This summer saw a handful of our favorite films from Sundance hit theaters and fall kicks off with another as Tim Sutton‘s Memphis arrives early next month. The drama takes place deep within the tumultuous, creative mind of musician Willis Earl Beal (played by the real-life musician of the same name), and now the first compelling theatrical trailer has arrived.
We said in our review, “Certainly a filmmaker with a distinct vision, taking some cues from the likes of Gus Van Sant or Jim Jarmusch, Sutton is confident in letting his lead command the screen for most of the film. There’s a self-awareness to both Sutton’s direction and Willis’ performance that deflates some of the potential pretentiousness from the proceedings. Some of the time, while Willis is on a rant about glory and time and space, he’ll finish the diatribe with a loud laugh. Somewhere inside, this artist knows he is imploding and all he can do is smile.”
Check out the trailer and poster below:
A strange singer with ‘god given talent’ drifts through the mythic city of Memphis under its canopy of ancient oak trees, shattered windows and burning spirituality. Surrounded by lovers, legends, hustlers, preachers, and a wolfpack of kids, the unstable performer avoids the recording studio and is driven to spend time in his own form of self-discovery. Shown in fragments, his journey drags him from love and happiness right to the edge of another dimension. Featuring an explosive performance and score from Willis Earl Beal, MEMPHIS is a film steeped in folklore, music, surrealism, and the abstract search for glory.
Memphis arrives on September 5th.