Awards season. The strangest time of year, where Hollywood’s elite collectively pat themselves on the back for doing a good job. Where political statements are made and where careers are defined. Every passing year there seems to be less and less emphases on the importance of the awards season, but for some reason we (for the most part) get completely caught up in it all. Personally, I have been an avid watcher of the awards season since childhood. I often disagree with choices made such as Pleasantville missing out on best picture in the last 90’s and just last year Aaron Taylor Johnson not even copping a nomination at the Academy Awards. Despite this fact the truth is I respect the awards ceremonies for what they are, which is a loud and public way of distinguishing “modern film” opposed to “modern cinema”. The most prestigious awards such as The Academy Awards, The DGA Awards and the Golden Globes have all at some point been accused of selecting films and filmmakers to celebrate that are “old school”, This often means films loved by larger audiences miss out on the prestige. With the increase in superhero movies in the last 10 years an educated admirer of the awards season would obviously expect pushback from the likes of the academy. It is natural to be a sceptic of what is new and popular, for this reason I believe the awards ceremonies tend to tread familiar ground when considering their nominees. One thing to keep in mind whether you appreciate the ceremonies for what they are or you are a avid hater of them is that it’s all a matter of opinion and subject to individual taste. That’s why this year I have decided to voice my opinion on what I believed to be the best work and achievements in Film/Television in 2017.
Over the course of the next 4 weeks I will be posting my nominations and winners for each of the biggest categories celebrated by the traditional ceremonies in film and television achievement. This particular post is in relation to achievement in directing for a motion picture. In this category I celebrate my 6 favourite displays of excellent film direction in 2017.
Please take into account that these choices are mine personally and that even though a film you might love doesn’t appear on my list it by no way means I am devaluing it or saying you’re wrong for enjoying it more than I did. Take it with a pinch of salt and if you do disagree with my list I’d be happy to have a civil conversation about any choices I made.
Nominations for Best Achievement in Directing for Film
Jordan Peele - Get Out (Nominee)
If someone had of told me in 2016 that just 12 months later Jordan Peele is going to be one of the most exciting directors working and had created a film with such tone and style that it would become a social phenomenon i'd of told them they were crazy. Thankfully i was very very wrong, Jordan Peele most known up until this year for his work with Keegan-Michael Key on the show Key and Peele has now solidified himself as a more than capable director. For many years now i have grown tired of the Horror genre, i have often found studio's are too scared to try new things and often rely on jump scares and older techniques to horrify their audiences. While these techniques clearly work and have some place in the industry a film fanatic does find themselves yearning for the days of films like Scream, Suspiria and The Exorcist. These were films that pushed the boundaries of what we had come to expect from the horror/thriller genre, they excelled visually and thematically. In these areas specifically Jordan Peele's "Get Out" excels tremendously, he seamlessly creates a feeling of danger from the opening scene to the films last moments, meaning the audience never feels safe. Jordan Peele worked wonders with his performers too helping Daniel Kaluuya to become one of the years breakout stars and his subtle work with Allison Williams should not be ignored either. Peele pushed the expectations of his viewers and took the cinema world by surprise in a big big way and has earned all the awards his shall and has received.
Greta Gerwig - Lady Bird (Nominee)
Just like Jordan Peele, Greta Gerwig is another director in this category who made a name for herself primarily as an actor before making the leap into the world of directing. Her first venture into the craft was in 2008 with the film "Nights and Weekends" which was met with mixed reviews. This year Greta however excelled and proved any doubter wrong with her fantastic film "Lady Bird". We see a lot of Coming of Age film in Hollywood these days and not all are able to capture the wonder of childhood/teenage-hood quite like "Lady Bird". Greta Gerwig has never explicitly claimed that the film is based on her life but it is set in 2002 and it is not hard to find the similarities between Saoirse Ronan and Greta. Perhaps this films greatest feature is its actors, Saoirse Ronan provides an excellent perfromance as the wonderfully adventurous and naive "Christine/ Lady Bird". Laurie Metcalf is also a standout as the strict but wildly entertaining mother we all accuse our own mother of being. When performances are THIS good you have to look at the director especially when she also single handedly crafted the script. Greta Gerwig had a singular and complete vision for this film and it remains one of my faviorite of 2017.
Sean Baker - The Florida Project (Nominee)
"The Florida Project" was the first film directed and written by Sean Baker that i have seen and i intend to see much more by this auteur. Sean Baker is a student of French and Russian expressionism film making and all his film push boundaries one way or another. "The Florida Project" fells almost like a documentary but Baker manages to keep a narrative like structure that helps the film never lose its pace. This film looks at the innocence of childhood and the corruption of adulthood in a way not seen since Boyhood. He captures what it is to be young and also provides a microscopic look at what life is like for those who live in the projects. Its colourful setting plays poetically against the dark subject matter it is discussing which i find compelling. Sean Baker is a filmmaker i believe has been overlooked again and again this awards season and he rightly find a spot on my list of nominees.
Joshua and Benny Safdie - Good Time (Nominee)
"Good Time" was easily one of 2017's most stylistically individual films. It was visually impressive and daring, The Safdie brothers constantly use close ups to drag us into the kinetic energy that is magnifying from Robert Pattinson. They drag us along on a exciting and engaging adventure. This film feels dirty in the best possible way, the unconventional use of close ups give the audience a sense of closterfobia and danger. This mixed in with the fact that an electric score pulses consistently means that the audience never disengages from the action. Robert Pattinson is brilliant and provides what is definitely the best perfromance of his young career. He captures the complex nature of his character, in one moment we (the audience) hate him and in another we feel sympathetic towards him. Its a constant contrast that makes his character Connie compelling to watch. Benny Safdie co stars in the film as Connie's mentally handicapped younger brother, this relationship is key to the movies success. Even though they have limited screen time together it is the link established early on that rives us to want them to be reunited. This is a wonderful film and i expect these brothers to go on and have very successful careers.
Paul Thomas Anderson - Phantom Thread (Nominee)
Unlike many of the nominees in this category Paul Thomas Anderson has been one of Hollywoods greatest film directors for decades. The likes of "Boogie nights" helped establish him as a unique filmmaker, but it was films like "There Will Be Blood" that made him the powerhouse he is today. His director/actor link with Daniel Day Lewis was already legendary but with "Phantom Thread" another chapter of their story has been added and possibly its last chapter. What is remarkable about this film is how strong a grip Anderson had on it. Anderson wrote the script, was the cinematographer and directed it. He implements a dark and eerie tone from the first few minutes and slowly the film delivers on the promises. It is beautifully shot and the performances are great which is a credit to Anderson's work, but it is perhaps the mood created that is the best example of Anderson's skill and talent. The film is slow but its dark mood and gentle atmosphere really builds tension that keeps viewers gripped especially in the films excellent second act. Paul Thomas Anderson is Hollywood elite and continuously delivers films that are unique editions to their genre's.
Christopher Nolan - Dunkirk (Nominee)
Christopher Nolan is one of the most interesting directors working. Unlike a Tarantino or a Paul Thomas Anderson his films don't always have a trademark. This makes him exceptionally unpredictable and means that his films often surprise his audiences and thrill the world. Nolan adapts his style to the story he is telling in a way not seen since Spielberg. "Dunkirk" is no exception, shot on IMAX and in experimental fashion Nolan pushes the envelope as he has done throughout his distinguished career. Nolan is and always has been a brave filmmaker, he continues to make films people don't expect such as "Inception" and "Interstellar" again it is Nolan's ambitious way of telling a story that makes "Dunkirk" a raging success in my eyes. Christopher Nolan decided early to not highlight any one character but instead to capture the feeling of hopelessness that dominated the event. He expresses the scale of the event numerous times, and with multiple characters in numerous settings also captures the confusion and distress. Another thing that is excellent in Dunkirk is how the film feels like its on a timer, the event itself was scary due to the fact that lives were at risk every second they remained on the beach. This film recreates this feeling of time sensitivity through pace and even soundtrack which features a ticking clock at many points. Nolan uses specific techniques to influence the audience such as never showing the enemy. He establishes in the opening scene that the enemy is behind us and follows through which is rewarding for an audience. Christopher Nolan is an excellent director and it is a crime he hasn't until this year been nominated at the Academy Awards for best director.
And the winner is.......
Joshua & Benny Safdie - "Good Time" - Best Achievement in Directing for Film
As previously mentioned i believe "Good Time" is easily one of the most stylistic films i have seen in a long time. Its ambitious close ups and electric soundtrack which pulses consistently through the film make it a exciting watch. Its excellent lead performance from Robert Pattinson crafted delicately by the Safdie brothers is outstanding and gives this film a whole other layer. The ambition and skill impressed me a lot and while it was an incredibly tough category I am confident in my choice.
Part two coming soon - Best Actor/Actress in Supporting roles.