(no subject)
Oh yeah, I didn't comment on the Oscar nominations. I wanted to see Milk (my most anticipated film of the year, since it IS directed by the most amazingly talented working director) first. Now that I've seen it I don't even care anymore, all it matters is that Gus was nominated. For this movie. GUS VAN SANT was nominated. For a thoroughly Gus Van Sant movie.
I'll just copy and paste my comments from awardsdaily. I'm very tired, sorry.
Just got back, some random thoughts.
It was brilliant, obviously. Very moving, surprisingly mesmerizing. I have not read all the comments posted on AD, but if I recall correctly there were some people calling this mainstream Van Sant. I couldn't disagree more. I was afraid it would be conventional and typical mainstream Van Sant, but this is Gus through and through. Sure, there are a few scenes that feel a little more conventional than what Van Sant usually goes for, but I think the movie wants to present itself as more conventional than it actually is (and that's maybe because Van Sant wants to send his message loud and clear, and rightly so). There's a lyrical quality to this film, and an inventiveness that goes from mere visual style to emotional conflicts. The relationships are so thoroughly explored, despite this being a political movie firstly and mostly, because of the ability of Van Sant to capture even the slightest hint of emotion on his actors' faces. It's something so captivating to observe. The extreme close-ups, some really bold framing...this film really tries to capture the era, the movement and the spirit of the people that lived it in a completely fresh, yet meticulous way, so very different from any other biopic I've seen...well, I won't say ever but at least in a very long time.
I won't accept the definition of [I]best Van Sant mainstream film[/I]. This is the Gus I love, the poetic, bold director who's able to unite alienation, sweetness and irony in all his characters. He's only telling a more accesible story this time, maybe, but I really don't think it's stylistically or thematically very far from his experimental works.
And he got an Oscar nomination for it. That just makes me ecstatic.
I also wanted to add that the whole cast is sublime. There are no other words. Sean Penn gives his best performance ever. Also his only truly sincere and genuine one, IMO. He was a heartbreaking portrait of hopefulness and energy. Absolutely thrilling to watch. Josh Brolin took a thankless role in his hands and fleshed it out so wonderfully with the little time he had, making each moment count, even when he's virtually doing nothing (I think his best scene is when he's shown in his underwear watching out of the window - just the way he's sitting you can tell he's going to explode in a moment).
James Franco was more supportive than supporting. As the emotional center of the film he went for understated and bittersweet, and it works. It's kinda like Catherine Keener in Capote, a brief, ethereal, painfully quiet performance without which the emotional balance of the whole film would fall apart.
Emile Hirsch gives his first great performance, keeping it real and earth-bound. Something else the film needed, to not go too overboard with lyricism. And even poor Diego Luna, who has one annoying character to play, hits all the right notes of sincere yet over-the-top insecurity.
Everybody was fantastic, even the most insignificant roles (apparently there's even a High School Musical kid in this, LOL? I'm guessing it's the blonde one, but I've never seen HSM. Anyway, he was good)
Also, *SPOILERS*
The assassination scene...it...just, I don't know...I felt bad for being allowed to watch it. It was so painful. So real. So intimate. I had no right to be there. I didn't WANT to be there. God, Sean Penn was that good. And I can't believe I just said that.
It'll be so sad to see this lose at the Oscars. Damn Danny Boyle and his generic, bland Indian fantasies.
I'll just copy and paste my comments from awardsdaily. I'm very tired, sorry.
Just got back, some random thoughts.
It was brilliant, obviously. Very moving, surprisingly mesmerizing. I have not read all the comments posted on AD, but if I recall correctly there were some people calling this mainstream Van Sant. I couldn't disagree more. I was afraid it would be conventional and typical mainstream Van Sant, but this is Gus through and through. Sure, there are a few scenes that feel a little more conventional than what Van Sant usually goes for, but I think the movie wants to present itself as more conventional than it actually is (and that's maybe because Van Sant wants to send his message loud and clear, and rightly so). There's a lyrical quality to this film, and an inventiveness that goes from mere visual style to emotional conflicts. The relationships are so thoroughly explored, despite this being a political movie firstly and mostly, because of the ability of Van Sant to capture even the slightest hint of emotion on his actors' faces. It's something so captivating to observe. The extreme close-ups, some really bold framing...this film really tries to capture the era, the movement and the spirit of the people that lived it in a completely fresh, yet meticulous way, so very different from any other biopic I've seen...well, I won't say ever but at least in a very long time.
I won't accept the definition of [I]best Van Sant mainstream film[/I]. This is the Gus I love, the poetic, bold director who's able to unite alienation, sweetness and irony in all his characters. He's only telling a more accesible story this time, maybe, but I really don't think it's stylistically or thematically very far from his experimental works.
And he got an Oscar nomination for it. That just makes me ecstatic.
I also wanted to add that the whole cast is sublime. There are no other words. Sean Penn gives his best performance ever. Also his only truly sincere and genuine one, IMO. He was a heartbreaking portrait of hopefulness and energy. Absolutely thrilling to watch. Josh Brolin took a thankless role in his hands and fleshed it out so wonderfully with the little time he had, making each moment count, even when he's virtually doing nothing (I think his best scene is when he's shown in his underwear watching out of the window - just the way he's sitting you can tell he's going to explode in a moment).
James Franco was more supportive than supporting. As the emotional center of the film he went for understated and bittersweet, and it works. It's kinda like Catherine Keener in Capote, a brief, ethereal, painfully quiet performance without which the emotional balance of the whole film would fall apart.
Emile Hirsch gives his first great performance, keeping it real and earth-bound. Something else the film needed, to not go too overboard with lyricism. And even poor Diego Luna, who has one annoying character to play, hits all the right notes of sincere yet over-the-top insecurity.
Everybody was fantastic, even the most insignificant roles (apparently there's even a High School Musical kid in this, LOL? I'm guessing it's the blonde one, but I've never seen HSM. Anyway, he was good)
Also, *SPOILERS*
The assassination scene...it...just, I don't know...I felt bad for being allowed to watch it. It was so painful. So real. So intimate. I had no right to be there. I didn't WANT to be there. God, Sean Penn was that good. And I can't believe I just said that.
It'll be so sad to see this lose at the Oscars. Damn Danny Boyle and his generic, bland Indian fantasies.