TIFF wraps up Sunday and since we'd like the last few pieces to be positive let's get some negativity out of the way. Here are two films which yours truly did not respond well to. One is certain to be trashed by critics and the other, though trashy, is being widely praised. But they're both bad.
Halle Berry is, at this very moment, dreaming of naked Daniel Craig. Same.
Kings
The biggest disappointment of the festival for this cinephile was Denis Gamze Erguven's sophomore effort. Kings is about a large foster family led by Halle Berry during the Rodney King trial / LA riots time period It is, quite frankly, a disaster. The most shameful mistake is the bizarre choice to cross-cut back and forth between a violent teenage tragedy and a slapstick comedy scene involving two movie stars MacGyvering their way out of police handcuffs in their underwear. (I am not making this up.) But beyond that there are numerous script problems including a romantic comedy like subplot featuring Daniel Craig as Halle Berry's British writer neighbor, who keeps saving the day which is an alarming script choice on every level for a movie ostensibly about race in America.
Though Halle Berry is constantly shown hugging and kissing her huge brood (good mom feels galore), she mostly actually leaves them at home alone without anything to eat. The eldest son (Lamar Johnson) is forced to care for them and they resort to stealing from grocery stores to feed themselves. There's so much neglect I was tempted to call Social Services myself!
"Sophomore slump" is a famous cliche for a reason but to go from the towering heights of an Oscar nominated debut (Mustang made our top ten list right here) to this is just mystifying. And since it is we have to ask why a French/Turkish director wanted to make a movie about race riots in 1990s America to begin with? I will be there for film three on the strength of Mustang (a movie that good buys you multiple chances) so let's hope film #2 was a fluke.
Grade: D-
I, Tonya
Listen, I know it's bad form to claim other people's takes on movies are suspect but in this case I just can't help it. I'm convinced that I, Tonya generated acclaim at the festival because a mainstream trashy comedy with famous actors about a story everyone knows by heart is just not the kind of thing you see at film festivals. It's the ultimate counter-programming when you've seen 10 depressing art films in a row.
If you don't want to wait till the movie comes out here's how to visualize it. First, remember everything you know about the Tonya Harding scandal. Subtract Nancy Kerrigan for the most part. Then imagine that story directed in the style of Drop Dead Gorgeous only with enough direct-to-camera mockumentary addresses to give Christopher Guest pause. Add in breaking the fourth wall even during the acted scenes. Make sure that whatever movie you're picturing is uglier to look at than you think. Add one broad mouth-breather performance right out of Napoleon Dynamite from an actor you don't know. Stir in famous people like Margot Robbie, Julianne Nicholson, and Allison Janney in silly wigs doing CHARACTERS. Put a bird on Allison Janney's shoulder for big laughs. Add Sebastian Stan with glued on facial hair. Now picture yourself laughing at domestic and child abuse jokes and then feeling guilty about it because the movie wants you to also take them seriously and think about the damage they do to psychological development.
Watch Tonya be a terrible person and then blame YOU, yes, you, direct to camera for judging her all those years ago and thinking she was a terrible person. Notice that the movie backs her up as if the media was the problem despite the fact that a competitor was violently assaulted. Oh, and every third scene put a stunt skater on ice and superimpose Margot Robbie's head one size too large (or small) on that body; spin her face around in the computer like she's Pazuzu.
But yes the movie is funny. And Margot Robbie is pretty good. And Allison Janney is both totally hilarious and actually scary so, in short, quite memorable. (Nobody is saying this in the Janney-praise party but Julianne Nicholson is great as the ramrod stiff skating coach, buried in so much winter clothing and frosty wig that it's like she's hiding from a bad movie, while still being excellent in it)
Grade: C/C-
Oscar Chances: Much to my surprise, yes. Margot Robbie is a longshot (but possible) in the crowded Best Actress race but Allison Janney could well be a slamdunk for a Supporting Actress nod given the love for her among actors and the very showy role.