Director Dissection with Seanc and Rauldc

Yeah it was one of those where I felt like I should be enjoying more yet was wowed by the visual atmosphere and the sound really brought me in too. I think I'll eventually dig it even more.

I was pretty intrigued when Rauldc said he wanted to Villenevue. He is a director I really like but have never quite put a finger on why and I don’t know if I would say I love him. The more movies I watch and the more movie fans I listen to, the less I feel equipped to talk about the specifics at all. I am thrilled to watch these movies again and share my pea brain thoughts.



Blade Runner 2049

One of the great sequels of all time. Extends the universe in such a visually interesting way. Gives fans of the original what they want from a character standpoint. Also, totally stands on its own. That’s a hard bar to clear, and few do it.

Love the choice of Gosling in the lead. He has the charisma to lead but is also has no problem playing it pretty low key. His scenes with Armas all hit the mark. There are a bunch of stand out scenes overall, but my favorite is still the opening. A bit of Inglorious Basterds vibe there.

I wish I could talk intelligently about the cinematography, but I can’t. I feel like it is one of those things I know is great when I see it. This world feels so fresh, yet so lived in. I don’t feel like I ver see the seams. It is all very believable to me.

Great rewatch.

Sicario next I think, hopefully in the next two nights.

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Letterboxd

Sicario



This feels like a Deakins showcase at times. Look at that shot above, and we hang on that moment for just a little longer than normal so you can soak in the cinematography. The action sequences are shot fantastically as well. The caravan in and out of Mexico is probably one of my favorite action sequences ever. Made me think of Zero Dark Thirty and how much I love the compound raid scene in that movie. Wonder if it was a bit of inspiration.

Deakins isn’t the only talent on display. The cast is fantastic, and I think the script is above average for a crime thriller. It has tropes, but I never feel like it is hitting notes too hard.

This is probably a five star film for me through the first half. It does begin to lose me a bit, but also doesn’t over stay its welcome. Wish it closed the deal a little better in that last scene. Don’t know what I wanted, but it feels a little unsatisfying.

Excellent movie that just falls short of greatness for me.

Nice reviews there. I believe it is Arrival rewatch time next for me.

Arrival



My third or fourth viewing, but it has been quite awhile. I still think it's my favorite Villeneuve film. It looks great and the sound is amazing. And I like how the story is told, it's quite a refreshing change to me. At the forefront is also a real great performance from Amy Adams, who seems to really carry the film with her screen presence. But it's also a great job of directing by Villeneuve, who likes to show the story rather than tell it. And when you can do that and do that effectively, it shows just how solid of a director that you are. It will remain my favorite.

+

Arrival



My third time watching Arrival and I was a bit disappointed. I still like the movie but the story didn’t pull me along like it did in the past. Maybe because I know where it’s headed now so the journey doesn’t feel as interesting. That has definitely happened before. I just kept wanting to be in the ship.

That’s the good for me in Arrival. I absolutely love the design of the ship, creatures, and most of all the language. Such a simple concept. Essentially ink blots, but the visualization of it is fantastic. The score is also pretty great, and adds to the atmosphere.

Overall the cast is really good. I like each of the main players, I probably have just liked all of them more in other things. Renner’s character in particular felt rather bland this viewing. Don’t think I remembered it that way from past viewings.

Overall this is a really good sci-fi flick that I remembered as great.



Enemy up next. I think it’s the only Villenueve I hated first time, so this should be interesting.

I also didn't like it first go. Seems a lot of people like it though.

I’ll pop in with a little movie meditative fairy dust for…


Arrival

Go Villeneuve or go home… this is a director whose movies I don’t just arrive for… I’m already seated… and I know the future already...

I know this guy can make movies. So I know I’m in a good time. I know what I get and I’ll gladly take it. Villeneuve is sometimes compared to Nolan because both of them make large scale, big budget films with creative freedom and a broad appeal yet challenging approach.

However, I’d argue that Villeneuve offers a more poetic and emotional punch, which appeals more to me as well. Villeneuve does move some large pieces in Arrival and shifts around the big feelings and big questions. While it might seem like it, he doesn’t do it in an all that complex manner. It’s not rocket science. But it is movie science. And that might be something to decipher in its own right.

Villeneuve really understands how to deliver both complex and simple cinematic beats, which engages both your heart and your mind. I think he has a way with the visual language of cinema that easily excuses whatever accusation you might have for his decision making along the way. Cinema can be many things and he surely understands the audible and visual side of things.

The sound and the visuals alone are masterful. I was in awe several times of the immaculate and precise sound design as well as the breathtaking images. This is technically a beautiful film to disappear into. The story is both firmly layed out and occasionally more floating. It combines the two parts quite nicely and has us curious for answers in more than one way.

It is sort of reminiscent of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and its more realistic and mature approach to alien invasion. How we want to figure out what it all is and what it all means. But it’s quite interesting to combine the big scientific questions and search for facts with the more intimate and immediate emotions and the journey towards realization and acceptance in life. Of life. By life.

Watching this film so many years later - and despite its initial positive reception - I still feel like it’s almost an overlooked masterpiece. Or at least a groundbreaking film in its own right. It’s not quite perfect to me, but I think it’s really well executed and clearly helped shape the Villeneuve we know today and how he approach big filmmaking with a tactile and elegant touch to it.

It’s a challenge to balance both big and small but I feel like Villeneuve is one of the few who can. I’m emotionally invested but also just in complete awe of the visual command of the overall vision. In many ways, Arrival was also Villeneuve’s arrival to the big screen blockbuster and the movie that followed tripled the budget of this movie, yet kept the same weighted fine line balance between poetic potency and large scale impact.

I think I might as well go through some more Villeneuve the coming few weeks. Because this was a very rewarding rewatch…

I think you hit a lot of good points, certainly a lot that id like to say about the film but I always have a tough time wording things so you did it better for me

I'm about halfway through Enemy and I'm not hating it this time either.

Haha thanks. I just did a few edits because it’s 2 AM here and I can’t write grammar apparently. Ugh.

Anyway, I really liked Enemy but I’m almost scared to rewatch it. I think Blade Runner 2049 will be my next Villeneuve.

And there’s why I don’t like writing reviews anymore. Because MM comes along and says there’s how you do it kid that’s twice as old as me. Great review as usual MM.

I certainly agree with you guys on the technical aspects of Arrival. The look and sound is spot on. I will say, to go along with my story criticism, it felt like we didn’t spend as mych time with the beauty as I remember.

Enemy



Unfortunately this one just doesn’t do it for me. I like Gyllenhaal a good bit. The score here is good and sets the tone nicely. I just don’t ever connect to the dread of this story at all. Ultimately “getting “ it doesn’t matter to me if the theme hits. Obviously this one can have a lot of interpretations. I believe I have one, but it never makes me connect even after finding that thread.

So many scenes of people just staring, and it feels like that’s where the emotion is supposed to come from. I don’t know, second time and it just doesn’t work on me. I’m really not a fan of the cinematography in this one either. It’s okay, just doesn’t live up to what I expect from a Villenueve movie. The haze makes sense to me, and the amount of close-ups fits the tone. I just don’t like the yellow tint. I also think it needed some more spider imagery. I know it’s a fine line between too little and too much with that kind of thing. I think it was too little here though.

This will be my least favorite of the bunch for sure.

Haha you’re far too kind! I love reading what you have to say, Sean. So please don’t stop!

After all, I might fancy pancy power up my reviews, but in the end it’s all about the thoughts and feelings - and that’s always interesting because it’s subjective!

I will watch Enemy too, soon.

Enemy



We have all at some point dreamed or thought of what it would be like to be someone else. Here, maybe we have even dreamed of being ourselves in a different scenario. It's an interesting albeit scary thought that is shown in this movie. I liked it a bit more than the last go around, but there still seems to be some missing piece. I was quite baffled by the ending. It's got some decent imagery even if it is one of his more weaker looking films. And I thought Gyllenhaal did a good job in the "duel role". But like I said, it's not anything that I really connected to on an emotional scale or anything like that. Still, pretty decent.

Enemy

It’s an atmospheric little mystery thriller that evolves and is just about interesting enough to follow. But it just doesn’t quite come together in a satisfying way for me…

It has playful and symbolic imagery, a shifting and mysterious narrative and a specific mood and feel. But I was never really sucked into the story, although I was decently invested throughout. Even though this is a rewatch, of course, so it’s expected not to be quite as surprised perhaps.

But it’s like it plays around with the puzzle pieces and thematics, but never quite cares to truly make a satisfying picture with it. Not that I’m talking about the need to just wrap everything up nicely, but just that the movie is more interested in thematic brick layering than anything.

It feels mostly like a little experimental side project from Villeneuve than a fully fleshed out film. The acting is pretty great from Gyllenhaal and he does the double role really well with a lot of little details in his portrayals, which helps differentiate the two people/halves.

I don’t like the visual look of the film though and the sound and music didn’t do anything crazy for me. Overall, this doesn’t do enough for me as a film and as a viewing experience, even if I like a lot of the elements and the overall approach to this “double life” relationship theme.

I guess I could take a deep dive into all the thematic stuff and the what and the why and the how but I feel like there’s plenty online that does that for this movie. And since I’m not really a fan of the film I don’t exactly have a, uh, desire to go down that road.

+

First time you liked it more, right?

And we are going for Dune 2 next brother. I'm excited you could join us for some of these!

It was the first time I remember seeing Jeremy Davies, although he was in Guncrazy earlier.

arnt they gonna make blade runner tv series?

I’m rewatching Blade Runner 2049 tonight

Edit: Just finished watching it. My rating might have dropped just a tad, but this is still a beautifully realized film, made with great respect for the original.

I want to review it but right now it just isn’t coming to me.

I said I would get to Incendies this week but definitely Monday or Tuesday!