7 Most-Anticipated Films From 40th Mill Valley Film Festival

MILL VALLEY, CA – The 40th edition of the Mill Valley Film Festival is now underway, and once again, the fest delivers a bevy of buzzworthy titles — and many have already earned wide acclaim from critics worldwide.

Here are seven of the most-anticipated films from the 2017 MVFF, which runs Oct. 5-15. Plus, check out photo highlights from the opening night premiere.

#1 “Lady Bird” — Saoirsee Ronan, Odeya Rush, directed by Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut, “Lady Bird,” is a coming-of-age film about a precocious high school senior, Christine McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), who longs to break free of her monotonous and constrained suburban life in Sacramento. Instead, she dreams of the excitement and vibrancy of a cosmopolitan culture in the East Coast. Her solution: Attend an Ivy League university. The problem: Her grades are only modest to say the least. Gerwig’s adept talent behind the camera is in full display in this ebullient and well-acted film.

Watch the "Lady Bird" trailer:

#2 “Darkest Hour” — Gary Oldman, Lily James, Kristin Scott Thomas, directed by Joe Wright

From director Joe Wright (“Atonement” and “Pride and Prejudice) comes a searing historical drama, set during World War II, when United Kingdom was in the throes of a fight that may well be a losing battle. Starring Gary Oldman as Churchill and Kristin Scott Thomas as his wife Clementine, the film is a depiction of the countless, extreme obstacles the British prime minister faced to resist the Nazis, when the nation seemed on the brink of invasion. Oldman’s transformation is utterly jaw-dropping and his rendering of the ferocious leader is electrifying!

Watch the "Darkest Hour" trailer:

#3 “Call Me By Your Name” — Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet, directed by Luca Guadagnino

Set in the sun-kissed landscape of the Italian countryside, Luca Guadagnino’s heartfelt drama is a film adaptation of Andre Aciman’s 2007 novel of sexual awakening. At the core, it is a lyrical tale of forbidden love between 24-year-old doctoral student Oliver (Armie Hammer) and his professor’s 17-year-old son Elio (Timothee Chalamet). This simmering portrait of first love pulses with passion, blissfulness and unquenchable ache of longing and desire.

Watch the "Call Me By Your Name" trailer:

#4 “The Shape of Water” — Octavia Spencer, Sally Hawkins, directed by Guillermo del Toro

Set against the backdrop of Cold War era, circa 1963, Guillermo del Toro’s (who directed “Pan’s Labyrinth”) otherworldly fairytale follows two workers in a high-tech U.S. government laboratory (Sally Hawkins and Octavia Spencer) who unearth a hidden classified experiment. The movie is filled with visual treasures evoking ode to classic cinema— one of Del Toro’s finest films.

Watch the "The Shape of Water" trailer:

#5 “The Current War” — Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Shannon, Katherine Waterston, directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon

Electricity takes center stage in Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s historical biopic about the fierce competition between Thomas Edison (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Westinghouse (Michael Shannon) to switch on the modern world. Not only does the film explore the genius of the inventors but also their personas as men driven by desire and pride to be the first to switch on night. Rejon’s impressive style coupled with the exceptional talent of Cumberbatch and Shannon provides both visual and visceral depth to the narrative.

Watch the "The Current War" trailer:

#6 “Last Flag Flying” — Bryan Cranston, Steve Carrell, Laurence Fishburne, directed by Richard Linklater

A sequel to 1973’s “The Last Detail,” Richard Linklater’s road movie centers on former Navy Corpsman Doc (Steve Darell) and his old friends, ex-Marines Sal (Bryan Cranston) and Mueller (Laurence Fisburne), who, after 30 years, reunite to take his son’s casket on a road trip up the Eastern Seaboard for the young man’s burial. Along the way, the three friends reminisce and paint an agonizing portrait of war. Linklater’s eye-catching approach makes this dramedy meaningful and rewarding.

Watch the "Last Flag Flying" trailer:

#7 “The Meyerowitz Stories” — Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel, directed by Noah Baumbach

Writer-director Noah Baumbach’s latest is a star-studded dark comedy about three dysfunctional siblings (Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel) and their struggles with their aging, overbearing father, played by Dustin Hoffman. The Netflix-produced film stands out with Baumbach’s ebullient screenplay and magnificent performances.

Watch the "The Meyerowitz Stories" trailer:

Photo Highlights From The 2017 MVFF Opening Night

---

---

---

---

---

---

For more information on the festival, go to mvff.com.

More Movie News:

• Kristin Scott Thomas, Sean Penn And Margot Robbie To Attend 40th Mill Valley Film Festival
• Reviews of 'Blade Runner 2049,' 'The Florida Project,' 'The Mountain Between Us,' 'My Little Pony: The Movie'
• Bollywood Star Ali Fazal Had 'Goo-Goo Eyes' Meeting Dame Judi Dench
• Inside The Making Of 'Battle Of The Sexes' With Directors Valerie Faris And Jonathan Dayton
• Interview with 'Battle Of The Sexes' Star Andrea Riseborough
• Stars Shine At 'Kingsman: The Golden Circle' World Premiere
• What's New On Netflix: October 2017

Top Photo: Kristin Scott Thomas attends the Opening Night Premiere of 'Darkest Hour' at the Outdoor Art Club during the 40th Mill Valley Film Festival on Oct. 5 in Mill Valley, California. (Photo by Jonathan Shensa)