TWO films dominated the awards season this year – and they could hardly be more different. Both are among the most popular for Moviola screenings in this early summer period. Hamnet has been and remains the most-requested, but Paul Thomas Anderson’s action-comedy-thriller film One Battle After Another is also winning village audiences across the region.
Hamnet is adapted from Maggie O’Farrell’s beautiful, tragic and deeply mystical story of Shakespeare’s family, principally his wife Agnes (Jessie Buckley) and their children, including their son Hamnet, whose death triggers boundless grief for Agnes, until she travels to London and attends the first performance at the Globe Theatre of her husband’s new play, Hamlet.
This beautiful and moving film is completely dominated by Buckley’s BAFTA and Oscar-winning performance and it is worth seeing for that alone. Moviola is showing it at Bourton, West Lydford, Fawley (Jubilee Hall), Somerton (Parish Rooms), Charlton Marshall, Wilmington Community Cinema (Devon), Pewsey (Bouverie Hall), Winterslow, Leigh (near Sherborne), Harnham (Sports and Social Club, near Salisbury) and Edington (Somerset).
One Battle After Another pitches two massive Hollywood stars, both Academy Award-winners, Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn on opposite sides of this story of a washed-up former revolutionary who is brought back into conflict when his enemy resurfaces after 16 years.
Bob (DiCaprio) lives in a state of stoned paranoia, surviving off-grid with his spirited and self-reliant daughter, Willa (Chase Infiniti in her impressive film debut). When his evil nemesis (Penn) resurfaces and Willa goes missing, the former radical scrambles to find her, as both father and daughter battle the consequences of their pasts.
Written, directed and produced by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film was inspired by the 1990 novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon. One Battle After Another won six out of the 13 Academy Awards it was nominated for, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Penn) and Best Casting, becoming the inaugural recipient for the latter. Other nominations and awards came at Actor Awards, the Critics’ Choice Awards, including Best Picture, the Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture, and the BAFTAs, including Best Film.
It is being shown by Moviola at Codford St Peter (Woolstore Theatre), Chilthorne Domer, Shepton Montague, Hanging Langford and Hardington Mandeville.
For dates and venues, see the Arts Diary; for more information on films and timings visit moviola.org
Another popular film in June is Song Sung Blue, a romantic and musical drama film, based on the 2008 documentary film of the same name by Greg Kohs. It stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as Mike and Claire Sardina, who performed as the Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning & Thunder.
It is being shown at Yetminster (Jubilee Hall), South Petherton (David Hall), Chard (Guildhall), Hawkchurch, Whitchurch, Norton St Philip and Halstock.
The other June films are:
– H is for Hawk at Beaminster, Shrewton, Nether Wallop, West Camel and Bishopstone (Salisbury);
– Rental Family at Bransgore and Castle Cary (Caryford Hall);
– The Choral at Kingsbury Episcopi and Cattistock (Savill Hall);
– and Nouvelle Vague at South Petherton (David Hall).