by Brooke Varney

With the month of October fast-approaching, the annual BFI London Film Festival is just around the corner. From October 8-19, casual movie-goers and film aficionados alike can enjoy a vast array of flicks; 248 to be exact. The number may sound a bit daunting, but we’ve narrowed down the list to ten which have caught our eye.
1. Foxcatcher
Bennett Miller (Capote, Moneyball) has directed his psychological thriller based on the tumultuous relationship between wrestling champions Dave (Mark Ruffalo) and Mark Shultz (Channing Tatum), as well as their mysterious, multi-millionaire benefactor John E duPont (an unrecognizable Steve Carrell). The film examines the introverted Mark’s struggle to be independent from his married, social brother, and his susceptibility to influences that may negatively impact his life forever. With a supporting all-star cast including Vanessa Redgrave, Sienna Miller, and Anthony Michael Hall, this film is sure to impress.
2. Wild
Based on the 2012 best-selling novel by Cheryl Strayed, this film chronicles the journey of a freshly heartbroken woman attempting the arduous 1,100 mile hike across the majestically-filmed Pacific Crest Trail. The ill-prepared Cheryl (Reese Witherspoon) goes through a difficult physical and emotional journey, as she comes to terms with her history of drug addiction, and her mother’s death.
Based off of Vera Brittain’s esteemed WWI memoir, the young girl’s tale is told as she goes against her conservative parents’ wishes, as she desires to pursue literary aspirations after being awarded a scholarship to Oxford. She meets the dashing Roland, a friend of her brother, with whom she quickly falls in love with. The onset of the war soon demolishes every aspect of Vera’s ambitions in life, as Roland and her brother are shipped off to battle and Vera abandons Oxford to work as a nurse. Through her experiences watching the men she meets and loves so dearly slip away, her life is changed forever.
4. Mr. Turner
Cannes Film Festival Best Actor winner Timothy Spall portrays the fascinating Joseph Mallord William Turner, an artist celebrated for his atmospheric, impressionist work that went against the norms of the art world at the time. The film distances itself from the traditional biopic, focusing on the last 25 years of Turner’s life, including his blatant disrespect for other artists at the Royal Academy, his encounters with his housemaid, and the development of his last affair.
5. Wild Tales
This Argentinian dark comedy combines six unrelated mini-films into one brilliant package. The retro-style film satirizes various aspects of 21st-century life, including but not limited to Road-rage drivers, loan sharks, shady lawyers, critics, corrupt politicians, cheating husbands, and traffic wardens. “Pasternak,” “The Rats,” “The Strongest,” “Little Bomb,” “The Proposal,” and “Until Death Do Us Part” come together seamlessly, linked by common themes of violence and vengeance. Sure to be a raucous display of the best in black comedy, this film is a must-see.
Damien Lewis stars as Balor, a minister who suffers from frequent, sudden mood swings and outbursts, which become quite taxing on his wife, Aislin (Andrea Riseborough), and their relationship. Aislin finds escapes from Balor’s violent personality in both the beautiful countryside, and a Glaswegian young man (Ross Anderson), who is placed in their care by a religious charity. Although Balor is suspicious of the youth before he has to leave the island, Aislin sees a bit of herself in him, with the two’s relationship deepening as his stay progresses.
Debuting at the Cannes Film Festival, this film was the only one to receive applause mid-screening, and ended up winning the Prix du Jury. Depicted from the perspective of a dog and shown in 3D, this one-of-a-kind film chronicles the relationship of a single man and married woman through their ups and downs as they meet, fall in love, argue, and fight. Director Jean-Luc Godard plays with time, light, and color to explore new cinematic territory “in fragmentation, taking in wordplay, literary and musical quotation, toilet humour, abundant allusion to science fiction – and even a mischievous moment of costume drama.”
8. Honeytrap
Exploring hyper-masculine gang culture through a female’s perspective, Honeytrap tells the story of 15-year-old Layla (Jessica Soula), who fails to settle into a new city as she is unsupported and rejected by both her mother and her peers. She finds comfort in male admirers, one of whom’s kindness she takes advantage of. Layla makes an ultimately tragic decision in a desperate attempt for acceptance, allowing the viewer to watch the consequences of her choice unfold.
Jason Schwartzman stars as an angry young novelist named Philip, who isn’t quite so good at carrying out a successful relationship. He is growing tired of his adoptive home city, waiting for his sure-to-succeed second novel to be published, and not to mention his photographer girlfriend Ashley (Elisabeth Moss). He finds the perfect escape when his idol, Great American Novelist Ike Zimmerman (Jonathan Pryce) invites him to stay at his country retreat where he can focus on his favorite subject – himself.
10. Night Bus
Anyone who’s taken the night bus in London is familiar with the diverse cast of characters one can encounter throughout the journey, from obnoxious drunks to overly-friendly strangers who will strike up conversation with anyone. A unique and candid snapshot of a moment in the lives of a myriad group of passengers, Night Bus hilariously and accurately portrays the experiences of anyone who takes public transportation in a big city.