Friday Flicks: ‘God’s Own Country’, ‘Suburbicon’, ‘The Square’
It’s that time again, folks. Marvel’s about to drop its next superhero flick, Thor: Ragnarok, the third solo outing for the hammer-wielding god of thunder. It won’t come as much of a surprise, but it’s expected to rule supreme (fittingly) when it opens at the box office. Elsewhere, horror is having a solid year, with frightful flicks from It to Happy Death Day bringing in audiences in droves. But are you looking for something a tad more original? Then you’re in luck! Read on for FD’s selection of the best films to catch this weekend.
Step into the heart of rural Yorkshire in God’s Own Country, the captivating and beautiful directorial debut from Francis Lee; uncover the secrets of a peaceful and idyllic suburban community in George Clooney’s Suburbicon; and traverse a series of interconnected stories in The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards, adapted from book of the same name by Robert Boswell.
God’s Own Country (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
on limited theatrical release now
The debut feature from writer-director Francis Lee, God’s Own Country follows Johnny Saxby, a young man missing a purpose in life. Bored with the endless grind of slaving away on his family’s remote farm, Johnny numbs the daily frustration of his lonely existence with nightly-binge drinking sessions at the local boozer and a flurry of casual encounters. But when a handsome Romanian migrant worker arrives, Johnny’s life is forever changed, as he is forced to confront his emotions. Captivating and “broodingly beautiful,” the film stars Josh O’Connor (Bridgend), Alec Secareanu (Adalbert’s Dream), Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones’s Diary), and Ian Hart (Finding Neverland).
In our review, we called God’s Own Country a “welcome surprise”, that “manages to bear out, beneath the hearty pastoral landscapes, an even more earthy and happy connection with the world”.
Suburbicon (Paramount Pictures)
on limited theatrical release now
Suburbicon focuses on the American dream: a peaceful, idyllic suburban community with affordable homes and perfectly manicured lawns. Who wouldn’t want that? It’s the perfect place to raise a family – and in the summer of 1959, the Lodge family is doing exactly that. But the picturesque facade masks a distributing truth, as husband and father Gardner Lodge must navigate the town’s dark underbelly of betrayal, deceit, and violence. If there’s one thing that this film proves it’s that every community has it’s secrets. Written by the Coen brothers and directed by George Clooney (Ocean’s Eleven), this is a “tale of very flawed people making very bad choices”. Stars Matt Damon (Saving Private Ryan), Julianne Moore (Wonderstruck), and Oscar Isaac (Annihilation).
The Divine Order (Kino Lorber / Zeitgeist Films)
on limited theatrical release now
It’s 1971 and despite the worldwide social upheavals of the previous decade, women in Switzerland are still denied the right to vote. But when unassuming housewife Nora is forbidden by her husband to take a part-time job, her frustration leads to her becoming the poster child of her town’s suffragette movement. In the face of humiliation, threats, and even the potential end to her marriage, Nora refuses to back down and ignites the spark of change. Uplifting and crowd-pleasing, the film is a snapshot of a moment in history, pegged as a “time-capsule that could not be more timely”. Written & directed by Petra Biondina Volpe (Heidi), The Divine Order stars Marie Leuenberger (The Circle), Maximilian Simonischek (A Thousand Oceans), and Rachel Braunschweig (Blue My Mind).
Mr. Roosevelt (Paladin)
on limited theatrical release now
Directed and written by Noël Wells, Mr. Roosevelt follows 20-something-year-old Emily Martin, who’s upped sticks and moved to Los Angeles to chase a career in comedy. But when a loved one tragically falls sick, she’s forced to return to Austin. There, she bumps into her ex-boyfriend and his amazing and intimidating new girlfriend. Out of luck and short on cash, she reluctantly accepts an invitation to stay with them in their old, but beautifully remodeled house. We can only imagine how that’ll work out. Stars Wells (Master of None), Nick Thune (Knocked Up), and Britt Lower (Sisters).
The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards (Front Row Filmed Entertainment)
on limited theatrical release now
A star-studded cast leads this series of interconnected stories that explore ambition, love, loss, and memory. Two marriages come to an end; two friends become complete strangers; and one man recounts the summer he spent on a mountain range with a ragtag group of slackers, as he attempts to abstain from drugs – well, except for mushrooms and beer. Makes perfect sense to us… not. Based on Robert Boswell’s critically-acclaimed stories, The Heyday of the Insensitive Bastards stars James Franco (This Is The End), Thomas Mann (Some Freaks), Natalie Portman (Black Swan), and Kristen Wiig (mother!).
The Square (Magnolia Pictures)
on limited theatrical release now
The Square follows Christian, a divorced father and the respected curator of a contemporary art museum. He drives an electric car and supports admirable causes. His next installation, The Square, introduces people to the concept of altruism, reminding them of their role as responsible fellow human beings. But when a response to the piece’s marketing campaign is overblown, it sends him – along with the museum – into an existential crisis. Written and directed by Ruben Östlund (Force Majeure), the film screened as part of the main competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, having beaten the likes of Sofia Coppola’s The Beguiled to win the highly-coveted Palme d’Or award. Stars Claes Bang (A Soap), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), Terry Notary (Kong: Skull Island), and Dominic West (300).
