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Loving Vincent (2017)
Beautifully Innovative & Sentimental
When I visited the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam I was unaware of the amount of letters Vincent wrote to his brother, Theo. Throughout the museum were snippets of his letters in both written and audio form. As I read or listened to each one in the midst of some of the best artwork ever created, I became extremely moved by what they revealed about history's most prolific painter. What I learnt was that Vincent was a man who felt deeply; he loved deeply, worried deeply, thought deeply, perhaps a little too much for the mind to bare.
This film showcases this conflict and I think it does so beautifully and more importantly, respectfully. The artistry achievement alone is astonishing and I don't think I want to watch any other film about Van Gogh if I can't see it through his eyes like you do in Loving Vincent. Not only is this effect innovative & unique, but it heightens the tones of mystery, nostalgia and grief to an exceptionally moving level.
The morality of the story is overwhelming. Van Gogh was a severely misunderstood pioneer of the creative imagination, an attribute not commonly appreciated by small communities in that context. The success of this often gloomy narrative is due to the evolving mindset of our protagonist played by Douglas Booth. Not only does he eventually come to understand that Van Gogh was a natural at his craft, his character is one that changes from start to end aas he becomes to realize the tragic yet kind person Van Gogh really was. We as an audience are discovering all this with Booth and so by the end, we too are irrevocably moved and inspired by the ever Loving, Vincent.
The Pledge (2001)
Not just a crime investigation, but an investigation into the mind.
I was constantly intrigued throughout the whole film. What was going to happen next? What evidence in the investigation would come to light and bust the focused case wide open? While these questions remained in my mind until the credits rolled, I came to realize that this film isn't about a grisly murder and its history. Not solely at least. Yes, the murder is the base of the film, however, it is Nicholson's character and the reality of the human mind's willingness to go to extensive lengths to find answers and closure that this movie really pursues.
I found this to be a touching and refreshing take on the concept of the 'very knowledgeable, experienced but soon retiring policeman who ends his career obsessing on a recent case' genre that Hollywood has used every so often. I was constantly torn between what was real and what was not, and the film left me guessing until the twist was clearly revealed, and many times, I guessed wrong.
I don't believe that this film, by viewers, more specifically, critics, should be molded and warped into a disappointing feature because it isn't exactly original or revolutionary for Nicholson per say. The dialogue is sharp and crisp, yet at times too sentimental and predictable. While some scenes are shocking and extremely noteworthy for its execution, again, some remain the instigator of sighs and eye rolls. Yet, one should overlook these imperfections. As a whole, this film did not turn out how I originally expected when I read a short premise, and that is a quality I will always respect within a film.
No, it isn't a masterpiece, it isn't that showcase of a film that many look for when Nicholson is involved, but the story is so interesting, captivating and devastating that I cannot see why this film can be so poorly rated. Go into this with a hope for something you expect, and be proved wrong. It'll be worth your while.
The Lobster (2015)
Absurdly different, but worth it.
'The Lobster' might just be one of the strangest films you watch yet, but it has a kind of heart warming sentimentality to it's message that seeps through it's rigid manner.
While yes, it has the science fiction element throughout, you come to realize that this genre was the perfect avenue to tell the story and entice the audience into what it's trying to say about companionship and love in today's world. Even if you aren't a Sci-Fi fan, don't let this discourage you! It's definitely worth the watch!
Colin Farrell and Olivia Colman also produce great performances!
8/10
The Riot Club (2014)
An outraging, and confronting view on the ugliness of divide between classes.
While The Riot Club shows an exaggeration in its message, with its overly distinguished 'posh' accents, penguin suits and outrageous dialogue that may only happen in the cinema, it doesn't flinch in its uncomfortable portrayal of a divide between the elite and the rest. The film centers on a group of 10 pompous, snobby school boys at Oxford, who are enlisted in 'The Riot Club', an exclusive clique that only accepts those with dignified family connections, education and wealth. This conjures up some of the most loathsome characters and behavior, which progressively takes hold in the second half of the film. The views on middle class society shown through the eyes of these drug and alcohol fueled young adults prove to be an infuriating watch, as we see the deep set hatred and prejudice against those who don't live up to their childish standards. The acting is one of the highlights of the film, especially from Sam Claflin, who plays a newly initiated member of the club who shows no hesitance in voicing these perspectives and provoking his fellow 'chaps' to go to extremes to prove their status. The film shows both the extreme ramifications that arise from privileged kids with inflated egos, as well as the corrupt lack of justice due to nonexistent boundaries and excessive money that can buy innocence. Overall, The Riot Club indeed has it flaws, yet ultimately, it is an entertaining and eye-opening message that has effectively and refreshingly addressed a different type of discrimination that continues to exist within societies classes.