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
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
A
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.
A
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.
C
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.
B
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.
B
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.
A
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, 1st:
B
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
B
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.
A
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.
A
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.
A
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.
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.
A
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.
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