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The Night Clerk (2020)
Makr Romanek should have directed...
It's rare that bad directing is saved by phenomenal acting and strong dialogue from an otherwise indecisive script. Is it thriller, is it drama? All of the drama pieces fit together with passion and truth, but a weak thriller plot at the beginning; which we all thought was just a rouse to get the characters in motion; turns out to be the driving motivation for a twist ending that ruins so many passionate and emotion-laden scene between two characters exploring, disclosure, trust and resilience.
"What if I told you that your amazing drama; that most people can never write; could be ruined with a few cliche' plot twists and double crosses? Your wish is granted." :(
We've all known that Tye Sheridan is an amazing talent and can bring the heat when a script calls for it. And for those who haven't known; now should; that Ana de Armas isn't just a run-of-the-mill pretty face in cinema; she's the real deal! She can stand toe-to-toe with anyone put her way and then some.
The Sleeper (2012)
Black Christmas Fan Fiction
I would give the movie a higher rating for the 20k or less money they had to make it, if it wasn't for the straight rip-off of almost every trope from Black Christmas. The actors were great; but looked bad due to poor direction.
Several times I got sea sick from the bouncing camera movement and almost everything was shot with 50mm+ at f/4; which means I couldn't see where the characters were in relationship to their environments. A big 'no-no' in horror.
Almost EVERY shot was overexposed leading to blinding bleach spots on walls and anything that generated light. I own a Panasonic AF100 and can attest that the director, camera operator and cinematographer (all the same person) relied on the amazing ISO of the Camera instead of properly lighting his scenes; in addition to having a fast shutter speed, making 80% of the movie very choppy and seizure inducing.
EDITING: Theory and history of acceptable films dictates a rising and a falling of suspense and atmosphere, but this film basically continued a low/high drum throughout the entire film which was distracting and made the viewing experience gradually more irritating over time.
Down to the wardrobe attire for the main detective, house mom of the fraternity house, and a few shots slid in (perhaps subconsciously) from Prom Night 1980, I can't say that this movie did anything original.
If this was a promotional peace to engage nostalgic horror fans with a donation to a good cause, I would merit it's existence. But all that is left, is a recorded history of some talented film-loving cinephiles playing house. :( 3/10.
Friday's Child (2018)
Forgive yourself, then forgive others; quietly.
Put simply, the movie is about forgiveness. Haven't you ever done something out of ignorance or fear or haste? Haven't you ever been friends with shallow people out of lack of will or respect for yourself? Haven't you ever know someone or yourself to have experienced a loss so great that the definition of yourself must change? These topics are hard to tackle but the film mashes these issues up into an amalgamation of experiences that the viewer must bring from their own experiences to understand and appreciate. If you are paying attention, almost every scene is connected threw juxtaposition of editing and smash cuts of symbolism's hard at work; building things, finished projects and ideas at play. Dreams that could be and nervous realities that are waiting for us to jump onboard with. Aka This guy knows how to edit. If you are an introspective person, this is the type of film that most of us dreamers need/enjoy/love/want, because it allows us the space to realize what we are thinking. Not every frame is saturated with pedantic dialogue. It allows the viewer to come to the realization of what's happening without physically telling you. And in the truest sense of an experience, you are living these emotions in real time as you come to these conclusions. Film is the emotional space that allows you to understand things that you normally otherwise wouldn't and this films allows you to do that.
Every frame is cut to perfection. Juxtaposition, despite how often film students love to dilute this word, is used with precision and intent. Nothing about these cuts and edits are lazy or haphazard, or accidental. If you're not seeing it, you may not be in the right mind frame. A.k.a. You're not thinking deeply enough about the images he's showing you. Much like Histoire(s) du cinéma by Jean-Luc Godard 1998, you have to actively participate with what you're seeing and if you are, then the connections to the characters' motivations and emotions will be self evident. This film is a dance, it takes two. You will not be spoon fed. And that's not an artistic ploy of laziness on the part of the director to make 'average film goers' feel stupid; there really is a deeper level to this film that leaves very little to be enjoyed in the shallows. The deeper level is the first level. If you aren't meeting the film there, then you need to dig deeper in yourself, as a participant of the film, in order to be able to participate. Because once you do, this film is a pure roller-coaster ride in the exploration of the best we could be as humans!
The Quiet (2005)
Under rated
The generic timing; the generic plot twists, don't exist here. It's a movie about violation and expectation. Don't watch the trailer, stop reading the reviews. Put the phone down and be patient. It's a film worth watching.