Hi, it’s Murtada. Despite “the world being in such turmoil”, I will take inspiration from my favorite awards speeches from actresses and get on with the job at hand. After setting up a monthly donation to the ACLU, and signing up to volunteer helping new immigrants, I’m ready with my “happy movie face”. First I will thank The Film Experience because when you leave it to the end, they play them “off with the music” or put them after the jump.
I'm thankful for….
- The Film Experience, its kind ringleader Nathaniel, its fantastic writers, its engaged readers and frequent commenters, a community, a breathing space, a respite.
And because “the world is round, people” let’s appreciate some amazing women for what they gave us this year, and while we're at it let's throw in “a few for the men as well”.
- the great big fuck you and “truth telling” Octavia Spencer gives to racists everywhere in Hidden Figures, for her warm, funny and compassionate performance.
-Viola Davis giving us the highly emotional acting we've come to expect from her but also showing us new surprising shades in Fences.
- Ruth Negga’s face in Loving and its endless, wordless well of emotion.
- the perfect duet of actor and director, Isabelle Huppert and Mia Hansen Love in Things To Come. For showing us, with no fanfare but with quiet power, that life is worth living even when a lot of the time it feels like it isn’t.
- Andrea Arnold’s wistful lively paean to America, American Honey.
- Toni Erdmann for ringing pathos and heartbreak out of a Whitney Houston ballad and laugh out loud comedy from a display of naked bodies.
- The Handmaiden’s indelible images and audacious compulsive storytelling and its amazing actresses Kim Tae-ri and Kim Min-hee.
- the anti cynicism and generosity of Paterson, for Adam Driver’s belief in the power of his stillness.
- Fire at Sea and I’m Not Your Negro, documentaries that inform and inspire without lecturing and with taut, brilliant filmmaking.
- the vibrant colors at the beginning of Julietta indicating its Almodóvar and the joy that gave me.
- Pablo Larraín and his one two punch of lyrical folksy Neruda and precise cutting Jackie, unlike each other and unlike any other biopic.
- the unpleasantness and horror of White Girl, we needed the jolt.
- the beautiful moving queer friendship and unapologetic flamboyant dancing in Other People, for reflecting how a lot of us are coping this November.
- Captain Fantastic for pointing a way to escape our ugly world. Wilderness here I come.
Murtada finally understood what magic was when he saw Debra Winger in An Officer and a Gentleman. He’s been mesmerized by movies ever since. From Khartoum, Sudan he decided to move to New York City when he got a New Yorker subscription at the age of 15. Many years later, the city remains his favorite place despite the very recent call of the wilderness. He just wishes more movies in Arabic played here. He tweets and blogs as ME_Says.
Read more about Team Experience here.