46th NYFF: Closing Thoughts

I have to admit it: the New York Film Festival is my favorite. Sure, it’s not the freshest or dramatic cinematic affair and, in actuality, it’s very low in importance for any upcoming filmmaker. But for a journalist it represents an opportunity to catch some of the best cinema the year has to offer; from Hollywood to microbudget and stretching across the far reaches of the globe in efforts to present one of most well-rounded film festivals in the world. Every film I saw this year was a gem. Whether it was Olivier Assayas’ Summer Hours or Ari Folman’s incredible Waltz with Bashir, each film carried a powerful emotion resonance. Although Che left me feeling kind of rigid, the sheer ambition of the project was dynamic to watch. Both Gomorrah and The Wrestler should satisfy all “macho” film enthusiasts’ expectations this holiday season. Both are well-crafted, violent portrayals of humanity gone awry. Also A Christmas Tale and The Class should be on everyone’s family viewing lists, as both are sure to spurn discussion among all age groups from across the globe. The Changeling was your typical Clint Eastwood affair and needs no further press from us, but it was decent mainstream flick, if not a little overwrought. I didn’t get a chance to see either Happy-Go-Lucky or Hunger although my fellow journalists tell me I missed out in a big way. Afterschool was a decent debut and hopefully there will be an interview with the director appearing here soon. At the end of the day, the New York Film Festival is a big highlight of the year for me. These are the kinds of films I love to watch and I hope that the Film Society of Lincoln Center continues this program for a long time coming.