Telluride Film Festival 2022

The annual newsletter with a round-up of the best Telluride Film has to offer. As always the synopsis is mostly my opinion. I have searched the web for other viewpoints and have listened to my friends and other festival attendees to give you a well rounded view from 9545 feet (the elevation of Mountain Village)

FILMS THAT ARE A MUST SEE

Women Talking:

Written and directed by Sarah Polley who also received a tribute in Telluride. This has a star-studded cast - Frances McDormand (who also was a producer), Rooney Mary, Claire Foy, Judith Ivey, Jessie Buckley, Sheila McCarthy, Judith Whishaw and Ben Whishaw. The movie is adapted from the Miriam Toews novel and based on a true story. The story revolves around a strict Mennonite sect where “ghost rapes” have occured. The perpetrators have been identified and the women have to decide how they will have to deal with it: stay and forgive, stay and fight, or go. This description does not sound riveting but the movie was. Someone likened it to the movie twelve angry men but with women. This is one of the BEST movies I have seen in years. Other people felt the same way including the NYT. I personally think this will win the Oscar for best picture, directing, possibly writing. This is really an ensemble cast so its a lock for SAG awards. The story is fascinating. Only after seeing the movie look up the real story. Best coverage of the story come from Vice media who investigated it for over 11 months. I would not look it up first since it would ruin the movie. Whatever you do, definitely see it.

Close:

Directed by Lukas Dhont. Won the Grand Prix at Cannes. It is from Belgium and subtitled. This film is beautiful. Captures the intense relationships between young boys (tweens) and how they may change as they get into their teens. Evaluates how masculinity is defined at these ages. How the changes in these relationships can affect each individual. It's a sad movie but worth watching. I have never seen this time in a young person’s life portrayed as realistically and emotionally wrenching as this movie. I was blown away.

Good Night Oppy:

Documentary about the mars rover. I did not see it but it was a Telluride favorite. The reviews have been outstanding. This will have a limited release and then stream on Amazon. I can’t wait to see it.

THE REST OF THE FILMS AND DOCUMENTARIES WERE VERY GOOD, GOOD, AND MEDIOCRE. I DON’T HAVE A DO NOT SEE BUT SOME FILMS CAME CLOSE. THE LIST IS IN SOME ORDER OF HOW I LIKED THEM BUT NOT A PERFECT RANKING.

Living:

This is a remake of the famous film IKIRU. The film stares Bill Nighy who lives a very dull British bureaucrat life. He finds out he has a terminal illness and wants to make a mark in the world before he dies. Charming film. Very well done and acted. Bittersweet. Bill Nighy has not ever received an Oscar nomination and the buzz is that he will at least get recognized for this film. I really liked it.

TAR:

Film by Tod Field and starring Cate Blanchett. Blanchett also an honoree at Telluride. Fictional story of a woman orchestra conductor in Berlin. Good film even though may be a little long. Cate Blanchett is excellent. She learned German for the film and learned how to conduct. Definitely an Oscar-worthy performance. (Of course she will need to beat Michelle Yeoh and I think its her year).

Broker:

A Korean film directed by Hirokazu Koe-eda (Japanese). This is a movie involving the selling of abandoned babies to adoptive parents. It sounds serious but really a dramedy. Some ways it's a road movie. Star is San Kang-ho (from the movie Parasite and he also won best actor at Cannes). Mike really liked it. Deals with the question of what makes up a family.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover:

Staring Emma Corrin. You know the story (though I must admit, I forgot it). Very well done period piece. It will stream on Netflix.

The US and the Holocaust:

Ken Burns documentary. This starts airing next week on PBS. We saw the first episode. Really good as all Ken Burns documentaries are. First episode gave the background of the time before the war and our policy on immigration. Very interesting, I plan to watch the series.

Russia (1985-1999) Traumazone:

Adam Curtis documentary of the fall of communist Russia, the rise of Putin and the Oligarch. Fascinating. Only saw 4 hours (8 hours total). It's interesting how I did not remember the stuff correctly. Fascinating. He works for BBC so should be able to see it when released.

The Wonder:

Period piece adapted from a novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue. This stars Florence Pugh who is a British nurse who goes to the Irish countryside to investigate a young girl who does not eat but survives by Manna from heaven.

Tori and Lokita:

A film by the Dardenne brothers. Story of 2 young African immigrants to Belgian. One a young woman (maybe teenager). The other is a young boy. The is an emotionally devastating movie. It was the last movie of the night and I could not take the sadness anymore. Important movie to watch but really tough.

If These Walls Could Sing:

Documentary by Mary McCartney about Abbey Road recording studio. Great music history. It will stream on Disney+

My name is Alfred Hitchcock:

Documentary by Mark Cousins (amazing guy, a savant, and a Telluride Tribute). If you like Alfred Hitchcock you would want to see this documentary. All of his 56 films are discussed. How the documentary is done is different and interesting.

One Fine Morning:

Film by Mia Hansen-Love. Story about single mom and her trials and tribulations. Main other story is her father is falling into dementia. Slice of life film. OK.

Armageddon Time:

A film by James Grey. Somewhat autobiographical. About a young boy from a middle class jewish family in Queens. Parents are Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway, grandfather is Anthony Hopkins. Story revolves around how he and his friend (a poor African American boy) have life treat them differently.

BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths:

A extremely long and self indulgent film by Alejandro Inarritu. This has definitely got mixed reviews. That being said, I liked parts of it. I thought the themes of country identity, success, trials of middle age were all good. The movie could have been great with about 1 hour of editing. If you are an Inarritu fan then you should see it.

Empire of Light:

New Sam Mendes film staring Olivia Colman and young actor Micheal Ward. This is where I disagree with many of the reviews. I thought this film was terrible. The story takes place in a movie theatre in the 1980s. Olivia Colman is a middle age woman with significant mental health issues and works there. A new young very attractive young man (Michael Ward) starts working there and they have an affair. Totally unbelievable (as an aside I also hated the Woody Allen film Manhattan which had the same issue but different genders). Also deals with racism is a very amateurish way. I found the movie bad. Many people at Telluride liked it. There is talk about Olivia Colman being nominated for an Oscar. Maybe she will but the film does not deserve it.

Bones and All:

This is a film by Luca Guandagnino adapted from a YA movie. It stars Taylor Russel, Timothee Chalamet, and Mark Rylance. I will start, that those attendees who are younger than 40 liked this movie. It hurts me that I do not share their opinion. This is about eaters. People born who are cannibals and have to eat people. It is also a love story between the young actors. In my opinion this movie failed at being a horror movie and as a romance. It was really kind of dumb. I like horror done well and I think there are some great horror movies. This is not one. It certainly is not scary or even gross. It could be that I have spent too many years at Comic-con and I have a jaded view. See it and we can discuss the worst piece of dialogue in a movie I have seen in years.

OTHER DOCUMENTARIES THAT I DID NOT SEE BUT GOT GOOD BUZZ

Icarus: The Aftermath:

The original documentary was about the Russian Olympic doping scandal, this was about the aftermath.

March on Rome:

Another Mark Cousins documentary about the rise of fascism and Mussolini.

A Compassionate Spy:

Documentary about the Manhattan Project and Ted Hall. The youngest member of the team who sold secrets to the Russians.

Retrograde:

Documentary about the last months of the US in Afghanistan and the withdrawal. Its hard to watch but everyone probably should.

Wildcat:

Breast war vet with depression and PTSD works as an animal sanctuary in Peru. It speaks to the healing power of animals. Likened to Born Free.