London Film Festival 2011

[Beate]

Martha Marcy May Marlene premiere tonight.

God, they are so unorganised at the Vue West End. They made everyone for screen 7 queue up out in the cold until 10 minutes before the film should have started - of course it didn't. We also needed to have some of the actors up on stage for the obligatory 3 seconds they are allowed. Elizabeth Olsen wore a frightfully posh gown:
No chocolates at the seats (any seats) again.

Film was too arthouse for me. The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying, I kept waiting for something to happen that never did. Twitter is abuzz with praise but I am afraid this wasn't for me. We therefore didn't stay around for the Q&A, and, aided by aisle seats, made a swift exit, only to be stopped short at the exit to let all the talent file past. I guess it's one way of bumping into celebs. The dress wasn't much better up close - she looked like a prom queen and as far removed from the character she had just played as possible.

Nice to see bevvy and ejwrank though!

6/10

[kevinknapman]

I was also at the Martha Marcy May Marlene screening to and as someone raving about it on twitter I have to admit I was really impressed by this.
For a feature debut it's incredibly assured and confident. The direction was interesting and the way in which they went between the two different time frames was often inspired and consistently inventive. Sometimes quite clear, at other times disorientating. It seemed the perfect way of visualising Martha's difficulty in getting used to life outside of the commune. It's not often you feel the need to highlight the editing in a film but it really was quite brilliant here. Excellent use of available light at times too which gave a lot of scenes an oppressive and unsettling feel. Plus the contrast between the earthy and dilapidated commune and the sterile, oddly oppressive lakehouse was effective in maintaining the unnerving atmosphere throughout.
The acting is superb. Elizabeth Olsen is bound to be nominated for all sorts of awards with a stunning performance and John Hawkes is reliably excellent as the cult leader.
Yes the ending is a bit sudden and abrupt but, as the director put it afterwards, it ends in the same way the film begins, at a transistion in Martha's life. In retrospect it seems a fitting place to finish.
Overall I thought it was a distinct, intense and unsettling film and look forward to whatever director Sean Durkin does next.

The Q&A afterwards was really interesting though slightly plagued by dodgy microphones. John Hawkes was very funny, jokingly explaining how he prepared for the role by starting his own commune, which is still going ("I'm currently recruiting in fact"). Although I was slightly disappointed that Elizabeth Olsen looked exactly how you'd expect an Olsen sister to look and a far cry from how she looked in the film (much more beautiful in fact).

[kevinknapman]

I also saw Take Shelter beforehand which was also excellent. A stunning and powerful look at one man's descent into mental illness and schizophrenia. Michael Shannon is outstanding and very moving in the lead role and Jessica Chastain also very impressive as his wife.
It's a little overlong perhaps but beautifully shot and directed.
Michael Shannon also turned up to introduce the film and do a Q&A afterwards which was great.
Just the very fact that I've been in the same room as Michael Shannon AND John Hawkes today is a very awesome thing indeed. Two of my favourite actors on the same day makes this year's LFF a great one for me.

[superhero]

How stupid of me today, misplaced my LFF ticket! Oh well, used a voucher and went to see Contagion with a friend instead

[a_person]

How stupid of me today, misplaced my LFF ticket! Oh well, used a voucher and went to see Contagion with a friend instead

That's awful! How did you manage that?!!!!!! You pa*d for these!

[spoiler][/spoiler]

[Beate]

I also saw Take Shelter beforehand which was also excellent. A stunning and powerful look at one man's descent into mental illness and schizophrenia. Michael Shannon is outstanding and very moving in the lead role and Jessica Chastain also very impressive as his wife.
It's a little overlong perhaps but beautifully shot and directed.
Michael Shannon also turned up to introduce the film and do a Q&A afterwards which was great.
Just the very fact that I've been in the same room as Michael Shannon AND John Hawkes today is a very awesome thing indeed. Two of my favourite actors on the same day makes this year's LFF a great one for me.

I haven't pa*d yet for any film at the LFF, that makes it a great one for me! I agree with you that Elizabeth Olsen's acting was quite good, which made her blonde airhead look in that prom dress even more startling.

[superhero]

To be honest, I think a new director is good next year, Sandra Hebron keeps dragging out the same people for the key slots: 2009- 3 George Clooney Galas, 2010 - 1 George Clooney film, 2011 - 2 George Clooney galas, hence the decidedly lack of buzz at these key screenings.
Sure there's new directors like Sean Durkin, but I personally wouldn't take it as high praise if my film was called "Winter's Bone of 2011"

[canadian_turtle]

I never accused you of anything, c_t, but I saw people doing it and superhero mentioned being a victim of it so it's more common than one might think.

I know, I just wanted to make it clear in case anyone else reading this thread migth assume so :)

[ejwrank]

Thanks to the generosity of Bevvy I also saw Martha Marcy May Marlene at the LFF last night. It's my first experience with LFF and the organisation was chaotic and we were surprised they planned a Q&A with the director and two stars as that hadn't been mentioned beforehand.

I liked the film. It was quite long but well done and the anguish and menace was unsettling throughout. Agree that the editing seemed fine tuned and it flowed from one story to the next and sometimes you wondered which story you were in but I thought that was what the main character would have been feeling too. I think the title is a mistake though as it is simply too hard to remember.

The Q&A was plagued with faulty microphones which seemed to go with the disorganisation of the event. I thought Elizabeth Olsen and John Hawkes were better than the director at explaining the film (maybe a good thing if your actors know what's in the director's head and are able to say it!) but it seemed a good, intelligent first film from Sean Durkin and I wonder what he'll do next.

Glad to see Beate and OH and nice to have a bit of time to chat with Bevvy.

[Celini]

Don't know if it has been discussed before... but any guess for tomorrow surprise screening?
(I just booked 1 ticket!)