The Walk - Robert Zemeckis (2015)

          Joseph Gordon-Levitt's make-up and acting reveals the heart of this film - conveyed as charming, executed as cheap imitation. It's nothing but a shitty CGI tribute to NYC. It may warm the hearts of those in love with the Big Apple, but for anyone else who's not biased by love of the city or love of the director, this movie is a pure waste of time, money, talent, and heart. The characters have no depth. Even the lead, who tries to have some personal struggles, ultimately does nothing but smile and act like the American stereotype of a Frenchman. The whole movie hangs on the "walk" but by that time, who gives a shit? We don't care about the people or the story because it has very little conflict or tension to connect it to reality. Too bad he didn't fall. Would've made for a better ending.

Don't watch it.

Drawing Restraint 9 - Matthew Barney (2005)

          Ritual. Get the word "weird" out of your mind. Don't allow yourself to think it. It's difficult at first, but the key is to draw yourself into the detail of the film. Forget the big picture. Look at each action and you begin to see first how calculated every aspect of it is and second, how it actually does make sense. It makes sense within the framework of the world which makes no sense to our world.
          Ritual. Something about that word is foreign to us as Americans, I think. What this film does is make ritual inherent in nature, rather than in a specific culture. We can feel ritual even if we do not know it personally.
          Bjork's song at the end hints at the film's possible themes, though it still doesn't fully connect this world with our world. Or maybe it does.

"From the moment of commitment, nature conspires to help you."

          I'd rather not expound on the possible meanings with words. When you watch the film, this final line in the song feels true and aligned with everything you saw. Every film (good/intentionally-created film at least) has a certain magic in it. Magic because it connects with your being and means something whether or not its meaning can be expressed in words. Overall, I learned something from this film. I don't know what exactly, but I feel different having watched it.

Watch it. (It's on YouTube)

Far From the Madding Crowd - Thomas Vinterberg (2015)

          For a movie about an independent woman, this one takes giant leaps back in the progress of female empowerment. I understand that the story is from an ancient book, so we can't expect modern values like women being smart and capable, but WHY MAKE THE MOVIE? If the moral of the story is outdated, throw that shit out. This is the third adaptation of this book. Is it romantic for a woman who wants independence and freedom to turn out to be an idiot and need a man to manage her life after all? No, that's not a message from a woman. I don't understand (actually I do), why does a man write the screenplay and a man direct a movie and a man write a book about a woman who wants freedom?Clearly society (men) still seeks to "keep us in our place". Men still aren't convinced against the emotional femme fatale, that a woman can be independent and GOOD, that her independence does not breed obstinateness or idiocy.
Anyway, apart from the shitty story and terrible morals, one thing I liked was the editing. The editor was able to rather seamlessly condense time with clever transitions.

Overall, hate. This is NOT A ROMANTIC MOVIE. It's Sheit.

Don't watch it.

Barton Fink - Joel and Ethan Coen (1991)

          Thank you, Barton Fink for telling me to get my melancholic, woe-is-me writer's head out of my butt. I needed this film. Written during a Coens' writing block, I imagine they needed it too. After watching this movie with 5 or 6 other film students, everyone discusses it. They "liked" the beginning, then it got boring; they hated it; it was confusing. I wanted to slap each one of them in the face, but the bliss of revelation I experienced from the film wouldn't let me.
          The movie opens with our eyes travelling down a rope. We hear a play in progress. As the camera pulls back, we see the playwright. We know he's the writer because he silently recites the lines with the actors, and we know he's the writer because the look of complete joy on his face. His baby has been born and she is beautiful, priceless. Anywhere outside the mind is scary for me and Barton Fink and probably every other writer type. Why write? The joy of creation. For a writer like me, who has only given birth to deformed or bastard children of the mind, I tell myself to keep writing, hoping for the day when I sit in a theater and mouth the words with my beautiful child.

Watch it. Especially if you're a writer.

The Place Beyond the Pines - Derek Cianfrance (2012)

          Let's get the obvious out of the way first: Ryan Gosling is HAWT.  OK, now for the film: it's very gripping, in the kind of way where I'm like "Oh, I really don't want to watch this. Oh, now I really don't want to watch this. Oh no, please just let this have a happy ending." BUT I did watch it and it was pretty effin heart-wrenching. And ya know what? That's not a bad thing. It's not bad to feel something when you watch a movie; it's not a bad thing to face the truth that shit like this happens in the world because of the choices people make. I think this film shows both the weakness of strength of men. I appreciate that someone was willing to address this topic, willing to show how the various roles men have in a family and in their communities as leaders, providers, and protectors really affect the people around them for good or terrible.
   There are lots of interesting angles one could take in examining this film, but for now, I'd just like to say:

WATCH IT

Gambit - Michael Hoffman writ. by Coens (2012)

          It's shit. Total shit. That being said, I only gave this a chance because I like the Coens, and within the story is without doubt the amusing, harsh realism of their work, but that in no way excuses how unwatchable this is. Look at that picture and see for yourself. Hateful hateful disaster.

DON'T watch it. (I'm sure very few people would anyway, but just in case)

Paris, Texas - Wim Wenders (1984)

          This movie doesn't seem like much, but it's actually quite good. I feel like German directors have a way of presenting humanity in such a real, empathetic, amusing, endearing way. The story is a little bizarre, but even with interesting and probably rare situations, you really understand and feel the characters. Visually, I love the slightly grungy feeling with brash colors and dirty old cars, buildings, clothing. And it takes some interesting angles on things, revealing subjects and plot points with a bit of intrigue. The camera style fits really well into the emotions and themes of the story.

SO, watch this. It's really a sweet film.