I watched Pola X because Scott Walker composed the film score and I admire his music a lot. Frankly, I expected a somewhat pretentious and possibly incoherent French movie. I was wrong. The vision of the film quickly managed to engage my attention to the fullest - starting with the opening sequence, which shows black and white footage of military airplanes throwing bombs at graves at the sounds of music and Scott Walker's beautiful wailing voice. The film explores the identity crisis of Pierre (Guillaume Depardieu - a brilliant choice for the role) and his consequential (self-)destruction. The story is divided into two parts the first depicts Pierre's carefree life in a beautiful house in the French countryside and the second follows his utter personal disintegration after he abandons everything and moves to Paris to live in squalor with his supposed half-sister. Both parts contain some amazingly stunning photography the first very colorful and bright, the second utterly gloomy and nearly apocalyptic - adding up to a true aesthetic feast. Pola X is a fascinating and quite unique movie experience.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Scott Walker: 30 Century Man
(2006)
A Very Good Film About an Extraordinary Musician
5 August 2008
Scott Walker, one of the most talented, exciting and exceptional figures in the history of music, has been avoiding the attention of the media for ages. This film does not provide you with the much sought after information about his personal life (which I would have found very interesting, I admit), but instead focuses on his music, which, of course, is much more important. There are a lot of talking heads, mostly famous musicians and people from the music business, listening to Scott Walker's music and describing their impressions and the significance it has for them. Naturally, the most fascinating thing about the movie is Scott Walker himself and the metamorphoses he went through in the course of his musical career, drifting more and more in dark and abstract directions. I would highly recommend the film to anyone who likes Scott Walker (if you do not know who he is, hear some of his music, preferably beginning with the 60s).
Control
(2007)
A Must-See
30 April 2008
Sam Riley gives a great haunting performance, singing songs by Joy Division a lot like Ian Curtis himself. The story of Ian Curtis is told in an absorbing and realistic way, making you understand what this great singer and poet went through to commit suicide at 23.
Ian Curtis' wife, Deborah Curtis (played by Samantha Morton), is one of the producers of the film, which is based on her book. Taking that in mind, it is strange that her portrait is very sad, unfavorable and a lot less attractive than what the real Deborah Crtis looked back in the 80s judging by pictures. Conversely Ian Curtis' lover, Annik Honoré, is portrayed by German actress Alexandra Maria Lara in a beautiful and dreamy way, making this character much more attractive that she actually was, again judging by pictures.
Another one of the producers of the film was Tony Wilson. Unfortunately, he passed away a few months before the release of the film. He had cancer but ironically died from heart attack.
"Control" shows some really beautiful images of lonely estranged industrial Macclesfield in the 80's, accompanied by the great songs of Joy Division. This gives enough space and room for thought.
Ian Curtis' wife, Deborah Curtis (played by Samantha Morton), is one of the producers of the film, which is based on her book. Taking that in mind, it is strange that her portrait is very sad, unfavorable and a lot less attractive than what the real Deborah Crtis looked back in the 80s judging by pictures. Conversely Ian Curtis' lover, Annik Honoré, is portrayed by German actress Alexandra Maria Lara in a beautiful and dreamy way, making this character much more attractive that she actually was, again judging by pictures.
Another one of the producers of the film was Tony Wilson. Unfortunately, he passed away a few months before the release of the film. He had cancer but ironically died from heart attack.
"Control" shows some really beautiful images of lonely estranged industrial Macclesfield in the 80's, accompanied by the great songs of Joy Division. This gives enough space and room for thought.
Tell Your Friends