Hello NEON Community!
Today was busier than I had initially planned. When I wasn’t able to score a ticket to the new Mike Leigh film (HARD TRUTHS), I ended up booking tickets to two films that were a little further down on my list. In addition, I ran into a colleague in distribution who invited me to a party – so That meant that I had four films and 2 parties instead of three films and 1 party…but things can change on a dime (I’m not complaining).
My first film of the day was one I had been waiting for – ANORA, dir Sean Baker (USA) “This Palme d’Or winner follows a turbulent relationship between a New York–based exotic dancer and the son of a Russian oligarch.” We’ve played Baker’s work in the past at THE NEON – RED ROCKET and THE FLORIDA PROJECT…and this is certainly one to watch with a lot of early award season buzz. Despite the rambunctious and exuberant nature of the first hour, there’s always a feeling of sadness under the surface. Baker’s work is very sex positive and he doesn’t judge his protagonists, but you can feel that Anora really wants more than she’s got. VARIETY wrote that this film makes PRETTY WOMAN look like a Disney movie.” (Quite interestingly…it was. It was made by Touchstone Pictures – a subsidiary of Disney in the 1980’s.) This film has lots of laughs, lots of sex, and lots of heartache. It’s rough and subversive – but you’ll fall for Anora. Mikey Madison in the lead role is quite a discovery.
Next up was something I hadn’t necessarily planned to see – SKETCH, dir Seth Worley (USA) “When a young girl’s peculiar drawings come to life, leaving a wake of chaos and crayon dust, a grieving family has to band together to fight them off in this feature debut.” (taken from TIFF catalog) The screenplay for this film is great right of the bat – it feels honest and genuine. But I have to admit that I started to roll my eyes a bit when the monsters came to life…they just seemed a little too silly for the world that had been set up for us. But I stuck with it…and I’m glad I did. I had a true emotional response to this little gem, and the kids were fantastic.
The director introduced this film as “INSIDE OUT meets JURASSIC PARK,” and the curator from TIFF who introduced it said we haven’t seen a group of kids work together like this since THE GOONIES. I agree with both sentiments. (The Q&A had me in tears when one of the cast members was asked how he related to his character.). I’m not sure where this will land, but I can see audiences getting behind it.
My next film was a surprise ticket – K-POPS, dir Anderson .Paak (USA) “A father hopes to ride the coattails of his long-lost son’s rocketing stardom in this feature debut from eight-time Grammy winner Anderson .Paak.” This polished film had a very invested audience…and many of the people on screen who elicited cheers and screams from the audience were actors/performers I don’t know (I knew folks like Earth, Wind & Fire, but I didn’t know the K-pop icons). Though the film is really about a father connecting with the son he never knew, the setting of a “reality” talent/gameshow couldn’t be further from a setting that interests me. Though there was a lot of talent on display, I wasn’t fully invested in the story. And though know there’s an audience for this film (I was surrounded by people who adored it), the movie (with moments of slapstick and some animation and montage scenes that seemed like fluff and filler instead of motivated plot devices) wasn’t really for me.
Before I went to my last film of the day, I stopped by Searchlight’s NIGHBITCH PARTY – a reception celebrating the premiere of the new Amy Adams’ film NIGHTBITCH (which I will hopefully see tomorrow). I mingled with and met people who curate other cinemas and film festivals, and I chatted with one of the actors from the film. Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy and others were at the party and posed for a few photos with the little boys who played her child in the film. I only stayed for about an hour because I head to get to the film I’ve been most excited to see.
The last film of the day was my most anticipated – THE ROOM NEXT DOOR, dir Pedro Almodovar (Spain) “Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore star in this visually exquisite and intimate adaptation of What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez, Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language feature.” I’m anxious to see this film again. The story centers around two friends who are reunited after years apart…and how one of them asks the other to be “in the room next door” when she decides to take her own life instead of enduring another round of what seems like unhopeful Cancer treatment. This film is full of references – to art, literature, film and event Almodovar’s own work (I found references to TALK TO HER, WOMEN ON THE VERGE, and PAIN AND GLORY – and I’m sure I’ll see more with another viewing). Sadly, Pedro was not in attendance…but he had good reason – only hours before, he won the Golden Lion from the Venice Film Festival…so he was in Italy accepting that award. That said, Tilda, Julianne and John Turturro were there. Their Q&A was pretty wonderful. And even though a couple people asked seemingly inane questions, the ladies were able to steer their responses into philosophical and moving responses.
Almodovar films are known their production design, and Tilda said that most of the sets incorporate things from Pedro’s own apartment…the films really do seem like extensions of his worldview and personal surroundings.
Tilda corrected one audience member when being asked about euthanasia. She said, this film isn’t about euthanasia, it’s about someone taking their own life into their own hands and dying with dignity. It was a powerful night.
I had one more party to stop at…but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. It’s already 1:00, and I knew I wanted to get this posted before too late. I also just needed some quiet time after such a strong film.
Thanks for checking in! Tomorrow is Cate Blanchett Day!!
Jonathan
