TOrmageddon Time by James Gray was one of the most anticipated films of Cannes Film Festival. About the director of Ad Astra there were high expectations, too bad that while achieving a coming of age bitter and touching, played by compelling actors, such as the veteran Anthony Hopkinsthe brilliant Anne Hathaway and the young man Michael Banks Repeats, does not hit the mark. The director’s fifth participation on the Croisette is with his less successful but more personal film.
Armageddon Time stands on the boundary line between authoriality and unbridled American classicism, in that cinematic limbo of the already seen and told. What comes is the empathy of the characters, theirs inner restlessness and them dreams in a context of early years Eighty. James Gray doesn’t show colorful pop culture, but the subtext of a society racist and classist.
The two young protagonists. (Courtesy Focus Features)
Armageddon Time: the plot
1980. New York, Reagan is about to be elected president of the United States. Paul (Michael Banks Repeta) he is a restless boy, like many others, who has fun with at school black friend Johnny to make fun of the prof. His passion is drawing. The friendship between the two is strong, but it is certainly not seen well by those who revolve around him: Johnny is black and often bullied.
Paul he does not have any problems, indeed, with him he dreams of going to NASA and becoming an artist. Esther’s parents (Anne Hathaway) and Aaron (Jeremy Strong) would like the best for him and straighten his restless soul enrolling him in a private school, funded, hear, hear, by the Trump family (Jessica Chastain plays Maryanne Trump). Paul will find himself like a fish out of water, but that dream of reaching Florida with his friend does not leave him.
The intense relationship between Paul and his grandfather Anthony Hopkins
In the film, admittedly autobiographicalthe only one who can cope with Paul is the grandfatherplayed by an extraordinary Anthony Hopkins. With him he manages to be himself, to talk about the future, but also about the past. In fact, Irving tells him how important memory is, especially for them, a family of Jewish immigrants from Ukraine.
The grandfather with his values becomes Paul’s mentorguides him along a tortuous path because life, as Gray reiterates several times in the film, is unfair. And the young protagonist will notice it by attending his black friend, towards whom, despite the company rowing against it, it will always remain loyal. Their friendship story supports the whole film, almost reminiscent of the incipit of the relationship between Pietro and Bruno The eight mountains. At the end of Armageddon Time one wonders: Will Johnny and Paul meet again? And what future awaits them?
Michael Banks Repeta and Anthony Hopkins. (Courtesy of Anne Joyce / Focus Features)
Anne Hathaway and a mother’s mistakes
Hathaway plays Esther, a dedicated mother to her sonwants the best for him, but follows her husband’s hard line: woe betide you otherwise they are blows. Paul is stubborn, he follows a guideline that sometimes goes beyond the bar of fairness, but as kids who has never tried to smoke a cigarette in the school bathroom?
Anne Hathaway as Ester. (Courtesy Focus Features)
Paul does not want to end up, like his brother, in a chasm where he could get stuckhis vision is open and he is not afraid to dream, although his parents tend to cut him off wings. Esther recognizes Paul’s aspirations, doesn’t understand them and she makes mistakes like so many protective moms. During the press conference Anne Hathaway was moved remembering her mother-in-law who recently passed away: “Her sweet touch inspired my life»Says the actress. Armageddon Time it is implicitly dedicated to her.
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