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alexrclayton
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Kona fer í stríð (2018)
Instant Classic
My review is pithy, not comprehensive. Don't think about it too much, just go see this film while it's in the indie theaters.
Think Greenpeace produces a film about climate change resistance with elements of Lord of the Rings and Fellini. Darkly humorous, beautifully shot and acted, timely and important, full of energy, motion and surprises, this is a great film. Definitely one of the best films I've seen in a long time.
Neither Wolf Nor Dog (2016)
Unforgettable Film
I checked spoiler alert, because this is a detailed analysis, but I don't give away any specifics.
Like Nerburn getting slowly pulled into this mysterious journey pretty reluctantly, this film takes a little while to engage, but gets much stronger as it progresses, like a good, slow burn. Its stark reality mixed with haunting visuals, good pacing and strong performances makes this an unforgettable film.
The core thread of American destruction of Indian nations is certainly well known, but is a bit heavy handed at times, which is my only complaint. All dominant cultures have committed atrocities (including Native American Indians), and the grievances that the Lakota Sioux characters rattled off could easily be echoed by Chileans, Filipinos, Nicaraguans, Iraqis, Afghans, Yemenis and many more.
The implicit message that every Caucasian and or/American should feel personally responsible for the American government's treatment of Native Americans and other peoples around the world is somewhat misguided, and Nerburn seemed to take a bit more heat than was personally warranted (though he was essentially a stand in for Uncle Sam – a whipping boy of sorts), but at the same time he was also given a special glimpse into what life is like on an Indian reservation over 100 years after so many of the native inhabitants were annihilated. His brief experience of being a captive (or at least a less-than-willing participant) mirrors what Dan and many others experienced when the federal government tried to force Indians to become Americans.
I wish every American would see this film to understand a little of the hell our "leaders'" policies have had on the vanquished and put an end to our permanent war economy someday. Might does not make right, but I digress...
The portrayal of deep poverty and the tragic lives for so many on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation (and likely many other such places) was very vividly brought to life in this film. But no matter how bad people's lives are, and no matter how much trouble they get themselves into through alcohol abuse or other acts, the core principle of caring for one other (i.e., community) was a strong theme throughout and is one of the many lessons Nerburn learns along the way to becoming a more fully-realized human being.
Finally, the characters are extremely memorable, particularly Dave Bald Eagle. His portrayal of the elder, Dan, is absolutely unforgettable, and even though he has since passed from our world, he should definitely be nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award. His last role is one for the ages.
I Am Not Your Negro (2016)
Thought Provoking
This is a pastiche film that blends archival footage and photographs with old Hollywood movie clips and a running dialogue of Baldwin's words from the few seeds of a book idea he only started. It never seamlessly all fits together in a satisfying manner, but most of what Baldwin spoke of all those years ago, unfortunately, still rings true today.
An important film to be sure, but it didn't really tell me almost anything I didn't already know, although I would guess I am in the minority here. As the great Frederick Douglass stated long ago, "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has, and it never will." That is true whether one is on the 'wrong' side of the color line, the socioeconomic line, the political line or the gender line.
Considering the limited source material and what the director was trying to (ostensibly) achieve, it was well put-together technically, but even at 1:35 it felt a little long. Still, Baldwin's words remain powerful, and seeing him and hearing them all these years later reminds us of the old saw, "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
Sing Street (2016)
Enjoyable Musical Trip Down 80s Memory Lane
I went into this with "The Commitments" in mind, hoping it would be nearly as good, and it was. Not nearly as raw, gritty or with as much forward motion as its predecessor (my rating = 9), but an always interesting tale.
As a 80s child, this was a musical trip down memory lane coupled with a the enjoyment of being in on a budding musical career, even though it was fictional. The characters mostly all rang true, although some of the insights seemed a bit far fetched for teenagers.
There wasn't a whole lot of conflict throughout, so there were a few slow periods, but the film was nicely paced in total.
The heroine of the film reminded me of Ione Skye (where are you?), which added a feeling of 80s realism in addition to the wardrobes and music, and the red-headed kid reminded me of a fellow I knew in high school, so I kind of felt like I knew these characters.
Overall, a very enjoyable film with very few missteps and a hopeful ending that at that time and place in history (and in the film) actually seemed to make sense for the characters involved.
Après mai (2012)
Fits and Starts
Others have gotten into the film with further depth, but to add my two cents won't take long. It's more of a general review.
This is a film that had promise (perhaps like the lives of the students), but then really didn't go anywhere (like many lives)...perhaps that was the point, but it didn't make for a compelling film throughout. I'm giving it a 7:
+ 8 for intention/promise
- 6 for overall execution
What I liked: characters who were finding themselves/evolving, challenging the status quo, and were willing to fight for what they believed in drew me in. The art direction gave the film a consistent and believable look and feel.
What I didn't like: lack of a strong narrative or focus throughout the film made it hard to stay engaged; some of the music was just odd at times; the characters' motivations were hazy and malleable; and it was a bit long for what the film ended up being (it could have been better if shorter and more neatly wrapped up or much longer and followed the characters years down the road; the length didn't help the film).
If you like French films, you'll probably enjoy this to some degree as I did. If you like the constant, mindless action, tight editing, fast dialog and vapidness of most Hollywood films, don't bother.