Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love
Filmmaker Nick Broomfield recounts his memories of Marianne Ihlen and singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen in his documentary Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love.
Biopic
Wild Nights with Emily
Wild Nights with Emily didn’t “click” with me but, then again, I feel like I’m “missing” something.
Tolkien
By: Jolie Featherstone Dome Karukoski’s Tolkien is a polished, but reserved, Edwardian period piece that explores the early life of J. R. R. Tolkien, famed author of The Lord of the Rings. From a childhood fraught with loss to serving in in the First World War as a young adult, the film draws connections between Tolkien’s real-life experiences and the lore and legends he created in his works.
The White Crow
The White Crow, written by Oscar nominee David Hare (The Reader) and directed by Harry Potter actor Ralph Fiennes, goes against the usual conventions of a biopic.
Stan & Ollie
By: Jessica Goddard Touching, sincere, and surprisingly universal, Jon S. Baird’s Stan & Ollie is a sensitive look into the last tour of legendary comedy act Laurel and Hardy. Built on wonderful performances from Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly as Laurel and Hardy respectively, the biopic has wonderful range – from the tender or vicious exchanges to the subtle but magnetic moments when the pair perform on stage as a duo.
Blaze
By: Trevor Chartrand Director Ethan Hawke’s country music biopic Blaze leaves a lot to be desired – with a lot of atmosphere and not much narrative, this film is meandering and weak. To some, the film could perhaps be considered an abstract poem, akin to the music stylings of the late Blaze Foley, which I suppose should be commendable. However, given the more obscure nature of this film’s subject, the storytelling gaps will leave audiences…
Borg vs. McEnroe
Björn Borg, a mannered enigma, and John McEnroe, a hot head with a brash reputation, developed a public rivalry with each other based on their differences in athletic gameplay and sportsmanship. However, if you’re looking for a explanatory grasp on their relationship, you won’t find it in Borg vs. McEnroe. The film itself is adequate by biopic and sport movie standards – merely on its surface – but its focus is more targeted on individual arcs.