A Mixed Bagof Films for Fall - theHumm November 2016

By Matt Roche

This fall, I finally found the time to watch Oliver Stone’s latest, Snowden, about the trials and tribulations of Edward Snowden. Snowden is the man who leaked NSA security information, providing us with the knowledge that basically everyone’s (and I mean everyone’s, as in the entire world’s) human rights are being violated and that our freedom and independence is essentially non-existent. Similar to the way in which Stone dissected previous political debacles on film (JFK, Nixon, W.), Snowden both informs and alarms.

Even though the film is certainly filled with tons of shocking information and revelations, cohesive storylines have never been Stone’s forte. He’s always had a heavy hand in making his point clear, often sounding more pedantic than he probably means to.

But here in Snowden, the film really comes alive when Stone focuses the story on Snowden and the reporters (Zachary Quinto, Melissa Leo and Tom Wilkinson in fine supporting roles) in their hotel room, figuring out how they got to that point and what to do with the information. The result is informative and eye-opening and a great companion piece to Citizenfour (the fantastic 2014 Oscar-winning documentary by Laura Poitras) clarifying a few things that may have been a bit hard to comprehend the first time around.

This is a very important part in our history and it deserves to be seen and syndicated. Catch it this month at the Bytowne Cinema on November 9 and 10.

I also saw Elle — a non-judgmental, dark, French fantasy film about unconventional desires that débuted at the Cannes Film Festival this May to rave reviews. Directed by one-time Hollywood big shot Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Total Recall) with a still-firm grasp of his style and a truly sophisticated and surprisingly philosophical script from David Birke, the film seems unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Verhoeven’s first film in a decade (since 2006’s Black Book), seems at first glance like he is finally back in the saddle, giving us another edgy erotic thriller along the lines of his biggest hit, 1992’s Basic Instinct. But when you actually see Elle, you may feel shortchanged. A thrilling erotic revenge fantasy it is not. But that purposeful disillusionment of the audience is one of the factors that make this film so fascinating. The other factor is Isabelle Huppert, one of the best actors working today.

Huppert gives us yet another provocative, powerful and challenging performance. She has already provided us with so many astonishing performances over the years (especially in Claude Chabrol’s Story of Women and Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher), and her role as Elle is another one for the books. Indeed, Elle is one of the most interesting characters I have encountered in a long time.

After being brutalized by an assailant, Elle is unable to emotionally or physically explain her feelings about the matter; yet it still seems to affect every part of her being, making her feel slightly disconnected. Even we are unsure of situation: how does she feel about the attack? The lines are obscured from the get-go, masterfully shifting us around the matter.

Without explaining any more, I will say that Elle is a very good film, filled with painful suspense and visceral reactions. This kind of film, and these kinds of roles, can only really be made in Europe. Few actors or directors would tackle such an undertaking — scoping out the darkest reaches of our minds — let alone accomplish it in such a remarkable fashion. Elle is a must-see, but not for the faint of heart. You can catch it at the Bytowne Cinema in Ottawa from November 25–30.

Playing Locally

Some other excellent films are coming to local theatres this month. Playing on November 23 at Perth’s Full Circle Theatre and on the 24th at Smiths Falls’ Station Theatre is Whit Stillman’s entertaining Love & Friendship. I wrote and raved about this film a few months ago — the full review can be read at thehumm.com . I mentioned that: “Love & Friendship is an adaptation of Jane Austen’s posthumously published novella Lady Susan, and it’s an absolute delight… filled with gorgeous costumes, snappy dialogue and a convivial atmosphere. The film seems plucked right out of the 19th century, as if Austen herself was supervising the production. It is crafted with care, and the joy of the wordplay, through the script to the actor’s mouths, is clearly evident. With the aid of an extremely talented cast and crew (with a special nod to composer Benjamin Esdraffo, who does incredible things with the score), Love & Friendship is an above-par period piece. Where some films of this genre feel arid and stiff, Love & Friendship feels alive. Watching Lady Susan scheme or Lady Manwaring run around in perpetual hysteria, or listening to the bumbling Sir Martin (a hilarious, scene-stealing Tom Bennett) trying so hard not to make an awkward fool of himself is some of the most fun I have had at the theatre all year.” Go see it. You won’t be disappointed.

Also playing in Perth on November 9 and Smiths Falls on the 10th is Theeb, a Jordanian film that was nominated for Best Foreign Film at last year’s Academy Awards (Jordan’s first-ever nomination).

Theeb is a sort of coming-of-age story about a young Bedouin boy (a wondrous, and surprisingly learned, performance from newcomer Jacir Eid Al-Hwietat) who leads a soldier through the Wadi Rum desert of Jordan (the same desert where they filmed The Martian). The cinematography by Wolfgang Thaler is truly breathtaking and is the real standout of the film. Especially for a début feature, Theeb is quite exceptional. It’s written and directed by Naji Abu Nowar — a filmmaker to keep an eye on in the future — who won Best Director at the Venice Film Festival last year for the film. Filled with drama and tension as if it was made by a seasoned veteran, the film brings you into this world and this situation. They don’t just show you the journey; they take you along with them. Theeb is yet another film that deserves to be seen. Not simply for its artistic value, but for what it represents: the overcoming of odds, both literally and figuratively.

And with the cold weather swiftly surrounding us, we have the perfect opportunity to head out and catch a few flicks. These are but a few suggestions, but are all well worth your while.

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