ScarletLion's Movie Log

FYI while it is her first feature film Lynne Ramsay made several very good shorts that are all available on Youtube/Vimeo

Ryan Fleck and Ana Boden directed 'Half Nelson' which I thought had quite a lot going for it. So I watched this on the back of that movie. It's a pretty neat road trip tale of compulsive gamblers trying to catch a break. The third act is slightly muddled but the message is quite plain to see, and Ben Mendelsohn is his usual formidable self. The rainbow symbolism was also nicely subtle. Enjoyable, if not essential viewing.

6.5/10

Nice thread Redpussycat Thanks

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Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.
Buddha

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I've had this movie in my collection for years, and as I knew it was about a boat, i thought it was called "The Bow", as in the hull (front) of a boat. Turns out, it's not. And that confusion sort of sums up how I would feel at the end of the movie. After watching Ki-Duk Kim's 'Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter....and Spring', I delved into this one head on. Like 'Spring, Summer' it's another single location movie, which rather than detract from the tone of the move, adds to it, because we are drawn to the isolated / claustrophobic setting and devoutness of the characters. This is exacerbated with the lack of dialogue, something which drives home the philosophical nature of his movies.

The film's strengths lie in it's ability to intrigue and mystify us with the dynamics of the young girl and the old man who has taken her in. He plans to marry her on her 17th birthday. And we see their relationship develop throughout the first two thirds of the film. There are some truly beautiful moments as you'd expect from Ki-Duk, but what follows in the third act is just something that unfortunately fell flat on my eyes and mind. The spiritual nature of what unfolds is so peculiar that I'm not even sure I was totally on board with what Ki-Duk Kim was trying to tell me. The notion that love can become so powerful that it transcends age and even death is hammered home adequately enough but the final few scenes felt a little forced in their eccentricity, and made me question my understanding of the first two acts.

I'll still be visiting the rest of Ki-Duk Kim's work in the future, but this one just didn't quite match up to the expectations due to the finale. That could well be my lack of understanding, so I'd love to hear any interpretations of what the final few scenes were portraying.

6.5 / 10

Kelly Reichardt's career is something I'm trying to follow and piece together having enjoyed everything of her's I've seen so far. This was no exception. The monotony of life is explored in under 90 minutes as we follow a young woman who just wants a bit more fun while she's on the planet.

It is easy to call this film a Malick homage as it is very derivative of 'Badlands'. But that turns out to be one of it's strengths. What it lacks in originality it makes up for in performances and realism. It was part Badlands, part 70s detective movie, part road movie, part black comedy, part drama. And together with some nice Jazz score and drum workings that remind be of certain scenes in 'Birdman', it just works and being her debut, was a sign of things to come for Recihardt.

You just can't help wanting to know what happens to the characters, even though they are not the greatest examples of human beings. That's what Reichardt seems so good at doing, letting us have a peek on a situation and getting us invested in it.

A very good debut from a very good Director.

8/10

An impressive debut from Julia Ducournau. It meandered between different genres and didn't settle on one. The soundtrack / score was absolutely brilliant, and with big organ / electro / proggy sounds, at times it went quite Dario Argento.

The conforming (or not) to societal norms message was pushed out there early on, and on which at times left the movie with nowhere else to go, and nothing left for the viewer to guess. But the claustrophobic, unsettling nature of the way the movie looks and feels went some way in making up up for that. Can't complain about the performances too, Garance Marillier being the stand out.

Interesting, well executed movie and far far better than most other mainstream movies that proclaim themselves to be "horror". It just lacked a tiny bit of depth to make me really write home about it.

6.5/10

Nice review for Raw, Scarlet. I'm really looking forward to seeing this and although you didn't love it, there seems to be enough there for me to. Cheers.

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I think you'll like it. I might be being hyper critical with that review.

It's my own fault. I wanted a Saturday night movie. I chose a blumhouse home invasion picture, so I can hardly complain at the lack of cerebral tickling. (and I'm a fan of John Gallagher Jnr).

And to be fair it completely did it's job. Solid thriller that entertained a little, even though it tried to be more clever than it was. I ate my popcorn and that's about it.

6.5/10

Agree 100% on Hush, and I already have Raw on my watchlist courtesy of the mighty Swan.