Pedro Almodóvarof next door room and Marielle Hellerof night bitchTwo of the most anticipated films screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday night are very similar in some ways: Both are novels adapted by filmmakers who have brought quality films to the festival for years. , and all center on complex stories with heroines played by top-notch actresses. But their reception at the festival and their award prospects were very different.
next door roomSpaniard Almodovar’s English-language feature directorial debut comes to Toronto via the Venice Film Festival, where it was unveiled just hours after the Venice jury awarded the film its highest honor, the Golden Lion, in what is a first of sorts. The top prize came from a major film festival, and the 74-year-old author ever been granted.
Adapted from Sigrid Nunez2020 novels What are you going through?a film starring two Oscar-winning heavyweights—— tilda swintonwith whom Almodóvar previously collaborated on the 2020 short film human voiceand Julianne MooreWorking with him for the first time, Moore plays a best-selling author who grows apart but reconnects after learning of a bleak diagnosis for a veteran war correspondent played by Swinton. Their rekindled friendship is then tested by an unusual request from one of them.
There’s always something in Almodóvar’s writing and/or directing that gives his actresses some of the best work of their careers, and this film – despite some overall flaws, probably takes a risk with the filmmaker The decision to enter English and American languages is about culture—no exception.
It will be interesting to see how Sony Classics – Almodovar’s long-time U.S. distributor, which will release the film before the end of this year on an as-yet-unspecified date – ends up developing a promotional campaign for the two women, who are – John Turturrohis character is the love interest of the two women – and guest of honor at the company’s annual TIFF press dinner on Saturday night. There’s one particularly interesting part about Swindon, or – spoiler alert – it turns out, partso it’s hard for me to see her no lead. Moore has at least as much screen time, but her character revolves around Swinton’s character, so I think she could be cast in a lead or supporting role.
Elsewhere, you should keep an eye out for the films in the Best Picture categories; Almodóvar won Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay; Eddie GrauBest Photography Award; and Alberto Iglesias” Original Score (The latest of Iglesias’s four Oscar nominations is for Almodóvar’s 2021 film score parallel mother).
night bitchalso, adapted from Rachel YoderA 2021 book of the same name, directed by Heller, who previously premiered her 2018 film at TIFF can you forgive me? and 2019 movies A beautiful day in the neighborhood (Both were nominated for acting Oscars, and the former was also nominated for screenplay). Heller said she was experiencing postpartum depression after the birth of her second child when she made the film, which is essentially about how hard motherhood is and how resilient mothers can be, as her experience attests. That way. amy adamsShe loves her young son but increasingly resents the sacrifices she was forced to make in order to raise him, and rightfully so.
night bitch After a long and difficult gestation, its story and tone seemed to be affected, finally reaching the audience. (In case you were wondering, its unusual title refers to a metaphor for feeling tense and then somewhat lost in the film.) Needless to say, Adams is an extremely talented actress, and she’s in this movie She also worked as a producer while doing her best. However, as far as awards season is concerned, I think the film as a whole will struggle to find traction. Just a little bit all over the place.
As a result, Searchlight, which is set to release on December 6, will likely focus its awards efforts more on the two other contenders on this season’s slate, real pain and Completely unknown.
