TELLURIDE FILM FESTIVAL 2018
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY
I LOVED THESE FILMS. THEY MADE MY DAY.
BOY ERASED
Wow. Everything you ever wanted to know about Christian-themed conversion
therapy and what a shameful sham it is … Lucas Hedges (
Manchester By The Sea) is superb as the well-mannered, well
brought up teenage son of devout parents (Nicole Kidman and Russel Crowe)
who know just what to do when he questions his sexuality. His pastor
enlists counsel from other religious leaders to set his son on a righteous
path to “normalcy”. Joel Edgerton (
Loving) in his directorial
debut and as the head of the boot camp paints a vivid picture of the
cruelty, ineffectiveness and hypocrisy of these centers.
COLD WAR
This is a dazzlingly unique story that begins in Poland in 1948. A musician
working for the government is tasked to seek out talented youth to perform
folk songs and dances throughout the country. From the moment he spies a
gorgeous country girl in an audition, the two are locked in a saga that
takes them from Russia to Paris. They come together, they break up. They
survive political turmoil and experience moments of extreme happiness.
Lyrical, eye opening, lovely and sad. Screenplay prize at Cannes.
FIRST MAN
There was a time, long ago, when Americans were united, hopeful and excited
about the first manned voyage to the moon. Writer-director Damien Chazelle
(Oscar winner for
La La Land, Oscar nominee for
Whiplash)
and screenwriter Josh Singer (Oscar winner for
Spotlight) bring
back that feeling with a brilliant performance by Ryan Gosling as Neil
Armstrong and the heartbreaking suffering of Claire Foy (
Elizabeth
) as his wife. The Academy Awards are sure to laud this unpredictable
retelling of the perseverance and peril that led to Armstrong’s first step
on the moon. See this film.
GIRL
There is good reason this film won Best First Feature at Cannes and Best
Actor. It is the unforgettable story about a teenage boy – living as a girl
- who is pursuing the grueling physical challenges of becoming a ballerina.
From Belgium and The Netherlands the story and performances are
spectacular.
NON FICTION
The always engaging Juliette Binoche and her publisher husband are friends
with another couple, a writer and a political aide. At first they all seem
happy enough, but this is a French film, so what follows is infidelity,
double lives and lots of talk about the sad state of affairs in our digital
world and the demise of book publishing as we know it. Engaging and though
provoking.
THE FRONT RUNNER
Jason Reitman (
Thank You for Smoking, Up In The Air, Juno) tackles
the 1988 tabloid scandal that tanked the presidential candidacy of Gary
Hart which 30+ years later we learn was a set up by the Republican’s dirty
tricks department. Fascinating. Hugh Jackman convincingly plays Hart and
Vera Farmiga his long suffering wife and J. K. Simmons his bewildered
campaign manager. Hart naively wanted to focus on policy and ideas and
refused to kow tow to the media who stalked him.
THE OLD MAN AND THE GUN
A true story about a charming – very charming - old guy (Robert Redford)
whose storied “career” consisted of robbing (many, many) banks, getting
caught and then escaping from (many, many) prisons. After his latest heist
he meets a lovely woman (Sissy Spacek) and they click. Hmmm, think you know
where the film is going … well, not so fast. With his partners in crime
(Danny Glover and Tom Waits) our hero just can’t give up the thrill of
another bank robbery. It just makes his soul sing. An intrepid detective
(Casey Affleck) vows to catch the charismatic crook. The cat and mouse
pursuit that follows is a lot of fun.
THE WHITE CROW
Based on a true story about the defection of the world famous ballet dancer
Rudolf Nureyev to the West at the height of the Cold War. Ralph Fiennes (
The English Patientand
Schindler’s List) directs and is
Nureyev’s mentor in St. Petersburg. From an impoverished childhood to the
heights of high society in Paris, Nureyev’s embodied grit and determination
to be free to dance. Mesmerizing.
TRIAL BY FIRE
One of the most interesting and engrossing films at the festival. Based on
the true story of a Texas man mistakenly accused of an arson fire that
killed his three small daughters and landed him on death row. Based on a
New Yorkerarticle by David Grann (Lost City of Z, Old Man &
The Gun), Ed Zwick (Academy Award winner for
Gloryand
Legends of the Fall) interweaves the back story of the man with
that of the woman (Laura Dern) who desperately tries – for 12 long years -
to save him from the electric chair. Outstanding performances.
WATERGATE – OR, HOW WE LEANED TO STOP AN OUT-OF-CONTROL PRESIDENT
The director – Charles Ferguson – has brought us outstanding documentaries:
No End in Sightabout the invasion of Iraq and
Inside Job,
the history of the financial crisis of 2008 but this 4 ½ hour exploration
of Watergate is his most eye-opening film yet. Think you know what happened
in Watergate? Think again. We all know that more than 40 years ago Nixon
was lying and conniving to coverup the break-in of Democratic headquarters.
But few know the real scope of his misdeeds and the meticulous work done to
reveal his abuse of power. Yes, this is a long film, but it is so engaging
you don’t want to take your eyes off the screen. I dare you not to think of
the parallels to today’s presidency. Shown on PBS this fall. Try to catch
it.
FROM OK, TO IT WON’T HURT YOU, TO ???:
ANGELS ARE MADE OF LIGHT
Documentary of the lives of the boys in a Muslim school in an impoverished
area in Kabul. The film was shot over several years and is a glimpse into
the resiliency of children despite living in a war zone. Intriguing,
illuminating and heartwarming in parts, but the not-so-subtle brain washing
by the teachers was painful to watch. Slow moving and too long but I won’t
forget the faces of the boys when I hear or read about Afghanistan.
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
Based on the true story of a once popular author (Melissa McCarthy) who
falls on hard times and resorts to forging famous author’s letters and
other memorabilia to unsuspecting dealers to make ends meet. Personally,
she is a nasty piece of work and offends everyone she encounters, but
somehow becomes friends with another con artist (Richard Grant in a
wonderful performance). Working together they fleece sellers and collectors
of “authentic” memorabilia from beloved authors. There are some funny
moments, but not enough to overceome the fact that this is a dreary film
about not very nice people.
DESTROYER
Nicole Kidman as you have never seen her before. She IS a flawed detective
with blood on her hands from an undercover assignment gone wrong. Complete
with a long-suffering husband, a damaged daughter and a dead lover, this
film is not for the faint of heart. Violent and depressing as it is, it is
nevertheless, engrossing.
SO MAYBE THE ACTING WAS GOOD
OR THE FILMMAKING SLICK, BUT … ICK:
THE FAVOURITE
A well meaning and creative historical melodrama of the 18
th
century court of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). Emma Stone is a gentlewoman
who has fallen on hard times and is – at first – embraced by the Queen’s
consort Lady Marlborough (Rachel Weisz). Ultimately the two engage in a
(lady’s) version of armed combat and a fight to the death. All the
performances are outstanding and the contemporary twist on the costumes and
customs of the court are uniquely beautiful. Look for numerous Academy
Award nominations. That said, I do not recommend this film. It starts off
being engaging and ends with a frustrated feeling of being a waste of time.
WHITE BOY RICK
Ugh. This film was being heavily advertised by the time Telluride ended,
presumably because it stars Matthew McConaughey as a gun salesman and
father to the FBI’s youngest informant (age 15). Based on a true story in
1980s Detroit it is replete with drugs, guns, prostitution, teenage
addition and the not-so-subtle manipulation by the boy’s father and the
FBI. Despicable characters abound.
THE BAD & UGLY
SHOPLIFTERS
Petty thieves in Japan exploit children to do their stealing for them. This
won the Palme d’Or at Cannes but – for what it is worth - everyone I talked
to despised it.
GOOD “BUZZ” BUT 4 FILMS A DAY IS MY LIMIT
FREE SOLO
Not for the faint of heart or anyone with vertigo, this is the true story
of Alex Honnold, the most famous rock climber of all times, ascent of El
Capitan without the assistance of ropes.
ROMA
This is about a neighborhood in Mexico City seen through the eyes of a maid
and contrasted with the point of view of her employer’s lives. This film
has garnered many positive reviews.
