One of the longest running festivals in our city, the Denver Jewish Film Festival, is scheduled for Jan. 22 through Feb. 1, and is packed with interesting selections. For more information, the lineup, and ticket links, visit https://tickets.jccdenver.org/djff .

In addition, awards season is here and I start previewing the Oscars with a review of a film that should be nominated for Best Picture, in my opinion. It also gives us what I see as one of the best—if not the best—performances of the year.

Train Dreams (Netflix)

Toward the beginning of this wonderful and quiet film, the narrator verbalizes the thoughts of a young boy, circa 1900 Idaho, as he watches a Chinese family being whisked away by police: “he was surprised by the casual violence of it.” That sentiment, as simple and brutal as it is, sets the stakes for this film from director and co-writer Clint Bentley. Bently adapted the book of the same name from Denis Johnson and fashioned a film that feels literary, but, at the same time, is lusciously shot and rendered visually stunning. That is not an easy feat.

Train Dreams

A quiet film with beautiful cinematography, simple moments, and more reactions than actions, it reminds of a line from a John Lennon song: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” The mundane, the everyday, the easily forgettable interactions—however you want to describe our lives from minute-to-minute—are the focus of the film. Big, brutal events happen, as they do in all of our lives, but it is the totality of our journey that shines through. The contemplative nature of the film allows us time to consider our own lives and what we might be missing, or forgetting, or not appreciating. It visualizes the evanescence of our lives.

As central character Robert Granier, Joel Edgerton inhabits harshness and softness within the same face, within the same mind, within the same body, within the same soul. Edgerton’s acting is sublime, and in my opinion, the best performance of the year. Add to that the luminous performances from the veteran cast, including Felicity Jones, Nathaniel Arcand, Kerry Condon, William H. Macy, Clifton Collins Jr., and the narration of Will Patton, and we are gifted a film that is a true collaborative piece of art.

Vincent Piturro, PhD., is a Professor of Film and Media Studies at MSU Denver. Contact him directly at vpiturro@msudenver.org. or follow him on Twitter. For more reviews, search The Indie Prof at FrontPorchNE.com.