Review: "Two Days, One Night" (****½)

Fabrizio Rongione and Marion Cotillard star in "Two Days, One Night"

It was just two years ago at the Savannah Film Festival that I was floored by the power and emotional magnetism of both the film "Rust and Bone" and its lead performers, Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts. I was a fan of Cotillard before that (going back to when I saw her in "La Vie en Rose" at the 2007 Atlanta Film Festival, the first time I attended any film festival) and I've become an even bigger Cotillard fan since. Naturally, when I saw that the Dardenne Brothers' film "Two Days, One Night" was playing at the Savannah Film Festival, I had a new top reason to attend.

I admit to not being familiar with the Dardenne Brothers' back catalog. I know they have won the Palm D'or twice and were highly buzzed to win it last year with "Two Days, One Night." I know what films they have made, I just haven't seen them. I went into this film with "Rust and Bone" on my mind and expectations of another masterful performance from one of the best actors of our time. The only thing both films share is an actress, and those expectations were exceeded beyond measure.

My dream Oscar ballot, 2013

The 85th Academy Awards are this Sunday and though you've already seen my top 20 films of 2012, I also want to share what I would've nominated in other categories. While my ten Best Picture nominees are my top ten films; my other 'nominees' have shifted a lot in the past couple of months since I've been able to revisit certain films, catch some that I missed earlier and really get to see certain players make their case on the press circuit. This is probably similar to my personal Georgia Film Critics Association ballot from early January, but I'm sure there have been some shifts and substitutions. It's a fun time of year, but I'm looking forward to some resolution on Sunday.

The Best Films of 2012

Instead of going with the usual speech about the subjective nature of film criticism and how one might see this as a weak year, another as a strong year– I'll just say that it was a great year. Perhaps me getting into the swing of life as a critic helped me feel this way. Perhaps we just lucked out with a lot of great films being released in 2012. I can't say, really, but I'm thankful to have seen so many good motion pictures. 

I'm particularly grateful that so many of them featured at festivals in Georgia. "Rabies" and "Restoration" were screened at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. "Welcome to Pine Hill" showed at the Atlanta Film Festival. "Amour," "Rust and Bone" and "Silver Linings Playbook" all featured in Savannah. If you aren't checking out your local film festivals, you are missing out! Sure, you caught plenty of these at your local cinema at some point. But an energy is present at festivals that you can't find elsewhere. You never know when a film is going to come out of nowhere and slap you in the face.

"Silver Linings Playbook," "Beasts of the Southern Wild" lead Georgia Film Critics nominations

The Georgia Film Critics Association has announced their nominees for 2012 and while the usual suspects from the Academy Awards and various other critics groups lead the way, a few surprises can be found. "Silver Linings Playbook" and "Beasts of the Southern Wild" received the most nominations with eight each. Two of the nominations credited to "Beasts," however, are actually Breakthrough nominations for Benh Zeitlin and Quvenzhané Wallis. "Amour," "Lincoln" and "Zero Dark Thirty" each garnered six nods, while "The Master" and "Rust & Bone" earned five a piece.

The success outside of Marion Cotillard's nomination for "Rust & Bone" marks a departure from many other critics groups. Controversial documentary "This Is Not a Film" earned three nominations in the categories of Best Film, Best Foreign Film and Best Documentary. Other highlights include two cinematography nominations for Greig Fraser ("Killing Them Softly" and "Zero Dark Thirty") and screenplay nominations for "21 Jump Street," "The Cabin in the Woods" and "Sound of My Voice." The Georgia-lensed "Lawless" earned two nominations in the Best Song category. 

The Breakthrough Award shortlist consists of directors Zal Batmanglij ("Sound of My Voice"), Bart Layton ("The Imposter") and Benh Zeitlin ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"); actors Scoot McNairy ("Argo," "Killing Them Softly," "Promised Land") and Quvenzhané Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"); and finally, screenwriter Derek Connolly ("Safety Not Guaranteed").

Check out the full list of nominees after the jump.

Savannah: "Rust and Bone" (*****)

Marion Cotillard stars in "Rust & Bone"

With films like "The Beat That My Heart Skipped" and "A Prophet" under his belt, Jacques Audiard has climbed to the top of the heap. In my eyes, his latest effort has cemented his status as the best French filmmaker currently on the scene. "Rust and Bone" is at once both a whisper and a shout; a visceral and violent study on the bonds between physical and emotional damage. Marion Cotillard, who has already proven her power many times over, gives us yet another tremendous performance. While he's not as famous a face or name, Cotillard's co-star, Matthias Schoenaerts, is himself a roaring tempest worthy of equal acclaim.

Around town for the 2012 Savannah Film Festival

The Trustees Theatre marquee.

It's been nearly two months since the Savannah Film Festival took place, but many of the films that screened there are just now hitting cinema screens, keeping memories of Georgia's most prestigious film festival afresh. Oscar contenders like "Silver Linings Playbook," "Flight," "Rust & Bone" and "Amour" all played the festival and stars like John Goodman, Diane Lane, Michelle Monaghan, James Gandolfini, Gabourey Sidibe, Matt Dillon and Stan Lee all graced us with their presence this year. It was a great eight days. Here are some pictures I shot during the festival with some miscellaneous shots from around town thrown in.

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!

Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Michelle Monaghan among honorees at 2012 Savannah Film Festival

The 2012 Savannah Film Festival honorees clockwise from top left:
Diane Lane, Matt Dillon, Geoffrey Fletcher, Michelle Monaghan

No stranger to big Hollywood names, the Savannah Film Festival looks to keep business as usual this year. Oscar nominees Diane Lane and Matt Dillon will both receive Outstanding Achievement in Cinema Awards at this year's festival. You might recall that the two shared the big screen together several times in the 1980s, in "The Outsiders," "Rumble Fish" and "The Big Town."

Michelle Monaghan, who has starred in films such as "Source Code," "Gone Baby Gone," "Eagle Eye" and "Mission: Impossible III," will receive the Spotlight Award when her film "Tomorrow You're Gone" screens Friday, November 2nd. Willem Dafoe and Stephen Dorff also appear in the film.

14 films we might see at the 2012 Savannah Film Festival

Last year, the Savannah Film Festival marked both my first visit to the event and the first festival I've covered while writing for Reel Georgia. Thank you for following me around the state for an entire year!

I had a phenomenal experience in Savannah last year, but having only attended once, I've had to do a bit of research to learn the tastes and evolution of the festival over the years. This year marks the 15th anniversary for Georgia's most glamorous festival, and I think they'll create quite the spectacle.

I'll admit it, 14 is a pretty high number for a festival wishlist. I don't think we will see all of these films make the cut, but I think all of them would fit in just fine as official selections. (And just for the record, it would be a dream if Terrence Malick's "To the Wonder" was featured, but I don't want to get my hopes up.)

Find out which films have pinged my radar after the jump!