Change Your Image
jmotil
Reviews
The Squid and the Whale (2005)
Sea Change
Noah Baumbach, known for co-writing The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou with Wes Anderson, wrote and directed this autobiographical portrait of his parents divorce in 1986 New York. His father, Bernard, is a writer who's published works never managed to catch fire and who's manuscripts are continually passed on. While Bernard trudges through as an English professor, his wife is having her first novel published to much critical attention. Their two sons have grown up drawing allegiance to their preferred parent and the household is split into two camps. When his parents announce they are getting divorced Walt sides with his father, while Frank sides with his mother. Walt experiences his coming of age not only coping with his parents divorce but trying to make sense of the image he had of his parents as the messy truth becomes clear.
Jeff Daniels is superb as Bernard, delivering his best performance ever. Laura Linney is equally stunning as his wife, while Owen Kline(Kevin's son) brings an incredible range to a performance by such a young actor. Underneath all the fighting and pathos, you can definitely sense that this film is a love letter from Baumbach to his family and a time capsule worthy portrait of the 1980's. Fans of Wes Andersons work will find a lot of the same underlying mood and references-minus the comedic edge. Highly recommended
How to Draw a Bunny (2002)
A True Glimpse Of Art In Motion
This is the story of Ray Johnson, a contemporary artist who's work reaches back from the 1940's till the time of his death in 1995. Johnson was at the forefront of performance art and created correspondence art along with Fluxus in the 1960's. There are many who contend that correspondence art was a precursor to the internet philosophically. His performance art pieces were essentially koans or Buddhist exercises in illustrating zen. How To Draw A Bunny is also about Ray Johnson the work of art, as his life itself was one great performance piece who's details were only connected posthumously. Fascinating both as a portrait of an artist and an era in modern art, the film is a must-see for anyone with an open mind and an interest in the path.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
An Astonishing Journey
The Thin Red Line appears to be a film about war at first glance. It also appears to be a film about the nature of courage in the face of horror. On some levels it is these things and more,but beneath it's surface lies an even bolder subtext. Weaved into every frame of the film is a sweeping exploration of not only war but the nature of existence itself. What is our place in the universe? Is there any real possibility for peace when all of nature exists in a struggle for survival? How does beauty shine through even in the most horrible of places? These questions linger throughout this haunting film.Director Terrence Malick masterfully juxtaposes scenes of nature and indigenous peoples with scenes of battle and the struggle of the soldiers. The film unfolds in a dreamlike pace, moving from character to character, changing perspectives continually. The film is based on the novel by James Jones about the battle of Guadalcanal in World War 2. The cinematography and score are breathtaking. The acting is superb all around, especially Nick Nolte and Jim Caviezel. If you let it in, this film will leave you with a profound and lasting respect for the beauty of existence- a masterpiece.