So's Reel Thoughts: Denis Villeneuve

Showing posts with label Denis Villeneuve. Show all posts

Another year, another list. But unlike most years, 2016 was one for the books and I truly thought my top 10 films of 2016 should encompass the realistic world in which we live. So the films that I picked are not only made by visionaries but are ones that show the beauty of humanity and those that remind us the most important aspects of life. Whether they are stories of people with vastly different background, opinions and experiences, we get a sneak peek into their world and into their shoes. And above all, I found comfort in other people's stories as they took me on an exhilarating ride from the heavens to hell, made me face my fears and even made me laugh to bring light to this crazy place called life. So here we go!

Top 10

American Honey (Dir. Andrea Arnold)

Andrea Arnold is one of my favorite filmmakers because her films portray life in all its beautiful chaos accompanied by raw intimacy and electrifying performances. In American Honey, not only does it focus on a coming-of-age story of a free-spirited woman trying to achieve her own “American Dream” but it also shows a daring portrait of the socioeconomic landscape of America while focusing on the most underrepresented citizens. American Honey’s gritty reflection of America is uncompromising, relevant and a hopeful place as ever. // Full Review

Green Room (Dir. Jeremy Saulnier)

I can’t think of another film to come out in 2016 that reflects America’s political division amongst its citizens more accurately than in Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room. At the end of the day whether one is a punk rocker or a neo-nazi, Saulnier presents the vicious cycle of vengeance like a master covering all sides of the spectrum whether his characters are on the right or wrong side of the situation. Thinking that this is Anton Yelchin’s last film, the film shares an important lesson of fighting for what you believe in at all cost. Green Room is grounded in realism and it is powerful in its execution and style that makes it an unforgettable and scathing ride. // Film Review

Spa Night (Dir. Andrew Ahn)

Andrew Ahn perfectly captures a specific corner of the Korean-American experience set in Koreatown, Los Angeles, with his directorial debut, Spa Night. Watching Spa Night as a Korean-American, the film hit too close to home because my problems never felt more validated until I saw it on the big screen. I saw myself in David played by Joe Seo who delivers a powerfully restrained performance, who feels the burden of exploring oneself while trying to abide to familial obligations. Ahn’s acute direction is finely tuned and hones on the specificity of the never before seen culture and stories of second-gen Asian Americans and that we desperately so need. // Trailer

The Fits (Dir. Anna Rose Holmer)

Anne Rose Holmer’s stellar debut film, The Fits, is an emotionally visceral, visually stunning and haunting meditation on the anxieties of adolescence. Newcomer Royalty Hightower is mesmerizing to watch, transforming Toni from tomboy to dancer, all while battling with her own complexities with identity and gender through assimilation. With Holmer’s singular vision, DP Paul Yee’s dreamy shots, and the intoxicating soundtrack, The Fits is an ethereal and spellbinding experience that viewers deserve and rarely see in cinema today. // Trailer

The Nice Guys (Dir. Shane Black)

If anyone could make a thrilling and super-charged buddy cop comedy, it’s Lethal Weapon’s Shane Black with The Nice Guys. You have never seen either Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe quite like this who deliver terrific performances especially Gosling who makes a hilarious turn as an inept alcoholic detective. With hysterical one-line zingers, slapstick comedy and the terrific chemistry between Gosling, Crowe and newcomer, Angourie Rice, The Nice Guys is a sidesplittingly hilarious and refreshing neo-noir film you cannot miss!

The Wailing (Dir. Na Hong-jin)

There has been many groundbreaking Korean films to come out this year from Train to Busan to The Handmaiden but there has been one film that leaves the rest in the dust and that’s Na Hong-Jin's The Wailing. Na toys with our mind and turns the dial to a feverish 1000% in this occult murder mystery which expertly blends various horror genres including the supernatural, zombies, and possessions to say the least. The Wailing doesn't present a clear cut answer and it's not suppose to. It's the hellish descent into madness with a philosophical undertone that truly makes this film, one that will terrorize you many nights to come. // Favorites

Moonlight (Dir. Barry Jenkins)

Once every few years, we get a film that is overwhelmingly stunning in its singular vision and originality that we wonder what did we ever do to receive such a gift? Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight is that film and it’s easily one of the best films of the decade. The film’s poetic portrait tackles themes of identity, toxic masculinity, and isolation, which bursts with sensitivity and shows blackness in all its painstaking beauty. It’s exploration of the complexities of black homosexuality within the community and family has never quite been shown on screen till now and that’s something to laud about. // Trailer

The Invitation (Dir. Karyn Kusama)

You already know a dinner party with your ex and her new lover isn’t going to go well. Karyn Kusama’s The Invitation amps up this “dinner party from hell” story with themes of grief and isolation to deliver a chilling story that you won’t forget. She crafts a suffocatingly tense psychological thriller with razor-sharp precision and artistry. The Invitation is her most masterful and finest work yet. // Full Review

Toni Erdmann (Dir. Maren Ade)

There has never been a film like Toni Erdmann. It’s hard to begin to explain the brilliance of the film because the whole film is an accumulation of “You Just Had To Be There” moments. Maren Ade’s father-daughter story provides some of the most iconic scenes in recent cinema that will have you simultaneously tearing up from ROFLing till you choke and sobbing your heart out. It’s a film that is as outrageously silly as it is profoundly moving and makes us question the important aspects of life like human connection and humor. It's a rollercoaster of a film that you must experience to understand why Toni Erdmann is one of the greatest films of 2016.

Arrival (Dir. Denis Villeneuve)

Based on the 1998 short story, "Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang, Denis Villeneuve does the impossible and creates the most artistically intelligent Hollywood film. Accompanied by a booming score by Johan Johannson, Villeneuve crafts this ultra smart story that dares to ask big questions about life and actually answers them with nuance and meticulousness. Profoundly intimate and epic, Arrival is what Interstellar tried to be and failed. It’s hard to believe that a film like this was even made, but it’s one that came at a time to remind us that we need to stand united now more than ever, with empathy and understanding, no matter how alien and fearful our world may be.

Runner-ups:

The Handmaiden
Moana
One More Time with Feeling

La La Land

Honorable Mentions:
Hunt for Wilderpeople
Evolution
Train to Busan
Rogue One
Embrace of the Serpent
Zootopia
The Junglebook
Star Trek Beyond
10 Cloverfield Lane
The Witch

The Blade Runner 2049 teaser is truly a tease. Capping at a minute and a half, we see that Harrison Ford is continuing his role of Rick Deckard and Ryan Gosling as Detective K who needs Deckard's help to unearth a long-buried secret. I'm glad that one of the original writers, Hampton Fancher, is returning to write this sequel. So lower your volumes a bit and watch me scream my head off every five seconds. This is going to be a good one!

Like most people, I was skeptical about Blade Runner getting a reboot, sequel, or whatever Hollywood is always concocting up to ruin all our favorite original films. But once I heard Denis Villeneuve's name attached to the project, my disdain quickly turned into elation because that is one man that can do no wrong! Villeneuve has consistently released some of the most groundbreaking and thought-provoking films in the last decade to shows that he can play with the big dogs in Hollywood on his own terms. And that's not something to fuck with.

Year: 2015

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Writer: Taylor Sheridan

Cinematographer: Roger Deakins

Cast: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Daniel Kaluuya, Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber

Country of Origin: USA

Rating: R

Time: 121 min.

As you all know, my love for Denis Villeneuve is boundless! I always have total faith with every one of his films that my mind will be totally obliterated after its viewing. Villeneuve's latest film, Sicario follows the story of an idealistic FBI agent, Kate, who is enlisted in a government task force to aid them in the raging drug war that is happening at the border of Mexico and the U.S. With a strong cast consisting of Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Daniel Kaluuya, Jon Bernthal and others, all play a powerful role in this complex and hazy game of the drug war that's a lot bigger than they initially thought.

Emily Blunt gives a nuanced performance that will surely get her an Oscar nod. The suffocating atmosphere permeates at a steady pace throughout the film to truly show the increasingly suffocating and helpless reality we are all living it. It's ruthless in content, immaculate in form, and sweltering bleakness in atmosphere. The music by Jôhann Jôhannson's adds another level of moody sinisterism that's just on the verge of devouring you.

I did my Director Series of Denis Villeneuve a while back where I rank his films from best to the worst! (If that's even possible!) I came out of the theater just stunned at what I had just experienced. It wasn't what I had expected but immediately knew that after the numbness of my body faded and the full process of this film was felt that Sicario would be considered one of the best films of this year, if not the decade.

French Canadian auteur Denis Villeneuve made his U.S. debut with Prisoners (see review) and then Enemy (see teaser) back to back in 2013! And now, he is coming out with Sicario starring Emily Blunt as Kate, a FBI agent who is enlisted by an elite government task force office to assist in the escalating war against drugs. The film premiere at this year's Cannes Film Festival where it was competing for the Palme d'Or. Villeneuve revealed that screenwriter Taylor Sheridan had been asked to change the gender of the lead role which is played by Blunt. Good thing they didn't because especially with a female in the forefront, it's so interesting to see a character as complex as Kate to give more texture and layers to a story as dense as this one.

Starring alongside Blunt is Hollywood powerhouses Benicio Del Toro and Josh Brolin. The trailer doesn't give much away but you can bet that it's going to put Blunt in the hot seat that will really propel her to give one of her best performances yet. I already hear oscar noms ringing! Cinematography is done by Roger Deakins who Villeneuve has collaborated with before in Prisoners so you already know it's going to look gorgeous! Ya'll know I have a soft spot for Villeneuve as I've done one of my Director Series on him where I list in order my favorite to least favorite film of his! Definitely watch it before this film comes out so you can be well versed in his filmography! Sicario comes out September 18th!

I love it when the film's marketing team knows exactly how to hype up the film even more by releasing a poster that is visually captivating and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I have compiled 30 poster, some from the same films, that I feel are some of the best posters of this year due to their imaginative artwork that translates the film's premise with impressive visual style. Whether it's the staged and cool toned photography in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, the imaginative and detailed design of Willow Creek, or even the seductive minimalism of the Under the Skin poster, this year has been another impressive year for movie posters! Take a gander and tell me which poster is your favorite, if you can even pick one (cause I can't)!

- Film Review for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay (Part I) -

Film Review of Nightcrawler // More Posters

- Film Review for Under the Skin -

(I love it how for The Interview, the Korean actually translate to "Don't believe these obnoxious American fools!")

- Film Review for Birdman -

- Film Review for The Grand Budapest Hotel -

- Film Review for Tusk -

Film Review for I // Film Review for II / More Posters

- Film Revie w for Palo Alto -

- Film Review for Blue Ruin -

- See more Posters Here -

Love It / Hate It is a new segment I'm doing on every Wednesday in the month of Sept where Kristen Sales of Sales on Film and I discuss films we hate or love! And this week is Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Terrence Howard, Maria Bello, Paul Dano, and Melissa Leo.

I LOVED IT / KRISTEN HATED IT.

(such strong words... maybe just disliked!)

Next Episode: The Spectacular Now (2013)

Follow Kristen Sales:

http://salesonfilm.tumblr.com // @SalesonFilm

2013 was a MASSIVE year in film. We had powerhouse films like 12 Years a Slave, Gravity, Wolf on Wall Street and even little indies like Her and Frances Ha that took the film scene to other lengths and heights of thoughtful and innovative filmmaking. That considered, it's going to be a strenuous task for 2014 to beat its predecessor. But like any younger sibling, it's not about trying to step out of their big sibling's shadow but highlighting the differences and uniqueness of the individual.

While there might not be another 12 Years a Slave, those films have created more opportunities and heightened the standard of films that now Hollywood is FINALLY (they've been) realizing with great storytelling, direction, and performances, that a film can succeed artistically and commercially. Just a few weeks ago, the open letter Martin Scorsese wrote to his daughter regarding the future of filmmaking and it quite possibly the most optimistic, heartwarming, and reassuring message that he could tell not only his daughter but this generation of struggling filmmakers and cinephiles alike. Scorsese's words has and will resonant throughout years to come which also makes me incredibly excited for 2014. So, without further adieu, here are the most anticipated films of this year!

Boyhood

Director: Richard Linklater

Plot: It tells a story of a boy name Mason (Ellar Coltrane) as he grows from a six-year-old to a college freshmen. Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette star as the boy's parents, while Linklater's daughter Lorelei plays Mason's sister.

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Ellar Coltrane, Lorelei Linklater,

Why I'm Excited: Boyhood is Richard Linklater's most ambitious twelve year project that started back in 2002. Linklater would shoot one sequence of the film every year for the remaining years and I'm sure the finished project would be a timeless yet majestic look at the dynamics of time and family. Definitely one film that will challenge the test of time through the medium of cinema.

Release Date: TBA

Nymphomaniac: Volume I

Director: Lars von Trier

Plot: A self-diagnosed nymphomaniac recounts her erotic experiences to the man who saved her after a beating.

Cast: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Stacy Martin, Shia LaBeouf, Jamie Bell

Why I'm Excited: Lars von Trier is one of the few filmmakers that can really puncture my soul (others, PTA & Denis Villeneuve) with his hard-hitting, raw, and brutal stories that take the extreme to another level. He has been slowly churning the hype factor little by little throughout the past months and finally, it is revealed that this epic film is going to be cut into two films! And who doesn't want to see Shia and Charlotte get down and little dirty? We all win here guys.

Release Date: March 21, 2014

Other Stuffz: Trailer // Poster

The Raid 2

Director: Gareth Evans

Plot: Only a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.

Cast: Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Yayan Ruhian, Donny Alamsyah

Why I'm Excited: Even before the Sundance raves made their uproar, I've been squealing at the thought of being once again bombarded and almost suffocated by the out of this world martial arts by Rama (Iko Uwais). And now that the Sundance reviews are in, I am literally choking on my saliva as we speak. It's petrifying enough to hear that Raid 2 is more action packed than its predecessor but now I hear that it is possibly the best action film ever made. Heart-attack much?

Release Date: March 28, 2014

Other Stuffz: Trailer // The Raid: Redemption Review

Godzilla

Director: Gareth Edwards

Plot: A giant radioactive monster called Godzilla appears to wreak destruction on mankind.

Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston

Why I'm Excited: If you saw the trailer you would agree with me. The opening scene of the trailer alone where the soldiers jump out of the helicopter and into the swirling vortex of doom that is Manhattan(?) is enough to make any skeptic into an instant fan. Edward has tackled monsters before with his previous indie film "Monsters." But it is quite incredibly to see him jump into this gigantic scale production that includes big up-comers like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, and DUH, Bryan Cranston! Edwards has worked in the special effects realm before so it will be no surprise that the graphics are simply going to be knit-tightly realistic and mind-blowing.

Release Date: March 16, 2014

Other Stuffz: Trailer

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Matt Reeves

Plot: Survivors of the simian plague trigger an all-out war between humanity and Caesar's growing forces.

Cast: Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Andy Serkis

Why I'm Excited: The original 1968 Planet of the Apes starring Charlton Heston is one of my favorite films of all time (see review). Hence why, I was sad to hear that there would be a remake starring none other than James Franco called Rise of the Planet of the Apes. (How many title variations are they going to have?) To my surprise, it was very well done due to the excellent facial expression acting provided by Andy Serkis, the real mastermind behind the success to this film as well as The Lord of the Rings series. Serkis's performance alone created enough tension without any verbal communication that reminded me why cinema reigns supreme when the story is purely told through visuals. And seeing the trailer for Dawn of the Planet of Apes, I am ecstatic to see Caesar and his army in action! They're bigger, smarter, and badder than the first time around so let's do the Tim Burton remake some justice and make this a good one yeah?

Release Date: July 11, 2014

Other Stuffz: Trailer

Gone Girl

Director: David Fincher

Plot: A woman mysteriously disappears on the day of her wedding anniversary. Based on the novel, "Gone Girl."

Cast: Rosemund Pike, Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris

Why I'm Excited: While Gillian Flynn's popularity was quickly inflating due to Gone Girl, I was still reading her second book, Dark Places which was my first encounter with her work. And then, after quickly learning that she was once a writer for my bible, Entertainment Weekly, I swiped Gone Girl at the local B&N and was hooked! Although my distain for Ben Affleck is unwavering, I will accept him to play the asshole that is Nick in this particularly dark tale of marriage. And who better to play the sinister yet angelic missing girl than Rosemund Pike, whose charming looks could equally serenade and deceive our souls. What I am even more excited by is not that Fincher will be directing this adaptation but Flynn is writing the screenplay and willing to slaughter (her own words) her original story ending to write a completely a different and mind-blowing ending.

Release Date: October 3, 2014

Other Stuffz: BUY THE BOOK

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Director: Wes Anderson

Plot: The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who become his most trusted friend.
Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Tony Revolori, Saoirse Ronan

Why I'm Excited: After the Royal Tenenbaums, I often thought Anderson's work followed his classic and indistinguishable filmic traits too often that his work became lackluster by maintaining and relying on the same quirkiness that initially helped him succeed. But I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it right? WRONG. Maybe. I don't know! Although, I hope he strives to continually challenge cinema in his own unique way, I just wanted something different than the usual. But with this new film that just opened Berlin International Film Festival, I'm sure it's stacked stacked stacked cast is sure enough to attract even the most non-Wes Anderson fans into those red seats. And of course, can't wait to see Tony Revolori in action and see Swinton play a granny with impeccable style.

Release Date: March 7, 2014

Other Stuffz: Trailer // Cast Breakdown

Inherent Vice

Director: PTA!!!

Plot: In Los Angeles in 1970, drug-fueled detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend.

Cast: Jena Malone, Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin, Reece Witherspoon

Why I'm Excited: This is Paul Thomas Anderson we're talkning about here. His work is as vast and distinct as Daniel Day-Lewis's performances. No matter how many years passes by, his work is significantly more defined and poignant than the one before. And it's no wonder why he is one of the most prominent voices in American cinema today. We can't talk about American cinema without talking about the Film School Graduate generation like Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg that paved the way for later kids like Paul Thomas Anderson to succeed. Doesn't matter what project he's working on, if it has PTA's name attached to it, I'm THERE. (Also hello, Joaquin and Jena is in this one!)

Release Date: TBA

The Double

Director: Richard Ayoade

Plot: A comedy centered on a man who is driven insane by the appearance of his doppleganger.

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Jesse Eisenberg, Sally Hawkins

Why I'm Excited: If you saw Ayoade's first film Submarine (see review) you would eternally understand my love for this man. He's a first time director but it is undeniably the clarity and promise he has in his voice as a filmmaker. Even though Submarine was about a 15-year old boy going through the perils of boyhood and family life, I couldn't help but resonant with his dilemmas. To see such a refined, innovative, and clear coming-of-age story come to life, I am fully an Ayoade fan girl now. Bring it on Eisenberg!

Release Date: May 9, 2014

Other Stuffz: Trailer

Only Lovers Left Alive

Director: Jim Jarmusch

Plot: A story centered on two vampires who have been in love for centuries.

Cast: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin,

Why I'm Excited: I can say that Jim Jarmusch is an auteur in all sense of the word. The first film I saw of his The Limits of Control (see review) was one of the most extreme cinema experiences as it tested my patience like it has never been tested before. He has a certain style that cannot be replicated because his films takes long pensive strides along our brain cells and forces us to reflect on our values as human beings. Not everyone can do that! And enough promo materials from the posters to clips to trailers have been slowly making waves on the interwebs that I am certified bloody hungry for this film to be released! We all just want to see Hiddleston naked right? Just me? *Runs to the corner.

Release Date: April 11, 2014

Other Stuffz: Trailer // Poster // Clips

Other Films:

Christopher Nolan's Interstellar

Denis Villeneuve's Enemy

Jonathan Glazer's Under the Skin starring Scarlett Johansson,
Marc Webb's The Amazing Spider Man 2
Noah Baumbach/Greta Gerwig Public School Project
David Wain's They Came Together
I Origins
Carol (Lesbian love story, oOOooOOo!)
Gregg Araki's White Bird in a Blizzard
Justin Simien's Dear White People

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