With Venice (30 Aug-9 Sept) and Toronto (7 Sept – 17 Sept) kicking off soon, Screen International’s critics have picked the most exciting films that are premiering at the big autumn festivals.
Fionnuala Halligan, reviews editor and chief film critic
“Judging from their previous films and the subject matter at play, I’m most looking forward to Samuel Maoz’s Foxtrot and Vivian Qu’s Angels Wear White (both Venice). Meanwhile, on court 2, both tennis films look like a lot of fun, although I’m thinking advantage Borg/McEnroe over Battle Of The Sexes (both Toronto).”
Dan Fainaru
“Alexander Payne’s Downsizing (Venice). Judging by what has leaked out, this seems like the perfect metaphor of the world we live in — everybody delighted to bend down and let the world go to hell, as long as their private comfort is safe. Since Payne is one of the few filmmakers nowadays capable of combining humour, irony, social comment and poignancy without making a mess of it all, I’m looking forward to seeing whether it will work for him once again.”
Sarah Ward
“Mary Shelley (Toronto). Unlike Frankenstein itself, the story behind the great gothic tale makes it to the big screen infrequently. Mary Shelley endeavours to change that via Wadjda’s Haifaa Al-Mansour, who jumps from finding an affecting and subversive story of hope in a restrictive regime to unearthing existential horror in a tumultuous relationship.”
Wendy Ide
“Kings (Toronto). With her debut Mustang, Deniz Gamze Ergüven demonstrated a knack for using the prism of family to look at broader issues. Her timely sophomore picture — and English-language debut — explores racial tension in America in the run-up to the verdict of the Rodney King trial.”
Allan Hunter
“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (Venice) the new film from Martin McDonagh. Frances McDormand on the war path over the unsolved murder of her daughter, and a trailer that slaps you in the face and leaves you begging for more. Seems irresistible to me.”
Lee Marshall
“I don’t subscribe to the pervasive view that Ai Weiwei’s activism diminishes his art, so I’m intrigued to see how the two entwine in Human Flow (Venice), his documentary about the refugee crisis. It premieres in Venice — a city with a history founded on migration.”
Tim Grierson
“I love it when established directors push themselves in new directions. So I’m curious about Downsizing (Venice), Alexander Payne’s ambitious, big-budget sci-fi satire about an unhappy couple (played by Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig) who shrink themselves to make a fresh start. It sounds bizarre — and nothing like the Oscar winner has attempted before.”
Jonathan Romney
“Lucrecia Martel’s Zama (Venice). The enigmatic Argentinian director of The Holy Girl and The Headless Woman steps away from female-based drama and into entirely new territory with this long-awaited — and, judging by the trailer, action-laced — period piece, set in colonial 18th-century Paraguay and based on a celebrated novel. Daniel Gimenez Cacho plays the officer hero.”
Lisa Nesselson
”The auteur theory has its limits but when I hear that Woody has crafted a new film [Wonder Wheel, New York], that’s all I need to know. Don’t tell me what it’s about! Any addition to his filmography, studded with masterworks and trifles alike, is cause for curiosity and possibly celebration.”
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