Art-House Dramas:
The Theory of
Everything – Biographical Drama – Nov 7
Plot
Summary: A look at the life of physicist Stephen Hawking – a brilliant
young student studying at the University of Oxford who makes a breakthrough in
theoretical physics – understanding how the universe formed. The film also
focuses on the development of his disease: a motor neuron disease related to
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. But mostly, this is a love story. Hawking meets
Jane, another student at Oxford. Their relationship would forever change his
life and propel him forward. It is based on a book by Jane Hawking Key Filmmakers Involved: Director James Marsh,
composer Johann
Johannsson, and cinematographer Benoit Delhomme.
Actors Involved: Eddie Redmayne,
Felicity Jones,
Charlie Cox,
Emily Watson,
and David
Thewlis. Quality Potential: High/Medium.
Director James Marsh has made some excellent documentaries, most notably Man on Wire;
however, he has never made an excellent feature film (probably his best is Red
Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980, assuming that counts). The Theory of
Everything looks like a good character drama, built upon very strong leading
performances from Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones (both of whom will likely
end up with many awards nominations). I have a feeling that this is a film to
see more for the performances than anything else – in other words, it will
likely be good but not great overall (and while it seems on track to end up
with a Best Picture Oscar nomination, I am not sure it will be deserving; but,
maybe I am talking out of school, having not seen it). To learn more about
Hawking’s work, check out A Brief History of
Time, Errol
Morris’s documentary. Trailer: Here.
Rosewater – Drama
– Nov 14
Plot
Summary: Maziar Bahari is a western journalist in Iran covering an
election. He is detained for over 100 days and brutally interrogated in prison
after the election ends in revolt. This film is based on his book. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director Jon Stewart and
composer Howard
Shore. Actors Involved: Gael Garcia
Bernal, Shohreh
Aghdashloo, and Claire Foy. Quality Potential: Medium. Comedian Jon Stewart
(from The Daily
Show) makes his directorial debut with a film dealing with much more
serious political content and tone than his show. The film has played to fairly
mixed reviews during its screenings on the festival circuit; however, it does
look like a powerful drama with some potentially gripping thriller elements. It
features a good cast as well. I think this is worth checking out for those who
enjoy political films, as it plays as an interesting comparison piece to the
continued prosecution of journalists around the world (most recently in Ukraine
and the Middle East). Trailer: Here.
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