If you take a glance at the movies Netflix has released in the first half of 2018, you wouldn't be wrong to call them the bargain bin of the streaming age. Sure, there's the occasional lighthearted gem like Set It Up or Kodachrome, but the list of bombs (The Cloverfield Paradox, Mute, How It Ends, Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter, etc.) is much longer. But even if you're not all that impressed with the studio's slate thus far, don't be fooled. Netflix is gearing up for a spectacular fall season, and I don't think it's an overstatement to say that they have the most exciting lineup out of all the studios. Jeremy Saulnier's Hold the Dark, Gareth Evans' Apostle, Paul Greengrass' 22 July, Joel and Ethan Coen's The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, David Mackenzie's Outlaw King- it's seriously ridiculous. But with a major slot at nearly every festival, perhaps the most anticipated upcoming Netflix title is Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, the filmmaker's first film since 2013's Gravity. Earlier today, Netflix released a full-length teaser for the passion project- watch it below!
I've always admired Cuarón's work, even if Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my least favorite Harry Potter movies. Gravity sent my jaw to the floor upon its original release (I haven't revisited in ages), while Children of Men dazzled me with its virtuoso feats of technical wizardry. Recently, I gained a newfound appreciation for Cuarón's work with my first viewing of Y Tu Mamá También, the director's masterful portrait of sexual freedom and existential uncertainty in late 1990s Mexico. Everything Cuarón has said about Roma indicates that we're in for the crowning achievement of his career to date, and its presence at all four major fall festivals supports that idea. Venice is holding the film's first showing, but the programmers at the New York Film Festival thought highly enough of Roma to give it the Centerpiece slot, even with no premiere status whatsoever.
After watching this teaser, it's really no surprise at all. Roma looks flat-out gorgeous, and while there's no dialogue or conventional character work on display, this brief preview conjures up a unique and thrilling sense of atmosphere. The filmmaker's eye for history is brilliant and unflinching, and I'm thrilled to see him returning to this neo-realism after years in the realms of fantasy and sci-fi. Cuarón's black-and-white photography is seriously dazzling, and I can't wait to see the entire film in all its glory. Netflix may have its first Best Picture contender here, and I'm already eager to hear the reactions from the festivals.
Roma will premiere on Netflix in December. Look for more on the film with Venice and Telluride fast approaching.
I've always admired Cuarón's work, even if Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my least favorite Harry Potter movies. Gravity sent my jaw to the floor upon its original release (I haven't revisited in ages), while Children of Men dazzled me with its virtuoso feats of technical wizardry. Recently, I gained a newfound appreciation for Cuarón's work with my first viewing of Y Tu Mamá También, the director's masterful portrait of sexual freedom and existential uncertainty in late 1990s Mexico. Everything Cuarón has said about Roma indicates that we're in for the crowning achievement of his career to date, and its presence at all four major fall festivals supports that idea. Venice is holding the film's first showing, but the programmers at the New York Film Festival thought highly enough of Roma to give it the Centerpiece slot, even with no premiere status whatsoever.
After watching this teaser, it's really no surprise at all. Roma looks flat-out gorgeous, and while there's no dialogue or conventional character work on display, this brief preview conjures up a unique and thrilling sense of atmosphere. The filmmaker's eye for history is brilliant and unflinching, and I'm thrilled to see him returning to this neo-realism after years in the realms of fantasy and sci-fi. Cuarón's black-and-white photography is seriously dazzling, and I can't wait to see the entire film in all its glory. Netflix may have its first Best Picture contender here, and I'm already eager to hear the reactions from the festivals.
Roma will premiere on Netflix in December. Look for more on the film with Venice and Telluride fast approaching.
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