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25 Alternative 2011 TIFF Picks: Whit Stillman’s Damsels in Distress
Coming in thirteen years after his masterful Last Days of Disco, there’s a reason why this under-appreciated filmmaker has most of his limited oeuvre in the Criterion Collection. For those familiar with his movies, there isn’t a better writer of dialogue alive today.
#8. Damsels in Distress
Director: Whit Stillman
Cast: Greta Gerwig, Adam Brody, Analeigh Tipton, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Carrie MacLemore, Hugo Becker
Distributor: Rights Available
Buzz: Coming in thirteen years after his masterful Last Days of Disco, there’s a reason why this under-appreciated filmmaker has most of his limited oeuvre in the Criterion Collection. For those familiar with his movies, there isn’t a better writer of dialogue alive today. As the closing night film in Venice, one gets the impression that the spotlight-shunning Stillman is beginning to come across as a Malick-esque reclusive figure. As long as his output is as solid as it is, we’ll take what we can get.
The Gist: After littering the 1990’s with three of that decades most sharpest and most intelligently scripted films, Stillman skipped a decade before finally bringing us his newest vision of privileged up-an-coming yuppies. Reading like a high-brow Mean Girls, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes a reviled cult smash. Just be prepared for the cult to be as snooty and bookish as these characters, and you’ll fit right in.
TIFF Schedule: Tuesday September 13 Visa Screening Room (Elgin) 6:00pm
Wednesday September 14 Scotiabank Theatre 4 9:15am
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