Film Review: Wildlife

Paul Dano’s directorial debut Wildlife is an accomplished drama, driven in large part by Carey Mulligan’s central performance. 

When his father loses his job, teenager Joe’s happy family life starts to unravel. With his father out of work, Joe’s mother starts to worry about the family finances…

Set in Montana in 1960, Wildlife is a drama about family issues. The setting works well in provide context as to why the characters act in certain ways. The opening gambit seems to play into this, with Dano building a picture of the nuclear family through the eyes of teenage son Joe. This image, of course, is quickly dispelled. What comes next is a deconstruction of this perfect family. This occurs over the duration of the film, slowly building to the climax. A confrontation occurs, yet the pressure that is building does not get diffused. 

Most of the action is scene through the eyes of Joe. In fact there are few scenes in which he does not feature. Dano situates viewers with the teenager as his parents’ marriage crumbles. It is difficult not to sympathise with Joe as he is helpless in an antagonising situation. It seems that Joe will finally confront or explode, yet his reaction is muted. Dano keeps this in tone with the rest of the film. 

Dano’s directing is subtle; there is no showboating here. He uses the location well to convey the isolation felt by Joe. Music is also used effectively in Wildlife. Carey Mulligan delivers a compelling performance; she is excellent as the mother undergoing a crisis. Ed Oxenbould performs well as Joe, as does Jake Gyllenhaal in a supporting role. 

Paul Dano has delivered a solid drama with Wildlife. By no means groundbreaking, yet the film’s elements come together well. 

Wildlife is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2018.

BFI London Film Festival 2018 Launch

Today saw the BFI London Film Festival 2018 launch. Now in its 62nd year, the festival is screening 225 feature films, including 21 world premieres. Here are some highlights from the festival programme…

Headline Galas

The Opening and Closing Gala films had already been announced. The BFI London Film Festival 2018 opens with Steve McQueen’s hotly anticipated Widows, starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Colin Farrell. McQueen co-wrote the  screenplay with Gillian Flynn. McQueen’s last film, 12 Years A Slave, screened at the 2013 London Film Festival to great acclaim. Stan & Ollie, which features John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan as the legendary comedy duo, closes the festival. Other headline galas include Luca Guadagnino’s hotly anticipated Suspiria, Jason Reitman’s The Front Runner, and Marielle Heller’s Can You Ever Forgive Me?. A particular highlight is Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest. The Favourite is about Queen Anne’s court, and stars Olivia Colman, Rachel Weiss, and Emma Stone. 

Strand Galas and Special Presentations

There are several great looking films in the Strand Galas and Special Presentation programmes. They include Barry Jenkins’ follow up to Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, which is an adaption of James Baldwin’s novel. Others in this category include Lee Chang-dong’s thriller Burning, and Alfonso Caurón’s first film since Gravity, Roma, and Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote. Special Presentations include Michael Moore’s Donald Trump documentary Fahrenheit 11/9, Carol Morley’s noir thriller Out of Blue, and George Tillman Jr.’s The Hate U Give. 

Official Competition

There are some big names in this year’s Official Competition. Films include David Lowery’s (A Ghost Story) The Old Man & The Gun starring Robert Redford, László Nemes’ (Son of Saul) Sunset, and Ben Wheatley’s Happy New Year, Colin Burstead – Wheatley’s Free Fire closed the 2016 festival. Also competing is Karyn Kusama’s Destroyer, starring Nicole Kidman. Meanwhile the Documentary Competition features Putin’s Witness (Svideteli Putina’s film featuring footage of Putin from 1999-2000) and Julien Faraut’s John McEnroe: In The Realm Of Perfection. First Feature Competition includes Isabella Eklöf’s Holiday and Paul Dano’s Wildlife. 

Strands

As in previous years, the eleven programme strands are back. Love features Fred Rogers documentary Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, and the Sandra Hüller starring In The Aisles. Debate includes Oliver Assayas’ latest, Non-Fiction, starring Juliette Binoche and Guillaume Canet, and Catherine Corsini’s An Impossible Love. Laugh includes New Zealand comedy The Breaker Uppers, about two women running a relationship break-up service. Amongst the Dare programme is The Green Fog, which sees filmmakers Guy Maddin and Evan and Galen Johnson remake Vertigo using clips from other people’s films. Thrill includes Kim Nguyen’s The Hummingbird Project (starring Jesse Eisenberg and Alexander Skarsgård), while Cult features Nicolas Cage in Panos Cosmatos’ Mandy. 

Jessica Hynes directorial debut The Fight is part of the Journey strand, and Create includes Joan Jett documentary Bad Reputation. Richard Squires’ Doozy, which recreates the career of Hanna-Barbera’s villain actor Paul Lynde is one of the Experimenta films being screened. The Family strand features Linda Hambäck’s animated detective tale Gordon & Paddy. Finally, there are some great films being screened as part of the Treasures strand. These include Billy Wilder’s classic Some Like It Hot and Mae West in My Little Chickadee.

The BFI London Film Festival 2018 runs from 10th-21st October. The full programme can be viewed here.

Previews: Okja Trailer, The Mummy, More!

Plenty in this week’s preview of coming attractions, including the Okja trailer, The Mummy, War for the Planet of the Apes, and more…

Okja Trailer

Here is the latest Okja trailer. Bong Joon Ho’s film is having its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Okja is about a girl who must stop a corporation from capturing her gentle friend. The film stars Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Paul Dano. Okja launches globally on Netflix on 28th June 2017.

The Mummy Featurette

This featurette on The Mummy reveals a bit more about the characters and the world of the film. The film is intended to be the first in a series of a franchise rebooting the Universal Monsters. Russell Crowe plays Dr Jekyll (the Robert Louis Stevenson creation), with Sofia Boutella starring as the title character. With a cast headed by Tom Cruise, The Mummy hits UK screens on 9th June 2017.

War for the Planet of the Apes Trailer

Here is the latest trailer for War for the Planet of the Apes. The film completes a trilogy that began with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The series acts as a prequel to the 1968 classic Planet of the Apes. Starring Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, and Steve Zahn, War for the Planet of the Apes is out in UK cinemas on 14th July 2017.

Baby Driver Poster

This poster for Baby Driver gives an idea for the tone of the film. Directed by Edgar Wright, the film is about a young getaway driver who hopes to ditch his criminal life. The cast includes Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, and Lily James. Baby Driver is released in UK cinemas on 28th June 2017.

The Hitman’s Bodyguard Trailer

Here’s hoping the film is as hilarious as the premise. Ryan Reynolds stars as the bodyguard attempting to protect Samuel L. Jackson’s hitman in action comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard. With two likeable leads in an odd couple pairing, the film could be a winner. The Hitman’s Bodyguard is out in UK cinemas on 18th August 2017.

Wonder Woman TV Spot

Here is one of the new TV spots for the upcoming Wonder Woman. The first live-action film based on one of the most famous comic book characters, the film has been a long time coming. Directed by Patty Jenkins, and starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, and Robin Wright, Wonder Woman launches onto UK screens on 1st June 2017.

IT Clip

Hopefully this adaptation of Stephen King’s IT lives up to the novel’s reputation. A group of kids (the ‘Losers Club’) must face their biggest fears when children start going missing in the town of Derry. Starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, IT is set for release on 8th September 2017.

Film Review: Youth

Paolo Sorrentino’s reflections on ageing are beautifully captured in Youth. Performances in the film are great, and the visuals are often captivating.

A retired orchestra conductor is on holiday in a Swiss hotel with his best friend, a film director who is working on his latest script. Fred and Mick reflect upon their own lives, as well as those of the other hotel guests, during their stay…

Youth is a drama with comedy flecks. There is a narrative present, but this is loose enough to allow the film to allow writer and director Paolo Sorrentino to do what he aims to do. Namely, this is to have the older characters reflect on life and the passage of time.

The film concentrates on composer and conductor Fred, and he remains the focal point of Youth. However, Sorrentino does delve into the other characters connected with Fred, weaving different narratives as the film progresses. These strands offer a different stage of life or a different perspective on life, frequently focussing on ageing. Fred is approachable in his apathy. Sorrentino draws the main characters well. Relationships in Youth are definitely believable. There are some interesting segues into more abstract sequences which are a cause for humour. The film is ponderous rather than melancholic, even in more downbeat moments.

The setting of a luxury Swiss hotel works well in Youth. It allows for a variety of characters to flitter in and out of view. It also makes room for some amusing, anecdote-like sequences. Sorrentino moves the narrative on at a glacial pace, offering the audience plenty of time to ponder the dialogue and soak up the imagery.

The production design and sound design are great in Youth. Michael Caine delivers a convincing performance as Fred. He is matched by Harvey Keitel’s turn as Mick. Paul Dano is decent in a supporting role, and Rachel Weisz stands out as Lena. Her monologue on her relationship with her father is fantastically performed.

More of a dialogue than a monologue on life and ageing, Youth is a well directed and well performed piece of cinema.