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Pedro Pascal Plays a Cellist in Tony Gilroy's 'Behemoth!' at New York Film Festival
RePedro Pascal Plays a Cellist in Tony Gilroy's 'Behemoth!' at New York Film Festival
Tony Gilroy returns to feature directing after 14 years with 'Behemoth!', a music-driven drama starring Pedro Pascal as a classical cellist navigating a midlife crisis, premiering at the New York Film Festival.
Tony Gilroy is back behind the camera for the first time in 14 years, and he has brought Pedro Pascal with him. «Behemoth!», Gilroy's new film, premiered at the New York Film Festival, marking the director's return to feature filmmaking since 2012's «The Bourne Legacy». The film stars Pascal as a classical cellist navigating a midlife crisis, a role that has drawn strong notices for the actor.
The project represents a notable shift for Gilroy, whose recent work has been primarily in television. He created and wrote the critically acclaimed series «Andor», which kept him busy during his extended absence from the big screen. Before «The Bourne Legacy», Gilroy directed «Duplicity» and, in 2007, the Oscar-nominated «Michael Clayton». His return to cinema has been anticipated by critics and audiences eager to see his sophisticated storytelling back in theaters.
«Behemoth!» is described as a lyrical love letter to the music of the movies, blending classical music with a romantic mystery and a character study of a man in crisis. The film is said to showcase Gilroy's formal inventiveness, with one review calling it an «elevated bauble of a music drama». Pascal's performance has been singled out for hitting all the right notes, a pun that reviewers have embraced given the musical subject matter.
The New York Film Festival screening places «Behemoth!» among the season's most talked-about premieres. The festival has long been a launching pad for awards contenders and a showcase for international cinema. This year's lineup also includes «NAZA», a Venice prize-winning documentary that has begun its U.S. theatrical run at the IFC Center in New York following a festival screening and a Special Jury Prize at Venice.
For Gilroy, the film is a chance to reassert his voice as a director after years of writing and producing. His fans have noted that while his television work has been celebrated, his feature films possess a distinct rhythm and visual elegance that have been missed. «Behemoth!» appears to continue that tradition, with early reviews highlighting its musicality and its emotional depth.
Pascal, meanwhile, continues to build a diverse filmography that spans blockbuster franchises and prestige dramas. His casting as a cellist required him to embody the discipline and vulnerability of a classical musician, a challenge that reviewers say he meets with nuance. The role adds to a busy period for the actor, who has become one of the most in-demand performers in Hollywood.
The film's title, «Behemoth!», suggests something large and imposing, yet the story is described as intimate and character-driven. That contrast may be central to its appeal, offering audiences a chance to see a grand emotional landscape within a focused narrative. The New York Film Festival run will likely be followed by a wider release, though no distribution details have been announced.
With its blend of music, romance, and midlife reflection, «Behemoth!» arrives as a distinctive entry in this year's festival circuit. It reaffirms Gilroy's reputation as a filmmaker who takes risks and a star turn from Pascal that could figure into the coming awards conversation. For now, audiences at Lincoln Center have been the first to hear what the film is playing.
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