‘Empire Of Light’ Trailer: Olivia Colman And Michael Ward Bond Over Cinema In Sam Mendes’ Latest

So how does Sam Mendes decide to follow up the numerous accolades of his sterling war film, 1917? By getting as far from the battlefield as possible and into the comforting glow of the cinema with his latest, Empire of Light.

Set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, Empire of Light stars Olivia Colman as Hilary, a troubled, isolated employee of the Empire movie theater. Her life is changed when she befriends Stephen (Michael Ward), a young Black man who begins working there and becomes the enthusiastic cure for her loneliness. While the two find an escape in their brief encounters in and around the cinema, it isn’t long before harsh reality begins to intrude.

Also in the cast are Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke, and Colin Firth. Mendes is back working with Academy Award-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, as well as composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

This looks like a sure-fire Oscar contender. Empire of Light opens in theaters on December 9th.

Travis Hopson
Travis Hopson has been reviewing movies before he even knew there was such a thing. Having grown up on a combination of bad '80s movies, pro wrestling, comic books, and hip-hop, Travis is uniquely positioned to geek out on just about everything under the sun. A vampire who walks during the day and refuses to sleep, Travis is the co-creator and lead writer for Punch Drunk Critics. He is also a contributor to Good Morning Washington, WBAL Morning News, and WETA Around Town. In the five minutes a day he's not working, Travis is also a voice actor, podcaster, and Twitch gamer. Travis is a voting member of the Critics Choice Association (CCA), Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA), and Late Night programmer for the Lakefront Film Festival.