Savannah review bundle: "How I Live Now" (***½), "About Time" (****), "East of Acadia" (**½)

Saoirse Ronan stars in "How I Live Now"

"How I Live Now" is prolific filmmaker Kevin Macdonald's latest film, adapted from a 2004 novel by Meg Rosoff and starring Saoirse Ronan in perhaps her most assertive performance yet. While young adult adaptations set in a post-apocalyptic world are dime-a-dozen these days, "How I Live Now" manages to set itself apart by not compromising edginess for a lower MPAA rating and a wider audience. At the start, Ronan's Daisy seems nothing more than a cliched, rebellious teenager, but as the film progresses and the story takes increasingly more devastating turns, it becomes clear that she is the film's greatest strength. The young actress maintains a firm grasp on her character, anchoring a film that—while not desperate—wouldn't really know where it was going without as laser-focused a lead as Ronan provides. Visually, the film is not very uniform in terms of its pallet or composition, but successfully relays to the audience Daisy's reactions and experiences through urgent representations of dreams, visions or her confounded physical and emotional states. Jon Hopkins' score is surprisingly beautiful in between louder soundtrack selections. "How I Live Now" is—thankfully—not as reliant on its grim, dystopian setting as most of its YA counterparts, allowing it to be more of a backdrop for its characters rather than the emphasis for the story itself. However independent and hard-boiled it manages to be, it still doesn't capture the mood of such a world as well as, say, "Children of Men." Regardless, Ronan and her supporting players are easily worthy of your time. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

"About Time" and "East of Acadia" after the jump.

Savannah Director's Choice: "About Time"

Domhnall Gleeson and Bill Nighy star in "About Time"

Tonight's mystery Director's Choice screening at the Savannah Film Festival was truly something no one had guessed—Richard Curtis' "About Time." The film stars Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams, Bill Nighy, Lydia Wilson, Lindsay Duncan and Tom Hollander. It's as sweet as can be, but I sort of loved it.

Look for a review to come soon!

What is your guess for the mystery Savannah Film Festival Director's Choice screening?

An annual tradition here at the Savannah Film Festival is a mid-week mystery screening, the Director's Choice. No announcement is made, no clues given; we have to wait until the projector beams the chosen selection onto the screen at the Trustees Theatre.

Last year, "Hyde Park on Hudson" was the selection. In previous years, the world premiere of "The Muppets," the Savannah-filmed "The Conspirator," "Up in the Air," "Persepolis," "Volver" and "Match Point" all held the distinction. What could this year's film be? Considering the festival's past relationship with Focus Features, my guess is "Dallas Buyers Club," which opens in select cities this Friday. Other rumors making their way around town and around the Internet include "Ender's Game," "Out of the Furnace," "Saving Mr. Banks" and "Thor: The Dark World." Some have suggested Georgia's own "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," but let's face it—that ain't happening three weeks before its highly anticipated release.

What are some of your guesses? Leave a comment! Follow us on Twitter to find out the selection as soon as it hits the screen.

Savannah review bundle: "Violet & Daisy" (**½), "On the Road" (***), "Hyde Park on Hudson" (***)

Alexis Bledel and Saoirse Ronan star in "Violet & Daisy"

"Violet & Daisy" is the directorial debut from screenwriter Geoffrey Fletcher. Fletcher burst onto the scene in 2009 with his Oscar-winning screenplay for "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire." "Violet & Daisy" is a pulpy and cute assassin flick, as weird as that may seem. With leads like Alexis Bledel and Saoirse Ronan, 'cute' has to be included in the description somewhere. Despite the film being a little uneven as a whole, fine performances from the two young actresses, as well as co-star James Gandolfini, push the film along. Unfortunately, all of the texture is stripped out of New York City, a setting that usually carries a huge presence in any film. "Violet & Daisy" comes with the intention to knock you off your seat, but is a little too light to get the job done. Gandolfini was in attendance alongside Fletcher, who picked up the Cinevation Award at the Savannah Film Festival. Fletcher manages to show some promise and diversity as a filmmaker, as this is about as far from "Precious" as you can get, but might still be a bit of a tenderfoot. Not quite as radical as it wants to be, "Violet & Daisy" is a trifle, albeit a cute one. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

"On the Road" and "Hyde Park on Hudson" after the jump.

Savannah Director's Choice: "Hyde Park on Hudson"

Bill Murray and Olivia Williams star in "Hyde Park on Hudson"

It's over now, but the Savannah Film Festival Director's Choice selection this evening was "Hyde Park on Hudson."

Look for a review of it and other SAVFF reviews later this week!

The Savannah Film Festival mystery Director's Choice screening

Crowds gather outside the Trustees Theatre on Broughton Street

One of the most anticipated events at the Savannah Film Festival each year is the Director's Choice screening, a surprise film that is only announced as it lights up the screen at the Trustees Theatre. Last year, "The Muppets" had its world premiere as the Director's Choice film. Doing some research, I learned that plenty of high profile films have filled the slot in years past. 

In 2010, Robert Redford's Savannah-filmed "The Conspirator" was screened. Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air" surprised on the big screen in 2009. There wasn't a director's choice film for 2008, but Oscar-nominated animated film "Persepolis" was the chosen selection in 2007. Pedro Almodovar's "Volver" held the honors in 2006, with Woody Allen's "Match Point" selected in 2005.

What is the chosen film this year? It's anyone's guess! Murmurings of "Lincoln," "Hitchcock" and "Life of Pi" can be heard around town. After last year's family-friendly fare, Disney's "Wreck-It Ralph" has also been mentioned. Will it be one of the film's I mentioned before the festival's lineup was announced? "Silver Linings Playbook," "Flight," "Quartet," "Rust & Bone," The Sapphires" and "Amour" were all correct guesses.

Follow us on Twitter to find out as soon as the projector starts to roll!