Opening the 39th Denver Film Festival with the red carpet presentation of La La Land on Wednesday (8 p.m., Nov. 2) will allow film geeks the chance to check out a major Oscar contender before the rest of the country finds out in December.
In the homage to Hollywood song-and-dance musicals that takes place in present-day Los Angeles, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (the festival's recipient of the Excellence In Acting Award) strut their stuff in such a way that they're being compared to classic cinema couples such as Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers or Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.
Gosling and Stone, along with writer-director Damien Chazelle, were covered extensively in Monday's opening preview but there are some other pretty fair acting pairs, either in roles as a couple, best friends (or foes) and in parent-child relationships that will get your attention during the Denver Film Festival's 12-day run.
Festival director Britta Erickson and I agree wholeheartedly on Folk Hero & Funny Guy, a road trip/ buddy film that stars Wyatt Russell (so good as a scaredy-cat in Black Mirror's "Playtest" episode this season) and Alex Karpovsky (Girls, Inside Llewyn Davis, Hail, Caesar!), and was written and directed by Jeff Grace, an actor and stand-up comedian who has had roles in Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, Castle and Fresh Off the Boat, among others. (Karpovsky, left, with Russell.)
Karpovsky, who has directed five feature-length films and several music videos, will receive the festival's Reel Social Club Indie Voice Award following the Nov. 4 screening at the Sie FilmCenter. Grace and producer Ryland Aldrich also will attend.
Another actor being honored in a film that gets the red carpet treatment at the festival is Hayden Szeto, who will receive the Rising Star Award following the red carpet matinee showing of The Edge of Seventeen at 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 12.
In his major motion picture debut, Szeto plays Erwin, an introverted student who quietly -- and awkwardly -- seeks to impress Nadine, the troubled teen on the edge incredibly inhabited by Hailee Steinfeld. (Szeto, right, with Steinfeld.)
"Erwin is attracted to Nadine and is very nervous, but he's also sweet and funny," co-producer Julie Ansell said in the press notes. "We were worried about finding a strong young actor who could do all of that. Erwin really is one of the best parts of the script because here's this unlikely guy, who typically never ever gets the girl. You want him to get the girl."
Of course, Erickson pointed out in a recent email interview that the 19-year-old Steinfeld, like Stone, already has "proven to have the real acting chops and singing chops (in 2015's Pitch Perfect 2) and is clearly not afraid of taking a role that brings her glamour quota down. Another real deal actress."
Steinfeld won an Oscar nomination in 2011 for best supporting actress in the Coen Brothers' remake of True Grit. The competition for an Academy Award in 2017 will be stiff, but Steinfeld's one-on-one work with a number of actors in The Edge of Seventeen can't do anything but help her chances.
For more on the The Edge of Seventeen, Folk Hero & Funny Guy and three other recommended feature films (most of which were screened in advance) that pack a powerful 1-2 punch, see the capsules below (shown in chronological order of screenings). Then check out other acting pairs that impressed Erickson.
Meredith Hagner gets between Wyatt Russell (left) and Alex Karpovsky
in Folk Hero & Funny Guy.
FOLK HERO & FUNNY GUY
Sie FilmCenter: Nov. 4 (6:45 p.m.); Nov. 5 (4:15 p.m.); Nov. 8 (4:15 p.m.)
Karpovsky stars as Paul Scott, a struggling comic who serves as second fiddle to Jason Black, a proven, charismatic folk-rock musician played by Russell.
Friends since childhood, the Folk Hero convinces the Funny Guy to be his opening act on a tour of dive bars and shithole clubs along the East Coast from Lancaster, Pa., to Charleston, S.C. Hannah Simone, Heather Morris and David Cross make an impression in brief appearances. But among the supporting cast, it's Meredith Hagner (Veep, TBS' new series Search Party) as up-and-coming singer Bryn Miller who deserves a standing O while winning the hearts of both bosom buddies.
Jaime Lopez (left) and Natalia de Molina share hard times in Food and Shelter.
FOOD AND SHELTER (SPAIN)
UA Pavilions: Nov. 6 (7:15 p.m.); Nov. 8 (8:45 p.m.)
The festival chose Spain for its Focus on a National Cinema series. Seven feature-length films will be presented, including Kiki, Love to Love, a racy but hilarious romp that explores the sexual desires (or perversions) of five couples, and Pikador, a quiet story that finds two would-be lovers moving at a snail's pace in their relationship. Living at home with their parents, they can't even get on the playing field much less to first base.
Food and Shelter is the surprise prize, though. Natalia de Molina, a Goya Award winner for best actress (who's also first rate in Kiki, Love to Love) brings a heartbreaking realism to the role of Rocio, a single mother facing hard times and impossible odds in the raising of her 8-year-old son Adrian, played endearingly by Jaime Lopez. They are two of a precious kind.
Mackenzie Davis may be the victim or the villain in Always Shine,
which co-stars Caitlin FitzGerald.
ALWAYS SHINE
UA Pavilions: Nov. 11 (9 p.m.); Nov. 12 (6:15 p.m.)
Mackenzie Davis (Catch and Halt Fire, terrific in Black Mirror's "San Junipero" this season) and Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex) really do shine as Anna and Beth, respectively, in the psychological thriller about two actresses whose best friendship is threatened by jealousy and an identity crisis. Who's the villain in this good girl/bad girl relationship? Check out the trailer for clues in a film with twists and turns that might bring to mind Mulholland Drive.
As student and teacher, Hailee Steinfeld (left) and Woody Harrelson
try to outsmart each other in The Edge of Seventeen.
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN
Red Carpet Matinee, Ellie Caulkins Opera House: Nov. 12 (2:30 p.m.)
As Nadine, Steinfeld is a fast-talking, wise-beyond-years high school student in the tradition of Juno's Ellen Page, Pretty Persuasion's Evan Rachel Wood and The Perks of Being a Wallflower's Emma Watson.
Under the clever guidance of writer/first-time director Kelly Fremon Craig, Nadine has the wits to compete with her BFF since second grade (Haley Lu Richardson), a possible boyfriend (Szeto), her handsome brother (Blake Jenner) and distracted mother (Kyra Sedgwick), but when she tries to take on her history teacher (Oscar nominee Woody Harrelson), the smart-mouthed teen learns much more than who played Young Mr. Lincoln in the 1939 film she watches on DVD with her classmates.
Riley Keough (left) and Jena Malone take a much-needed road trip in Lovesong.
LOVESONG
UA Pavilions: Nov. 12 (4:15 p.m.); Nov. 13 (2 p.m.)
An advance screening of So Yong Kim's experimental exploration of womanhood wasn't available, but I have high expectations considering its two leads continue to build on their daring acting choices.
Domestic upheaval forces Riley Keough (American Honey, Mad Max: Fury Road, Starz's The Girlfriend Experience) as young mom Sarah and Jena Malone (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Into the Wild) as free spirit Mindy to take a road trip in this subtle drama that made its Colorado premiere at the Aspen Filmfest in September. The emotional journey of longtime gal pals heading in opposite directions becomes more intimate before getting sidetracked.
A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM BRITTA ERICKSON
The Denver Film Society festival director was asked: What other acting pairs were you impressed with in films that will play at this year's festival (and why)? Her responses:
• Dominque Abel and Fiona Gordon (Lost in Paris, Rumba, The Fairy): "Real-life couple."
• Shai Avivi and Tomer Kapon (One Week and a Day): "Pothead buddies."
• Alex Karpovsky and Wyatt Russell (Folk Hero & Funny Guy): "Buddy travel picture."
• Jesse Wakeman and Kris Avedisian (Donald Cried): "Childhood friends."
• Mike Ott and Nathan Silver (Actor Martinez): "They bully Arthur together in such a special way."
Technical issues prevented the running of a poll on favorite film pairings. Publicity photos courtesy of the Denver Film Festival.