Remembering the Work of Late Filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée
Canadian filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée died in December 2021, after a break into television that arguably produced some of his best work. If you’ve never seen any of his movies or shows, here’s how you can find them.
‘The Young Victoria’ (2009)
Astounding costume design and art direction dominate The Young Victoria, the first of Vallée’s international ventures to receive notice on a global scale. Lead actress Emily Blunt is the winning factor here, but this film should appeal to fans of the period drama genre across the board.
Watch on: Paramount+ / Epix
‘Dallas Buyers Club’ (2013)
Dallas Buyers Club is probably Vallée’s best-appreciated film, as it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, along with five other categories. This is the one time the Academy recognized Vallée, as he was nominated for Best Editing under the pseudonym John Mac McMurphy.
Watch on: Starz
‘Wild’ (2014)
Another true story adaptation in a row for Vallée; Wild again shows his direction in top form and is easily his other best film of the recent group.
Watch on: Tubi
‘Demolition’ (2015)
Demolition is not a great choice for someone’s final film, but it’s mostly the fault of the screenplay by debuting feature-length screenwriter Bryan Sipe (who tragically adapted Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice shortly after this movie). Vallée does good work, and the cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal and Naomi Watts plays their parts excellently.
‘Big Little Lies’ Season 1 (2017)
This book adaptation is an enticing thriller with a great story and a top-notch cast. Every episode is directed by Vallée, which is rare for most TV shows but crucial for a continuous feel in this series.
Watch on: HBO Max
‘Sharp Objects’ Miniseries (2018)
His direction of Big Little Lies influenced the atmospheric slow pacing of Sharp Objects, but here, he has perfected the craft. This eight-episode series slowly unveils the details of its murder mystery with a trio of excellently nuanced performances, and Vallée lingers on them all for maximum discomfort.
Watch on: HBO Max
Jean-Marc Vallée is gone too soon for sure, but he will be remembered for his major successes and a back catalog of lesser-known films, all with great direction and editing.
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