Change Your Image
emmaamore
Reviews
Ruang talok 69 (1999)
a real pleasure....!
This is one of those films where nothing is overly blatant, hardly anything is granted by ways of the lead character's internal character and history, and it isn't jam-packed with various sceneries, dialog, etc. Nothing is too 'in your face', hardly any emotion is shown or felt throughout the film, and even (despite the various killings), action seems to be lacking... It's decidedly quiet, introverted and monotone and YET, somehow completely quirky, insane and colorful at the same time. The film is intelligently crafted in such a way that, by the end of the film, you aren't sure WHAT to make of it, or how to classify it... Except you do know one thing; whatever you just watched, you know, in retrospect, you loved it. And even after identifying the fact that you enjoyed the ride, you still wouldn't rank this strange, ambiguous little film as your top film, but for that you just love it all the more.
It's bizarre, zany, quirky, inane, insane, full of black humor and wit, and full of hidden metaphors and analogies not immediately accessible. You can tell when its over that despite its absurdity, within all the intermediary spots where much is left unsaid, the director has packed a good deal for you to think about, and clearly had some lucid, thought-out objectives for the film.
An intelligent, unique little film that's a heck of a fun ride to watch. Highly recommended!
Art School Confidential (2006)
a must for anyone who attended art school!
This isn't the type of film I would have initially gravitated toward, but someone I liked recommended it to me, and so I decided to give it a shot. After the first five minutes, wherein I was greeted with another seemingly cheesy Hollywood-type film, I was ready to turn it off, about to lose respect for the person who'd recommended it. But I decided to soldier on, and though the exaggerations, cheesiness and absurdity never relented, it did have its redeemable qualities.
It wasn't the plot or the visuals or the actors that I found particularly mesmerizing, it was the director's ironic take on art school.... Which I found simply ingenious. Having attended art school myself, and knowing personally what a joke it is, I couldn't help but roll over laughing, scene after scene at the director's clever puns on art school... And I'd be hard- pressed to find out that the director hadn't attended art school himself, because he clearly knew it very intimately.
Ironically, the exaggerations and clichés that at first left me wanting to turn this movie off, were ultimately what helped to make it all the more hilarious. Every stereotypical character and situation having to do with art school that graced the plot, however much embellished, were ultimately uncannily true... And I couldn't help but laugh in amazement at all the characters and instances in this film that I myself had come across in art school.
And ultimately, however outrageous and silly of a film it is at surface value, beneath its childish demeanor, it withholds a deal of profundity, and a handful of valuable ideas to ruminate over and analyze.
If you've attended art school, do yourself a favor and ride this wave of sheer amusement! The thought aspect will most likely creep up on you anyway, whether you like it or not.
Eraserhead (1977)
silly, pretentious, art house film
It has agonized me for years how popular and infamous this film is, and how recurrently it comes up in topics by way of films. It is as though everyone who saw and liked this film has never seen any other artistic film in their life, and thus are mesmerized by its 'artfulness'.
It is certainly a visually stunning piece of work, with a very particular attention toward lighting (which helps to ignite a very moody atmosphere) worthy of attention, but other than that, it falls flat. If Lynch had any other intention with this film aside from to make a visually pretty, so-called 'WEIRD' and abnormal film, than I'd be hard-pressed to find an individual who actually managed to tap into what his intentions on actual content were.
If you liked the artfulness of this film, then I'd like to encourage you to do some real art- house film homework, because you will find there are actually visual and *really bizarre* films out there that manage to either a) contain an engaging plot or b) possess enough intellectual content to get you thinking (neither of which this possesses)... Something you clearly need to do more often if you liked this film:P
Seriously... This is just another pretentious art film, with the vapid, sophomoric intentions of being 'weird' and 'different'. I like my art films... But this one was just an offensive joke in the name of art house films, in my opinion.
Sans toit ni loi (1985)
secretly intelligent
If one were to watch this film blankly, without a care to analyze it, I could see how this might fall flat at ones feet. It is achingly beautiful in scenery from start to finish, but also slow and dreamy in feel, often unfurling scenes lacking in much dialog. Certainly not a Hollywood film, where everything is spelled out in bold, neon letters.
But if one is enraptured by its elegant moodiness and imagery enough to make it to the end, they will find that, after seemingly floating along with the film, more content to ruminate over has actually entered you than you initially thought... And I have to say that one of the most profound lines I've ever heard was said in this film.
I think it is a film any dreamer, anarchist, wishful 'bohemian' should watch. Perhaps you rented it thinking you could live vicariously through the main character, playing out your own fantasies about living freely--- but beware, as one former critic said; this director takes like seriously, and they have a message to share... And what is genius about this film is how the director chooses to do so.... Luring you into what seems to be another romantic take on life as an anarchistic vagabond, only to awaken you to the inevitable truths and outcomes that lie within.
The acting is superb, as is the scenery. It's not in your face enough to be dubbed a 'major masterpiece', but its certainly worth the watch!!
Der Krieger und die Kaiserin (2000)
an powerful, atmospheric and twisted take on a love story
"The Princess and The Warrior" is a dreamy, atmospheric, twisted, (elegantly) awkward and sometimes violent take on a love story. It draws you into its world, captivates you, floats you on its cloud, makes you feel you are there in this alternate universe- a universe you've certainly never experienced before. I've seen many films, perhaps even hundreds, but never have I seen a film quite like this. It truly was like entering another universe only Tykwer himself could have though up... And a surreal one at that. And yet, unlike most 'surreal' films, it is human enough so that you, too, feel and move with the characters. It had me bawling at its profound beauty during one instance.
This, like the infamous "AMELIE", is one of those romance films where everything is to be felt, rather than visualized. By this, I mean that, like "Amelie", "The Princess and The Warrior" displays very little of what every other 'romance' film feels the need to do... There is little (if not any... but I'll let you watch the film to find out) touching, kissing, sex etc. And yet, this somehow makes it all the more effective, and ultimately, one of the most heart-wrenchingly romantic films I've ever seen.
This is no trendy, action-packed 'Run Lola Run'. It is certainly stylized as all of Tykwer's films (that I've seen) are, but less blatantly and pretentiously so. But even though many were disappointed at it not being another version of Run Lola Run, I personally found 'The Princess and The Warrior' to be much more of an evolved film... perhaps a bit slower, but much smarter, more profound, and ultimately a film that gets down to the core of your bones and leaves a lasting imprint. At least for me, anyway.