"Wonderstruck" is NYFF's Centerpiece Selection
Thursday, July 6, 2017 at 1:00PM 
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!
Reader Comments (6)
Can't wait! I'm still mad that A24 didn't release 20th Century Women *immediately* after NYFF when it could've had a chance to be discovered and appreciated before the onslaught of late-qualifying Oscar releases. It's film distribution malpractice, IMO.
Disclosure: The film indeed got a mixed reception at Cannes... by the ones who supported the carnival of gloom and gratuitous abjection that was the Official Competition this year.
By contrast, Wonderstruck was an unusually odd selection which miraculously didn't pander to the audience in spite of its familiar rating. A Spilbergian tale with the sumptuous visuals associated with Haynes. And a tearjearker to boot, too! In the best sense.
Much, much better than Okja and Hugo combined! If the Academy doesn't recognize Haynes for THIS, it never will.
Off Topic: I'd actually push that full changeover of Season expectations to the 26th. I'm not at all convinced with this idea that Dunkirk is a frontrunner, just on length alone. Once you subtract credits, we're looking at 98 minutes. Which: There's a reason war movies, even short war movies (like, say, Platoon), are a bit longer than that. And before someone brings up Paths of Glory: That was more a law movie than a war movie.
A 98-minute war movie? Sign me up!
That means no TIFF : ( OH well it comes out in Oct/Nov.
Would love to see Simmonds nominated if she is deserving! It would be wonderful to see an actor with a disability nominated to increase the visibility of disabled actors as part of the movement for my diversity. Disabled actors are often left out of the discussion - it would be wonderful to see change.