There’s a November 11th New York press screening (at the Lincoln Center) for Todd Haynes’ “Dark Waters.” However, the movie was screened for L.A. press yesterday, but you won’t get any reactions as social media thoughts are embargoed until November 13th. Usually, that’s a sign that a studio doesn’t have much faith in a movie.
A trailer was released a few weeks ago. The cinematography looked stunning, but the narrative footage itself, filled with cheeseball “big line” moments, felt a little too familiar and generic … If I watched that trailer and somehow missed the Haynes mention and then tried to guess who directed it, his name would have not been anywhere on my guessing list. Regardless, it could all be a misleading trailer, hiding a better more sustainable movie.
“Dark Waters,” inspired by a true story, centers around Robert Bilott, played by Mark Ruffalo, who’s environmental suit against Dupont Company exposed a decades-long history of chemical pollution. An excellent cast has been assembled for the film. Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, and Ruffalo will be joined by a cast which includes Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham, William Jackson Harper, and Bill Pullman.
I wrote this about the film on 9.18.19:
“Haynes is a director that critics have grown to really love over the years. His decade-defining movies ("Safe," "Far From Heaven," "Carol") have only aged more beautifully. However, his last movie, 2017's "Wonderstruck," an adaptation of Brian Selznick critically acclaimed children's book, was his first critical misfire.