Vera Farmiga is one of those actresses that you've seen in several supporting roles in films, but might not notice her playing any real significant characters (except for one notable role). She's continually churned out terrific performances, and with "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" being released, I took a look at my personal five favorite Vera Farmiga films.
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#5
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Vera Farmiga plays the mother of a young German boy whose father works for the Nazis, as their family is moved to a house near a concentration camp. The young boy befriends a young Jew boy who's in the camp, but neither boy really understands what's happening. The film is truly heartbreaking and powerful, and Farmiga gives a terrific performance as a mother who's torn over her duty to her husband and the atrocities of war.
#4
Orphan
In this thrilling horror film, Vera Farmiga plays a married woman with two children who decides to adopt a young girl named Esther, but after bringing her home finds out that there's something terribly wrong with the little girl. As she sets out to find Esther's history, she must also find a way to protect herself and her family. The film is gritty and rough, filled with tremendous twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end, and Farmiga does an admirable job as the matriarch.
#3
Quid Pro Quo
This was the first film I saw with Vera Farmiga, and I was instantly drawn to her allure and mystique. This film focuses on a man paralyzed, who discovers there's a group of people who also wish to be paralyzed, and Farmiga plays the main woman who seduces him and draws him into this strange world. It gives off a "Fatal Attraction" vibe and Farmiga gives an unnerving performance.
#2
Up in the Air
The film that earned Vera Farmiga her first Academy Award nomination, "Up in the Air" focuses on a man (played by George Clooney) who frequently travels to different companies to downsize their employees. Farmiga plays another frequent flyer who begins a relationship with Clooney, and both begin to develop real feelings for one another. It's not easy to go toe-to-toe with a great like George Clooney, but Farmiga does it with ease and elegance.
#1
The Conjuring
The film that took the horror genre by storm and created a whole new film universe, "The Conjuring" tells the true story of demonologist Ed Warren and his psychic wife Lorraine, who helped in thousands of suspected hauntings during their lifetime. Vera Farmiga plays Lorraine Warren, who must help solve a mysterious haunting of a family before it consumes them, and she gives a terrific, nail-biting performance both here and in the sequel as well, solidifying her as an acclaimed actress.
Major Theatrical Releases May 2019 After the hype that is "Avengers: Endgame," May offers a massive collection of differing types of movies, enough to entertain everyone. Here are the major theatrical releases for May 2019. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE** The Intruder May 3 Dennis Quaid goes from starring the family-friendly "A Dog's Journey" to playing a total psycho in "The Intruder." When a young couple purchases a home from Quaid's character Charlie, they didn't realize it came with an addition - Charlie himself, who can't seem to let his old home go. I don't expect any twists or turns in this tale, and this looks like a film better fit for Lifetime than the big screen. Long Shot May 3 Charlize Theron stars as Charlotte Field, the current Secretary of State and who's running for President. Seth Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a
Witch Starring Russell Shaw, Ryan Spong, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Fabrizio Santino Directed by Craig Hinde & Marc Zammit Movies about witches are about a dime a dozen, and follow the same formula: typically set in a time period long ago (since now, fortunately, the stigma of witches has been lessened and the religious fervor has diminished), in a small Puritanical town, a girl is accused of witchcraft which spirals the town into a frenzy filled with suspicion, doubt, and murder until the witch is put to religious justice. While that's not necessarily a bad formula (Robert Eggers' "The VVitch" and Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" immediately come to mind), most films fall by the wayside. "Witch" is a small film that, at first glance, seems to follow the mold before completely shattering it in a second act twist that's daring, provocative, and works in a lot of levels, but could've been more pronounced if given a bigger budget. In the small
Special Review: "Midwest Sessions" Directed by Mario Ricciardi Independent filmmaking is a fascinating concept, wherein the director and everyone involved sets out to make something unique, different, and go against the traditional status quo of what's defined as a "blockbuster." These films aren't usually seen by the masses and won't be included in the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, but they offer something those films don't: a heart and commitment by the people involved to craft something wholly distinctive that tell a story in their own way. Such is "Midwest Sessions," a local film directed by Mario Ricciardi that centers on the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and the captivating people who live there. Told in different vignettes that seem distinct and different from one another but coming together as a whole in the end, it's an engrossing film that utilizes its shoestring budget and gives great performances, decent effects a
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