🍿84: Society of the Snow
This week: The Golden Globes and the darkest Simpsons joke ever?
“I ain’t afraid to die anymore. I’d done it already.”
~ The Revenant, 2015
The Golden Globes
It’s been three days since the Golden Globes, and while everyone seems to be focused on Jo Koy’s jokes falling flat and Taylor Swift’s icy stare, there were some major highlights. For starters, Lily Gladstone made Golden Globe history when she won Best Female Actor, making her the first Indigenous person to win an award.
Barbie on the other hand won the award for Cinematic or Box Office Achievement (a new category) which is hardly surprising considering it made over $1.4bn at the global box office. Margot Robbie dedicated the award to “every single person on the planet who dressed up and went to the greatest place on Earth: the movie theaters.”
But the big winner was Oppenheimer, which took home no less than five awards, including Best Picture (drama), Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Score and Best Actor — which Cillian Murphy accepted covered in his wife’s lipstick.
Now for the headlines:
It’s official! Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are in the very early stages of developing 28 Years Later. Read more.
Saltburn’s Jacob Elordi is set to replace Andrew Garfield in Guillermo Del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein film. Read more.
Martin Scorsese has said he aims to ‘take away the negatives’ of organised religion with his new Jesus film. Read more.
And finally, Warner Bros. pulled Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 from its release schedule to allow more time to finish the project. Read more.
Upcoming Releases
Marmalade
UK: 12 February // USA: 9 February
Recently imprisoned, Baron (Joe Keery) strikes a friendship with his new cellmate, a man with a history of prison breaks. As they hatch a plan to escape, Baron recalls how he met the love of his life, Marmalade (Camila Morrone), and how they came up with a scheme to rob a bank.
Housekeeping for Beginners
UK: TBC // USA: 26 January
Despite never aspiring to be a mother, Dita (Anamaria Marinca) finds herself compelled to raise her girlfriend’s two daughters. As their wills clash, a heartwarming story unfolds about an unlikely family’s struggle to stay together.
Fact of the week
Society of the Snow is the second film to tell the story of those who survived the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, with the first being Alive, starring Ethan Hawke, released in 1993.
I didn’t know this until recently, but when I found out, it reminded me of a scene from ‘The Simpsons’ that refers to the first film, one that includes a joke that went over my head, until now…
Review: Society of the Snow
Star rating:
4.5 (out of 5)
Where to watch:
USA: Netflix
UK: Netflix
Runtime:
2hr 24m
Director:
J.A. Bayona
Blurb:
Spain’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film is based on the true story of the Uruguayan flight that crashed into the remote heart of the Andes in 1972, leaving its survivors stranded for 72 days.
The review (NO spoilers):
Director of both The Impossible and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, J.A. Bayona shows off his range and versatility in Society of the Snow. From the plane crashing into the mountains, to the film’s most heart-wrenching moments, we’re treated to scenes of compassion, empathy and nail-biting action.
While the film focuses heavily on the human story of the survivors, their endurance, ingenuity and moral dilemmas, it’s easy to see how a lengthy runtime could take its toll. But, just as we begin to feel restless waiting around in the snow, Bayona shifts gears and the film changes pace.
There are countless challenges and obstacles the survivors have to overcome, and the bleak reality of their situation is juxtaposed only by the glorious mountainscapes surrounding them, beautifully captured by cinematographer Pedro Luque.
Bayona’s respect for the human loss and suffering of what is a fairly recent tragedy (some survivors are still alive today) is evident. Not because he’s handled the subject delicately, but because it feels like the film has been made in awe of the people it’s about — with homage being paid to each victim, as well as the survivors.
It’s heavy going, but Society of the Snow is a triumph in compassionate storytelling.
Scroll down to see what’s in the next issue.
If you liked Society of the Snow…
Cast Away
2000 | UK: Prime Video (£3.49) // USA: Prime Video ($3.79)
Alive might be the most obvious pick this week, but we’re going to assume you don’t want to watch another iteration of the same story. While there are many survival films out there, I think Cast Away, starring Tom Hanks, is a classic that’s at risk of being forgotten.
It’s not based on a true story, but that at least lightens the emotional load of watching Tom Hanks stranded on an island.
In the next issue:
The End We Start From
UK: 9 January // USA: 9 January | Watch the Trailer
