are for closers. Always Be Closing, Norman. Yikes.

Neruda B

Biopic of Chile’s acclaimed poet and leftist senator, Pablo Neruda. Cat and mouse chase between Neruda played by Luis Gnecco and the detective, Gael Garcia Bernal who has come to Telluride a few times over the years. Photo below of us 12 years ago.

2004: Gael Garcia Bernal and me.

Sully B

Ok, anyone who knows me knows that I’m not a popcorn-movie-film-goer. I’m a total film snob. But. Sully is pretty good. It helps A LOT that this is an extraordinary story. A pilot landed a plane with 155 people on board on the Hudson River! Wha!!? It’s amazing. There are some problems with the movie, but overall, this is a good film.

Bleed for This C

Boxer movie. Not much new here. Miles Teller does a good job in this true story, but the film fell a bit flat for me.

And here are a few more of my favorite moments from this year’s Telluride Film Festival:

Posted in film, film festival, film festivals, film review, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

September 13, 2015

2015 Telluride Film Festival recap

Labor Day weekend has come and gone. Summer is officially over, but don’t despair because there are lots of good films to see before we ring in 2016. This year’s Telluride Film Festival had some sure contenders for best picture. This year was light, as I only saw 13 films (reviews below) but this year was different for us (volunteers and staff) because lots of us “lifers” didn’t return. There are many reasons why, but I’m not going to dwell on what was missing and instead focus on the quality of the films.

Prediction: Suffragette – 2015 Academy Award for Best Film

Watch trailer here.

Suffragette release date: October 23, 2015. Here’s how the film describes itself: A drama that tracks the story of the foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State. These women were not primarily from the genteel educated classes, they were working women who had seen peaceful protest achieve nothing. Radicalized and turning to violence as the only route to change, they were willing to lose everything in their fight for equality – their jobs, their homes, their children and their lives. Maud was one such foot soldier. The story of her fight for dignity is as gripping and visceral as any thriller, it is also heart-breaking and inspirational.

Ladies. This is our story. Sure, Bridesmaids is also our story, but this film gives women their history (and power). I’ve watched many films over the years that depicted the atrocities Jews endured during the holocaust, black people during slavery and felt empathy, guilt and sadness for the people in the groups that were violated. But Suffragettes (women who fought for equal rights), are my people. Women. I am a woman in 2015 who has benefitted from the women of the suffrage movement. Suffragette depicts our story. Maud, played by Carey Mulligan, is an exhausted factory worker who is lured into the movement by her co-worker. Some of the film is typical, anti-hero stuff. Just like Maud has her eyes opened to a new way of thinking, I did, too. I don’t usually get sucked into would-be inspiring films, but this one hit me between the eyes like a 2×4. I wept. These women fought for our right not only to vote, but to be recognized as equal to men and I felt overwhelming gratitude. There are lots of ways to repay these women’s courageous acts. Here are a few 1) see this movie — extra credit: see it opening weekend; 2) encourage your friends, daughters, mothers to see this movie — extra credit: share on social media; 3) vote and make our voices heard. Or you can just do what I did, and call your mother and bawl like a baby.

2015 films I saw:

45 Years A

Anomalisa A

Beasts of No Nation C

Black Mass B

Carol B

He Named Me Malala A

Heart of a Dog B

Picture B

Room A

Spotlight A

Steve Jobs A

Suffragette A + + + +

Taxi A

45 Years

The wind howls throughout this film from beginning til the end. During the Q&A of this film, I learned that writer/director, Andrew Haigh said that there are actually 27 different wind sounds (after listening to many more) that are layered onto the dialogue. The backdrop is drained of color which just intensifies the film’s moody, chilly feel. Starring Charlotte Rampling, who should be nominated for this film, plays a woman who discovers a deeply buried secret about her 45 year marriage.

Anomalisa

Disclaimer: I love Charlie Kaufman. Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind are two of my favorite films so I’m not objective about this film. Charlie’s Anomalisa is a combination of everything I love about his stories. It’s surreal, it’s sad and tells the truth about how every relationship is doomed from the start. I loved it! It is a perfect depiction of the pessimistic view that all relationships will repeat the same outcome because nothing is new and everyone is the same. Over and over. So, stay married, you might as well.

Beasts of No Nation

I had high expectations going into this film, and my takeaway is… maybe writers shouldn’t be directors and cinematographers, too? Cary Fukunaga (True Detective) was all three. This film is missing an emotional core that I could grab hold of. I wish the film was based in a real place, instead of a general African country. I like the main character, Agu (played by Abraham Attah) and wanted him to survive, but the graphic violence and way too long battle scenes were too gory and repetitive for me to keep my eyes open.

Black Mass

Johnny Depp (minus his Jack Sparrow ponytail) will surely be nominated for his role as Jimmy “Whitey” Bulger, crime boss who was captured in 2011. It’s a story about Whitey’s unchecked rise to power in South Boston underworld, while his brother, William, was president of the Massachusetts State Senate and one of the most powerful politicians in the state. One question: Why didn’t they just cast Ray Liotta? Production could have saved a few bucks on the skullcap and light contact lenses.

Carol

Story: Carol is the 2015 lesbian version of Brokeback Mountain with more art direction. I liked the pretty film, but I feel like I missed out on the characters’ obsession of the book (The Price of Salt). Like all the Telluride Film Fest films, lots of people had differing opinions and loved this film. Rooney Mara will surely be nominated (and Cate Blanchett, too) for her stellar performance as a woman who can’t decide what/who she wants. She’s like Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride. She takes her eggs however her mate takes his eggs. Only instead of eggs, she’s in love with a woman while engaged to a man.

He Named Me Malala

Wow. See this story if you want to be inspired by a girl who isn’t afraid of anything. When Malala was 11 years old, she was targeted and shot in the head by the Taliban. Since then, she became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. She’s a fascinating person… and not a typical teenager. I wish she had her own reality show so she could reach millions of young girls who desperately need a role model like Malala. She is an advocate for educating girls and the picture of strength and courage. Girl power! Attention Milwaukee! It’s playing at the Milwaukee Film Festival October, 1^st:

Heart of a Dog

Artist, Laurie Anderson explores what it feels like to lose your best friend. This beautiful film is all about loss. Losing a parent. Losing a dog. 9/11. This is moving visual, avant-garde picture begins with home movies of her dog, Lollabelle, and ends with the questions that everyone faces with coming to terms with death.

Picture

Crazy, weird. Sneak preview of the most arty of art films. It’s basically a repetitive black and white image of an American Indian woman playing a drum on a beach for 68 minutes with other expressionism images flashed in-between. I disliked it after 20 minutes, but after 45 minutes, I was happy for the break of story and characters and ended up feeling like it was the perfect palate cleanser. Don’t look for this to play at your local mall. Or anywhere. It’s so weird (new?), there isn’t even an IMDB listing.

Room

Trapped in a room for seven years, this mother tries to protect her son from the evil that captured her. Part: ‘Life is Beautiful’ (telling her 5 year old that they live in “room” and space is all around), and part gritty awful dark ‘Silence of the Lambs’, this film is… dark. And with light at the end of the tunnel. Watch for Brie Larson to be nominated. This film will make her a big star.

Spotlight

Watching this film, I was constantly reminded of ‘All the President’s Men’. Unlike a fallen president, priests are the focus of this story when the 2001 Boston Globe’s investigative team called “Spotlight” discovered that not just one priest molested a boy, but the whole Catholic church was covering up hundreds of priests abusing thousands. It’s an awful story but Mark Ruffalo gives a great performance. The story full of twists and turns, making for a drama that’s thrilling and grounded in substantial gravitas.

Steve Jobs

I know what you’re thinking – another Steve Jobs story? Ugh. But. This is a good movie. For one thing, this one doesn’t have Ashton Kutcher… And Aaron Sorkin wrote it (read: lots of walking and talking). It’s West Wing with more techie talk. A fast-paced biography about a seriously emotionally-challenged guy who is mostly awful, but made some well-designed products. Michael Fassbender will probably get a nomination for best actor.

Suffragette

A++++

Full review above with one more thing to note. The cast is mostly women – but so is the crew: Sarah Gavron directs. Written by: Abi Morgan (who wrote Shame). Brendon Gleeson (loved him in 28 Days Later and In Bruges) co-stars, too. This movie is perfect. You will walk about 10′ taller. Grab your girls and see it on opening weekend. See it with the same ladies you saw Sex In The City with — and pack tissues.

Taxi

Queen Latifah is not in this one. Different movie. I promis this film is much, much better. This is the most unexpected film of 2015’s Telluride Film Festival. This is in the same class as previous festival surprises like The Band’s Visit (2007) and Wild Tales (2014). Taxi invites us to spend the day with filmmaker, Jafar Panahi and his revolving passengers. Is this a documentary? Kinda. It’s real enough to be. By making this film, Jafar Panahi is defying his Iranian government who banned him from making films. Ignoring his house arrest sentence, Panahi depicts himself driving this cab on the streets of Tehran telling stories of political heroism and human absurdities. Winner of Berlin’s Golden Bear 2015. I hope this film is released because it’s quite a ride. Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.

More non-film highlights:

Best surprise: Seeing my favorite filmmaker, Alexander Payne at the Cornerhouse.

Best offscreen actors: Seeing my favorite bozos and seeing movies with them

Best photobomb: Rooney Mara

Best French guy: Serge Bromberg! Serge brings the “je ne sais quoi” to the Telluride Film Festival. His love for preserving films is contagious.

Best live performance: RAP RAP RAP RAP RAP RAP. Before the staff film, on Thursday night, Apoc rocked the mic with his new single “Brand New Thing” — this is it. Can’t wait til this is released. Get ready for the Apoc Revolution. Until then… check out his other awesomeness.

Best improv: Charlie Kaufman (left) fielding questions about puppet sex in Anomalisa.

Second best surprise: Official Car of Telluride Film Festival: Tesla. Uh-huh. All my favorites. Joy overload.

Best VIDEO moment: Meryl Streep talking about what the woman’s movement to vote and equal rights mean to her.

Until next year, I love you, Telluride.

Want to see more? Download the full program guide here.

Posted in film, film festivals, film review | 1 Comment »

Tags: academy awards, alexander payne, art films, best films 2015, Jafar Panahi, meryl streep, sarah gavron, suffragette, telluride, telluride film festival, tesla

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