2002: Viola Davis' breakthrough year in cinema

TFE likes to focus on a film year in the buildup to the Smackdown. For the first half of June that's 2002. 

Viola Davis at a Solaris premiere in 2002

by Nick Taylor

There’s always something novel about seeing a current megastar at the beginning of their career. Who was this person before they became who they are now? How does their early work fit into their current persona? Can we catch a glimpse of the brilliant career that’s coming?

A solid example of this kind of retrospective would be the pretty good year Viola Davis had in 2002. She had appeared in small roles in six films before then but had yet to capture public attention on the screen. Fresh off her first Tony win in 2001 for King Hedley II, that began to change. In 2002 she had noteworthy supporting roles in three major films from high-profile directors, each operating in vastly different genres and released in the key November-December awards slot.

Her most high profile role that year was as Julianne Moore’s housekeeper in Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven, still the best film Davis has appeared in...

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Can You Ever Retweet Me?

Tweets!

The dog in Widows is named Olivia. The real, credited name of the dog in Game Night is Olivia. Is it... is it the same dog? pic.twitter.com/zU787tQhwG

— kateyrich (@kateyrich) November 16, 2018

 A semi-weekly curated collection of tweets for your seconds-long amusement. After the jump Julianne Moore, Tom Hardy, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez memes, Widows, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, Gone Girl, Fantastic Beasts 2, Beetlejuice and more...

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September Means We're Not So Far From Heaven

If you've been melting from the heat all summer, the thought of orange foliage and fallen leaves sweeping in the wind feels as welcome and cozy as a smart headscarf and sensible jacket. And now that sweltery August has thankfully come to a close, let's pretend like autumn's official kick-off isn't a couple of weeks away and start celebrating at the stroke of September - shifting weather patterns, ignored.

Without reservation, the first film that comes to mind when I think of fall is Todd Haynes' other magnificent 50s-set melodrama Far From Heaven. Away from the stuffy judgment of suburban social mores, Cathy Whitaker escapes from her plastic shackles and finds that seasons change swifter in nature and far more beautifully than they do around the cul-de-sac. Thankfully, the camera is under the trees with her.

Which movies instantly transport you into the sweater-draped headspace of the autumn months?

When you can't find the words...

I don't know why, but I just adore it. The feeling it gives. I know that sounds terribly vague.

"Carol" Week: An Evening with Cinematographer Ed Lachman

Kieran, here wishing everyone a very happy Carol week.  If ever there was a film that truly deserved an entire week dedicated to celebrating it, it’s Todd Haynes’ sumptuous cinematic buffet. The film is a rare animal in the landscape in that it truly feels like every element of its filmmaking works cohesively in service of the overall vision. That was apparent on a re-watch last Friday evening in Los Angeles and even more so afterwards listening to cinematographer Edward Lachman talk to the audience about the process of finding the appropriate look for it after the screening.

“Todd always does great research before every film,” one of the many moments of him singing his director’s praises.  “One of the greatest mandates was making sure it didn’t resemble Far From Heaven,” Lachman stated.  [More...]

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