We take a look at some of the films being showcased at this year’s festival, running from the 4th to the 15th October….
Saltburn: judging by the trailer above, it is best to expect the unexpected with Emerald Fennell’s latest film, which she has written, directed and produced. Starring Barry Keoghan (who was so brilliant in last year’s The Banshees of Inisherin), Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant, the story follows that of Oliver who is drawn into the eccentric world of an aristocratic schoolmate’s family and the world he inhabits when not at school. It is billed as a thriller, so I’m intrigued to see what kind of twists and turns emerge along the way.
One Life: Anthony Hopkins stars in this film directed by James Hawes telling the true story of British humanitarian Nicholas Winton, who helped save hundreds of Central European children from the Nazis on the eve of World War II. It is set to be a moving and powerful film, that brings this extraordinary story to life with the cast also including Helena Bonham Carter and Johnny Flynn. I have high hopes for this film doing the story justice and with sensitivity.
Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget: ok so this is a little bit of a change of pace – but I’m genuinely excited to see how this sequel to one of the most beloved animated films comes across and reconnecting with some familiar chickens (even if some of the voices have changed…) to see what they have been up to this time around! Heading to Netflix from the 15th December, this will simply be a bit of fun to watch.
Killers of the Flower Moon: Martin Scorsese’s latest film explores the infamous Osage murders which took place between the 1910’s -1930’s, sees the director collaborating with Leonardo Di Caprio for the sixth time and Robert Di Niro for the tenth time. It is based on the book by David Grann and has already won praise, having had its world premiere as part of the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Maestro: this upcoming biographical film enters on the relationship between American composer Leonard Bernstein and his wife Felicia Montealegre (played by Carey Mulligan). It stars Bradley Cooper, who also directed and co-wrote the film with Josh Singer. Set for a limited cinema release in November, it premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Lion). It is hard to resist a biographical film and this certainly looks as though it is going to be high quality.
Poor Things: this new film from Yorgos Lanthimos marks the first film he has created in five years since The Favourite. Based on the 1992 novel by Alasdair Gray, the film stars Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Mark Ruffalo, Ramy Youssef, Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Margaret Qualley and Kathryn Hunter. The story follows that of Bella Baxter, a young woman who is brought back to life by Dr. Godwin Baxter and embarks on a journey to discover how to stand for equality and liberation. As with his previous films such as The Lobster – expect the unexpected with Lanthmos’s style of film making.
Priscilla: we have heard countless stories about the relationship between Elvis and Priscilla Presley, but now we are getting to find out more about her life and relationship through her eyes, thanks to Sofia Coppola’s new film based on Priscilla’s 1985 memoir Elvis and Me. It recently had its wold premiere at the Venice International Film Festival on the 4th September.