Fall Film Favorites

Every Labor Day, I make the trek out to Colorado to attend the Telluride Film Festival with my Mom, inarguably one of the top film festivals in the world. We’ve been doing it for 27 years (ok, I missed the year of the “Bad Lieutenant” because I was working on “City Slickers”, but, really, that was no great loss according to Mom). Besides being a great way to spend time with one of my favorite women, I get a sneak peak at many of the films that will go on to be nominated and win an Academy Award come February.

This year was an exceptionally good year. I saw 12 movies and I liked them all except for one, an extremely well done French farce called “Lost in Paris”.  Farce just doesn’t tickle my funny bone although the rest of the audience thought it was hysterical so go figure. This proves my next point: film, like all art, is subjective so take my fall film favorite advice as what it is. My personal taste. Regardless, here you go:

Arrival

Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Remmer and Forrest Whitaker, this stunning film from director Denis Villeneuve (SICARIO) is a sci-fi film like no other. 12 alien space crafts land at strategic places across the globe, but are they here for good or evil? Completely lacking in the typical violence so often associated with “alien invasion” movies, this is a film about communication and words, about the nature of time, and about love and loss. As the linguist charged with finding a way to decipher the alien’s language, Adams is, as always, transcendent. This movie filled me with hope and broke my heart. It also has a great twist that many in the audience missed so pay attention. (11/11/16)

Sully

 In theaters now, this latest film from director Clint Eastwood tells a story that we all know. On January 15, 2009, Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberg made a forced water landing on the Hudson River after dual engine loss without harming a single passenger or crew member. This is a movie about the everyday man as hero (always one of my favorites) and no actor does a better job of conveying quiet dignity than Tom Hanks. Beautifully done from start to finish, the amazing thing to me about this film is that we know the outcome and yet Eastwood and Hanks have created a story so ripe with tension that I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Definitely worth seeing. (In theaters now)

Bleed for This

 Executive producer Martin Scorsese calls this “the greatest story never told”. Writer/Director Ben Younger (BOILER ROOM) gives us the comeback story of boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after breaking his neck in a car accident and being told that he may never walk again, goes on to win 3 more title championships. It’s a story of faith and perseverance and family. Miles Teller (WHIPLASH) does a great job as Vinny, but the real treat here is Aaron Eckhart, unrecognizable as Vinny’s trainer, Kevin Rooney. Shot on a shoe string, this movie is a viscerally moving experience that reminded me of the power that we all have when we believe in ourselves. (11/4/16)

La La Land

 Writer/Director Damien Chazelle (WHIPLASH) has brought the technicolor musical back to life and oh, is it fun. Starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as star crossed lovers Mia and Sebastian, the film covers the musical spectrum from it’s huge opening number set on the 105 freeway in LA during a traffic jam to it’s melancholy piano riff ending in an intimate jazz bar. Stone and Gosling’s chemistry lights up the screen, proving once again that this is a duo for the ages.  (12/2/16)

Manchester by the Sea

 Starring Casey Affleck (TO DIE FOR) in what will probably be an Oscar nominated performance, this new film from writer/director Kenneth Lonergan (YOU CAN COUNT ON ME) is a stunningly rendered film about loss and the limits of what one man can bear. Affleck plays LEE CHANDLER, barely functioning after some unseen tragedy, who is forced to return home to Manchester when his brother dies and leaves him guardian to his teenage nephew. It’s a story of survival and loss and facing demons that are often insurmountable no matter how we wish otherwise. A stunningly heartbreaking film. (11/18/16)

Other notable films to keep an eye on are:  MOONLIGHT (10/21/16), FRANTZ (9/29/16), and MAUDIE (No release date yet). Also, if you have HBO, BRIGHT LIGHTS is a truly unique documentary about Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher that is supposed to air sometime next year. Stay tuned.