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FilmColumbia: 2018 festival awash with tempting films, honors actor Brian Cox

Is there a theme this year? Well, no—Biskind is “going for the best films I can get.” And looking at the program this year, he has done just that.

Chatham, N.Y. — Again I am trying to navigate a film festival. This one is the 19th FilmColumbia festival and it is awash with tempting films. But this year is different. The political climate has dampened everyone’s mood (I guess I can only speak for myself and my friends, but …). We are all walking around in a fog. Breaking news brings horrendous news. And the worst part is we are becoming deadened to it all, hoping for it to end but nothing in sight that is definitely bringing relief (Hurry up, Mueller! and please everyone VOTE!!!).

Peter Biskind. Photo courtesy FilmColumbia

Anyway, back to the festival. I am trying to choose films to view that will resonate with my mood and perhaps uplift it. I spoke with Peter Biskind, the executive and co-artistic director of FilmColumbia. During this riveting and grim time, Biskind has just published a book with the intriguing title of “The Sky is Falling: How Vampires, Zombies, Androids, and Superheroes Make America Great for Extremism” (I am certainly interested in that!). Is there a theme this year? Well, no—Biskind is “going for the best films I can get.” And looking at the program this year, he has done just that.

The festival has started out with a bang, honoring Brian Cox, one of our most prolific and talented actors, who actually lives part-time in my town. He has been in over 200 films and several TV series (including the current well-received “Succession” on HBO) and has brought his brilliance to many diverse roles. The festival showcased four of his favorite films and it has only whetted my appetite to see many more of his movies (including his recent one “The Etruscan Smile,” which won best ensemble cast and cinematography at the Boston Film Festival and Best Film at the Montreal World Film Festival). The discussion with Cox and Biskind after viewing his films explored his independent attitude and philosophy of filmmaking.

Brian Cox in ‘L.I.E.’ Image courtesy imdb.com

The braveness of his choices is displayed in the four films we saw this weekend. Three of the four films had first-time directors (which showed a lot of confidence that he could trust these “virgin” directors). The last film we saw, “L.I.E.” (2010), is an unsettling story about a pederast (not usually a very sympathetic character). This role was strongly advised against by his friends, fearing it could ruin his career. Cox made the character ominous, but also strangely compassionate and complex. He won several awards for this performance: Best Actor at both the Boston Society of Film Critics Awards and the Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards. This was Paul Dano’s first major role (as the young object of Cox’s character) and he won the best debut performance from the Independent Spirit Awards.

Paul Dano and Brian Cox in ‘The Good Heart.’ Image courtesy imdb.com

“The Good Heart” (2009) is a beautiful film with Cox playing a very bitter, curmudgeonly-type bar owner. His life is changed in many ways when the sweet Dano character comes into his life. This movie is definitely uplifting and I suggest you find it on Netflix for one of those days when you think human nature just can’t get any worse! “The Carer” (2016) also has Cox playing another curmudgeon but this time he is a retired thespian who has a very debilitating form of Parkinson’s disease. He is saved from just accepting his present miserable state by his new “carer.” Dorottya (Coco Konig, a wonderful Austrian actress) is a compassionate young theater student who pushes him into accepting a lifetime achievement award. Just the back and forth of the Shakespearean themes and dialogue they engage in is dazzling. Another film that can definitely change your mood is “The Escapist” (2008). It is a fast-paced prison break movie. Cox won best acting performance from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for this role, which was written specifically for him. This is definitely an “escapist” film—the hour and a half flies by. You will be on tenterhooks for most of the film due to the excellent ensemble cast (including Damian Lewis, Dominic Cooper and Joseph Fiennes) and the amazing sound effects and cinematography. The audience definitely was interested in exploring other films and TV series that Cox has appeared in. He suggested (and there are so many to choose from) “Adaptation,” “25th Hour,” “Deadwood” and “Remember Me.”

The great takeaway from most film festivals is the discovery of new lands and ideas—through documentaries and also becoming aware of talented actors and directors who have not been on your radar before. I’m looking forward to these revelations in the coming days of this festival.

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