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Reviews
The Chosen One (2023)
Admirable
Touching journey of a young man's epic to find out who and what he is. I like how the religious stuff mirrored Biblical stuff in such a persistent way that it made me forget my evil forebodings early on in the series. I agree that the last scene of the series was rushed and forced. Especially for something that's supposed to be the payoff. I did care about his relationship with Magda and with his mom. I liked that he makes pastor Cruz make up with his brother/sister. I love the Tuka character and feel like that character was so pure that he should have been able to pick up our any evil, but he didn't. Curious to see a season 2! Loved the settings and beautiful cinematography. The gorgeous cove and the haunting salt fields.
Spiderhead (2022)
Depressing without payoff
Soundtrack awesome! Moved me in just the right ways. It added to my understanding of Hemsworth's character. I don't know why people are criticizing hemsworths performance-I am thrilled he is not being typecast and I enjoyed his portrayal. Its not perfect but I hope he continues to do more movies outside his box.
The director/writer combos should have worked-talented. Confused why it didn't. Was this one of the films casualties due to Covid timing during shooting? Is that why it is disjointed? Off track? Unclear? Boring? I was bummed that the movie made me sad and kind of grossed out. It would take a special movie to emote those feelings and still have a pay off that is worth it in the end-this did not. It just made me depressed.
The Northman (2022)
An entertaining trip to Valhalla
This may be the first movie ever in which I did not consider choreography in battles or fighting of any kind. Every blow of the sword and tear of the flesh felt as real and present as life itself. Swole Skarsgard, to his credit, did not wear his beefed up body as a badge, but as a tool, to meet fate on fate's terms. This is the first time I have walked out of a movie wondering immediately who was the genius choreographer of the fight scenes.
The beginning scenes with Nicole Kidman and Ethan Hawke were painful. A disappointing performance from such talented actors, to be sure. Lines delivered as if in a Shakespearean high school play. "Overacting" would be giving too much credit. If one can get past these beginning missteps, the older Hamlet will return the story to the right track.
Without having an academic knowledge of an early Nordic way of life, I can only say it rang true. I trusted it, down to the archaic font itself.
As the movie inevitably careens toward a tragic end, I found myself wishing there would be a third way for fate to solve this hero's dilemma. This is what we call the tragic constellation-without losing one, we cannot have the other-at least, not while alive.
One thing that struck me as novel is the use of folktale, and acceptance of otherworldliness in the Nordic tradition, to move the plot in accepted ways. Asian films have successfully done this many times, like flying amongst the trees in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. This is the first time I have seen a Nordic story envelope the mystical world they live in a way that does not disrupt the belief of the viewer.
Do not be mistaken-this is not Thor. This is better than Thor. This is real blood, real grit, and real consequences. It is Odysseus' journey, Oedipus' journey, in the middle of fjords. The journey was not always clear and sometimes stumbled into a murky malaise before it found itself again.
A film too flawed to be a masterpiece, but skilled enough to be different, effective, and moving. If you have the stomach to briefly enter the vicious and violent world of the Vikings, know that you will at least find Valhalla.
The Wedding Guest (2018)
Heartbreakingly beautiful
I was taken along on a journey. A silent observer granted permission to watch at a distance, longing to be closer. Each time they were alone, I waited eagerly for them to ignite, and each time I was disappointed, it just heightened my interest of when/if they would ultimately choose each other equally. I'm so grateful for the ending-the storytellers gave so much credence to the audience. I needed that nuance! For things to hinge on something so "little." Thank you for this beautiful love letter! A love letter to the countries and cities as well. By the way, when did Dev grow up to be such a handsome, brooding, grown-ass man? Wonderful!
The Lighthouse (2019)
Absolutely unique
In a swath of forgettable films, these storytellers created and provided a totally unusual world that leaps through time and genres to gift us with an unexpectedly charming journey. The sound of the lighthouse began to torment me as well, as the homage Hitchcock and the greats kept me on the edge of my seat as Pattinson climbs the spiral staircase. What is real? What is not? More interestingly, what do I want to be real? There is room to play. I choose to believe the fantasy of the supernatural and lore was real. Makes me happy to believe in mermaids, karma, and luring lights for 2 hours of my life. Two moments that need acknowledgement: the magnificent still shot of Defoe naked standing over Pattinson as if a snapshot of a Grecian urn. And lastly, the complete catharsis and surprise of the upbeat music that begins the roll of the credits. The audience audibly let out a laugh, as did I, and I've never seen something so clever and so needed.
A Teacher (2013)
Heart wrenching
Just discovered this today, on Hulu, 6 years after it was made. What a find! Important Note: in the critically important "me too" era, it is essential to mention that although both student and teacher are consenting, there is an imbalance/abuse of power and authority. No matter what, the teacher is to blame.
That being said, what a phenomenal performance by the female lead! The nuance, the things unsaid, the running, the empty lost stares, the complete inability to connect. Even with herself.
The nod to mental illness. The sophistication of not telling us exactly what was wrong. Just silent witnesses to a young woman (feeling old) drowning. For her the affair/connection/owning was essential-perhaps even shocking herself at its importance.
Self destructive-she's so self destructive. Why? We will never know (can we really know anyone?). The anguish is real. Clinging to him like her life depends on it-and perhaps it does-we are not privy to the ending beyond her hiding out in a lonely hotel in the fetal position.
I differ with other reviewers regarding the male student however. I feel they did a great job depicting him as age appropriate regarding brain development-impulsivity, lack of consequences, conquest, and perhaps truly enthralled with her-until she became too needy-to the point of mania. His attempts at trying to understand her are heartbreaking-he really tries as far as he is able. But how can he ever be expected to understand the complexities of a grown women with mental health issues that are not treated or resolved? He ultimately does not have the tools to deal with that/her. A tragic love story, or lust story, with madness and passion and heartbreak.