Lion (2016)

The “Lion” cast describes Davis in almost shaman-like terms. He encouraged dancing on set and would roam around playing music to put them in the right mood for pivotal scenes. A portion of the film focuses on Patel staring at a computer screen as he uses Google Earth to take him across India’s sprawling topography, through its bustling train stations, and around its remote villages in the hopes of finding some image that will remind him of his boyhood home. The actor was looking at a blank screen, so Davis would narrate what Brierley was meant to be seeing on his computer.



“He’ll sit really close to the action,” recounts Patel. “He’ll talk to you as the shot progresses. That can be invasive if you’ve got the wrong director — it can completely bring you out of the moment. But with Garth, he’s got this wonderful energy about him. He’s so in it with you. There’s an element of play.”



The looseness of the “Lion” set spills over into the actors’ relationships with each other. They tease, finish each other’s sentences, cackle at jokes. At one point, Mara complains that after staying up all night, she’s not able to articulate her thoughts. Kidman pipes up with support.



“Even when you say nothing, you’re mesmerizing,” Kidman consoles. “‘I’m going, ‘I love this girl.’ ”



Publicizing a movie is clearly a task that Mara struggles with — she’s earnest, sincere, and articulate, but she seems to be editing herself, fearful of saying the wrong thing. As Weinstein puts it, “You work with Rooney on a movie, and she’ll sweep the set. She’ll do anything. But if I ask her to do ‘Jimmy Fallon,’ she’ll hold my family hostage.”



She may not love hawking “Lion,” but Mara was so taken with Davis’ approach to directing that she has signed up for his next project, the spiritual drama “Mary Magdalene.” She credits him with keeping “Lion” from descending into maudlin territory.



“There’s something about Garth that is unlike anyone I’ve ever met,” says Mara. “He’s a special human. With any movie, there’s a right way to make it and a wrong way. I just knew after five minutes talking to him that he was going to make the right version.
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Variety variety.com/2016/film/features/lion-dev-patel-nicole-kidman-rooney-mara-1201933818/

"Lion sounds like it should be the silliest and most shameless Oscar bait of the year but isn't- not even close. On the contrary, Lion is an emotional stunner from deep left field, a tremendously moving film that boasts a ferocious leading performance from Dev Patel, a flawless supporting cast (including Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara) and is welded together by careful, emotional vivid direction from "Top of the Lake" helmer Garth Davis. Don't miss it"