Fantasia 2018: Four Films I Want To See

Sam Elliott in The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot. Courtesy of Fantasia.

The 2018 installment of the Fantasia International Film Festival is just around the corner.  Here are some of the picks that Solzy at the Movies anticipates.

Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Luke Wilson
Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Luke Wilson
One of the films I’m most looking forward to is The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot.  The film stars Sam Elliott, who delivered an astonishing performance in The Hero last year, as a World War 2 veteran.  Not just any old veteran but the one who took out Adolf Hitler.  It’s a secret that he hasn’t been able to tell anyone and before you know it, the FBI and RCMP pay a visit to Calvin.  The film is written and directed by Robert D. Krzykowski.  Aidan Turner, Caitlin FitzGerald, and Ron Livingston co-star.  World premiere: Friday, July 20, 2018.

Following the world premiere at Sundance, Searching has been playing the festival circuit.  I had the opportunity to see the film when it screened during the Chicago Critics Film Festival in May.  It’s a roller coaster of a thriller with another film of its own playing in the emails, etc.  It’s enough that at least two viewings minimum are required!  Aneesh Chaganty directs from a script co-written with Sev Ohanian.  John Cho, Debra Messing, Joseph Lee, and Michelle La star.  Canadian premiere:  Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Another film that premiered at Sundance was Mandy.  Directed by Panos Cosmatos, the film stars Nicholas Cage.  While Cage’s acting alone is a reason to recommend the film, the late Jóhann Jóhannsson provides the score.  What better way than to honor the composer’s memory than by listing to one of his final contributions to cinema?  Canadian premiere: Wednesday, August 1, 2018

There’s a continuing Sundance theme.  I can’t help it that these are films come off as interesting.  Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Luke Wilson star in Jonathan Watson’s feature debut, Arizona.  The black comedy is set during the 2009 housing crisis.  Canadian premiere:  July 31, 2018

Fantasia 2018 will run July 12-August 1, 2018.

Danielle Solzman

Danielle Solzman is native of Louisville, KY, and holds a BA in Public Relations from Northern Kentucky University and a MA in Media Communications from Webster University. She roots for her beloved Kentucky Wildcats, St. Louis Cardinals, Indianapolis Colts, and Boston Celtics. Living less than a mile away from Wrigley Field in Chicago, she is an active reader (sports/entertainment/history/biographies/select fiction) and involved with the Chicago improv scene. She also sees many movies and reviews them. She has previously written for Redbird Rants, Wildcat Blue Nation, and Hidden Remote/Flicksided. From April 2016 through May 2017, her film reviews can be found on Creators.

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