New Films #3

Drive (2011) D: Nicolas Winding Refn 5/5

I went to see Drive today at the mainstream cinema expecting to possibly see a good entertaining action flick and instead I was delighted by the artistic style and level of creativity put into this film. The plot focuses on a lonely man living in LA who is a part time stunt car driver/ part time get away car driver in robberies. Basically the plot follows Ryan Gosling's character as he becomes involved in a complicated relationship with his next door neighbor, which consequently leads to danger. Maybe the story sounds familiar on paper, but Drive is so much more than the stereotypical action/romance mainstream movie. There are dream-like sequences where everything is in slow motion with varying camera angles in order to convey the feelings of love and happiness. Other scenes make use of a dark color palette or extreme close-ups and playing with shadows in order to convey the dark side of the driver's life in LA. Extreme violence is portrayed as a necessary component in the film illustrating the concept of a harsh criminal underground world. Everything about this film from the acting- to the cinematography- to the soundtrack- to the editing is exceptional.

I think the trailer for this film gives away too much of the plot and tries to spin the film as more mainstream than it is- as is typically the case with movies like this on a major release. In a way this film seems to be a portal into an alternate reality where we witness the familiar struggle of a man trying to make up for the wrongs committed in a city while at the same time committing acts of violence. But this takes a different approach in portraying the hopes for what the protagonist will become. The soundtrack really fits perfectly in each particular scene and instills a surreal tone of wonder as well as a peculiar feeling of familiarity.

Favorite Films

Adams Æbler (2006) D: Anders Thomas Jensen

Adam's Apples is a great surrealistic vision of a small group of social deviants living in an isolated church in rural Denmark. The film follows Adam Pedersen, a neo-nazi criminal, assigned to do community service at a church and his struggles with an unquestioningly optimistic priest named Ivan. Jensen cleverly weaves together the tale of Adam's struggles to understand himself and Ivan through alluding to the book of Job, which is the story in the bible of a man who suffers despite being a good person. Essentially Job discovers that God works in mysterious ways and that a good person should always remain devoted to faith. Such is the story of Adam's Apples- an absurd chain of events transforms one man's perspective on life for the better.

If I had to put this film into a genre I guess it could be considered a Black Comedy, but I don't think that label quite does it justice. The film is simultaneously serious and comical by dealing with real questions about the meaning of life and poking fun at different stereotypes. In a way the story's fantastical images and story reflect the futility of seeking clear answers for one's purpose and reveal the absurdity of life itself.

You can watch the film on youtube below if you'd like, but i'd encourage you to rent it if you can, or check it out on netflix instant watch.

Short films #2

I'm Here (2010) D: Spike Jonze

This is a sci-fi/ romance set in an alternate reality in LA where robots and people coexist. Essentially the main character is a stereotypical nice guy who gets walked all over by others, even by the robot with whom he falls in love. Jonze seems to use the robot characters as metaphors for loss of the meaningful interactions in a technologically advanced society. People become closed off from basic human emotions in the stark reality of capitalist systems and here the robots illustrate the alienation felt by many in the modern globalized world. Apart from the dark themes explored in the film, it's special effects are definitely the best i've ever seen in a short and the story is as heart wrenching as it is beautiful.

You can watch the full movie right here, or go to the official site: http://www.imheremovie.com/

I'M HERE - a short film by Spike Jonze from Salvatore Massa on Vimeo.

New Films #2

Moneyball (2011) D: Bennett Miller 3.5/5

Baseball is a sport that has its origins in more primitive stick ball games played during the late middle ages around Britain, Ireland, and France. In the 1850s the modern game of baseball emerged as an American past-time that would later go on to unite fans from different cities across the nation. Moneyball captures the essence of American baseball- from the passion of the fans- to the huge amount of money that gets poured into the sport. What makes baseball uniquely American to me is its emphasis on the abilities of an individual to overcome the pressure placed on him by another individual. Director Bennett Miller focuses on the true story of a team manager's unlikely success in organizing a good baseball team despite having a low budget for recruiting players. Throughout the course of the film huge numbers are thrown out for player's salaries and the manager's salaries that begs the question- why do these athletes and corporate type managers deserve so much money? Because people love competition and will pay lots of money to be entertained and experience something greater than themselves. This is in fact the same for many forms of entertainment, including watching films in theaters- we want to experience something bigger than ourselves.

The truth is baseball allows people to escape into a world of champions; a world of larger than life athletes who compete for the sake of competition, because winning means everything. While watching this film you can get a sense for the spirit of the game and at the same time it sheds light on the larger underlying spectacle of any sport or entertainment. Having said all of that I particularly enjoyed and related to this film because I do from time to time get lost in the plays and pitches of a baseball game. On a surface level this movie does a great job at considering the difference between getting into a sport for the sake of money and fame versus playing for some alternative reason- maybe just for a love of the physical exertion and sense of camaraderie. Brad Pitt's character is the classic movie archetype of the underdog, but honestly who doesn't love a story where the little man accomplishes something no one expected him to accomplish. In that way Moneyball truly does represent the American dream of coming into a situation and working hard to struggle for something better. Overall I think this film is well acted and well put together so I would recommend it as a decent movie even for those who do not care for baseball, but if you like baseball as i do then this is a great portal for appreciating the sport.

New to DVD #1

Hereafter (2010) D: Clint Eastwood 4.5/5

One question that all human beings encounter at some point in their lives is: what happens after death? Hereafter is a film about dealing with loss and the mystery of existence. There are three separate story lines following a former psychic living in San Francisco, a notable female journalist from Paris, and twin boys from London that intersect at the end of the film. Eastwood does a great job at creating the unique feel of each city and weaves together the three emotional stories with spectacular imagery. No matter what your views are on death; whether you believe it is the end of everything or the beginning of a new identity somewhere else, this film will spark powerful emotions. For me there is something beautiful about a film that can inspire sadness or even move a person to tears and this is one of the few exceptional films that brings the audience to really feel something. Exploring the mystery of death is not an easy subject to cover in a film, but Hereafter dares to ask what might be in store after life on this Earth.

The trailer for this film really does not give an accurate sense of the style of the movie. Whoever put it together wanted to give viewers the impression of a typical mainstream movie with a single narrative plot centered around Matt Damon, but this is more about a greater message than a singular plot of a hero. So instead of posting the trailer I've posted this behind the scenes look at how one of the most spectacular scenes in the film was constructed.

New Films #1

Melancholia (Opens in U.S. Theaters November 11th, 2011) D: Lars Von Trier 5/5

I went to go see this film over the summer in a tiny independent theater of about 25 seats in Krakow, Poland with no air conditioning on a warm muggy night and of course with Polish subtitles(though the film is in English). Aside from the slightly uncomfortable seats and lack of fresh air this cinematic experience was made all the more powerful in such an intimate setting. Before I begin my review I must admit I definitely hyped this movie up in my head and expected a lot after how much I enjoyed Von Trier's previous film Antichrist, which weaves a similar tale of depression through a lens of fantastic visuals. Needless to say this film pretty much surpassed my expectations and is probably more accessible for a wider audience than Von Trier's previous masterpiece.

Von Trier opens this dark and contemplative film by playing the final scene in reverse with the action all in slow motion. The story line is divided into two Acts; the first focuses around two sisters played by Kirsten Dunst and Charlotte Gainsbourg who partake in Dunst's disaster of a wedding, and the second depicts the final days before a planet collides with Earth resulting in the end of the world. Dunst shines in the film as a depressed woman struggling with the routine of a normal life. All of the actors including Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland, and Alexander Skarsgard set up the ominous tone for the end of the world perfectly. I believe I heard that Von Trier wrote this script as a kind of therapy to express the feelings of melancholy he regularly struggles with, which takes form in the character played by Dunst. Later it evolved into more of an all encompassing tale of the end of existence for all humans. Overall the movie contains spectacular visuals and exceptional acting that make this worth the watch even if you don't enjoy darker films.

A beautiful short

The Last Farm (2004) D: Rúnar Rúnarsson

Many people dream of finding love and spending the rest of their lives with that special person, but what happens when you lose that person you love? Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson depicts the internal feelings of an elderly gentleman as he deals with the absence of his wife. The film is set primarily at a secluded farm on the coast of Iceland with breathtaking mountains surrounding the man's quiet farmhouse. At just under 20 minutes, this quiet and thoughtful short manages to make one truly feel the loss of love and consider what it's like to struggle with a life apart.

5/5 for everything from the cinematography to the setting, acting, music score, and of course script.

Here is the film in its entirety: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh7sQ4hPnyk

Experimental Films

Glass Lips (2007) D: Lech Majewski 3/5

This is a collection of short films connected to one another through a central character named Sebastian who lives in a mental institution. Majewski takes the viewer along an interesting and quiet journey of Sebastian recollecting his entire life in this surrealistic portrait. Imaginative visuals and the lack of any substantial dialogue create a very eery atmosphere and a thought provoking ambiguity. The Polish director has a great sense of creativity and presents a dark and challenging collection that really leaves interpretation up to the viewer.

Gummo (1997) D: Harmony Korine 4/5

Gummo, along the same lines as Glass Lips, is a series of separate scenes and actions assembled together. In this case, however, Korine follows a set of characters living in a fictional small town in America that was devastated by a tornado years prior and never fully recovered. Some scenes are quite disturbing or might seem unnecessary, but overall Korine effectively portrays the dark and depressed vision of a backwater town. This film might be uncomfortable for many, but its unique scene structure and realistic portrayal of a destitute town transports the viewer into it's own psychotic little world.

Hukkle (2002) D: György Pálfi 4/5

Hukkle is the Hungarian word for hiccup, and in this film we open with an old man who has a bad case of the hiccups, which sets the tone of the movie. What makes this murder mystery unique is the use of sound-sounds are the backbone for the flow and movement of the story. Pálfi uses minimal dialogue and emphasizes the unusual happenings around the town through animal, machine, and other noises. The visuals present an interesting look into what village life might be like in Hungary and we gain intimate knowledge of the village characters inside their homes. The larger message to take away from this film is revealed quite clearly at the end through the lyrics of a song, which explains an unbalanced gender relationship promoted in Hungarian society.

Tokyo! (2008) [3 shorts]: I. "Interior Design" D:Michel Gondry II. "Merde" D:Leos Carax III. "Shaking Tokyo" D: Bong Joon-ho 5/5

The concept for this movie is basically combining three relatively short films with unrelated stories set against the backdrop of the city of Tokyo, Japan. Each short has its own surrealistic and imaginative story and all are equally entertaining. Interior Design is about a Japanese couple who move from a small town to Tokyo, Merde is about a man-like creature with a red beard living in the sewer system of Tokyo, and Shaking Tokyo centers around a reclusive man who has not left his apartment in many years. Merde shines in particular as one of the most bizarre films ever created and surprisingly also one of the most thought-provoking films of late. All I can say is that Merde is quite comical, and oddly striking at the same time, begging the question of what it's message might be- that of separation between the self and society? ...or maybe it is merely one big practical joke. However you decide to interpret this story and the others, they are certainly worth watching for the innovative visual effects at the very least.

favorite films cont'd.

The White Ribbon (Das weisse Band) 2009 D:Michael Haneke

The process of watching a film affects everyone both consciously and unconsciously as if one were experiencing a dream. A dream, just as a film, is built up from a collection of psychic formations and in order to analyze these formations one must focus on the motives in individual parts.

In this German Language Oscar nominee director Michael Haeneke tells the story of mysterious acts of cruelty occurring in a small German village in 1913. From the beginning the viewer is brought into the story through a third person narrative retold by the village School teacher. At the outset he admits that some of the story is from his direct experience and some is just hearsay, as he is looking back to this event in his old age.

Tragic events drive the plotline such as the town’s doctor getting gravely injured by a wire some one intentionally placed at the very beginning of the story, to later his mentally disabled illegitimate son getting tortured. As viewers witness these terrible events taking place in public spaces without any known suspects, the director also reveals the oppressive nature within the homes of villagers’ families. We see the fundamental system of the patriarchy through the complete control over women and children wielded by the Baron, Pastor, and Doctor. All of the adults are unnamed characters referred to only by their occupations, which was likely done to illustrate the inhumanity and commonality of these societal roles. Women largely play subservient roles as wives, caretakers, and nannies, but their internal struggles are not overlooked in the film. On at least two occasions we see women at least attempting to challenge their oppressive husbands, but we still see women forced to accept their roles.

This is a very intelligent film in the way that it represents the dark sides of human social organization. By leaving the culprits who committed the crimes unknown in the story Haeneke reveals that all of a society is to blame for allowing their hierarchical systems to continue unquestioned. There are a few themes that clearly shine through from the illusive narrative story including; class inequality, religious control, and the commonality of human cruelty.

Beginning with my favorite film of all time:

The Assassination of Jesse James by The Coward Robert Ford (2007) D: Andrew Dominik

This film examines the life of the famed American outlaw Jesse James and a lesser known historical figure named Robert Ford who assassinated him . During the mid to late 1800s Jesse James became infamous for his role in committing numerous bank and train robberies with the James-Younger gang of criminals. Over the course of it's 160 minutes the film presents a romantic view of the "wild west" days of early America and challenges viewers to consider what fame means in society in the past and the present. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck, as well as the full cast of actors/actresses, transform into their roles perfectly and portray the complex range of emotions between the outlaw lifestyle and a life of normalcy.

What is most fascinating about this movie is the way Dominik considers how people struggle with the desire to be known for something... or rather for anything.

For me this story embodies the contradictions of the American dream of holding fame, money, and personal privacy. Dominik captures a sense of openness of the early settlements in the West during a more simple time and questions the nature of fame and fortune in America.

One of my favorite things about this film is the cinematography. From the sweeping grass fields to the ice covered lakes, cinematographer Roger Deakins uses innovative camera techniques to inspire emotion. All of the sets and costumes blend perfectly and make the film consistent in its historical portrayal. The music is also truly beautiful and if you can take the time out of your schedule to become immersed in this dark and thoughtful story, I hope you might gain some new insights into what this period in American history signifies and consider the concept of fame.