From the return of JLaw in the wild and wicked Die My Love, to Ethan Hawke’s turn as a lonely old soul in Blue Moon, Wonderland spotlights the outstanding performances from BFI London Film Festival 2025.
Awards season is fast approaching, and with that marks the annual return of the BFI London Film Festival. Taking place at the tail end of the year, it’s one of the last opportunities to catch the best of the best in contemporary cinema before global media activations kick off.
Every October, a figurative list of For Your Considerations shines a ceremonial spotlight on a delightfully diverse bunch of front-runners. Celebrating its 69th birthday, the esteemed festival came to an end on Sunday, celebrating 100 Nights Of Hero as its closing premiere. Across its near fortnight runtime, it gave an especially warm welcome to Norway’s Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value, and Ireland’s Jessie Buckley for Hamnet. Jesse Plemons in Yorgos Lanthimos’ brilliant Bugonia, and Jeremy Allen White as ‘The Boss’ himself, Bruce Springsteen in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere.
Below, Wonderland rounds up six of the most standout performances from the festival to keep your eye on as the forthcoming season kicks into gear.
Jennifer Lawrence in Die My Love
If you loved JLaw’s powerful presentation in mother!, brace yourself for a truly feral turn in Lynne Ramsay’s latest left field film. During a recent guest appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Lawrence expressed that she “was at peace” with the possibility of not returning to Hollywood during a two-year acting break. Now that the Oscar winner has experienced motherhood for herself, she is committed to her comeback in a reconstructive role that calls for a balls-to-the-wall approach that is fun, ferocious and altogether frightening.
Lawrence gives the performance of a lifetime as Grace, who is in the grip of postpartum depression. Driven to insanity in her new rural family home, she dances in the flames to the shock and horror of her hubby Jackson, played by YA franchise chum Robert Pattinson. Watch her bark back at her unwanted pet dog, and obedient other half, in this new clip from MUBI.
Ben Whishaw in Peter Hujar’s Day
Admittedly Peter Hujar’s Day isn’t the comprehensive portrait you’d expect it to be, but more of a subtle, grainy snapshot into the early life of an American founding father of queer photography. Set in 1974, Ira Sachs follows Passages with this intimate character study that flaunts muse Whishaw in the titular role. Recounting the previous 24 hours of Hujar’s life, discussions of New York City’s downtown art scene alumni flow in conversation with writer friend Linda Rosenkrantz (Rebecca Hall).
Whishaw’s wit and wisdom as Hujar is delicately communicated with seamless fluidity. One minute, he’s sprawled across the couch, exuding confidence like an elegant panther. The next, he lingers on the opposite side of the bed, articulating his frustrations as a tortured artist. Spontaneous throughout, it’s a mischievous performance that promises to keep you on your toes.
Saoirse Ronan in Bad Apples
An absolutely twisted thrill ride that must be seen to be believed in a packed cinema, nothing can prepare you for Ronan’s diabolical trajectory as a school teacher stressed to the max. Bristol-set Bad Apples gets juicier with every peel of its elementary facade, and the four-time Oscar-nominated actress treads new transgressive ground as Maria, who oversteps boundaries with her class of 10-year-olds and faces hilarious repercussions for her insane actions.
Maria has a habit of cowering and crawling around in terror, and yes, it’s a treat to watch every time. But don’t be fooled by her chaotic cowardice in this dark comedy. In the wise words of Charli xcx, “I think the apple’s rotten right to the core”. Go in blind with this one!
Lee Byung-hun in No Other Choice
Equal parts entertaining and rewarding on a technical level, South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook’s latest epic focuses on the bonkers breakdown of the nuclear family unit in the pursuit of corporate, capital happiness. Squid Game’s Lee Byung-hun has infectious energy as veteran paper mill manager Yoo Man-soo, who will stop at nothing to ensure his return to employment paradise after being laid off.
Originally conceived 20 years ago by Park, speaking to the BFI at the UK premiere of No Other Choice, Lee stated “since the reality of job security still exists, this story is still relevant. Unfortunately then and now. I feel like it’s become a very necessary story.” Beyond expressive in the body and face, like a Looney Tunes cartoon, Lee gets caught up in a web of lies (and laughs) as he attempts to eliminate his competition in some rather absurdist ways.
Sydney Sweeney in Christy
The Euphoria star has traded blonde for brunette in this impressive showing that doesn’t shy away from heavy, true-to-life material. Starring as spunky, shaggy-haired female boxing legend Christy Martin, Sweeney bulks up and packs a punch in a career best move, giving it her all and, with ease, bouncing between the rough and tough champions ring and the horrors of everyday life in this brutal biopic.
“From prep, to filming, to post,” Martin consulted with Sweeney throughout the making of Christy, taking great care to realise vulnerable, candid moments of real discrimination and violent domestic abuse. Needless to say, news of a surprise Academy Award nomination for Sweeney would not go unnoticed.
Ethan Hawke in Blue Moon
Animated (and very much opinionated) in funny, flamboyant fashion, Hawke does an exquisite job portraying Lorenz Hart, the renowned American lyricist responsible for the famous title of this Richard Linklater biopic – one of two, alongside Nouvelle Vague, that premiered at LFF. In front of a bunch of uncomfortable bar patrons, hidden deep within Hart’s extravagant display of theatre hot takes and flippant comments, Hawke effortlessly masks a sad and lonely old soul.
An admirer of beauty, aptly acting out his life as if it were a play, he gently glides his way over to charming, infatuated interactions with Margaret Qualley’s Elizabeth Weiland, before cranking up the comedy again in brash confrontations with Andrew Scott’s Richard Rodgers. Blue Moon is a wholesome watch, and Hawke’s performance will, no doubt, leave you with a twinkle in your eye.
Words – Douglas Jardim
