I guess that one of the reasons that the Sonnet Project is not making/releasing their films in the order of the sonnets is that they do appear to have shared themes in sonnets of similar numbers. I say this not having read them all, but this is how it seems since there are clear reoccurring themes and I have noticed that certain numbers between 1-154 tend to mean I should expect certain things. In this case we have another sonnet where the basic message is that time ravages and it will do so even to the beautiful young man of the sonnet – but the writer will do all that he can to make sure that the beauty is captured forever in writing, no matter what time does to the body. If several filmed sonnets in a row ran back to back with the same themes it may not be as lively a project, but this way we dip in and out, keeping it all refresh and moving.
Set in a well-known tunnel/archway in Central Park, this film sees an older man walking and talking to himself in a reflective slightly hurt way, while we also have flashes of another scene as a young woman drinks coffee. The narrative as we understand it suggests that the man is thinking of time's past and, although he has no text to refer to when he says of these black lines, I took away that he was basically talking of his memory and that these younger versions and events would be that way forever for him. It is a nice delivery as such – and probably better for being the spirit of the text rather than taking it very literal.
The lead actor is Austin Pendleton, who you may recognize from Oz – he has done many other things, this is just the role I think of when I see him in something else. His performance is good; perhaps the dialogue is not always clear due to the manner of his delivery, but he creates a convincing character which the text then fits with and adds to. Technically it looks good despite the rather dreary day (although I guess that was part of it – but it was still a bit darker than I liked). The sound is good – I assumed it was redone in post because there is no negative echo effects associated with being in the tunnel.
Overall, film 62 of sonnet 63 is a solid one – it avoids just taking it literal and instead builds a narrative which relies a lot on Pendleton selling us a story without telling it, which he does well.
Set in a well-known tunnel/archway in Central Park, this film sees an older man walking and talking to himself in a reflective slightly hurt way, while we also have flashes of another scene as a young woman drinks coffee. The narrative as we understand it suggests that the man is thinking of time's past and, although he has no text to refer to when he says of these black lines, I took away that he was basically talking of his memory and that these younger versions and events would be that way forever for him. It is a nice delivery as such – and probably better for being the spirit of the text rather than taking it very literal.
The lead actor is Austin Pendleton, who you may recognize from Oz – he has done many other things, this is just the role I think of when I see him in something else. His performance is good; perhaps the dialogue is not always clear due to the manner of his delivery, but he creates a convincing character which the text then fits with and adds to. Technically it looks good despite the rather dreary day (although I guess that was part of it – but it was still a bit darker than I liked). The sound is good – I assumed it was redone in post because there is no negative echo effects associated with being in the tunnel.
Overall, film 62 of sonnet 63 is a solid one – it avoids just taking it literal and instead builds a narrative which relies a lot on Pendleton selling us a story without telling it, which he does well.