london film festival, circa 2024
london film festival, circa 2024
the short and sweet year number 4. we're still going strong lads.
And just like that, year four at the London Film Festival has drawn to a close. I gather my things from the wooden floors that stretch across the Royal Festival Hall at the Southbank Centre, close the brown seats, and make my way to Embankment Station. It’s been another decent year for me—I only managed to catch three films this time, sadly having to sell a ticket to a highly anticipated one (grr, adulting strikes again), but all in all, it’s been a good year. Let’s dive straight in.
conclave dir. by edward berger
First on the list was Conclave, directed by Edward Berger. From the trailer alone, I knew this would be a film that piqued my interest. The scandalous activities of the Catholic Church and the sins of the "sinless" all on display—Of course I was going to be seated, who wouldn’t be?! I wasn’t keen on All Quiet on the Western Front, but I had faith that Berger would make a fantastic film, and he definitely did. Conclave is a beautifully crafted thriller with painterly cinematography that explores what happens when the Pope dies, and a successor must be chosen by the cardinals. Full of utmost secrecy and deceit from the holiest of figures, Berger crafts a gorgeous film with a stellar cast who give nothing short of incredible performances. Our Lord Voldemort (yes, I said his name—I fear nothing!) switches over to the good side as Ralph Fiennes continues to master his craft, fitting seamlessly into the world of the Catholic Church. This role will surely earn Fiennes an Oscar nomination; I’ll be surprised (but also kinda not surprised, they’ve made some choices in recent years) if the Academy ends up glossing over it. Honorary shoutouts to Stanley Tucci and Isabella Rossellini, who are fab to watch on screen. I do wish Rossellini was given more to work with, but her character still plays a very focal part in the story's unfolding. I was on such a high when I left this screening—a really great start to the festival for me!
4/5☆
denis villeneuve screen talk - hosted by brett goldstein
The only time I won’t complain about waking up at 8am on a Saturday. Yes, that’s early for me—I am not a morning person :)
From the many exchanged laughs and jokes between Brett Goldstein and Denis, to the occasional interruption from the youngest fan in the audience (which led to Denis declaring his love for babies), and, of course, the in-depth chat about the glorious career Villeneuve has built for himself, it was a fantastic day. It was incredible to see a master talk about his work, and he had such a great sense of humor. He also admitted that he thought Blade Runner 2049 would be the end of his career. Like, come on. But we love a humble king.
75 minutes later, I was met with brisk London air and left Southbank with another book that will probably take me ten years to finish. A perfect way to spend a Saturday morning.
15/5☆☆☆
the apprentice dir. by ali abbasi
The deep dive into Roy Cohn begins now.
Jeremy Strong—you can never do me wrong (Kendall Roy fans, we won again). He absolutely bodied this role. The same goes for Sebastian Stan, who was genuinely incredible, and I hope he gets the recognition he deserves during awards season. His performance is spot-on, embodying Trump’s facial expressions and movements without veering into caricature. We really gain insight into Trump’s earlier days as a seemingly inexperienced real estate grafter and how he, unfortunately, became who he is today—and it has a lot to do with Mr Roy Cohn. Trump quickly becomes mesmerised by Cohn’s brutish approach to dealing with others and soon adopts a similar persona. What I loved most is how Trump and Cohn’s relationship begins on a fruitful note, almost like a father-son dynamic, but quickly sours as Trump morphs into the recognisable figure we know today—a man with little empathy, driven solely by a hunger for power. The film stays true to the essence of these characters, with plenty of comedic moments that help balance the intensity. I had a great time with this one.
4/5☆
queer dir. by luca guadagnino
Gosh, I’m not even sure where to start with this film, but the more I’ve sat with my thoughts, the more I love it. Queer is a trip—one heavily influenced by drugs, but it’s also an emotional journey for hopeless romantics. There’s nothing worse than being thrown into a whirlwind of feelings for someone who can’t return an inch (or three, or four) of what you feel. But then again, when have us hopeless romantics ever been realistic? This is Daniel Craig’s character in a nutshell: desperate, delusional, and drunk (c’mon, alliteration). It’s a role we’ve never seen from Craig, but it just might be a career best. I was taken aback by how incredible he was, and that’s not to say he hasn’t always been good, but in a role like this, he’s outstanding.
The same goes for Drew Starkey, who, though he doesn’t have much dialogue, brilliantly conveys emotion through silences and glances exchanged with Craig’s character. He remains mysterious and emotionally distant, which only pulls Lee (Craig’s character) in deeper. For Lee, Eugene (played by Starkey) is a drug—and so are ayahuasca and the many other cocktails of substances he consumes. Together, they create the perfect anxiously attached and avoidant relationship. Luca Guadagnino takes a bold, experimental approach here, but in the best way. He continues to capture what love and desire feel like, even on the more desperate end of the scale. I can definitely understand the divided reviews, especially since I started to drift a bit in the third act, but there’s so much excellence in this film that it redeems any dip in momentum. My love for Guadagnino’s work remains strong, and as always, he knows how to pick one hell of a soundtrack.
4/5☆
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A brief moment for my fallen soldiers (I’ll see them soon)
we live in time dir by john crowley
last swim dir by sasha nathwani
Ta LFF. Another year, another blast. See you same time next year x
Mila xo
Eyes: Slow Horses & Derry Girls. 2 shows at once?! Who even am I?
Ears: Saw Disclosure the other day for first time, bucket list moment. Been on repeat since.
Knowledge: Looking to start An Olive In Ends by Moses McKenzie.