aixcentric

It’s good the annual run of film awards happens early in the new year – it always coincides with cold weather during January just when it’s so tempting to snuggle down in the warmth of the cinema.

First up, ‘3 Billboards, Les Panneaux de  la Vengeance’ or ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri’ has just opened at the Renoir in VO  and it is every bit as magnificent as reviews have claimed. Lead player Frances McDormand is excellent as the grief-stricken mother looking for vengeance, up against her nemesis in the local police played by Sam Rockwell.  It is fascinating and surprising to realise that this quintessentially small-town American narrative was written and directed by a British/Irish film-maker, Martin McDonagh. What a talent.

Still playing, ‘Les Heures Sombres’, ‘The Darkest Hour’ is based on the true story of Churchill’s first days as prime minster in WW2.  It has had audiences standing up applauding in the US.  At the Cézanne.

Very much looking forward to ‘The Pentagon Papers’ or ‘The Post’ which starts in Aix on Wednesday 24th Jan. It was made by Steven Spielberg in just 9 months as he felt impelled to tell this story of press freedom as quickly as he could.  A partnership of Meryl Streep on screen with Tom Hanks for the first time promises to be electrifying.

In the meantime Aix audiences can enjoy the annual Télérama festival, a one-week showing for last-year’s best films.  Started yesterday – details below.