62nd BFI London Film Festival

62nd BFI London Film Festival
October 10th-21st, 2018
Various London Venues

by Joanna Orland and Richard Hamer

The 2018 BFI London Film Festival brought world famous movie stars, European and world premieres, and cinematic highlights from Cannes, Venice, TIFF and Sundance to the UK capital. Alongside showcasing a handful of the best from other fests, this year’s LFF held its own with its unique programming selection, particularly when featuring select British films.

The festival opened with Steve McQueen’s heist thriller Widows, and closed with Laurel & Hardy biopic Stan & Ollie. Other highlights of the festival included the new Yorgos Lanthimos film The Favourite, Jacques Audiard’s English language debut The Sisters Brothers, Keira Knightley in Colette, Michael Moore’s latest documentary Fahrenheit 11/9, Lee Chang-dong’s Burning based on the Haruki Murakami short story, Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria remake, and much more.
 
 
View our LFF photo gallery & video gallery

—

Arctic
Directed by Joe Penna
Starring Mads Mikkelsen and Maria Thelma Smáradóttir

The lone survivor of a plane crash deep in the remote Arctic, an unnamed pilot (Mads Mikkelsen) walks his daily routine: Check the fish traps, climb the surrounding hills in search of a radio signal, continue to dig out the vast S.O.S. sign that overlooks the wreck that brought him here… read more

—

Beautiful Boy
Directed by Felix van Groeningen
Starring Steve Carell, Timothée Chalamet, Maura Tierney and Amy Ryan

Beautiful Boy is based on the true life story of Nic Sheff and his battle to overcome addiction. Based on two separate books – Beautiful Boy: A Father’s Journey Through His Son’s Addiction by Nic’s father David Sheff, and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines by Nic – Beautiful Boy depicts addiction from both the addict’s and family’s perspectives. The film is as much David’s story of a father trying to help his son as it is a story of a young man and his demons. The father-son relationship is the emotional core of the film, and will have you shedding a few tears with heart-rending performances by Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet… read more

—

Burning
Directed by Lee Chang-dong
Starring Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Jong-seo and Steven Yeun

From master director Lee Chang-dong, Burning is a richly layered, beguiling relationship drama-cum-thriller that defies easy explanation, and inspires complicated feelings.

Things begin pleasantly enough. Unemployed writer Jongsu (Yoo Ah-in) is trawling downtown Seoul when he bumps into his childhood friend Haemi (Jeon Jong-seo). There’s an obvious attraction, but the possibility of romance is cut-short by her imminent trip to Africa. While she’s gone, Jongsu spends his days feeding her (unseen, potentially non-existent) cat, or hanging out in the dilapidated farmhouse he’s inherited from his soon to be incarcerated father… read more

—

Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Directed by Marielle Heller
Starring Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells, Jane Curtin and Ben Falcone

Yes, Can You Ever Forgive Me? may be yet another biopic, but based on the bizarre life of author Lee Israel, it stands strong as a story based on its own merit. Lee Israel made her living writing biographies of high profile women including Katharine Hepburn and Estée Lauder. Falling on hard times in the early 90’s, Israel loses her day job, struggles to pay the bills, and is overlooked by her agent for more modern writers like Tom Clancy. She begins forging letters by deceased writers and actors, and selling them on to collectors and dealers, becoming a notorious criminal in the process… read more

—

Colette
Directed by Wash Westmoreland
Starring Keira Knightley, Dominic West, Denise Gough, Fiona Shaw and Eleanor Tomlinson

Seventeen years in the making for director Wash Westmoreland, Colette tells the story of pioneering French novelist Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette. Barely out of her teens when she marries Willy, the two become a fixture of the Paris social scene in the late 19th century, while becoming literary sensations with the Claudine series… read more

—

Duplicate
Directed by Bill Oliver
Starring Ansel Elgort, Patricia Clarkson and Suki Waterhouse

Jonathan (Elgort) lives his life to a strict routine. By day, he works part-time as an architect; keeping up with his chores and in bed before 7pm. Every night, he also leaves video messages to an identical man named John (Elgort), recapping his day. John in turn does the same, but recapping his night. Where Jonathan is cleancut and reserved, John is unkempt and relaxed. The nature of their relationship slowly unfolds to reveal a unique familial connection… read more

—

Fahrenheit 11/9
Directed by Michael Moore

Inverting the title of one of his previous films, documentarian Michael Moore explores the election of Trump and the events leading up to it. Using archive footage and narration, Fahrenheit 11/9 begins by recapping the events of the 2016 election night and the results’ unveiling in the early hours of November 9th. After disclosing his own history with the Trumps and reflecting on the part he himself played in the rise of Donald, Moore then shifts focus to the Obama era and the water crisis that unfolded in Flint Michigan… read more

—

Happy New Year, Colin Burstead.
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Starring Neil Maskell, Hayley Squires, Joe Cole, Charles Dance, Alexandra Maria Lara and Sam Riley

A film about a bunch of assholes shouting at each other is nothing new for director Ben Wheatley, but in the case of Happy New Year, Colin Burstead. it’s done without the violence. Imagine Free Fire without the guns, and everyone’s related to each other… read more

—

LFF Connects: Simon Amstell

On Saturday 20th October, award-winning comedian and now filmmaker Simon Amstell sat down at the BFI to discuss his career, as part of the LFF Connects series of interviews with creatives who are shaping the future of film… read more

—

Lizzie
Directed by Craig William Macneill
Starring Chloë Sevigny, Kristen Stewart, Kim Dickens, Fiona Shaw, Denis O’Hare and Jeff Perry

Lizzie Borden gained notoriety as the primary suspect for the murders of her father and stepmother in 1892, Fall River Massachusetts. She was eventually acquitted of the crimes, but remained associated with them for the rest of her life, until her death in 1927. There are many theories as to what actually happened the morning of the Bordens’ murders, and the film Lizzie explores its own take on this… read more

—

Mandy
Directed by Panos Cosmatos
Starring Nicolas Cage, Andrea Riseborough, Linus Roache, Ned Dennehy, Olwen Fouéré, Richard Brake and Bill Duke
Music by Jóhann Jóhannsson

Designed to a T to be a cult hit, Mandy will divide audiences. Staged in three acts, the film contradicts itself in the seriousness of its tone, starting with the setup of Red (Cage) and Mandy (Riseborough) going about their days, living in their rural home near the idyllic Shadow Mountains. Outside of cracking a solid knock-knock joke, star Nicolas Cage has very little to do in the first act and is hardly seen. The next act then shifts focus to the Children of the New Dawn, a hippie cult led by Jeremiah Sand (Roache). Mandy catches the eye of Jeremiah, and the cult kidnap, drug and murder the poor woman – all in front of Red. This leads us to the third and most over-the-top act where Red seeks revenge on the cult, and Nicolas Cage goes full Nicolas Cage in the Nicolas Cagiest performance I have ever seen… read more

—

Outlaw King
Directed by David Mackenzie
Starring Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, Billy Howle, Tony Curran, James Cosmo and Stephen Dillane

Outlaw King is a historical film about Scottish hero Robert the Bruce. Directed by David Mackenzie and starring Chris Pine, the film had its world premiere in September at the Toronto International Film Festival, and with a new edit, holds its European premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. For those who don’t get a chance to see it at the festival, Outlaw King is scheduled for release on Netflix November 9th, 2018.

Director David Mackenzie, producer Gillian Berrie and stars Chris Pine, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Tony Curran and James Cosmo were at the BFI London Film Festival European premiere of Outlaw King… read more

—

Papi Chulo
Directed by John Butler
Starring Matt Bomer and Alejandro Patiño

Matt Bomer stars in this tragicomedy about a TV weatherman in the midst of an emotional breakdown after the end of his relationship with an older Latino man. While on gardening leave from work, Sean (Bomer) hires an older Latino migrant worker, Ernesto, to help him paint his deck. The job evolves into the likes of going on hikes together, taking boat rides, and going to parties as Sean uses Ernesto first as an unwitting therapist, then as a friend, and ultimately as a stand-in for his lost lover… read more

—

Screen Talk: Alfonso Cuarón

On the morning of October 14th, director Alfonso Cuarón was scheduled for an onstage interview at BFI Southbank. With only 45 minutes notice, the event was postponed as the director was having travel issues. Later that day, BFI patrons received an email notifying them that the event was still to go ahead, but now at Picturehouse Central at 4:30pm. As the time finally arrived for Alfonso Cuarón to take the stage, the theatre was only half full as the BFI announced full refunds for everyone… read more

—

Shadow (Ying)
Directed by Zhang Yimou
Starring Deng Chao, Sun Li, Zheng Kai, Wang Qianyuan, Wang Jingchun, Hu Jun, Guan Xiaotong and Leo Wu

Based on historical Chinese lore, Shadow tells the tale of neighbouring kingdoms Pei and Jing, who have a history of friction, remaining at odds with each other to no end. When Pei’s Commander goes against his King’s wishes to battle Jing’s ruler, the plot begins to unfold. But the Commander is not who he seems to be – close to death, the true Commander is in hiding, employing a ‘shadow’ doppelgänger to start a new war to claim Jing… read more

—

Sorry to Bother You
Directed by Boots Riley
Starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Kate Berlant, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, Armie Hammer, David Cross, Patton Oswalt, Lily James, Forest Whitaker and Rosario Dawson

There is something almost cartoonish about Boots Riley’s directorial debut Sorry to Bother You. The surrealist visuals and absurdist elements give the film a bold and unique tone, while Riley’s voice clearly defines its anti-capitalist stance. The allegory is so overt it borders on ridiculous, but with an overabundance of ideas jam-packed into 90 minutes, it almost has to be to stand out. And boy, does it stand out. This film starts out crazy, but by the end, it is absolutely batshit… read more

—

Stan & Ollie
Directed by Jon S. Baird
Starring Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, Nina Arianda, Shirley Henderson and Danny Huston

It’s 1953, and the world-famous comedy double act Stan Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (John C. Reilly) have entered into the final phase of their careers. Now in their sixties, they embark on an ambitious theatre tour of the U.K. in an effort to reignite their fame, and secure funding for a new movie project. But the tour doesn’t go as expected: They’re booked into cheap guest houses, and play to half-empty music halls. The world of comedy has moved on, it seems; more interested in Norman Wisdom and Abbott & Costello than two old men in bowler hats who keep falling over… read more

—

Suspiria
Directed by Luca Guadagnino
Starring Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Jessica Harper and Chloë Grace Moretz

Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria is enough of a departure from the 1977 original that a review of comparison is pointless. While still a Euro-horror of dance and witches, much of its plot and central themes have been updated or changed. Dario Argento’s lurid colours and Goblin’s staccato synths have been traded in for muted, rain-soaked alleys and Thom Yorke’s eerie drawl. It’s a very different beast; one that deserves to be reviewed as a film in its own right… read more

—

The Breaker Upperers
Directed by Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami
Starring Jackie van Beek, Madeleine Sami and James Rolleston

Written by, directed by and starring New Zealand comics Jackie van Beek and Madeleine Sami, The Breaker Upperers is a story of two women who run a relationship break-up service for the desperate, unhappy and ultimately cowardly people of Auckland. Want to be rid of your partner? Mel and Jen can help stage an affair, object at the altar or – horrifyingly – pose as police women and just straight-out fake your death… read more

—

The Favourite
Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult and Joe Alwyn

In early 18th century Britain, England is at war with France, while an ailing Queen Anne (Colman) relies heavily on her devoted friend Lady Sarah (Weisz) for political advice and companionship. When Sarah’s cousin Abigail (Stone) arrives at the Palace and worms her way in to the Queen’s bedside, a harsh rivalry forms between the two women as they fight a pernicious battle to win the Queen’s favour. Lady Sarah uses her position as the Queen’s confidant to manipulate political favour in the matters of the war and greater politics of Britain. Abigail’s aim is to restore her social status to once again become a Lady… read more

—

The Front Runner
Directed by Jason Reitman
Starring Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga and J.K. Simmons

A relative footnote in U.S. political history, given new resonance in the era of Trump, Twitter and 24-hour online news, The Front Runner charts the fall of 1988 Presidential Candidate Gary Hart. His confidence, charm and good political sense made him the man to beat; allegations of an extra-marital affair brought him down… read more

—

The Guilty
Directed by Gustav Möller
Starring Jakob Cedergren, Jessica Dinnage and Johan Olsen

Police despatch officer Asgar Holm (Jakob Cedergren) is manning the phones on his regular shift when he receives an unusual call: A young woman, obviously in distress, but strangely cryptic about why. Realising she’s in the process of being kidnapped, and sat next to her captor, Asgar tries to help before the call is suddenly terminated. Set entirely within the confines of a single, small office, The Guilty charts Asgar’s obsessive quest to save her, aided by only a phone and a computer… read more

—

The Old Man and The Gun
Directed by David Lowery
Starring Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Tom Waits and Danny Glover

Inspired by the life of career criminal Forrest Tucker, who famously continued to rob banks well into his seventies, The Old Man and The Gun stars Robert Redford in what is to be his final performance, having announced his retirement earlier this year… read more

—

The Sisters Brothers
Directed by Jacques Audiard
Starring John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed

With ‘The Western’ being an enduring staple of cinema, you’d think it’d be hard to do a refreshing take on the genre. But The Sisters Brothers goes against all convention, using the Western landscape and lawless brutality as a backdrop to a very human and modern story… read more

—

Thunder Road
Directed by Jim Cummings
Starring Jim Cummings, Kendal Farr and Nican Robinson

Adapted from the Sundance-winning short film of the same name, Thunder Road walks the line of comedy and drama with such precision, it’s hard to know whether the audience should be laughing or crying. As writer, director and star, Jim Cummings gives a tear-inducing performance as Jim Arnaud, an officer who is grieving over the loss of his mother, while trying to forge a meaningful relationship with his daughter… read more

—

Vox Lux
Directed by Brady Corbet
Starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin and Jennifer Ehle

In 1999, teenaged Celeste (Cassidy) survives a high school shooting massacre. At the memorial, she performs a song she composed with her sister Eleanor (Martin), capturing the attention of an enthusiastic music manager (Law) who propels Celeste into pop stardom. Set post 9/11, the film’s second half sees 31-year-old Celeste (Portman) ravaged by fame, and as a mother to her own teenaged daughter Albertine (Cassidy). Celeste’s career and life is fraught with scandal and violence as she struggles to navigate through it with her sanity and sobriety intact. Director Brady Corbet uses Vox Lux as a commentary on the 21st Century and the prominent roles played by terror, tragedy and celebrity… read more

—

Widows
Directed by Steve McQueen
Starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Jacki Weaver, Carrie Coon, Robert Duvall and Liam Neeson

Academy Award winner Steve McQueen directs the hell out of this female-fronted heist thriller. Widows is stylish through and through, from its bold camera choices to its slick cinematography. The star-studded cast led by Viola Davis is excellent, featuring some Hollywood legends in minor roles. The acting is superb, especially Viola Davis as the grieving widow who leads her team of fellow widows in the heist of a lifetime… read more

—

Wildlife
Directed by Paul Dano
Starring Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ed Oxenbould, and Bill Camp

Small-town America in the 1950’s promised a certain lifestyle for families, with the man working to provide while the woman would tend to the home and children. For patriarch Jerry and his wife Jeanette, this idealized life is not enough, and their dissatisfactions bubble underneath their reserved facades. As Jerry loses his job, he uses it as an excuse to run away to fight the wildfires of rural Montana, leaving Jeanette home alone with their teenaged son Joe. Jerry’s time away from the family is the catalyst Jeanette needs to re-examine her life and make changes. Against convention, she takes on work, takes up an older man and all the while unravels from being a sane and responsible mother… read more

—