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Reviews
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
What was the point of make-out scene?
Great film, lots of layers engagingly constructed, but one aspect kept annoying me: the make out scenes between the two Lacuna characters at Joels' apartment. Does that add anything to the film. To me it is so highly implausible, the guy getting brain work done and the two health technicians frolicking and getting stoned...is that supposed to convey that such treatment (in the future) will be totally routine or was it inserted for some cheap laughs. I suspect the latter.
Also, is Patrick's telephone call crucial to the film, it seems as though that is the trigger for Joel to start protecting his memories. If Patrick didn't take the call would we have had a film at all?
Elephant (2003)
Open Your Minds
It is surprising to see so many negative comments on what is a very good film, dealing with extremely complex subject matter. The main complaint seems to be "not enough action" or "no character development" but the neutral tone is by design. I found the attention to detail, right down to the ambient sounds, engaging, and the portrayal of the tragedy very interestin. Even the bold primary colours are memorable. This is film as art. Hollywood has a lot to answer for by brainwashing people into judging film by how many explosions, how graphic the bodycount is or how fantastic the plot becomes. GVS has done a good job here. Why do I have to keep writing just to satisfy IMDB's minimum ten lines of comments. Sheesh.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Stereotypical, but engaging
Despite the stereotypical portrayal of the Japanese, this is an engaging film about love, intimacy and companionship. Strong lead performances and subtle plot development make this a very watchable Hollywood film - though the critical acclaim it has received to date seems somewhat overblown.
The Sea Change (1998)
Dire, absolutely dire.
Terrible, terrible, terrible. The script, the plot, the acting, are dire. Possibly the most unbeliveable protaganist I have ever seen. One wonders if the writers have made it out of secondary school. It goes to show, you can't judge a DVD by it's cover.
Ronin (1998)
Lame
Good cast but a needlessly complicated story-line and totally implausible action scenes. Most annoying of all, the action scenes in Paris all seemed to be shot on drab grey Sunday afternoons or early mornings (to fit into traffic licenses, presumably) with no real street life around. Shops closed up, some fake extras here and there, changing atmospherics, and a twenty minute wrong-way car chase, perrrrrlease. This film was a feeble attempt to make an American car chase movie set in Europe, and unless you're an American, you'll probably see right through it.
The Thin Red Line (1998)
Comment and Plot Questions ?
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** I am surprised to learn that there has been negative reaction toward this film (and even that someone walked out of it). I found it extremely engaging and, to my mind, a very perceptive representation of what it war nust be like for some individuals. The characterisation was weak; it was near impossible to identify the emotional bent of any of the characters, except maybe the Nick Nolte madman character, but perhaps that low characterisation is a feature of the movie. There was certainly a sense that all these men American AND Japanses were human soldiers, nothing more nothing less. And that underscored the tragedy in all the killing. I had no sense that this was a major strategic battle (having not read or heard anything of the film beforehand) and as such it appeared to be a senseless scramble up a beautiful hill.
Much as I liked the film, I have a few basic plot questions. At the risk of sounding naive, why in fact did the main character walk through the village in the middle of the film. Was this figurative or is the opening sequence in fact something that takes palce in the middle? I agree that the village represents a kind of Eden but am confused (a little) on the chronology.
Also, do you think that when this main character, Jack, gets a Dear Jack letter, he gives up hope and thereby volunteers for the dangerous river scouting mission at the end (where he gets shot)?
Finally, what on earth happened to Nick Nolte? He just seemed to disappear by the final scene? Is that why Clooney pops out of nowhere as the new leader?
I don't mean to reduce this excellent film to it's plot, and accept that on other levels it works beautifully, but I would be interested in any clarifications...!