The number of filmmakers working today that have the potential to last as long as theindustry as Oliver Stoneor Ridley Scott is dwindling, as directors are given less opportunities to make creative passion projects that fall outside the standard expectations of audiences. It’s sad to see that filmmakers, once praised for their creativity, have become swept up by the machinations of Hollywood, which only seem to focus on projects inspired by previously existing intellectual property. When a director as talented as Chloé Zhao or Ryan Coogler goes from a landmark Sundance debut film (The RiderandFruitvale Station,respectively) to yet another installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there’s clearly an issue.
The number of directors today that can generate audience passion based on their name alone (and not a particular performer or franchise) is a very select group. While there are some filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Noah Baumbach, and Wes Anderson that inherited their fan bases from the 1990s, it’s perhaps only Jordan Peele, Greta Gerwig, and Edgar Wright who’ve emerged since that have that same ability. The future of directors like Alex Garland and Ari Aster is even in question considering the commercial failures ofMenandBeau is Afraid, respectively.
Cory Finleyisn’t a filmmaker who is as flashy as Nolan, as intriguing as Peele, as funny as Gerwig, or as confrontational as Aster. However, he deserves to be considered among the great directors of his generation. Here is why the filmmaker behindThoroughbredsandBad Educationis one of the most exciting filmmakers working today.
Thoroughbreds Was a Landmark Debut
One of the major achievements that any great filmmaker can make is the discovery of a new set of talented performers. This is something that Finley proved he could do with his 2018 dark comedyThoroughbreds, which felt like a modern version ofHeathers.While it was clearlymade for Millennials, there is a timelessness toThoroughbredsthat will make it age very well; in many ways, it feels as much like a classical work of theater as it does a high school comedy. Finley’s film is equally dark and hilarious, providing both laughs and genuinely cringe worthy moments within the confines of a stark commentary about emotional reckoning.
The film ended up starring two of the most exciting actresses working today in what would become their breakout roles. Olivia Cooke had only just gotten notice for her performance in the incredible 2015 Sundance filmMe and Earl and the Dying Girl, and would later be seen as one of the leads in Steven Spielberg’s terrific 2018 science fiction action filmReady Player One. It was after her performance inThoroughbredsbecame so beloved that Cooke went on to become one of the stars of the beloved new HBOGame of Thronesprequel seriesHouse of the Dragon; she is set to reprise her role as Alicent Hightower in the upcoming season.
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To an even greater degree, Anya Taylor-Joy has become one of the most defining movie stars of her generation, andThoroughbredswas only a brief window into what she could do. The combination of sensitivity and nastiness that Taylor-Joy brought to her role as the wealthy girl Lily predated her breakout role inNetflix’s limited seriesThe Queen’s Gambit, as well as her performances inThe Northman, Amsterdam, Glass, The Menu, Last Night In Soho, Here are the Young Men, Emma,and evenThe Super Mario Brothers Movie.
If social commentary was only one of the reasons thatThoroughbredswas so great, then it’s one of the primary focuses of Finley’s second project.Thoroughbredsexamined the wealth disparity, teenage anxiety, emotional openness, and the flaws within the mental health system. However,Bad Education(not to be confused with the great Pedro Almodovar film of the same name) attacked the notion of excellence when it came to public education. The film was ironically released amidst a real-life college admissions scandal that made its material feel even more relevant.
Based on an incredible (and somewhat unbelievable) true story,Bad Educationfollows the ambitious Dr. Frank Tassone (Hugh Jackman), the superintendent of the Roslyn Union Free School District on Long Island. Tassone is dedicated to making his district the nation’s leader, and is willing to cut any corners necessary in order to raise his school’s performance scores. This includes a massive money laundering scandal that threatens to destabilize the entire community.
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Jackman gives the performance of his career in a role that likely would have earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor had it debuted in theaters; while some would cite his darker work in films likeLoganorPrisoners, Jackman showed the unique mix of humor, charisma, darkness, and performative falseness that makes him such a unique presence.
Bad Educationdebuted to rave reviews at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival and received rave reviews, inciting an instant level of award season buzz that indicated it could be a major Oscar contender. However, the film was insteadpicked up by HBO Films, a studio that did not release it amidst the pandemic and premiered it exclusively on the streaming network. Due to the theatrical shutdowns, this allowed more viewers to seeBad Educationand consider it among the best films of the year.
His Upcoming Projects Are Exciting
While a filmmaker as exciting as Finley likely would have received many offers to make a film inspired by a comic book or video game, he chose to move forward with more exciting projects that may not be a guaranteed success.Finley’s third film,Landscapes with Invisible Hand,debuted to mixed reactions at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival;The Hollywood Reportersaid that it was a “blunt indictment of capitalism’s cruelty, which constantly asks us to pay for our freedom.” Hopefully, it will be a theatrical success and allow him to do even more ambitious projects in the future.
