Change Your Image
jedfindlay
Reviews
The Gift (2000)
Raimi's capabilities shine
Going to the theater these days often is an exercise in toleration. Often films offer visual escapades that sideline characters and interesting storytelling. The Gift seemed to function on that level. I entered knowing several things, having already seen several films relating to the issues that the film deals with. Frankly, the term spoiler cannot be applied to today's film realm, unless "spoiling" the enjoyment of the crisp presentation of an old twist or interesting visual trick. The audience should be trained to understand that Cate Blanchet is going to suffer in the film, but will conquer in the finale. That the mystery will be solved, and all of the eerieness will be completed. There will be closure for characters as well as the audience.
I never thought the film would step beyond this, and it doesn't. But Raimi tells a hell of a yarn. I found his use of editing to be most pleasing to the rhythmic flow of the film. He somehow constructs a moving image within his dense frames. Some moments are interesting, none all that frightening, or groudbreaking... yet the film stands firm and filled with confidence... ready to move you.
This is a popcorn movie... made by an intelligent group. It shall entice.
The Pornographer (1999)
Fascinating striptease...
The moment occurs when Paul is at his lowest point in his pre-porno directoral phase in Atchison's "The Pornographer." He slips his ten dollar bill in the cash acceptor; a slight detail that seeming prices Paul's failure as a communicator in a media dense realm. He watches as the girl dances - moves - sways for him. His eyes are deep, their interest purely on the figure. He speaks through the phone, asking the girl to say "I love you." She pauses - another detail that is subtlely breezed over - and spouts off standardized garb for her watcher. It is a quick scene, not nearly as profound as DeNiro's Travis Bickle staring into a glass of water liquidating alka seltzer. Yet, the acting and the pacing really pull of something magical. Paul's character is found within these images. This specific scene is startlingly poetic in understating the emptiness in Paul's fantasies and his need for understanding of his own problematic life. Atchison really holds something marvelous here; an interesting loser whose own problems cannot and will not be solved by anyone - let alone himself - and the journey he takes into understanding what his desires and goals mean to him and also the sad pattern that they seem to hold in society.
Yet, the film also falters at points; looking specifically at the ending and also the final image the film leaves the viewer with. Nothing destroys an intriguing character study like a mutilated cliche.
Problems aside; RENT IT! Films like this (also filmmakers) deserve far more opportunity and publicity than is ever given to them.