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valentinopso
Reviews
Femme (2023)
A Day Has Passed Since Watching, And I Am Still Trying to Decipher It: Absolute Brilliance
You will most likely recognize yourself in either of the two main characters at multiple times during this film. You will feel empathy and at the same time, anger towards them, as you can be both empathatic and angry towards yourself.
I personally felt a lot of different emotions whilst watching this film and even learned things about myself I would've rather not known.
The acting is incredible. It is common for an actor to portray certain behaviours, emotions and even developments of a character their playing. But in this film we see 2 characters with various states of beings, interacting with each other from each stage. Essentially they're trying to recreate two very real people, with extremely different backgrounds, with multiple personalities or 'layers', being triggered by a set of different events and environments. Both characters go through a difficult journey of how they view society, their peers and theirselves. And both characters are constanly ruled by fear, anger and desparation, expressing these emotions in very different ways.
The disurbing part for me was my own response to the events in the film:
I was more drawn to Preston's story in general and felt more sympathy towards him. I felt sorry for him throughout the entire film. At first I thought this was because I do have more in common with him than with Jules, but quickly I realized this went deeper than that. When Jules meets Preston in the sauna and follows him to his car, even though wrong in so many ways, I realized I would have followed him too. I would have allowed him to insult me the way he would continue to do after that first encounter. He would even have had all my sympathy and fascination. I would have tried to make him feel good and get him to smile, which would then make me forgive all the horrible things he would be doing to me. Eventually I would be the one, like Jules, taking over control. Knowing that at that point I have won his complete trust, and made him dependant of me too. Gave him what I know he would desperately want, someone who leads him, loves him. Gives him purpose. But he would also regularly creep into his 'safe' mode which would entail agression and defensiveness, slowly destroying me mentally and physically. But this wouldn't matter.
The way Preston opened up, started to trust himself and some of the new people around him, was satisfying to see. Which is why the ending was initially so utterly unsatisfying. I understand 'negative-open' endings leave a greater impact on the viewer which is what writers will want to achieve when writing about these topics, however, it is disheartening that most gay themed films end with both getting very hurt or someone dying. But after thinking about the entire film more and more I realize that the ending couldn't have been more perfect.
I spent the last minute hoping Jules would go back and hug Preston as he was laying there. Understanding him, consolidating him. Yet, all we see is Jules continuously defending himself and trying to walk away. To escape.
After everything Preston has done, I was judging Jules' actions.
In retrospect:
Jules who starts at a place of extreme strength. This strength and much more was taken from him by Preston. He is then forced to come to terms with many more parts of himself and realize they all make one 'Jules'. Masculine, femmine, and weaker and stronger parts of his being. All while being abused in many ways by Preston. You can tell he refuses to fully reflect on his behaviours and is in constant conflict with what is right and wrong and what he should do and desires to do. At the end we can see how he has figured out that it doesn't matter anymore, he doesn't care. He is reborn. He has the control now. He's created more strength from everything that he lost. A stable, fearless form of strength that no one can take from him anymore, not even Preston.
The fact that I would have gone and hug Preston shows that I do not have this strength yet. He would have taken even more from me until there is nothing of me left. I would have let him consume me.
His pain does not weigh greater than Jules', and he doesn't get to abuse Jules and then also require Jules to pick him up after he's done. This represents millions of abusive relationships around the world. I hope this film gets to awaken other people on why it is we fall for this trap. Why we would let Preston's abuse us instead of letting them go. Whether they will find their way or not in this world is not our responsibility, we're responsible for ourselves.
I would say the following, I wish all Prestons in the world could be healed and all the Jules' of the world would not meet any Prestons. This, however, is impossible. What I do hope is that all the Jules' of the world who do meet Prestons can find a similar strength, and walk out of those gates.
Saltburn (2023)
Entertaining, Visually Stunning, But Doesn't Bring Anything New
Ok let's address the elephant in the room regarding this film.
The acting is terrific. Choosing actors with a certain level of fame and list of commercial films on their name is in my opinion pretty risky for more artistic films I would consider this one as. Most absolutely breathed their roles however.
Except for.. Jacob. He seems like a great guy and I wish for him all the success he has.
But it is obvious he was chosen for his current idolization and the fact that he always plays a similar kind of role.
I like the way he comes over very natural in his acting, especially during the scene where he meets Oliver's parents. The joy he shows to be there, with the underlying anger showing in his eyes is obviously good acting. In other scenes, however, his reactions and presence in his character seem dulled down, inconsistent with a boy his age during that time, living his lifestyle. Especially regarding his weird family that mustn't have made his childhood very easy. He seems to me like the only cast member that might be slightly miscasted, as there would have been plenty of other men with a certain level of beauty, but able to bring more to the role.
The cinematography sets an environment that looks extremely fictional, though beautiful. I would have liked a slightly more realistic feeling though. More background summer noises, more environmental shots instead of a reoccurring focus on the same close-up shots of the two main characters. Bringing across the 2006 vibe a little more would have been nice too. It was a very specific time that even at Oxford should maybe have been more noticeable.
The story itself is good. It builds on shock value, at times trying very hard to leave the viewer in a state of shock. It worked a little because some scenes in this film will be bizarre to everyone living on this planet. It will make you not only dislike the main character, but also completely desensitize from him. Seeing him as an outcast, a psychopath even. There is no reason given as to why he has such hatred for this particular family. They treated him badly but then again they treated everyone badly, including each other, and with his level of intelligence he knew better than to take things personal.
I also feel like the writers took a lot of inspiration from 'The Talented Mr. Ripley' and 'Parasite'. Essentially combining two movies into one with a new concept and a different kind of ending... or is it?
Other films with a similar concept leave the ending rather open. Leaving the viewer to question the characters moral decisions. You also get to know the characters better usually, as complicated as they may be.
Ollie was mysterious, but too mysterious. To the point where he should be taken out of society because he is dangerous. And everyone around him would have noticed this.
There is no family that would inherit the estate? No family that would think it's odd this guy shows up, everyone dies and he inherits all? No court battles, no one questioning his weirdness or the reason why he was asked to leave in the first place? Also where is the American guy in all of this?
Wouldn't there have been media coverage and public outrage? A whole family dying, and the guy present for all of it, who has a track record of lying to all of his Oxford mates about his life, gets to inherit all? It just seems too fictional.
Again I'd like to say that the acting was superb. The lunch scene after Felix died, wow. The way they all portray grief is incredible.
.. But it doesn't come close to "The Talented Mr. Ripley' in terms of certain feelings being brought over, realness, and this eery feeling you're being left with at the end of it.
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
Never was I sucked into a movie more, to my distress
Even though we don't have a home cinema set, this film felt incredibly real, as if I were there during all of the horrifying situations these extraordinary humans have found themselves in.
At times quite distressing, not due to the things that are shown, but because of a certain sense of hopelessness that flows throughout the film. A fearful sensation that makes you realize how fragile we are, in mind and body. It grasped me from minute one. Me and my mom had to, however, watch it split in two nights. It distressed us a little too much to finish in one sitting. This again shows how good this film transmitted exactly what was needed.
Also a big fan of the actors being Uruguayan and Chilean respectively. 'Alive' must have been a good adaption as well, but I can't bring myself to watch any other film portraying stories in countries outside of the US, being Americanized and essentially altered due to English being used.
I am very glad to hear the beautiful Uruguayan Spanish accent being accurately used here.
The actors did a phenomal job, cinematography is on point, emotions and music in perfect harmony, ij short: definitely one of the best films I've ever seen.
Clueless (1995)
Such a happy and adorable film
I have seen this film a few times now. Not because it is so incredibly good or moving, but because it is one of the best movies ever wait to just relax and really don't need to bother doing anything other than just enjoy and go with the flow.
This high school movie is made and set in the 90's, and it does a great job at differentiating itself from a lot of the popular 70's and 80's movies set in high school.
Instead of focusing on stereotypical coming-of-age topics by actors and actresses that look like they had been out of high school themselves for about 20 years already, we here follow a young girl who quite literally is clueless, cute, and naive, and on the other hand has a great vocabulary, is smart, forgiving, and most of the times happy. Even though she is the most popular girl in school, she is not adored bye everyone or a mean bully like this type of character would usually be portrayed as. Furthermore, I really liked the diverse cast and topics that seem ahead of the time that this movie was in, but handled in a very classy way. Not throwing it in your face but just natural occurrences.
I wish movies these days were more similar to this one sometimes.
Sure, the acting isn't the greatest and nor do the characters get a lot of depth / deep emotions. But this movie is meant to be light and heart-warming in a way, without the viewer being able to judge anyone in it because of how adorable they all are.
Hardcore Never Dies (2023)
A true gem in Dutch cinema, and must-watch for the gabbers from the 90's.
The film is rather short, trippy almost with colour enhancements and flashy settings. The aspect ratio is almost square and a 90's filter is used, possibly inspired by my favourite movie: Mommy by Xavier Dolan.
This results in the attention being constantly placed in the middle of the screen.
All of that sums up the film quite well. It's a trip. Not incredibly deep or emotional, no dramatic outbursts, just a bunch of kids being high and doing stupid stuff, and the viewer essentially following, and getting sucked into it, becoming part of the trip this film is.
Now, I understand the main criticism others have mentioned. The fact that the story isn't revolutionary and at times predictable. And it being more of a teen drama than explaining what it was like during the 'gabber' golden age.
But I also have to disagree. The title reflects well throughout the film and besides referring to the music style never dying, it also refers to the invincible feeling kids during these times had, often fueled by drugs.
The film could have been a bit more explanatory of the actual scene in the 90's, and I would. Still like to see movies about DJ's from the 90's, but then that also risks of being more of a documentary and might lack a storyline all-in-all which this film certainly didn't.
On top of that, the story in this film is very real to many during those times and teens all over still today. Classic heavy teenage issues but this time with some interesting twists.
My dad grew up during that time and was very much part of the scene and confirmed that the story of the protagonist happened to so many.
The music is fantastic, the acting is absolutely superb, surrounding are well-set-up reflecting the 90s in The Netherlands, and the ending couldn't have been better.
A great watch.