TODD HAYNES' BEST FILMS
Among the most interesting releases of March, that of May December risks going spectacularly unnoticed: the new film by Todd Haynes, nominated for this year's Oscars without the 'Italy was able to see it in time, it is just the umpteenth work by one of the most elegant and important authors of the last decades of cinema. It is not an exaggeration to consider Haynes, a director with a postmodern heart, as one of the most influential names inside and outside Hollywood: over the past 40 years, his films have always left their mark for their style, for their innate ability to overturning social conventions through the magic of aesthetics and the deconstruction of reality. The arrival of May December represents an unmissable opportunity to recover the works of an artist who is transgressive, unconventional and almost always impeccable in his staging. So here are the best tips for discovering the cinema of Todd Haynes, an artistic universe that constantly plays between parallel realities and intertwined stories to directly impact the observer.
1. Velvet Goldmine
After an extremely interesting debut, between productions awarded at Sundance and small cults like Safe, 1998 was the year of the limelight for Haynes. Velvet Goldmine, a cult work for fans, is an intriguing work of fiction that explores the life of rock star Brian Slade (a captivating personality who is strongly inspired by icons such as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and David Bowie). Making perfect use of a cast featuring Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Christian Bale, this film brings together very different glimpses to build a non-linear narrative that captivates from start to finish. A stylistic feature, especially in the screenplay, which will remain so in all subsequent works.
2. Far from Paradise
Despite having achieved a fair amount of fame in the 90s, it was the beginning of the 2000s that consecrated Haynes' talent even in the eyes of Hollywood that matters. In fact, 2002 saw the release of what is still considered his most important work, Lontano dal Paradiso. This elegant melodrama starring a Julianne Moore in a state of grace tells the story of a woman who discovers her husband's homosexuality and rediscovers her love while facing the hypocrisy and racism around her. A work of great impact, which in addition to exposing very powerful themes manages to enhance an incredibly multifaceted imagination - but above all inspired by the works of Douglas Sirk, the most scandalous director of the 1950s who with his unscrupulous gaze contributed enormously to breaking down hypocrisies of America at that time.
3. I'm Not Here
Haynes' fifth film, released in 2007, is perhaps the most particular biopic in memory, at least in recent times. With the clear intention of telling the life of Bob Dylan, the director chooses five different faces to explore the various periods of the artist's life through the experiences of imaginary characters: Christian Bale, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger and Cate Blanchett . An operation that had never been seen in those years, but which, through Haynes' style and his obsessive construction of scenes, completely revolutionized the way of approaching the genre. The result is a product that entertains, but above all fascinates and captivates through the most daring surrealism.
4. Carol
2015 sees Haynes approaching an extremely important adaptation, that of Patricia Highsmith's iconic novel. The Price of Salt, a taboo opera from the 1950s, explored the murky relationship between two women from different social classes. Carol, through the memorable performances of Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, manages to reach heights of expressive power and formal elegance that are perhaps unexpected even for a transposition of this caliber. Each sequence of the film leaves you breathless, enriched by a direction that is extremely careful in transmitting passion and feeling through even the smallest hints, managing to keep you glued to the screen and to overwhelm the hearts of the spectators.
5. Bad Waters
Perhaps the impact of Carol affected Haynes to the point of influencing all his subsequent works. Although the director has always been attracted to the biographical genre, the last years of his career have highlighted his progressive approach towards increasingly real stories. Dark Waters, Bad Waters, is only the latest example in chronological order. The 2019 film, which anticipates May December and its crazy news story, sees Mark Ruffalo in the role of Rob Bilott, a lawyer who undertakes a complex legal action against a large company. Perhaps a less impactful work than the previous ones, but which still bears witness to an important historical interest and allows us to admire some excellent performances - with names of the caliber of Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins supporting the protagonist.
Haynes has shown that he always has very clear ideas, both in terms of the construction of his imagery and in terms of attention to his stories. May December, starring Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman, will arrive in theaters on March 21st and will tell an even more delicate story, given that it is openly inspired by a very thorny American news case. All that remains is to wait for its release in our cinemas!
by Gabriele Cerrito for ScreenWorld.it for Filmamo