Today I caught two year-end films at Dolby 24 (1359 Sixth Avenue, 28th floor) — Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith‘s Emancipation at noon, and then Sam Mendes‘ Empire of Light (Searchlight, 12.9), which I initially saw in Telluride three months ago.
I’m sorry but despite a certain over-calculated tidiness and occasional on-the-nose moments that pop through now and then, Empire of Light remains my favorite film of the year — the most romantic, the most emotionally delicate and soothing and subtle and soft-touchy, and filled with satisfying and at times even sublime performances.
The great Olivia Colman towers above all, but Michael Ward, Colin Firth, Tanya Moodie (as Michael’s mom), Toby Jones and Tom Brooke…everyone is just right.
I’ll share some Emancipation thoughts later this evening.