From missing children to toppled regimes to jittery driver’s ed, this year’s 46th New York Film Festival pulled out the big guns, in its very “New York” way, blending American and foreign, mainstream and indie into one tasty smorgasboard.
But let’s face it, the main dish steals the show when the likes of a beaming Angelina Jolie and beau Brad Pitt walk the red carpet to join the festivities–with Angie making her first public outing since birthing the twins. Go gurl!
While cameras flashed off the hook for Mlle Jolie–who headlines Clint Eastwood‘s buzz drama the Changeling–NYFF screenings, premieres and events have also continued to usher in the riveting talents of: Benicio Del Toro, Michelle Williams, Mickey Rourke, Amy Ryan, Marisa Tomei, Steven Soderbergh, to name a few.
Hollywood.com’s been workin’ it at the ongoing Fest which promises, again, to deliver a sneak peek at the hottest upcoming fall releases and Oscar hopefuls. Come, partake–here are a few standouts that caught our eye:
Landing in Theaters: October 31
Who’s in It: Angelina Jolie, Amy Ryan, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan
Who Directed It: Clint Eastwood
What’s It about: Los Angeles,1928: A true story about a single mother, telephone operator (Angelina Jolie), who descends into a nightmare, when her son vanishes from their suburban home. An exhaustive, fruitless search ensues, entangling her in a swirl of LAPD corruption, when officials insist on passing-off another boy as her still M.I.A. son.
What You’ll Love: Jolie‘s quiet, simmering anger that builds into a crescendo over the police corruption that she confronts is matched by Eastwood‘s slow, confident build in presenting a period-specific, provocative story.
Clint Eastwood Says: “I didn’t know too much about the [kidnapping] incident and I was surprised that I hadn’t heard about it because it was such an unusual event in L.A., which historically has had a lot of crazy situations; but this one–I didn’t know anything until I read the script.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ‘CHANGELING’ MOVIE STILLS
Photo(s) © 2008- Universal Pictures- All Rights Reserved
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Landing in Theaters: December 19
Who’s in It: Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Judah Friedlander
Who Directed It: Darren Aronofsky
What’s It About: When a brush with mortality relegates Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Rourke)–a pro-wrestler past his prime–to working in a supermarket, he tries to settle down and reconnect with his daughter (Wood) and stripper girlfriend (Tomei), but the draw of roaring crowds and a chance to rematch his nemesis become far too tempting.
What You’ll Love: With chest length hair, a chiseled body and a pugilist’s face, Mickey Rourke goes above and beyond the call of duty, taking his role as ‘The Ram’ to a whole new level of sublime, in Pi director’s Darren Aronofsky‘s latest. Back and better than ever, Rourke is clearly not down for the count; so get over it!
Darren Aronofsky Says: “The whole attitude [for filming] was to try and stick us in the most real environments as possible. The dancers were real. The wrestling promotions were with real fans, and with all other real wrestlers. Everyone Mickey wrestled were real wrestlers, there were no stunt men. It was an attempt to create as much reality as possible.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE ‘THE WRESTLER’ MOVIE STILLS
KEEP READING: Wendy and Lucy
Photo(s) © 2008- Fox Searchlight Pictures- All Rights Reserved
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Landing in Theaters: December 12
Who’s in It: Michelle Williams, Walter Dalton, Larry Fessenden
Who Directed It: Kelly Reichardt
What’s it about: Wendy (Michelle Williams) finds that her life is derailed en route to a potentially lucrative summer job. Her car breaks down, her dog is taken to the pound and her financial situation falls completely apart.
What You’ll Love: Michelle Williams, always subverting the reaction you think she’ll have (see Brokeback Mountain as a start), now takes this layered role as a dog’s BFF to piercing heights, while moving the intense action along the way in Reichardt‘s crisp, minimalist work.
Kelly Reichardt Says: “She [Michelle Williams] had seen Old Joy and was looking to do something outside of Los Angeles or New York … She was very game even though she wasn’t allowed to wash her hair for 20 days.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ‘WENDY AND LUCY’ MOVIE STILLS
KEEP READING: Che
Photo(s) by Oscilloscope Pictures- © 2008- All Rights Reserved
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Lands in Theaters: December – TBA Exact Date
Who’s in It: Benicio Del Toro, Demian Bichir, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Victor Rasuk
Who Directed It: Steven Soderbergh
What’s It About: Che Guevara (Del Toro) and a band of Cuban exiles (led by Fidel Castro) reach the Cuban shore from Mexico in 1956. Within two years they mobilize popular support and an army, and toppled the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
What You’ll Love: Benicio Del Toro gently embodies an asthmatic Che, wheezing his way, valiantly, through victory and alternately defeat–adding a grounding touch to this unapologetically chaotic and fiery tale, that blossoms over the course of four-plus hours by l’enfant terrible, Soderbergh.
Steven Soderbergh Says: “It’s a lot to ask of someone to throw away an entire day [watching a 4-plus hour movie], but I guess my only argument is that cinematically we’re making a demand on the audience that’s very similar to the demands that Che made on the people around him. [Laughs] It’s a big commitment, and it requires a certain kind of personality to want to experience it like that.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE ‘CHE’ MOVIE STILLS
Photo(s) © 2008- IFC Films- All Rights Reserved
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Landing in Theaters: October 10
Who’s in It: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Samuel Roukin
Who Directed It: Mike Leigh
What’s It About: Poppy (Hawkins), a free-spirited school teacher, brings an infectious laugh and an unsinkable sense of optimism to every situation she encounters. However, when she signs up for driving lessons with Scott (Marsan), her polar opposite–a fuming, uptight cynic–tension builds as their lessons progress. Simultaneously, Poppy encounters other life challenges, that beg her to question: “is the glass half-full, or half-empty”?
What You’ll Love: The combination of Sally Hawkins‘s accessible, electric demeanor, Mike Leigh‘s direction and the spot-on character studies each of the ensemble display has us waning to jump into Poppy’s universe. Oh, and look out for the dramatic flamenco teacher–genius…Ole!
Sally Hawkins Says: “If I [only] knew what was going on in Mike Leigh’s head? I mean, so much! He’s incredibly inspiring to be around because he’s so engaged, and so brilliant and bright, and he is a master filmmaker; and to witness that is a real honor. I am so lucky.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE ‘HAPPY-GO-LUCKY’ MOVIE STILLS
KEEP READING: Hunger
Photo(s) © 2008- Miramax Films- All Rights Reserved
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Landing in Theaters: To Be Determined!
Who’s in It: Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham
Who Directed It: Steve McQueen
What’s It About: Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, 1981. The infamous H-Blocks is where Irish republican prisoners are on the Blanket and No-Wash protest. It is a living hell for both prisoner and prison officer as the H-Block leader, Bobby Sands, pursues various tactics to help his fellow republicans re-establish their political status. In order to create real change, Bobby leads a ‘Hunger Strike’ to protest for special category status for republican prisoners.
What You’ll Love: If you can deal with INTENSE, sadistic violence–all the while knowing it’s based on a true story–then be our guest! This hard-hitting, political, historical, biopic is both amazingly eye-opening and excruciating to watch, at once.
Steve McQueen Says: “The idea of someone who stopped eating [Bobby Sands]–the whole oral situation of the mouth–and not intaking food to get louder, resonated with me a bit.”
CLICK HERE TO SEE ‘HUNGER’ MOVIE STILLS
Photo(s) © 2008- IFC Films- All Rights Reserved
