Just got back from X-Files.
I feel an immense amount of pity for this film. It's a quiet, effed-up little thriller-slash-character study released at a time when nobody's looking for one; it's not the conspiracy flick a lot of casual XF fans were expecting; it opened a week after one of the biggest movies of all-time (now)... in general, it's having a pretty rough early lifespan.
But it's good. At least, I think so - and I really expected to go in, glean what happy I could from the Mulder/Scully scenes, and leave the rest to the dogs, so to speak. But I came away more engaged by the whole thing than I thought I'd be, and feel the need to defend it a bit. Definitely not my favorite casefile, but it's not as half-arsed as some of the reviews make it out to be. Carter has some inspired moments of directing, the plot pieces itself together in true, bizarre XF fashion... and there is nothing that can diminish the awesome of seeing Moose and Squirrel again.
Highlights:
But it's good. At least, I think so - and I really expected to go in, glean what happy I could from the Mulder/Scully scenes, and leave the rest to the dogs, so to speak. But I came away more engaged by the whole thing than I thought I'd be, and feel the need to defend it a bit. Definitely not my favorite casefile, but it's not as half-arsed as some of the reviews make it out to be. Carter has some inspired moments of directing, the plot pieces itself together in true, bizarre XF fashion... and there is nothing that can diminish the awesome of seeing Moose and Squirrel again.
Highlights:
- A beat-to-hell Mulder wielding some kind of wrench in a room full of bad dudes - classic! I love that Mulder's never been the most built, physical guy, but is still unafraid to go barreling in through doorways and make a ruckus against terrible odds. And his endurance is ridiculous. Crawling out of a car wreck and wandering through the snow up a mountain? Gave me flashbacks to Endgame. Heart!
- Scully's "conversation" with Father Joe. Very well-played... I love unhinged!Scully, and she is a rare occurrence. It's always something small that eats away at her. I remember someone saying that this film had undertones going back to Season 4, and I know they were talking about the casefile itself - but it's especially true in instances like these. Scully here reminds me of the way she was in Elegy - some moment of clairvoyance breaks through her walls, but she can't shake it, and can't come to grips with what it means for her personally. It follows her everywhere.
- The bedroom scene. "I can feel you thinking." I love everything about their exchange - and how Mulder just shoots out of bed all of a sudden and decides to shave his beard. Like, wts? You're so weird, M. ilu.
- Skinner. As soon as Scully said she needed somebody in the FBI "with some balls", I knew what was coming. Only disappointment: no "ass" line? There were a couple "goddamn its" he got to shoot off, but I felt gypped! ;) Oh, and hugging Mulder to keep him warm - awww. Skinner can't help but take care of his rogue agents. He's like their estranged foster dad.
- The pencils on the ceiling. WIN.
In other news, I has a job. I start Monday. Color me relieved, nervous, and excited. PERSONAL INCOME. *grabs at it*