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In the New York Film Festival Center “Behemoth!,” writer/director Tony Gilroy has created a quality film about a optimist (Pedro Pascal) in midlife crisis. The film played well at a packed Alice Tully Hall, and revelers at the after party were a little optimistic.
Critics approve (see Metascore) of Pascal’s quiet, almost silent, reactive performance – he carries the film, appearing in every scene – but the Best Actor category is so full that it will be difficult for Pascal, who has never been nominated, to pass the highest spikes such as Matt Damon (“The Odyssey”), John Malkovich (“Wild Horse Ninels”), Andrew, Ryan, ScottEllis, and Mary Scottail (“Wild Horse Ninels)”). Turturro (“New York’s Only Living Pocket”). To date, Pascal is recognized for his television work in HBO’s “The Last of Us.” “Behemoth!” marking his most ambitious film role to date.
The film’s strength is its innovative musical structure, as cellist Pascal plays various film scores in a series of Hollywood sessions that throw his memories back in time. Gilroy used nine composers, including James Newton Howard, Michael Giacchino, and Alan Silvestri, whom he calls The Behemoth! Assembly. Academy rules require that no more than three composers be submitted for consideration for a film’s Original Score. But Searchlight hopes that the music committee will consider accepting the Collective one in this case.
The music branch was flexible about the multi-song writers “K-Pop Demon Hunters”, who shared their Oscar. But the “Birdman” drum score was disqualified as not being music. The two writers on “Arrival,” Max Richter and Jóhann Jóhannsson, were disqualified. But later, Richter was allowed to incorporate new and old material on “Hamnet.”
Searchlight will have no problem installing Lukas Frank’s song “Your God Is Sleeping”.
And “Andor” showrunner and “Michael Clayton” Screenplay Nominee and Director Gilroy, who is respected in the industry for his writing ability, could be in the running for Original Screenplay. It defines the term.
Searchlight Pictures opens “Behemoth!” starting on December 4th.
