To parallel the Academy’s list of Best Picture nominees, I’ll only declare my top nine. Most years, a list needs to spill beyond nine or ten and mention several other movies. Not this year.
1. A Dangerous Method:
2. A Separation:
3. Moneyball:
4. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close:
5. The Artist:
6. The Help:
7. Win Win:
8. Buck
9. Midnight in Paris
Wild & Scenic Film Festival Selecting . . .
Freud, Jung, and a female psychiatrist spark in an intellectually juicy way. An Iranian story, but not political, this family drama wrenches deeply. Baseball, with a computer nerdy rhythm, shifts the underdog story well. A movie yarn that leverages a great, precious kid and great, implausible turns. Stylish brilliance fully resonates in a triumph of lightweight retro entertainment. Superlative ensemble acting delivers a compelling commercial success. Paul Giamatti is always a good bet. Yes, to more human stories like this one. It’s a personal pleasure spending time with this person, this “Horse Whisperer.” Woody Allen’s biggest commercial success, it’s stylish and clever. It was a documentary trip and a half watching 350 films (average length 40 minutes) to help program this issue-and-adventure-rich 10th annual festival.