There’s a much larger discussion to be had about Netflix’s role in film acquisitions out of festivals. What that means for distribution, theatrical releases, select and wide releases, marketing, award possibilities and the very fabric of how we consume cinema. The ramifications of streaming vs theatrical release continues to clash with every passing year, but one thing is clear: for better or worse, Netflix is here to stay. And my oh my did they put in work at festivals this year. Particularly out of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Netflix swooped up some of the most coveted titles including “Woman of the Hour,” “His Three Daughters,” and “Hitman,” both set for release some time next year.
In addition, they also snagged a few other high profile films that are currently available to stream. Let’s take a quick look at some of these films you can fire up this holiday season, and give a quick review of each of them!
“RUSTIN”
Once in a while you get an average film elevated by a powerhouse lead performance. “Rustin” is that film, a rather standard by the numbers biopic that is electrified by Coleman Domingo’s award worthy performance. The film attempts to the story of Bayard Rustin, a pivotal figure in the organization of the Civil Rights Movement and his often overlooked hand in creating the 1963 March on Washington. A powerful and outspoken activist, Rustin’s work has largely been forgotten and is rarely mentioned in the larger portrait of the movement. But the now famous march would not have been possible without him, and his lifestyle choices have pushed him to the fringes until now. Directed by George C. Wolfe with a screenplay by Julian Breece and Dustin Lance Black, “Rustin” is produced by the Obama’s production company Higher Ground. It stars Coleman Domingo as the titular character, and also sports an all star cast including Chris Rock, Jeffery Wright, CCH Pounder, Aml Ameen, Glynn Turman, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Audra McDonald, and many, many more.
While “Rustin” succeeds in capturing the scale and scope of what it takes to organize a monumental event as well as provides a look into some of the infighting among those inside the movement all while trying to paint a complete picture of Rustin and his life, it does bite off a bit more than it can chew and opts for safety over any kind of bold new take. Its sprawling narrative to tell such a vast story in a short period of time clashes with its predictability and check the box approach, not feeling fresh or inventive in anyway. This is unfortunate, because it is attempting to shed light on some untold aspects of the movement through a tired and uninspiring lens. Thank god for Domingo, who is a tour de force from the minute he shows up on screen. Domingo is wholly committed to his portrayal of Rustin, and is simply electric. He oozes with charisma and emotion, tapping into something in “Rustin” that the rest of film can barely keep up with. I don’t know that I can say that “Rustin” is a good movie, but Domingo alone shoulders all of its flaws and carries it to the finish line of a solid watch. If there was ever a year to give him some awards flowers, it’s here and now. He is THAT good, and I would recommend “Rustin” simply to be wowed by his work in the film.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
“SLY”
The biopic documentary genre is thriving this year. From “Still: A Michael J. Fox Story” to “Arnold” to “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life” the interest in celebrity icons is in full force this year. Enter “Sly,” a retrospective look at the life and work of Sylvester Stallone. Told through Stallone’s own words, “Sly” paints a much more vulnerable and introspective look at the action star through the multiple franchises he has brought to life and helmed over the years. Surprisingly sweet and illuminating, “Sly” is an intelligent self reflection of a man through his own words and experiences often maligned as an aging action star with sawdust between his ears. Stallone is vulnerable and shockingly learned and intellectual, a side of him very rarely shown in his work and cultural zeitgeist discourse about him. I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t paid the most attention to the man behind the marque, by “Sly” does well to really peel back the layers of the action star and get us to the actual human man behind the big muscles and bigger guns.
There’s an event deeper dive into a misunderstood and misrepresented man that deserves to be explored, and the film’s 90 minute runtime forces us to skip over vast parts of his life that deserve a closer look. Things like the tumultuous relationship with his father, which clearly defined and shaped the man he is but is only discussed in “Sly” on a surface level. Exploring who Stallone is behind the franchises is far more intriguing than his hand in those works. That’s not to say learning about how Stallone learned to write and his relationship with each franchise and him unpacking his reputation in Hollywood through the ups and downs of his stardom isn’t interesting. Just that the things “Sly” briefly touches on adds infinitely more context and interest in Stallone than the documentary is willing to dive into. Still, “Sly” is on the better end of Netflix documentaries, and sheds a new light on a man we all thought we knew but barely have any idea of when the curtain is pulled back.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars
“NYAD”
Another biopic outing for the streaming giant, “NYAD” tells the story of real life swimmer Diana Nyad who in 2013 swam from Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. It is an incredible feat, and the film follows Nyad and her coach Bonnie Stoll as they prepare and embark on this dangerous journey. The film stars Jodie Foster and Annette Bening as Bonnie and Diana, and also stars Rhys Ifran, Karly Rothenberg, and Jeena Yi. It is directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin with a screenplay by Julia Cox, adapted from the autobiography “Find a Way” by Nyad herself. “NYAD” largely operates under the “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” framework of sports biopics, and mostly succeeds in being an inspiring story about perseverance and accomplishment. It too like “Rustin” has a very check the box approach to its narrative, and while I don’t think it all comes together in the end, its Bening and particularly Foster who shine bright and elevate “NYAD” to be a genuine crowd pleaser. It certainly isn’t the best of its kind, but this is the kind of film that feels right at home on Netflix.
Though its visuals are probably better suited for the theater (even if the film does make some really odd framing choices I didn’t really understand) it fits perfectly for the small screen. “NYAD” is the kind of film that you fire up on a whim and end up enjoying even if you wouldn’t have left your house to see it in a theater. My major reservations about “NYAD” however surround the person behind the embellished version. Nyad’s accomplishments have come under continuous scrutiny, with her Guinness World Record being revoked and a consistent inability to verify her actual swim. Revisionist history is pretty common place among cinematic reimaginings, but it’s hard to excuse many of the controversies given how recent and easily accessible they are to find. This isn’t just reaching back into a history where no one alive now existed then, so it’s easier to play fast and loose with events. This is 10 years ago and still taking shape, and “NYAD” isn’t interested in those aspects of the story. Also, Nyad has some very outspoken beliefs that personally don’t sit right with me, and that makes it even harder to invest in this inspiring version of a very complicated and controversial woman.
That’s me, though. I don’t expect anyone else to hold those same reservations against “NYAD,” and I can totally see how easy it is to set those things aside and really let the crowd please elements wash over you without discretion. Not everything needs to be historically accurate, and the little things or controversies surrounding the individuals being portrayed don’t need to hold it back for everyone I’ve got some narrative and pacing issues with “NYAD” too, but I know I’m probably in the minority of less than stellar enjoyment here. Regardless, we still get a stellar performance from Foster, who is the genuine lynchpin of the entire film and some of her best work in years in front of the camera. Bening is good too, but it’s Foster that shoulders “NYAD” and elevates it above its run of the mill format. I can’t say that I personally recommend the film, but I can say that it’s worth checking out if you’re willing to overlook some things.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
“Stamped From The Beginning“
When you see as many films as I do, you’re sometimes forced to rethink your initial thoughts and come back to certain films for some revisions and second chances. Thus is the case with “Stamped from the Beginning,” as last minute addition to my TIFF slate that I remember leaving the theater feeling pretty middle of the road on. However, as the months have past since my initial watch, “Stamped from the Beginning” has lived rent free in my head. It’s themes and reframing difficult subject matter has sparked multiple conversations with people who haven’t even seen the film but are wrestling with the very topics it covers. Based on the book of the same name by Ibram X. Kendi (who is also featured in the documentary) “Stamped from the Beginning” is a hybrid documentary/scripted feature that explores the roots and history of anti-black racism. Rather than simply revisit stories of slavery and civil rights and all the stories we know when tackling racism in film, “Stamped from the Beginning” searches deeper into the causes and origins of racism itself. It begins by asking the question, “What is wrong with black people?” and then seeks to answer that question as it journeys through centuries of propaganda and cultural shifts that shape how we now view and understand color in humanity.
The questions “Stamped from the Beginning” asks shed light on how racism itself came to be, and works to paint a holistic and scholarly approach to the subject. Though it never shies away from anything, this is a documentary about racism not rooted in using trauma as its only vehicle. Instead of saying “Slavery was bad, right?” it goes further to ask not just what slavery was on a global scale, but why it targeted minorities and used skin color as a deciding factor. It reaches as far back as it can to give us a trajectory of how, what, who, and why we have ended up where we are today and the continued effects of color as it relates to humanity and human interaction as well as cultural understandings and perceptions. Nothing is easy in “Stamped from the Beginning,” and the conclusions and discoveries are as hard to take as any kind of trauma driven examination of the same things. But this particular documentary’s unique approach and historical, education approach sets it apart from others, and ends up being a vital watch that demands to be seen and discussed.
“Stamped from the Beginning” is also powered by a terrific hip hop soundtrack that helps carry us through the more difficult parts of the film’s exploration. It is a documentary that, after some time way from it and a second viewing, has grown to be one of my favorite docs of the year. “Stamped from the Beginning” is timely and purposeful, A film and insight we need now more than ever and I highly recommend checking it out as soon as you can. Of course, if you’re racist uncle is coming to Thanksgiving dinner, maybe don’t fire this one up as the family selection.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars
