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September 13, 2018 By iluvcinema Leave a Comment

Three (+4) to See this Fall

The world of cinema is currently abuzz – from superheroes falling out of the sky, to the festival frenzy of Venice, Toronto, London, Telluride and New York – the change of the season also means that our collective cinema-going is about to get a whole lot more serious.

This ‘for your consideration’ time brings with it a plethora of amazing viewing options to satisfy even the most cynical among us. Keeping that in mind, let me present my personal “must-see” films from the upcoming release schedule. Please note: each “Official Line” below is directly from that particular films’ Production Notes/Press Releases.

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March 1, 2014 By iluvcinema 4 Comments

T’was the Night Before the Academy Awards Ceremony ….

No. Do not worry that I am going to break out into cheap verse. I have neither the creativity nor the energy to go there today. In fact, my predictions for this year’s ceremony is quite simple:

People will win Oscars whilst wearing fancy frocks and suits.

And that is about it. Well, that really isn’t everything, as my most ardent wish is for awards success for Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave.

10598835594_15b4429fb1_z — Photo Credit: Thomas Ormston (via Flickr)

Now, to switch gears a bit, I have previously been asked (*) to look a bit further down the line and put on my prognostication glasses. The mission: to ‘predict’ which young thesps currently in the game I think will probably be awarded film’s highest honor at some point in the future. For the sake of simplicity (and my sanity), I have divided the groups into 1) actors and actresses and 2) directors.

THE ACTORS

Chiwetel Ejiofor: Although I had decided to arbitrarily restrict my selections to the ‘Under 35s’ set, I made an allowance in this case. I have hoping for Ejiofor’s ascension to widespread recognition for quite some time. Although he is nominated this year (and not likely to win according to the odds makers), I hope that he will have another shot at receiving an acting accolade in the future.
Adèle Exarchopoulos: Based on her breakout performance in the controversial Blue is the Warmest Color, I feel her success will continue in France and has the potential to translate into crossover success in the English language market. Which frankly will increase her chances of obtaining an Oscar in the future.
Tom Hiddleston: This versatile Brit is bound in the near future to strike Oscar gold. That is all.
Saoirse Ronan: In all her performances (yes even Byzantium) I remain captivated by the ethereal, otherworldly quality she possesses.
Brie Larson: A critically recognized turn in 2013’s Short Term 12 has put this young woman on the map. I see bright (golden?) things in her future.
James Franco: Due to his prolific nature in all aspects of the filmmaking process, I am sure he will strike lucky and at least get a nomination, if not take home Oscar at some point in his diverse career.
Ellen Page: Although it seems like she has been around for a while, she is still quite young and has a long career ahead of her. I think she will secure an acting gong one day.

Honorable Mentions: Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai

Side Note: in doing my research, I ‘discovered’ a rather disturbing trend when looking up male versus female actors. When I searched for males, the top search results and subsequent lists spoke mainly of their talent and versatility. The lists for the female thesps, on the other hand, produced mainly “hot” lists. Color me slightly disappointed.

THE DIRECTORS

Now I admit I am not as knowledgeable with up and coming directors as I would like to be. That said, here are a couple of women I feel have the greatest potential of winning top prize for their work in directing a feature film:

Sarah Polley: She started out in front of the camera but has really made a name for herself as a creative force behind the camera with films such as Away From Her and Take This Waltz. There is great promise that a future dramatic feature will be recognized by the Academy.

Ava DuVernay: Another slight deviation from my ‘age’ rule, DuVernay won the Best Director prize at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013 for her film Middle of Nowhere (film also garnered her the John Cassavetes Award the same year). DuVernay’s career has also seen her recognized and win multiple accolades for her auteurism.

I wish I could speak to the other folks that make the movies – shame on me.

This is where audience participation comes in. Submit in the Comments section below what who you think in these or any other categories is Oscar-bound in the future.

(*) This post is part of the 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon sponsored by Outspoken & Freckled, Once Upon a Screen and Paula’s Cinema Club.

December 11, 2013 By iluvcinema 4 Comments

2014 Spirit Award Nominees

Recently, the 2014 (Film Independent) Spirit Awards nominees were announced. As I pored over the list, something dawned upon me – for a change, I have in fact seen plenty of these films well at least more than I could have previously claimed in a given year. A few of the films I have already taken a look at on this blog; see my earlier entries for Short Term 12, Before Midnight, Blue Caprice, Francis Ha, Una Noche and Gideon’s Army.

In addition to these titles, on the list of nominees, I spotted two additional films that have come that are strong contenders this awards season – Twelve Years a Slave and Blue is the Warmest Color. After much much delay, I would like to take this opportunity to let you know what I thought of these films. Again sorry for the procrastination.

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12 Years a Slave

I don’t know where to begin with this one. I mean, in spite of the weighty topic – a true, first hand narrative of free man of color kidnapped and held captive in the (I highly recommend reading the book), it is simply a beautiful, cinematic experience. From the cinematography, to the acting and the overall atmosphere created by director Steve McQueen and his cinematographer (Sean Bobbitt), I am almost at a loss for words for how this film moved me.

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When I read the announcement about this film being made, I immediately had really high expectations, based largely on the goodwill I had for the filmmaker and his ‘muse’ (Michael Fassbender) from their previous collaborations (Hunger and Shame). After reading the book in the lead up to the release back in October, the one reservation I did have was how they would take this first hand account and translate it into a narrative suited for the silver screen. But why doubt? Screenwriter John Ridley brought the wonderfully eloquent words of Solomon Northup to life.

I briefly mentioned the performances above; now allow me to elaborate and highlight two of the standouts for me. The titular character, as played by the severely underused Chiwetel Ejiofor, really conveys a man who was in a struggle not only for his physical freedom but also his psychological liberation. It is a marvel to see on screen. In the role of Patsy, newcomer Lupita Nyong’o is a revelation. In her portrayal, I feel the echoes of those who preceded us – their enduring unflappable spirit in the face of unimaginable and brutal circumstances.

Ironically, last night I was asked about my favorite film of 2013. Almost without hesitation, I said 12 Years a Slave. I think I am going to hold onto that one.

Blue is the Warmest Color (La Vie d’Adèle – Chapitres 1 & 2 )

PHOTO-Le-poster-officiel-de-La-Vie-d-Adele_portrait_w532 I saw this film as the 51st annual New York Film Festival was drawing to a close. What a singular New York Film Festival 2013 experience to have – a provocative, much talked about Cannes Palm D’Or winner directed by Abdellatif Kechiche (who also offered an assist on the screenplay). Based on a graphic novel by Julie Maroh, Blue chronicles the romantic and sexual coming of age of Adele (Adele Exarchopoulos) and specifically, her relationship with university student Emma (Léa Seydoux).

I know much has been made about the sexual politics of the movie, but I will leave that for others more qualified to debate the particulars. And for those who choose to see the film, judge for yourself. But for me, I THINK I know where the filmmaker was going with respect to the symmetry of the love scenes and the stage of the relationship between Adele and Emma we were witnessing. That said, some of their earlier scenes felt overlong and a little out of place with the rest of the film’s narrative. And before you ask, no, I am not particularly fazed by expressions of overt sexuality on screen.

In spite of this visceral response, as I ventured out of the screening and into the brisk October night, I made a resolution to myself that in spite of my feelings about this one aspect of the film, I would not let this take away from the overall experience and would therefore try my best to judge the other narrative elements of the film objectively. When I reflected on the film with this in mind, I found that at its heart, the film you are left with is a well photographed, episodic love story, that over the course of its three hour running time (this is not an estimate, it really is three hours) feels rooted in a reality, even if particular acts venture into the realm of the voyeuristic and fantastic.

The Spirit Awards will air March 1st on IFC.