This is a magical time of year for film lovers. We can look forward to prestigious films from big name directors starring famous actors in big-budget big screen epics. There are also smaller films that have garnered great buzz from film festivals and many that have won awards and are now getting a theatrical release. So many films, so little time…
Many films, both large and small, have had to contend with less publicity due to the SAG AFTRA and Writers Guild strikes. There hasn’t been as much promotion with fewer film stars making the rounds of late-night talk shows or giving interviews. This may be the reason that some features have done lackluster business at the box office. There have been some box office disappointments and critical criticism of some less than stellar films.
Martin Scorsese’s opus, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a good example of a big budget film with an epic story and starry cast that generates a lot of awards buzz. Sadly, it was left to the legendary director to do the heavy lifting with the promotional tours. With a budget of $200 million ($30 million to Leonardo DiCaprio), the film has made $151 million at the box office. In comparison, “Oppenheimer”, netted an astounding $950 million on a much smaller budget.
In a similar story of big budget/small box office, there’s the Thanksgiving release of “Napoleon”. Ridley Scott’s film has struggled to find audiences. Both films are based on historical events with big stars and incredible production designs. They’re meant to be experienced on the big screen but may not make their studios a profit until after the films hit the streaming services.
There are some smaller budgeted films recently released that have also suffered from lack of star promotion. “The Holdovers” starring Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Dominic Sessa is a wonderful film shot to mimic the period it’s set in, the 1970’s. Director Alexander Payne engendered moving performances, with a great role for Giamatti. It’s an interesting story of a curmudgeonly history teacher at a New England boarding school during winter break. I also really enjoyed “Rustin”, the riveting biopic about civil rights activist Bayard Rustin. Colman Domingo is mesmerizing as Rustin and Da’Vine Joy Randolph has a pivotal role. George C. Wolfe directed the film and it’s now streaming on Netflix.
It’ll be interesting to see how audiences react to the completely bonkers and wonderfully strange new film from director Yorgos Lanthimos. “Poor Things” is a black comedy with fantasy elements and an incredible Victorian Goth-Punk production design. It’s an outlandish Frankenstein fable with over-the-top performances by a cast that all deserve awards attention. Emma Stone is phenomenal in a sexual-daring role that is both shocking and tender. The film played at the Telluride Film Festival and the release date is December 8th, 2023.
The following weekend brings the release of one of my favorite films of the year, Bradley Cooper’s “Maestro”. A passion project for Cooper, who directs, stars and co-wrote the script, this tale of fabled conductor Leonard Bernstein is a revelation. The docudrama tells the story of Bernstein’s relationship with his longtime partner and wife, Felicia Montealegre, played brilliantly by Carey Mulligan. Another triumph for Cooper and a sure-fire Academy nomination for both stars.
Christmas Day brings gifts from Warner Brothers Pictures. Both “Wonka” and “The Color Purple” open that day. Timothée Chalamet stars as the young Willy Wonka in a candy-coloured origin story of the famous fictional sweets creator. The musical fantasy film directed by Paul King (“Paddington”) is based on the Roald Dahl story of 1964, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and looks like a lot of fun. It’s sure to be a fantastic family outing to the movies.
It’s hard to imagine the tragic story of Alice Walkers’ novel, The Color Purple, as a musical. It was surprising when it became a Broadway show. Ghanaian filmmaker, Blitz Bazawule, brings a wealth of experience as a visual artist, rapper and music producer to his role as the director of this second film adaptation. The trailers feature invigorating choreography, glamourous costumes and soulful song numbers. With American Idol star, Fantasia Barrino in the lead role and a starry cast, this looks like a great film experience. Oprah Winfrey was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the 1985 adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg. She not only has a role in this new film; Winfrey was also a producer, along with Spielberg and Quincy Jones. A powerhouse of talent that is sure to spell success.
Let’s all celebrate the big spectacles coming to the big screen. Let’s also seek out the smaller films with endearing stories that might not have the prestigious or the glamour of the big-budget prestige films. There’s room for all at the film lover’s smorgasbord. See you at the movies and to see my ratings on these and other films, check out my Instagram at Drinks With Films.
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