Two films
Whenever I go to see a movie, I basically go in wanting it to become my new favourite film; that's the ongoing goal. I very rarely pay to see a film just for light entertainment. I don't go see films that I expect won't give me an interesting or awesome experience or make me think. So there's a lot of pressure, and every once in a while, I'll be watching a movie for the first time, and just feeling that it's so right. And I'm really worried something is going to ruin it soon. Something might throw it off; there will be a scene that doesn't make sense or isn't done well or doesn't fit, or the ending will be a disappointment. Because it is so rare to watch a film and really love it the entire way through, to feel that everything just worked and it was all perfect.
I felt like this about halfway through A History of Violence. It was so engaging and so well done and I was so fascinated and drawn in that I was worried it wouldn't be able to sustain it. (Of course my strange habit of feeling this way takes away from the films in its own way - if I'm sitting there waiting for a bad moment, I'm not as involved in the film as I could be, and it's my own fault.) It didn't end up being perfect for me, but I did find it really amazing, really well-done and despite the frequent violence, extremely enjoyable to watch.
I have not seen very many Cronenberg films, but his latest is really an achievement. It so skillfully observes and questions the nature of violence. Are people (certain people? all people?) born with violent tendencies or taught them, and to what degree are these tendencies environmentally-influenced? Does violence always breed more violence? When is it justifiable? Can people ever truly change, even when they desperately want to?
I don't really want to talk about the plot, because I went in not knowing much at all about it, and I'm glad I didn't know much. There was one scene that I felt was a bit questionable as far as relevence and believeability for the character, but really I haven't quite made my mind up about it yet, and the rest of the film redeemed it, anyway.
The other brilliant thing was how Cronenberg slipped little bits of humour amongst the thrilling drama and violence. It was a nice surprise. A few moments where you weren't sure if you should laugh, because what was happening would be really quite terrible if it was happening to you, but it was also absurd and clearly intentionally funny. Things are never black and white.
I haven't seen any mention of A History of Violence on my friends list; has anyone seen it? Thoughts?
The final film for my Dendy course actually fits in quite well with A History. It was the low-budget western, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones. I've not really seen many of Jones' films and I can't say I particularly like anything I have seen, but this was excellent. It really had a lot of integrity, and in dealing with the subject of illegal Mexican immigrants it was entirely intelligent and respectful. It contained really great character studies and also managed to weave a really good sense of humour in amongst a very brutal and desperately relentless setting and situation. Another film with strong themes of the nature of humans and of violence, redemption and how people change. I have a lot of respect for this film, and it was very enjoyable as well. I never thought I was a fan of the western genre, but first we had The Proposition and now this.
In music news, I am currently obsessed with "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", a song from Ryan Adams' country album called Heartbreaker. I may or may not write more about this fact.
I felt like this about halfway through A History of Violence. It was so engaging and so well done and I was so fascinated and drawn in that I was worried it wouldn't be able to sustain it. (Of course my strange habit of feeling this way takes away from the films in its own way - if I'm sitting there waiting for a bad moment, I'm not as involved in the film as I could be, and it's my own fault.) It didn't end up being perfect for me, but I did find it really amazing, really well-done and despite the frequent violence, extremely enjoyable to watch.
I have not seen very many Cronenberg films, but his latest is really an achievement. It so skillfully observes and questions the nature of violence. Are people (certain people? all people?) born with violent tendencies or taught them, and to what degree are these tendencies environmentally-influenced? Does violence always breed more violence? When is it justifiable? Can people ever truly change, even when they desperately want to?
I don't really want to talk about the plot, because I went in not knowing much at all about it, and I'm glad I didn't know much. There was one scene that I felt was a bit questionable as far as relevence and believeability for the character, but really I haven't quite made my mind up about it yet, and the rest of the film redeemed it, anyway.
The other brilliant thing was how Cronenberg slipped little bits of humour amongst the thrilling drama and violence. It was a nice surprise. A few moments where you weren't sure if you should laugh, because what was happening would be really quite terrible if it was happening to you, but it was also absurd and clearly intentionally funny. Things are never black and white.
I haven't seen any mention of A History of Violence on my friends list; has anyone seen it? Thoughts?
The final film for my Dendy course actually fits in quite well with A History. It was the low-budget western, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones. I've not really seen many of Jones' films and I can't say I particularly like anything I have seen, but this was excellent. It really had a lot of integrity, and in dealing with the subject of illegal Mexican immigrants it was entirely intelligent and respectful. It contained really great character studies and also managed to weave a really good sense of humour in amongst a very brutal and desperately relentless setting and situation. Another film with strong themes of the nature of humans and of violence, redemption and how people change. I have a lot of respect for this film, and it was very enjoyable as well. I never thought I was a fan of the western genre, but first we had The Proposition and now this.
In music news, I am currently obsessed with "To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)", a song from Ryan Adams' country album called Heartbreaker. I may or may not write more about this fact.