The 50th annual American Film Institute Festival came to a resounding close last Thursday night with a moving tribute at The Chinese Theater for writer/director Aaron Sorkin and his new (and directorial debut) film, Molly’s Game.
AFI programming director, Jacqueline Lyanga, kicked off the tribute with a moving speech. “As Sorkin embarks on this next chapter of his career, his talents are timely for a tribute,” she said. “… as he brings his gift of crafting compelling narratives and complex characters to the story of female impresario Molly Bloom.” Martin Sheen and Jessica Chastain followed with their own tribute. Finally, Sorkin appeared, giving the audience a peek as to what makes him tick.
“All I ever wanted to do was be professional writer. Someone who was able to pay rent and bills from writing,” he said looking somewhat emotional.
His film, which stars Jessica Chastain as the titular character and Idris Elba as her lawyer, was just one of many films over the last two weeks that reminded me that filmmaking is truly an art form. And if you want to see art and films that make a statement and emotionally whisk you off to somewhere else, you really can’t find a better venue than the AFI.
It’s sometimes hard to remember this when basically the studios now only release “brands.” Disney has Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm and their own animation. Universal has its “Monsterverse,” which may have now died with the financial failure of Tom Cruise’s The Mummy. And of course, Warner Brothers has their Harry Potter and Lego worlds along with DC.
Below are some films that will probably make their way to Chicago in the next few months and if you’re looking to remind yourself how good movies can be, be sure to check these out.
Molly’s Game
Oscar® nominee Jessica Chastain stars in Oscar®-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s directorial debut, set in the glamorous world of high-stakes underground poker games. It’s not as good as Sorkin’s last outing, Steve Jobs, but it is very good. And like Jobs, it looks at a strained father/daughter relationship. In select theaters Christmas Day.
Roman J. Israel, Esq
I was a huge fan of Dan Gilroy’s Nightcrawler. He managed to capture the seedy underbelly of LA in a stylish-noir way that I hadn’t seen before. I think I saw the film like five times. Here, In ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ., Denzel Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney (who may be a savant) whose life is upended when his mentor, a civil rights icon, dies. When he is recruited to join a firm led by one of the legendary man’s former students — ambitious lawyer George Pierce (Colin Farrell) — and begins a friendship with a young champion of equal rights (Carmen Ejogo), a turbulent series of events ensue that will put the activism that has defined Roman’s career to the test. In theaters Thanksgiving Day.
The Endless
Here, is where you really find filmmakers who are sweating it out and working hard to deliver a powerful message. In this case, Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead deliver as both filmmakers and actors. The Endless begins ominously as two brothers receive a mysterious message from a cult they used to belong to and escaped from. When they decide to pay a visit, unsettling events and phenomena begin to occur, thus forcing them to question whether the cult’s supernatural beliefs might not be entirely made up – and if, now that they’ve returned, they’ll be allowed to leave again. The film has an X-Files and believe it or not, Supernatural (which is a good thing) feel to it and well is just, super, with an uplifting message that I won’t spoil here. In theaters and VOD March 2018.
I TONYA
My favorite film of the AFI. Margot Robbie delivers a funny and poignant portrayal of ice skater Tonya Harding and actually makes the former skater a sympathetic character. I, Tonya is about collective cultural abuse and how media-spun narratives can instantly blossom into infamous legacies. Where have we heard that before? It’s about the abuse of women at the hands of friends, family and the world; do they fit into the story we’ve concocted, and, if not, what do we do with them? The movie, stylishly directed by Craig Gillespie is empathetic, funny, and brilliantly acted. Allison Janney is a delight as Tonya’s chain-smoking, abusive mom and should earn a few supporting noms.
Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool
Based on Peter Turner’s memoir, the film follows the playful but passionate relationship between Turner (Jamie Bell) and the eccentric Academy Award (R)-winning actress Gloria Grahame (Annette Bening) in 1978 Liverpool. I was most familiar with Grahame as the sassy Violet from It’s a Wonderful Life. Other than that, I didn’t even know she won an Oscar®. What starts as a vibrant affair between a legendary femme fatale and her young lover quickly grows into something more meaningful, with Turner being the person Gloria turns to for comfort when she becomes ill with cancer. How could I avoid loving this film, especially with the talented Bening and a private concert from Elvis Costello (who contributed a song to the film) that followed after? In theaters December 15.
The Disaster Artist
Second favorite of the festival. There are few bad movies are quite as historically bad as Tommy Wiseau’s 2003 film The Room. The movie–written, directed, starring and produced by the eccentric Wiseau, on a reported $6 million budget–has earned cult status as one of the greatest worst movies ever made. This might be James Franco’s Citizen Kane. Starring Franco, his brother Dave, Seth Rogen and Allison Brie, the film follows how the critically maligned film, The Room by Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero came into being. In theaters December 8.
The Leisure Seeker
The wonderful little film stars two industry giants – Oscar® winner Helen Mirren and two-time Golden Globe® winner Donald Sutherland as a runaway couple going on an unforgettable journey in the faithful old RV they call The Leisure Seeker. As they travel from Boston to The Ernest Hemingway Home in Key West, they recapture their passion for life and their love for each other on a road trip that provides revelation and surprise right up to the very end. And I must say the end did make me tear up. In theaters January 19, 2018.
Mudbound
Set in the rural American South during World War II, Dee Rees’ Mudbound is an epic story of two families pitted against one another by a ruthless social hierarchy, yet bound together by the shared farmland of the Mississippi Delta. It’s well-acted, well-written and well-directed as we watch the war upend both families’ plans as their returning loved ones, Jamie McAllan and Ronsel Jackson, forge a fast but uneasy friendship that challenges the brutal realities of the Jim Crow South in which they live. In theaters and on Netflix November 17.
There were 137 films in total at the AFI, which means hundreds of voices all dying to be heard. Give them a chance if you have the opportunity. It will make you remember that films are an art and something to be treasured. And we’re lucky to have film festivals like the AFI.
