circuitsnake Blog

Trusting Twists (spoiler warning)

circuitsnake — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:58:03 GMT

Ok, so I just finished watching Swimming Pool which, like other films before it has a twist ending in which you realize that the past 100+ minutes might have been false. I did not enjoy this twist, while with the Usual Suspects (a film which I do still have issues with), you always feel like you are being manipulated, I felt that Swimming Pool doesn't accomplish the same feeling. For those not in the know and don't care about spoilers, Swimming Pool is the tale of an author who can't concentrate on writing, who decides to take a vacation in France, which is interrupted by the sex-loving daughter of her publisher. When the daughter kills a man who won't have sex with her, the story turns into a very similar looking murder mystery than that of the authors books. Unfortunately you realize that the character of the daughter is fake and that for the past hour and a half we have been watching the author write her book.

The final twist is what I don't like about this film, it loses the intrigue that the authors life might have turned into one of her own books and that she might just reveal it all through her passion (obsession?) for writing (the author, as it is hinted at might be writing the story fo her publisher's secret life, which would include this daughter and the murder). To me, this is so much more interesting than the final twist, which (cleverly) reveals that the past hour and a half never happened. I find it so much more interesting if the writer is actually so obsessed with her stories that, although she helped the daughter, she couldn't help writing the story.

Anyway, just some thoughts on what doesn't work in the cleverly executed twist of Swimming Pool. Dont' get me wrong it's a much better film than The Usual Suspects, which uses the same idea, but since part 1 of the usual suspects I could feel that twist coming. Not in Swimming Pool, I found myself more dissapointed that surprised.

The Best Movie of the Year

circuitsnake — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:13:06 GMT

This is a film that will be remembered. Because you can trust the filmmakers and get taken into a world that you will never experience again. The story is simple, money. Money wanted by many men. The mystery is how they go about losing or gaining the money. The genius: the way the story is told. If anything No Country for Old Men reminds people that overcomplicating a story isn't always the best way to create an original piece of art.

Talk about amazing.

circuitsnake — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:21:26 GMT

Stalker is one of those films that you can never let go of. The more you see it, the more you begin to realize the sheer oddity and genius of the film. The imagery is that you have never seen before and the questions that are asked of you are challenging and will have you questioning your sanity for days.

An Interesting Stylistic Film That Lacks Character

circuitsnake — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 03:04:07 GMT

Ping Pong is very Japanese. I don't know how else to describe it. The direction and cinematography echoes the japanese anime direction that I have seen in Evangelion and Haruhi (to name two). The Ping Pong is filmed beautifully and the CGI is implemented with complete subtly. And of course it's always nice to see a sports film that isn't about an underdog reaching for the top. It's a friendship movie and that 's what the film focuses on, how the kids change throughout the course of a couple of years.

My main problem with this film is that the two main characters never actually feel like they are anything more than archetypes. You have the loud obnoxious talented one and the quiet, polite talented one. That's about it for these characters. And while they change they never truly develop past those archetypes. Which is why the film isn't as good as it could be.

This being said the acting is great and really brings new light to the archetypical characters. I'd recommend this film because it's simple and different.

A Great Trip Down the Road

circuitsnake — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:09:51 GMT

While watching Wild Strawberries the other night I began to come to a realization. I was watching a road trip movie. But like most Bergman movies, there is so much more to it. I'll admit it, I'm not the biggest fan of Persona, I think it has some excellent moments (hottest sex scene in a film has no sex at all), but as an overall film I found it lacking. Wild Strawberries is fantastic.

The film starts off slow, at first I found the opening narration filled with exposition, I understood the man was lonely, I get it. Let's move on. You do not really get how misunderstood this man is until we start his journey. How he is haunted by dreams and memories of the past, which I never really understood until he visited his 94-year-old mother. I truly enjoyed watching this character's immense amount of history.

That being said, it is a road-trip movie and I've always had something against road-trip movies. Perhaps it is because the concept is simple "a character or a number of characters get from one place to another and change." Now, one could argue that all films are like that, but that's another argument entirely. What I am saying is the true genius of this film that only a handful of road-trip movies get right (see Y Tu Mama Tambien) and millions get wrong (see Little Miss Sunshine) is how deep the character is. This film cannot be talked about without mention of the ingenious dream sequences, something that Bergman mastered. This film isn't just about a character changing, but about the audience coming to realize how they can change. Which is why this film is so important.

Eraserhead and Other FIlms: Films As Experiences.

circuitsnake — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 02:54:00 GMT

Eraserhead is more than just a film. It's an experience. It's one of those films that it all depends on how and where you see it that decides your reaction to the film. Which is why I find Eraserhead to be one of the scariest films ever made. If you get a chance, see this film in a theatre late at night, or on a good T.V. with a good sound system. This film is way more than just sitting down and watching a film. It's a film that has to be seen in a good environment.

So, what other films are affected by where you see them? For one you have to see how the film is shot. The recent film Children of Men is pretty much universally adored by film fans is a film that doe not have the same affect when being watched on a T.V. The film is shot for theaters and the full affect of the climatic 10 minute uncut action sequence isn't half as effective when seen on a T.V.

So, for a simple blog entry tonight I say this. If you know you're going to go see a film the audience matters just as much as the film itself. I recently saw Ratatuoille with a french friend and I am sure the experience would have been very different with another person. Films are just as important as theatre. The advantage theatre has over film is that the performers exist in-front of the audience.

Brad Bird is a Genius

circuitsnake — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 03:51:19 GMT

There, I said it. It's done. Brad Bird is one of my favorite directors working today.

This film is an amazing achievement on so many different levels. First is the complete ingenious use of visual storytelling. This film is not dialogue heavy and is a throwback to so many slapstick comedy's. Which works in even more advantage because of the relationship between Remy and Linguini.

There are so many classic parts to this film, I don't even know where to start. I feel bad coming back from the preview screening and not really having a well structured review. Throughout the film we are given surprises with some of the most ingenious characters to ever grace the scene. The character of "Ego", (voiced by Peter O'Toole) almost steals the film. And I won't say it here, but Bird pulls off a moment which will go down in film history as one of the funniest and most emotional part in a film. There are so many throwbacks to old films in paris as well as just great storytelling throughout the film. All I can say is that I hope I am this good when I get to my third film.

See this film. It's the best film of the summer.

Miller's Crossing

circuitsnake — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:48:43 GMT

After seeing the DVD for ten bucks, I remembered how much I liked Miller's Crossing and decided to pick it up and re-watch it. The movie is great, the beauty of the scenes at Miller's Crossing, the characters are just as entertaining to watch as to listen to and the famous execution sequence hold's up beautifully.

So, why do I have problems with this film? Don't get me wrong, I think the film is brilliant, I just have some issues with it. For one, I don't feel the score fits the mood of the film, I see what it's meant to do, but I found it awkward when introduced the scene. My second problem is Marcia Gay Harden, who is miscast. She never quite convinces me of the role she is playing and her character disappears around half-way through the film and the manipulation of the femme fatale character that is introduced in the beginning of the film is lost.

This being said, Gabriel Byrne holds the film together perfectly with his portrayal of Tommy.

So Different, but Equally Beautiful

circuitsnake — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:14:31 GMT

This week I've been watching the Three Colors Trilogy (tomorrow I'm watching Red) and I found myself pleasently surprised to how different 'white' is from 'Blue', while 'Blue' was about the world finding you when you are lost, white seems about the world discovering you when you are lost.

White is underrated. It's different from Blue and from what I've heard, Red as well. The difference between Blue and White is the observation of the charactersr. Blue goes inside the characters head, while White is more of an observational piece. Rather than get inside the mind of the character, Kieslowki spends a lot of time just simply studying the main character of Karol and his perdicament. The performance is superb and it really shows how a simple concept of revenge can still hold more emotions than the distastful complicated plots of today's cinema.

The Biggest Problem With This Film is that You Probably Haven't Seen It

circuitsnake — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 04:14:48 GMT

This film is truely a film that deserves praise (and perhaps a criterion?!) it's a warm hearted comdey about three people who really shouldn't get along. The film really takes the time to observe and look at each character. The begining of the film, reminds me of Eraserhead, the cold, dark city engulfing the character, and initially you feel cold. But as the film goes on you begin to really love the characters and just have fun taking the ride and enjoying being with them.