“The Light of the Moon”
Director: Jessica M. Thompson
Cast: Stephanie Beatriz, Michael Stahl-David, Conrad Ricamora, Catherine Curtin
Synopsis: After she is sexually assaulted, successful architect Bonnie tries to overcome shame and secrecy in order to regain intimacy with her boyfriend, Matt.
What You Need To Know: This SXSW feature got newcomer Jessica M. Thompson nominated for the festival’s Gamechanger Award, an apropos accolade for such a compassionate work. Stephanie Beatriz (“Brooklyn Nine-Nine”) gives a luminous performance as Bonnie, a character which Thompson writes and portrays with rare respect and grace. Though cinematic rape is woefully commonplace, it’s unique to see the kind of nuanced, skillful take on survivorship offered in “The Light of the Moon.” Complex despite its shoestring budget, this drama shows the life-changing potential of film. “The Light of the Moon” challenges all other depictions of rape in cinema and, rather than offering audiences a solution to those regressive narratives, shows us the sort of greatness empathetic filmmaking can produce.
“Lost in Paris”
Director: Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel
Cast: Fiona Gordon, Dominique Abel, Emmanuelle Riva, Pierre Richard
Synopsis: Canadian librarian Fiona journeys to Paris to find her elderly aunt Martha, only to face comical hurdles like the unceasing attentions of tramp Dom.
What You Need To Know: This 2016 Telluride premiere is the “The Fairy” filmmaking team’s latest send-up to slapstick. In “Lost in Paris,” Fiona Gordon and Dominique Abel tell a Charlie Chaplinesque tale of bafflement and romance. As with “Lemon,” some critics found “Lost in Paris” too whimsical for its own good, but this French feature received overall favorable feedback. Innovatively shot and vibrantly colorblocked, this absurd comedy won plenty of hearts after its limited release in the summer. While it toed the line between charming and cloying, “Lost in Paris” made plenty of cinephiles fall in amour. If you’re looking for an aesthetically appealing, unconventional film, you should look up “Lost in Paris.”
“Lovesong”
Director: So Yong Kim
Cast: Riley Keough, Jena Malone, Jessie Ok Gray, Sky Ok Gray, Ryan Eggold
Synopsis: College friends Sarah and Mindy share an intense connection during a road trip. Three years after, they must cope with what’s left as Mindy prepares to get married.
What You Need To Know: This touching Sundance drama by So Yong Kim premiered in the spring to positive reviews thanks largely in part to its stellar performances. In this tale of confusion and latent desire, all-star indie supporter Riley Keough takes the lead, and Jena Malone complements her beautifully. Our own Jenni Miller praised both their performances, saying “[the film] is carried by the actors’ chemistry and body language” in her review. Support from child actors Jessie Ok Gray and Sky Ok Gray (the director’s daughters) beautifully rounds out this well-acted, intimate ouevre. Now available on Netflix, “Lovesong” is a great title to pick for a dreary day or a cuddle on the couch. You’ll sigh, you’ll gasp, you’ll hear some of the worst dirty jokes you’ve ever heard in your life, courtesy of Brooklyn Decker.
“Loving Vincent”
Director: Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Douglas Booth, Chris O’Dowd, Robert Gulaczyk
Synopsis: A young man tasked with delivering a letter to Vincent van Gogh’s brother a year after his death becomes engrossed in the mysterious circumstances surrounding the painter’s death.
What You Need To Know: This Best Animated Feature Golden Globe nominee tested the limits of filmmaking with breathtaking results. Each frame of “Loving Vincent” is an oil painting conducted in Vincent van Gogh’s impressionistic style, the grueling work of some 125 painters chosen to animate the film. This project by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman was undeniably herculean, though it relied perhaps too heavily on visual pizazz. Critics expressed frustration with the film’s shaky script — our own Jessica Kiang said, “the tortuous method of its creation, more than the final result, becomes its chief reason for existing.” While “Loving Vincent” may privilege style over substance (the actors’ performances hardly matter as much as the painted frames or sweeping Clint Mansell score) it’s quite a sight to behold, providing a cinematic experience unlike any other.
“The Lure”
Director: Agnieszka Smoczyńska
Cast: Marta Mazurek, Michalina Olszańska
Synopsis: Two sister mermaids, Silver and Golden, go to great lengths to win love in 1980s Warsaw.
What You Need To Know: Cannibalistic horror fairy tale musical “The Lure” is more than just a hodgepodge of genres, it’s brilliantly original filmmaking. Director Agnieszka Smoczyńska brings a script by Robert Bolesto to startling life with a technicolor aesthetic and catchy pop tunes that will swim around your head for days. This is no dreamy romance, though — “The Lure” frankly navigates themes of love and sacrifice like any responsible Hans Christian Andersen modernization should, making for a film that our own Russ Fischer called “darkly freaky” and “quite accomplished” in his review. A critical favorite from 2017, “The Lure” is as unique and irreplaceable as it is lovably batshit. Really, what more could you want from a movie?
“Maudie”
Director: Aisling Walsh
Cast: Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke
Synopsis: This biopic chronicles the tumultuous relationship between Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis and her husband, Everett.
What You Need To Know: This charming biopic about the legendary Maud Lewis won many a heart after its spring premiere. Despite an iffy script from Sherry White, “Maudie” garnered critical acclaim primarily due to its stellar lead performance from “The Shape of Water” star Sally Hawkins (read our own Jordan Ruimy’s uniquely unimpressed review here). In the film, director Aisling Walsh contrasts Lewis’s bright, imaginative work with her abusive home life, achieving mixed results. While the film is well-made and its performances are brilliant, its essential framing as a love story is a grave disservice to its subject matter, who endured emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse from her husband. Such a spin would be less annoying if it wasn’t crafted a.) by a female team or b.) about a real person, but alas. Watch “Maudie” for the bright, beautiful artistry. Skip it if you can’t deal with nauseating romanticization.
“Mr. Roosevelt”
Director: Noël Wells
Cast: Noël Wells, Nick Thune, Britt Lower, Daniella Pineda
Synopsis: Failing comedian Emily revisits her ex-boyfriend after a sudden tragedy, only to discover that he’s moved a new, better girlfriend into the house they used to share.
What You Need To Know: Charm, eccentricity (not quirk!) and hipster vibes out the yin-yang await you in Noël Wells’s debut feature “Mr. Roosevelt.” This comedy premiered to a standing ovation at SXSW that many critics would go on to mirror (read our positive review of the film here). Writer-director-lead Wells earns every bit of that praise, as the “Master of None” actor proves herself an inimitable talent in this modest debut. The film’s antiheroic protagonist puts a much-needed female spin on the slacker comedy, and its modern vibe reinvents the coming-of-age story for post-college life. While “Mr. Roosevelt” isn’t perfect, it’s perfectly delightful, bursting with bright promise. This kitschy tale packs lots of sunshine into its short runtime, occasionally privileging tweeness over depth, but it’s ultimately an enjoyable watch.
“Most Beautiful Island”
Director: Ana Asensio
Cast: Ana Asensio, Natasha Romanova, David Little, Nicholas Tucci, Larry Fessenden
Synopsis: A day in the life of undocumented immigrant Luciana finds her entangled in a dangerous, harrowing game.
What You Need To Know: You don’t often see the immigrant narrative made into a psychological thriller, but Spanish newcomer Ana Asensio did just that with her coveted SXSW debut “Most Beautiful Island.” Notable for its female take on female brutalization, this first feature from writer-star Asensio had audiences gripping their seats during its limited release in November. The film won SXSW’s narrative competition, especially garnering acclaim for its ability to sustain tension straight through to its thought-provoking ending. At just 80 minutes, “Most Beautiful Island” wastes no time delving into some truly original material and compelling performances. Well worth the accolades, this imaginative first feature was one of 2017’s most hair-raising gems.
“Mudbound”
Director: Dee Rees
Cast: Carey Mulligan, Garrett Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Mary J. Blige
Synopsis: Two men return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war.
What You Need To Know: A glimpse into the sharecropping era lends itself to a rarely seen part of American history and sets the stage for this compelling drama. Directed by the extremely talented Dee Rees (“Pariah”) and accompanied by the superb cinematography of Rachel Morrison, the film encapsulates the journey of not one but two families impacted by war, poverty and oppression (read Gregory Ellwood’s positive review here). “Mudbound” features a superbly talented cast, including Garrett Hedlund in one of his best performances to date and Jason Mitchell who shines in his first major dramatic role. Mary J. Blige, a relative newcomer to feature filmmaking, extraordinarily holds her own opposite seasoned veterans Jason Clarke and Carey Mulligan. Considered by many to be a potential Oscar contender this year — which would be a first for Netflix as well as historic for the film industry — “Mudbound” is a film that must not be missed. — Martine Olivier
“Novitiate”
Director: Margaret Betts
Cast: Margaret Qualley, Melissa Leo, Dianna Agron, Rebecca Dayan
Synopsis: Following the Vatican II changes to the Catholic Church in the 1960s, teenager Cathleen joins a convent and seeks to become a nun under the rule of a harsh Reverend Mother.
What You Need To Know: With jaw-droppingly excellent performances and an artful story, “Novitiate” was one of the best art films of the year. Margaret Betts directs her own script with the aplomb of a far more experienced auteur, commanding performances unlike any other from her ensemble of young actresses. Margaret Qualley is especially spellbinding as lead Cathleen, delivering a performance so complex and harried that it perfectly mimics the frenzy of adolescence itself. Supporters Melissa Leo and Dianna Agron round out this strong film, with newcomer Rebecca Dayan showing up later on for an understatedly exquisite turn. “Novitiate” is much more than a film about coming of age as a nun, though it would certainly still succeed on that premise alone. This beautiful take on adolescence covers identity, sexuality, and womanhood with unprecedented tenderness and honesty. It’s a masterful film, and one that should round out anyone’s 2017 watchlist.