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Reviews
Meeting People Is Easy (1998)
"Breathtaking" works for me....
"Meeting People Is Easy" is an amazing, groundbreaking work. This is not merely a concert video, nor is it, consciously, a short film. It is a visually stunning, aurally exciting piece that twists your head around in wonderful ways.
Don't judge "Meeting People Is Easy" based on whether or not you like the Radiohead that you hear on the radio; nothing could be further from relevant when regarding this film. The concert footage, in conjunction with the searing visual pyrotechnics, brings to light the product of a band of rare quality, skill, and creativeness. Each bandmember is given a moment in the spotlight to show off their individual talents, and the process as a whole is, well, breathtaking.
Several people that I know, some Radiohead fans, some not, have attempted to watch the DVD but not been able to finish it. This, almost invariably, comes not from disinterest or disgust, but rather from the overwhelming emotional roller coaster the film progresses along. This can be an exhausting work to take in. If you feel ready to be challenged, however, and, (especially) if you love Radiohead, this DVD is absolutely essential.
Being John Malkovich (1999)
Sheer brilliance....
If ever you grow weary of the movies, "Being John Malkovich" is the perfect antidote to get you excited about film again. Spike Jonze has created one of the most amazingly original, surprising, and uniquely hilarious movies to come along in a long, long time.
The performances given by the entire cast is remarkable, as you truly do forget that these are not real people, despite the fantastic events taking place. Nearly every shot brims with Jonze's desire to show us something we've not seen before. I often found myself grinning uncontrollably at what we are being shown, and there lurks a genuine surprise behind every corner.
The end begins to get a bit muddled, but multiple viewings are certainly rewarded, as you notice more beautiful, quirky details. The ending twist is certainly satisfying, once you catch it.
1999 should be remembered as the year of the rookie director (Mendes, Russell, Shymalan, etc.), and Spike Jonze should be honored right alongside them. "Being John Malkovich" goes beyond being simply an odd, artsy film; it exemplifies what great cinema can be with a little effort at originality.