James Gray’s “Armageddon Time,” a deeply personal look at how the author turned into the author we, or at least the French, knew and loved, debuted to standing ovation Thursday. However, the film’s problematic portrayal of racial disparities under the Reagan era may have put the voter awards on hold. In addition, Gray has not been a major contender for an Academy Award in the past.
Following the likes of “Roma” (2018) from Alfonso Cuaron and “Belfast” (2021) of Kenneth Brana, Gray is the latest author to bring his childhood story to screen. Debuting at the Cannes Film Festival the day after Top Gun: Maverick is no easy feat. But a city audience was up to it, giving her a seven-minute standing ovation, a sign that international members of AMPAS might find sides to embrace, notably performances by Anthony Hopkins, Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway.
The intimate photo follows sixth grader Paul Graff (newcomer Michael Banks Repetta), a boy who lives in 1980 Queens, New York, in the aftermath of the 1980 presidential election. A spoiled child, totally disrespectful of his parents, which can make you squawk in your seat.
His friend Jonathan Davis, nicknamed Johnny (played by Jaylen Webb), is a little black kid who is spending his second term in sixth grade, lives with his grandmother and is constantly scolded by his teacher. Gray depicts his version of “Black Torture,” where a homeless black child eventually appears with a bleeding foot, escapes the foster care system, and is eventually arrested, which is Paul’s fault. Gray seems to be trying to deal with his privilege, which one can appreciate, but not everyone will be happy with the results.
It should be noted that my two talents for the newcomer are completely intact, in fact, Webb’s raw innocence and mature understanding of his place in a racially unsuitable world is incredibly rich, even if the messages are troubling.
Hopkins, two years after winning an Academy Award for The Father (2020) and Strong, in Emmy Talks again for HBO’s Succession, are the two highlights of the cast. Their natural charisma can hardly be denied. It’s still early days, however, as the supporting cast’s races have been stacked up historically. If someone mustered support, Strong would be the one to carry the torch.
It might be strange to say this about an Academy Award-winning actress, but Anne Hathaway has been somewhat understated, and some would say she’s been abused throughout her career. Rachel Getting Married (2008), which I feel is her best career outing, showed that when placed in the hands of a master like the late Jonathan Demme, she is an untamed force, and stands as one of the best working actors today. In the movie Gray, she plays Esther, a home economics teacher and president of the Parent Teacher Association. Hathaway dives into her head first, but the script leaves her character behind.
In a one-scene surprise, Academy Award winner Jessica Chastain plays US state attorney Marianne Trump as she talks to a sea of privileged white children at an elite private school, where Paul eventually attends, while Fred Trump (yes, Donald’s father) is present. . It directs the merit to be superior, and exudes the hideous and despicable nature of a class of people in this country that are “chosen” for no other reason than the pigment of their skin. Although never named, two boys who use the “n-word” when they talk about Jaylin when he visits school, possess the narrative DNA of young Eric and Donald Trump Jr.
Veteran stage actress Tovah Feldshuh as Paul’s grandmother, Esther’s mother, is quite unforgettable and will likely find a loyal legion of new fans for her scene-stealing work.
The film was shot by Darius Khunji, who, despite his remarkable contributions to cinema for over four decades, earned him one Oscar nomination for Evita (1996). This is the same master who brought tangible tension to “Se7en” (1996), which should have been his opening nomination, as well as “Midnight in Paris” (2011), “Amour” (2012), and Okja. (2017). Working with Gray on two of his previous films, “The Lost City of Z” (2016) and “The Immigrant” (2013), his third journey with the author can be magical with its soft color palette and beautiful lighting. This won’t be his only award bandwagon this year, as he will be presenting his talents to “Bardo (or False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths)” from Oscar-winner Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Netflix.
Retreating in front of a global audience was the right move, and early reactions from critics at Cannes were mostly positive. miscellaneous Owen Gleiberman points out some of the same issues in his review: “At heart, ‘Armageddon Time’ is an old-school liberal letter movie — it’s all about how Paul and Johnny get into trouble, but Johnny is the one who gets dumped under the bus, and we’re supposed to feel bad about it.”
Respected critics like Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times It was also high, while Peter Bradshaw was from Watchman Totally warn him. Unfortunately, when this tale unfolds in the United States, it is likely to ensue a new racial debate about undertones, similar to Paul Thomas Anderson’s “licorice pizza” last year in the AAPI community. That may keep many voters at a distance.
Focus Features, the film’s distributor, clearly wants “Armageddon Time” to finally win the Academy Award so beloved by many movie fans who believe it was unfairly rejected. They may have to wait longer. “Ad Astra” was the only gray movie to receive an Academy Award nomination…and that was for its sound editing. This number is likely to remain constant.
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