September is the beginning of the Fall film season – the season for films competing for awards. For art film fans, 2018 has just begun. What awaits them?
Music and sports
In the past few days, the name Lady Gaga suddenly became hot again, after the movie A Star is Born (A star is born) limited premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The film tells the love story of a heavy drinker and a novice singer. Many people used to be suspicious when Lady Gaga turned to film, especially in combination with an actor who had practiced directing like Bradley Cooper. However, initial reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score. Gaga’s fans have even more reason to wait when the movie is released on October 5.
Every actor needs a breakthrough role in his career. With “Mr. Robot” Rami Malek, probably the role of Queen’s rock legend Freddie Mercury, in Bohemian Rhapsody, premiered on October 24. The title of the film is taken from a famous song by this group. The film was directed “mostly” by Bryan Singer, best known for The Usual Suspects (Invisible Suspect, 1994) and two movies X-men nearest (mutant) nearest. He left the crew near the end of filming, possibly due to allegations of sexual abuse, and was replaced by Dexter Fletcher. Even so, Malek’s impressive visuals, Queen’s great soundtracks, and a script from three-time Oscar-nominated screenwriter Anthony McCarten are still enough to make Bohemian Rhapsody reached the top of the list of Fall movies.
Image of Queen’s leader Freddie Mercury
When was the last time a sports-themed movie received an Oscar nomination? If you’ve forgotten, it’s Creed (Legendary Fighter, 2015), with a Supporting Actor nomination for Sylvester Stallone. This year, the hereditary story of the Rocky puncher returns with Creed II on 11/21. You can easily guess the content: The fight between Rocky’s student Creed, and the son of rival Ivan Drago, Viktor Drago. This is a plot that probably not many people care about, unless in the series about Rocky – an American pop culture icon.
Gathering “super actors”
It seems that the fad from the superhero genre has spread to art films. Autumn this year witnessed a series of stars standing shoulder to shoulder with each other. Veteran actor Robert Redford gathered Casey Affleck, Elisabeth Moss, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover … into a movie full of crime right from the title. The Old Man & The Gun (The Old Man and the Gun), in theaters September 28. The film is based on the true story of Forrest Tucker, who escaped from prison and committed a daring robbery at the age of… 70.
Meanwhile, another “old man” is Jeff Bridge will combine with the young stars Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm in the thriller. Bad Times at the El Royale (Minute of terror in the El Royale), landed on October 12. The film tells the story of the wits of 6 mysterious people who appear at a hotel on the border of California and Nevada. The plot is easily reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino movies. Similar, but about women, is Widowns (Action Widow), released on November 6. Directed by Steve McQueen, who won the Best Picture Oscar with 12 Years a Slave (12 Years A Slave, 2013), will direct four stars Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki and Cynthia Erivo as they twist fate after a man’s death.
Speaking of wits, it is impossible not to mention the battle between the queens in Mary Queen of Scots (Queen of Scotland Mary), taking place on December 7. The two beauties who received the same Oscar nomination for the female lead last year, Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie, became rivals in the fierce battle of kings in the 16th century. Perhaps, this battle will spread to the awards stages this year. . Screenplay by screenwriter Beau Willimon of the best political TV series House of Cards (Political waves) in charge. Just a few bullet points like that are enough to turn Mary Queen of Scots into the center of waiting.
The Queen’s Confrontation
Competition director
This movie race is not attractive without directors with unique cinematic personalities. This year, abandoning the music theme that has made a name like Whiplash (Drummer, 2014) and La La Land (Dream Fools, 2016), young director Damien Chazelle tries his hand at a heavy biography with First Man (First Person), in theaters October 12. The film, starring star Ryan Golsing, tells about Neil Armstrong’s journey to the moon in 1969. This is also Golsing’s first journey to find a golden statue, after twice missing the beat with Half Nelson (Half of Nelson, 2006) and La La Land.
First man and first time winning for Ryan Gosling?
Another name not to be missed is Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón. After achieving glory with the film that won 7 Oscars Gravity (The War in Zero Gravity, 2013), for unknown reasons, Cuarón did not make another film for five years. This year, he returned to the black and white film Rome (Childhood), tells about his childhood in Mexico. The film made a strong impression when it won the top prize of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, one of the three most important film festivals in the world. Many people expressed regret when this work withdrew from the Cannes Film Festival in the 5th win, to protest against Netflix’s law banning movies. If not, Rome could have done something in France. The movie will hit theaters on December 14.
Directors of color are also ready to speak out at the Oscars. Director Barry Jenkins of Moonlight (Moonlight, 2018) returns to If Beale Street Could Talk (If Beale Street could talk), premieres November 30. The film tells the story of a woman of color trying to whitewash her husband. With BlacKkKlansman (2018) by veteran director Spike Lee, who just won the Grand Prize at Cannes, this will be a remarkable army on the subject of racism.
Have you smelled Oscar?
Finally, the female voice. The most powerful is the combination of female director Karyn Kusama and star Nicole Kidman in Destroyer (Terminator), airs on Christmas Day. You will no longer recognize the gorgeous “queen” Kidman, when she has to transform into a shabby and gritty underground policewoman. It is clear that the role of the shoemaker is for Kidman to search for the second Oscar in his career. You also won’t recognize the funny fat lady Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Do you ever forget me), when it hits theaters on October 19. A biopic about female crime writer Lee Israel, who pretended to be a fraud in Hollywood in the 90s. Of course, the film will be directed by a female director, Marielle Heller, famous for her work. The Diary of a Teenage Girl (Teenage Diary, 2015), directing.
