the_lotus_eater-844-56911 Reviews

James Acaster: Repertoire (2018)

Very funny and inventive stand up saga.

[7 July 2020]

The scope of these specials is defiantly something to be amazed by. The first three shows are loosely connected, with the final show, Recap, linking them all. It's an interesting idea and allows for intricate call backs and helps create some jokes that wouldn't have been possible either.

Each special stands up on it's own (however Recap will be less impactful if you've not seen the previous) and within it, there are plenty of absurd observations and enactments. The only stipulation is that if you're a fan of James Acaster you may have heard quite a few of these segments on various panel shows. There's still a ton of stuff you won't have seen and lots of the stuff you would have heard is more confidently delivered here, but that is something to consider.

As an aside, a common topic with US vs UK comedy is that US comedy is just jokes where as UK comedy tries to also have a narrative, which leads to US comedy being much more joke and laugh oriented, but perhaps not as personal. UK comedy has more of an arc so feels more like a 'complete' piece of standup (rather than a series of funny 'bits') and this seems like the perfect example of this. It's all connected but only uses that to elevate the comedy. Well worth a watch.

Little Joe (2019)

Dry, slow but more technically proficient reimagining of Invasion of the Body Snatchers

[23 June 2020]

I'll break this review down into three sections; Performance, Production, Plot.

Performance. Everyone is pretty much spot on. All the performances are reserved, which aids the intrigue of whether or not they've been infected and even when you're certain their performances always seem to leave you with a sense of doubt.

Production. This is the highlight of the movie. The sound design (both soundtrack and environmental) do a great job creating a sense of discomfort and foreboding. The costume and set design is beautiful and clinical, but also with great touches of vibrance.

Plot. By far the weakest area in the film and unfortunately what lets the film down. The idea is interesting and the way it's developed is interesting too, but plot points are often contrived or out of place and ultimately too little happens over too long a space of time to keep you fully engaged.

Pink Narcissus (1971)

Dreamlike and erotic.

[17 June 2020]

The film is a series of homoerotic, dreamlike, fantasies, each with a varying degree of explicitness (ranging from mild crotch bulges to full frontal nudity and climax), so do be prepared for that.

What elevates this from just the erotic fantasies of some dude is the style in which these men and their members are presented. The editing is dreamlike and flowing and the lighting is vibrant and rich (lots of reds and blues). The crowning achievement is the set and costume design. There are well designed and lavish sets (such as ancient Roman/Greek, seedy New York) and costumes (matadors, centurions, bikers) which really help suck you into the film.

The film moves along through these various fantasies, indulging in the characters on display and the tones ranges from realistic, fantastical to comedic which helps keep things interesting.

There is ultimately no story or characters, just a series of erotic events, so as long as you're prepared for that, you'll have an enjoyable time.I hope you like male a$$es and the colour red.

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Stylish and enjoyable but somewhat underdeveloped Vietnam vet caper

[17 June 2020]

Like the majority of Spike Lee's work, his political stance is right at the forefront, even if it gets in the way of the story. His stylish way of filmmaking also allows him to skip from real life footage to the film smoothly, which helps keep the film from feeling jarring (which in a lesser directors hands it would be). Also, had this element of the film not been present, the film would have suffered and likely been marked as just another cliche 'Nam' film.

The visuals (lots of aspect ratio changes, film stock effects and locations etc) and the performance of Delroy Lindo being the standouts of the film. Delroy's character, Paul, is an exceptionally written character and whilst not being sympathetic, he is who we're most interested it. The story contains enough action to keep interest, and whilst could defiantly be shorter, doesn't sag pacing wise.

The story however is where the film looses the marks that could have made this a truly amazing film. There are just too many conveniences and plot points that don't lead anywhere, characters that either have nothing to do or such as specific role it's so blatant that it takes you out the movie. A quick examples that springs to mind (that won't spoil anything) are when the group are looking for an item, find it, then realise it isn't where it should be. It's then found right next to it. Raising the question of why not just have it where it should be if this doesn't create any conflict? You also get the sense that some of the characters could have been removed and the story would have been strengthened and the fact it's set in the modern day (2019) means that some of the Vietnam/American tension feels a little contrived. Some of the political points made are also rather ham-fisted.

Overall it's a very watchable film, even despite its flaws.

The Color of Pomegranates (1969)

Visually stunning but somewhat boring

[15 June 2020]

The film is, of course, filled with surreal and fantastical imagery. Clearly brimming with spiritual and cultural meaning and the film takes us through the life of the poet. The films music and sound also adds to this almost dreamlike atmosphere. You let the words and sounds wash over you whilst the images play out in front of you. However, even the most beautiful images lose their magic when viewed through glazed eyes.

Unfortunately there is no getting away from it, this film is hard to maintain concentration with. Now this is through design. It isn't intended as a biopic of the poets life, but more as an abstract biopic of the poets work. Every image on screen is great, usually vibrant and surreal. The issue is that as there isn't really a plot/story, there's nothing to keep you engaged, so you end up just looking at a series of images. Again, whilst all are fantastic, they lose their magic quickly and they aren't in service to anything, aside from the allegorical/metaphorical/symbolic meaning (although lots of the symbolic meaning isn't very difficult to grasp).

So whilst visually beautiful and defiantly unique, if you don't have patience or require some form of story you may be better off watching Jodorowsky films instead.

PS This is only my first viewing, so my opinion may change if I see it again. Issue is that it was too dull to warrant a second viewing, although short.

Climax (I) (2018)

Gasper Noe once again proves that he is the obstacle ruining his own films

[8 June 2020]

Within Climax is an almost perfect film (I know that can be said of any film but it's more realised here). The idea is intriguing and really well executed. This also feels like a culmination of other Noe films and themes and styles he has tried before and getting them to work (Enter the Void and We F*** Alone being the most obvious) here. It's also on the shorter side which is another positive as previous films have fallen ill to the dreaded 2+ hour runtime.

The camera work is inventive and exciting and the lighting is dramatic and jarring, which pairs perfectly with the animalistic dancing and character actions. It also gels perfectly with the decent into drug induced hysteria that follows. There are also extended dance sequences and scenes where the camera tracks which are both styling and gripping.

The script also has many of the hallmark strengths of Noe's writing style, characters being abysmal to each other whilst not feeling forced or 'shocking for the sake of shocking'. The usual narcissistic characters are back, but in this setting it fits and is less grating than in previous films (such as Love).

However the weaknesses are still as present as ever; namely pretentiousness. The opening sequence is an interview with all the characters, which aside from being boring serves very little purpose as the following dance scene (which should have been the first shot) is a much more effective way of establishing them, as well as being more interesting. There are also scenes of characters talking, which is probably improvised, and having some banter, but is insufferable and largely about sex (not surprising). They may seem small, but they kill the momentum and engagement the film builds. However this is largely in the first half and the final 45 minutes or so are fantastic.

I recommend this film but highly recommend it with this small caveat; skip the first part (start the film on the overhead shot of the turntables) and when they're drinking sangria and talking, read the first few lines and then skip to the next pair until things start kicking off. With those steps skipped you'll have watched one of the most unique and visceral films made and be left wondering why Gasper Noe isn't considered one of the greatest directors ever. Without you'll have watched a unique and visceral film, but with some glaring floors.

Appropriate Behavior (2014)

Enjoyable, well directed but somewhat cliche NYC comedy

[5/10 · 5 June 2020]

The films major strength are the performances. The main characters feel well fleshed out and are more complicated. They have differing views on sexuality and life, and you can see their relationship working and failing in real life.

The majority of the accompanying cast, whilst primarily only serving the scene they're in are usually within a well written scenario that either aids the story or humour. However the men are usually depicted as largely braindead. This wouldn't be an issue if the protagonist wasn't supposed to be bisexual (however I will concede that may be the point, that she's only labelling herself as such due to social pressures. But if it is the film is too ambiguous).

The films humour is a bit hit and miss. The parts that miss are the cliche 'saying something semi-outlandish and then it's awkward' or 'making a snarky judgment on someone and then have them reveal how noble they are' but they worst jokes are they jabs at NYC hipsterdom, mainly because the film doesn't seem to have the self awareness to realise all the characters are those personalities. The humour that works (aside from the kids film) is when the characters are just talking and adds a great deal of authenticity to the film.

The story follows a scene pattern that becomes dull fairly quickly (bar/event, meet x, hookup, flashback), but is just clever enough and well written to keep you watching. It's also not that long.

The Cremator (1969)

Well worth a watch.

[7/10 · 4 June 2020]

The film does an excellent job in displaying this characters descent with both the black and white colour, the use of lenses and symbolism. The story is a great microcosm for the takeover of Nazism.

The story is well structured to keep that each story reveal is both shocking in the plot sense and the wider context, and has plenty of surreal imagery and a distinct enough visual style that you are engaged throughout.

Rudolf Hrusínský is fantastic playing as what starts off as an unsettling cremator to unhinged funeral director whose obsession with bloodline and love of his job means his story arc, whilst ugly, is somewhat believable.

The final scene and opening credits also deserve a special shoutout, as well as the cat.

I'd would have been great to have some other characters given some more screen time and development, but would defiantly recommend this.

Existence (2012)

Sparse dystopian fiction with great world building and intrigue, but ultimately ends prematurely.

[5/10 · 3 June 2020]

The film is stripped down and simple, which gives the story plenty of room to develop and build some intrigue, which the film does effectively in the beginning. However a few missteps in character and a lack of a more definitive conclusion reduce enjoyment of the film.

The main complaints: -Character misstep Our protagonist questions the status quo of the patriarch of the group. However we don't see anything to make us believe that she'd be correct to question this so her rebelliousness just seems petulant rather than justified. Their first meetings with the rider also seems unrealistic (for the film), especially as all we've seen up until this point is the rider as a very real threat. Their actions are also very unmotivated and, I hate to use this word, 'problematic' and is probably the main scene that takes you out of the movie and reduces any sympathy.

-Conclusion The film asks many questions throughout the film about the world that once was and what lies beyond the fence. It provides some answers and clues but the main question isn't answered. You're given a few minor clues to what it could be, but nothing concrete to the point of understanding. It also takes away from one of the films reveals, where the revelation would be more shocking if we knew what the riders were guarding. This is also at the climax, which means it's the last thing you're left with. The film also ends somewhat ambiguously, but it feels like that should be where the final act begins, and you start to get some answers.

The moral of the story also seems to be a 'the grass isn't always greener' type analogy, however it is rather jarring when you consider the world is freezing, isolated island where you can barely survive.

However there are many good things...Such as: -Great NZ scenery -Fantastic production design -The sound, script, acting create a sense of a sense that this is a real world, as well as an intrigue to see what will happen -Doesn't spam you with exposition (I know it sounds hypocritical but there's a line between too much and not enough) -Well paced

Overall, it's not amazing, but has enough going for it to be worth a watch. You might leave a little disappointed in the ending, but you won't feel as if you've wasted your time.

Bad Boy Bubby (1993)

If Charles Manson remade Forest Gump

[7/10 · 4 January 2014]

Bare with me.

You take the premise of Forest Gump. A simple, yet harmless, man/child who is thrown into situations which he doesn't fully comprehend. Then you take away anything life affirming and replace it with the depravity of human existence. You turn love into sex, no real emotion, just big tits. That is the rough tone and premise of Bad Boy Billy.

Being held captive for his entire life our protagonist, Billy, is set free into a world he doesn't understand. With no education or idea of what the world outside is, he attempts to find his way. Along the path he meets various people, some who help, others who don't. He bumbles through it all not knowing exactly what is happening and mimicking his surroundings. It's awkward and heartbreaking as he faces each encounter not knowing the social conventions, some broadly comedic, but still jet black, and others depressingly tragic. As the film progresses he faces increasingly bizarre scenario's, and ironically, in one of the final encounters he is able to arguably handle the situation better than an 'average' person.

I'm not sure what the films message is, I've only seen it once. But it will effect you. Much like Rolf de Heer's film 'Alexandra's Project' it presents you with a difficult premise and then allows the narrative to play out. It doesn't condone or promote. No character feels two dimensional. Some aren't as well drawn out as Bubby but still fell natural. It's also very well shot, lit, directed, acted etc but not in an overly stylised way. This film wants to focus on the characters rather than give you real overt cinematic style.

The film is, however, a little too long. Some scenes could be trimmed to shorten the running time. However that is just personal preference as I prefer 90 minutes just because I'm fidgety. The ending may seem a little random or unjustified due to the course of events but isn't incomprehensible. Overall the film is an interesting watch that explores something different from a deprived angle. As I said, a depraved Forest Gump.