Last month I attended the Austin Film Festival & Conference and got an early look at some of the films now playing (or soon to be) in theaters. Lately I've become accustomed to avoiding new releases, so I am happy to be able to recommend three new films which I saw at the festival. Because it is based around a screenplay competition, AFF has branded itself as a "writer's festival," so it is ironic that what impressed me most about these films weren't the screenplays, but the strong performances that anchor each one.
Conviction tells the story of Betty Anne Waters, a working mother and high school dropout, who spent nearly two decades trying to clear the name of her brother Kenny, sentenced to life in prison for a murder he did not commit. Since the film is based on a true story, the eventual outcome is never in question; however, the film is compelling because we want to know how they got there, what obstacles they faced and what sacrifices were made. Because it comes to define her life, Betty Anne's single-minded quest to free her brother is repeatedly questioned. But she simply cannot conceive of giving up. Ultimately the film challenges the audience to ask themselves, "what would I have done?" Hilary Swank as Betty Anne is the standout among a talented cast which includes Sam Rockwell as Kenny and Minnie Driver as Betty Anne's classmate. While I don't think that this role will earn her another Best Actress Oscar, her performance here reminds us why she deserved the first two.
Conviction tells the story of Betty Anne Waters, a working mother and high school dropout, who spent nearly two decades trying to clear the name of her brother Kenny, sentenced to life in prison for a murder he did not commit. Since the film is based on a true story, the eventual outcome is never in question; however, the film is compelling because we want to know how they got there, what obstacles they faced and what sacrifices were made. Because it comes to define her life, Betty Anne's single-minded quest to free her brother is repeatedly questioned. But she simply cannot conceive of giving up. Ultimately the film challenges the audience to ask themselves, "what would I have done?" Hilary Swank as Betty Anne is the standout among a talented cast which includes Sam Rockwell as Kenny and Minnie Driver as Betty Anne's classmate. While I don't think that this role will earn her another Best Actress Oscar, her performance here reminds us why she deserved the first two.
Another real-life tale of endurance is 127 Hours, starring James Franco as Aron Ralston, an outdoor adventurer who is forced to amputate his own arm after being pinned under a boulder in a remote canyon. TV shows like Survivorman or Man vs. Wild explain how someone might survive alone in extreme conditions. What is hardly mentioned, except in the fine print disclaimer, is that these are situations you would never, ever, encounter except in the most disastrous of circumstances. As we learn more about him, it is clear that Ralston approached his excursions into the canyons, and life in general, with a misguided hubris. Watching him learn humility and the folly of shunning meaningful human connections makes us aware of our own fragility and how our relationships with other people help to keep us safe. Rather than making you wonder if you could survive such an ordeal, this film might make you realize that, thankfully, you will never be in that situation because _____. (Fill in the blank for yourself: you live with someone who loves you, you call your mom every Sunday, you always go hiking with your buddy from REI...) Since most of the film takes place in the canyon, it is basically a one-man show for Franco, and he is riveting as he deftly shifts between comic affability and tragic desperation.
My favorite movie of the festival was Blue Valentine. Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling play Cindy and Dean, a working-class couple with a young daughter, whose marriage is becoming increasingly strained. They are two basically decent people who just aren't meant to be together. But they are together, for better or worse, and through flashbacks we see the progression of their relationship from first meeting to the present day. The concept and presentation are not new, but the filmmakers prevent the story from becoming overly predictable by continually taking a scene that feels familiar and using it to reveal something new about these characters. Characters, by the way, who are portrayed brilliantly by Gosling and Williams. It is the strength of their performances that keeps you interested in this doomed romance. The MPAA has rated Blue Valentine NC-17, presumably due to several sex scenes (the MPAA does not have to give a reason for their ratings). So, most movie-goers may have to wait for the DVD; however, the film is set for a limited release on December 31 to qualify for Oscar consideration. It would be very unfortunate if people were discouraged from seeing this film because of a misguided rating.