Telluride Film Festival 2018

Just back from another successful Telluride film festival. I spent some time to share you my thoughts on the films. Remember these are my thoughts though I did try and listen to various people’s perspective. I did also spent a lot of time, ready every review about the Telluride Film Festival. I will also include a great piece by Vanity Fair which shows some great shots of Telluride. I am not sure we have the Oscar winner this year, but certainly many nominees. Very strong year for women.

Excellent

Can You Ever Forgive Me:

Film starred Melissa McCarthy, with an excellent supporting actor role by Richard E. Grant (who I got to ride the gondola with and is a very charming man), directed by Marielle Heller. Story of Lee Israel who was an author with a unpleasant personality and did not connect with people who fell on hard times. She made money by forging letters by famous deceased authors to make money. I loved this movie. Funny, sad all in one. Explores a number of themes that are important. Cast is perfect. Based on current buzz, Melissa McCarthy is on the road to an Oscar nomination and I would not be surprised to find that Richard E. Grant also will get a nod. The director is a woman in her late 30s only film she did before this one is Diaries of a Teenage girl. Prior to that episodic TV. Her next movie is the biopic of Mr. Rogers with Tom Hanks. I heard her speak. She is extremely bright and a director to watch. This was my favorite movie of the filmfest. I just loved this movie for some reason it spoke to me. This is a must see.

Very Good (in no particular order)

The Favourite:

Starring Emma Stone (at Telluride), Rachel Weisz, and Olivia Colman, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (previous movie The Lobster, Killing of a Sacred Deer). Move set in 18th century England about Queen Anne (which I know nothing about) and the rivalry for the queen’s favor between Lady Marlborough and her cousin that has fallen on hard times. Very funny movie. A lot of deceit going on. Unusual to have a movie with 3 strong women leads. All of them could get nods for the Oscar but Emma Stone appears to have the most buzz. This movie will be nominated for an Oscar as well.

Roma:

This is Alfonso Cuaron’s new movie. It is in Spanish. It is filmed in digital black and white. According to Cuaron, it is based on 90% of his childhood memories and growing up in Mexico City. Incredible buzz for this movie. May be nominated for best film and best foreign film. Many people felt best of the festival, others just liked it. A beautifully crafted film and takes you back to 1970s Mexico.

First Man:

I want to say before I start this review that I dislike space and I dislike Damien Chazelle’s movies (La La Land and Whiplash). That being said I liked this movie. Story of Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) and his journey to by the first man on the moon. Theme of the movie was to show how hard and how many sacrifices they made to get there. Caire Foy plays his wife. Tense movie. Well done. Great buzz at Venice and Telluride for sure an Oscar nod.

Boy Erased:

Gained significant momentum in Telluride. Based on the book by the same name about a boy who lives in a very Christian family (father is a preacher) who is found to be gay and is sent to Christian Conversion Therapy Camp. Starring, Lucas Hedges (boy), Nicole Kidman (mom), Russel Crowe (dad), Joel Edgerton (Conversion Camp Leader). Edgerton also directed. Moving movie. Audience was aghast at times (some of my friends wanted to leave), but at other times there were cheers. I think a must see movie.

Destroyer:

Starring Nicole Kidman and directed by Karyn Kusama (Girlfight). I loved Karyn Kusama, another remarkable woman director. Screenplay by her husband. A police drama where Kidman is a police detective and there is a back story. Interesting storytelling. Backdrop is LA which is featured prominently. Oscar buzz for Kidman for this one. Interestingly she can never win or get nominated unless she looks terrible (which she does in this film).

White Boy Rick:

Tragic real life story of a white young man (a complete unknown until this film, more on that later) and his family (Father played by Matthew McConaughey) in 1980s Detroit who was used as an FBI informant at age 14 and then turned to drugs himself to make money. Down and out family living in downtown Detroit. Great New Yorker Article on the topic. Interesting film. Shows a slice of America we do not know. Some Oscar Buzz for McConaughey. The casting directors wanted a white boy who lives in an African American neighborhood. They went to a Baltimore school, told the teacher what they were looking for and he said what about that boy who was in Detention for the 3rd time that week. They liked him and here he is in this movie. Supporting cast is good.

Front Runner:

New Jason Reitman (Juno) film about Gary Hart. Remember that? Interesting to look at it from our political perspective now and I don’t really remember that much about the whole Gary Hart Scandal. Hugh Jackman plays Gary Hart. Interesting movie. Excellent supporting case. Some Oscar Buzz for Jackman.

Good

The Old Man and the Gun:

Robert Redford’s last film that also stars Sissy Spacek and Casey Affleck. Based on the real life story of a serial bank robber. Based on a New Yorker Story (several films based on New Yorker stories). Pleasant, entertaining, a good little movie but not Oscar material.

Peterloo:

New film by Mike Leigh about a massacre of British citizens in Manchester, England 1819. Beautifully shot. Really long (153 minutes) and I think would be better served as a miniseries. Focus on the poor working class and their attempt at reform. Easily could be missed.

The White Crow:

Story of the defection of the the ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Directed by Ralph Fiennes. Real Russian ballet dancer as the lead. A little slow

Cold War:

Directed by Pawl Pavilkowski (previous Oscar winning film Ida). Set in post world war Poland. Story of musicians who fall in love. One defects, one defects later and goes back. A tempestuous relationship that is based on the tempestuous relationship that his parents had. Good not great, interesting from a historical point of view.

Films are documentaries not seen but have some buzz

Trial by Fire:

Ed Zwick film (Glory, Legends of the fall). Real life story about a man convicted of arson where his 3 daughters were killed and sentenced to death. All evidence points to the fact he did not do it. He was put to death anyway. Based on a New Yorker story. Starring Laura Dern and Jack O’Connell. Supposedly very good but tough to warch, people cried during the movie.

Watergate - Or, How We Learned to Stop an Out of Control President:

Documentary by Charles Ferguson (No end in Sight, Inside Job) about Watergate. Everyone who saw it loved it. Some said the best thing they saw. Will be released but then will be on the history channel. I can’t wait to watch it. Oscar buzz but let’s face it, this year is going to be a competitive year for documentaries which include RBG, Will You Be My Neighbor, and Three Identical Strangers.

Border:

Swedish movie that is somewhat sci-fi. People either loved it or hated it. People said it will become a cult classic. I plan to watch it when it comes to a streaming service near me.

Free Solo:

Documentary about Alex Honnold supposedly the best rock climber in the world as he climbs El Capitan without ropes. Honnold is an interesting character, limited activity in his amygdala (emotion center). This was a big hit at Telluride. Honnold was there. Jimmy Chin (the documentarian) also did Meru. Also Oscar Buzz.

Girl:

My daughter Ava’s favorite movie. Won Cannes. Film from Belgium. Story about a transgender girl’s struggles as she trains to be a ballerina. Many people really liked this movie. (I missed it to see the panel with Kidman and McCarthy and their directors in the park). I plan to see when it plays here.

Meeting Gorbachev:

Verner Herzog;s documentary with Gorbachev. As stated by someone a long documentary of two old men discussing things via a translator. I think this is a miss.

Reversing Roe:

Documentary on the history of Roe v Wade. Made a splash at Telluride. Will be streaming on Netflix this month.