"Wonderstruck" is NYFF's Centerpiece Selection

Chris here. Todd Haynes's Carol follow-up, the genre mash-up Wonderstruck has been one of our most anticipated here at The Film Experience for some time, naturally. While the film got a mixed reception at Cannes and came up empty handed for prizes, that's not enough to dampen our excitement. Haynes reunited with Julianne Moore? Of course we're there! But the film just landed a prime spot on the fall festival circuit - Wonderstruck will be the Centerpiece for the New York Film Festival.

Festival hounds will remember that this spot went to 20th Century Women's world premiere last year - so let's hope the film is as beloved in these parts as that film. But will it capture Oscar's attentions more than that small film? Haynes hasn't had much luck on the big prizes, so we bet Wonderstuck could at least register below the line as his previous films have. Despite the muted Cannes reactions, one of the most universally praised elements of the film was the performance of young deaf actress Millicent Simmonds - could she be the next youngster to steal Oscar's hearts? 

Wonderstruck play's NYFF afew weeks before opening October 20. Tell us what has you most excited about the film!

Bob Hope to Ella Fitzgerald

The Irony in "Transformers: The Last Knight"

By Spencer Coile 

Since 2007, we have all come to expect the same qualities from Michael Bay's Transformers franchise: lengthy action sequences, stilted performances, and nonsensical storylines. With his latest entry into the world of Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and co. with Transformers: The Last Knight, it seems as though Bay has thrown all logic out the window (alongside characterization). Heralding back to Medieval Ages and tracing the origin of the transformers to the days of Merlin, Bay dips his artistic vision in the realm of magic, surrounding his audiences with a silly and convoluted story of redemption and surrealism. 

The movie is not particularly good...

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Bening to Lead Venice Film Festival Jury

Chris here. It may not make up for missing out on an Oscar nomination for some of her best work in 20th Century Women, but Annette Bening is getting a global cinema honor of a different sort. The legendary actress will be president of this year's Venice Film Festival competition slate.

Bening will be the first woman to serve over the Venice jury in over a decade, the last being Catherine Deneuve's jury awarded Jia Zhangke's Still Life in 2006. What's heartening is that it was a conscious choice from festival director Alberto Barbera to represent female voices in film, one that rival festivals have struggled to achieve. He states:

It was time to break with a long list of male presidents and invite a brilliant talented and inspiring woman to chair our International competition jury. I am extremely happy that Annette Bening has accepted this role, which she will carry out by virtue of her stature, her intellect and the talents she has manifested over the course of her career, in Hollywood, Europe and on the stage. Hers is a career marked by always interesting, often daring choices. A sophisticated and instinctive actress, able to portray complex shadings of character, Annette Bening brings to her roles an understating, a warmth and a natural elegance that makes watching her films a wonderful and ever enriching experience. I welcome her to Venice.

Here here on Annette's gifts, but we'll see if that pro-diversity sentiment carries over into their selected films, however. Which means we can start speculating on what film's Venice will be serving Annette (and which she'll give a "yes and no"). This certainly puts her upcoming adaptations of The Seagull and Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool out of the running, but we will hopefully hear word of an opener in short time.

Hidden Streaming Gem: "Miami Rhapsody"

Hello! Robert here. The other night as I was enjoying my long Fourth of July weekend I was in the mood for a movie; something I hadn't seen, something light and funny, something for a summer night on the couch with a bottle of rosé. After clicking around on HBONow for a few minutes boy did I ever find what I was looking for: a gem of a '90s pseudo-intellectual rom-com called Miami Rhapsody. Won't you take a journey back in time with me and explore this strange little film?

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