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Reviews
The Last Romantic (2006)
A review in response to another review
*Written in response to the review, "I found this film to be self indulgent, and amateurish. It comes off like the scribblings of a not very self aware young person who does not have much to say..."
We are self-indulgent and amateurish, not very self aware and we don't have much to say. The movie opens with Calvin riding into NYC, reading graffiti on the subway seats, when he asks, "Why do people write their names on things? Is that the best they can think of to say?" By the end of the movie we have our answer.
We want to be special. We want to do something that is special, that matters, that is lasting. Calvin is a satirical extreme example of this aspect of our humanity. He decides one day that he is a poet. That he can go to NY and get published. That then he will be someone. That he will matter. He is naive to the extreme. The fact that he only has two poems and everyone who reads them is far from impressed appears as a deliberate move to emphasis just how pathetic our attempts to be important can be.
Another aspect of humanity this film focuses on is the struggle to fight against the morality and judgments placed upon us. Calvin's personal struggles to push off the morality of his upbringing are revealed as futile, as seen in his response to sex and stealing. The references to his "preacher" father, his anger against forcing kids to read the Bible, and Nuns, point towards what kind of a morality he appears to be attempting to walk outside of and dismiss.
The audience, once again, sees what Calvin does not see. He is unaware of the the fact that he is still clinging so tightly to those notions of right and wrong. "I don't believe in God, or hell, but I'm sure he's going to send me there now." At a time when so many say there is no right or wrong and that all truth is relative while at the same time fight for their opinions that they themselves hold to be so true, this satirical movie seems to hit a chord with an audience that is ready to poke fun at the self-indulgent, immature and unaware aspects of ourselves, fighting to get up out from under the man and prove that we are important and special after all.
Apart from That (2006)
Within the very first moments, before the opening title appeared, I knew I was going to love this movie.
At a time in our culture where reality exposed as narrative is overpowering fiction as we know it on the small and big screen, "Apart From That" is a film that exposes real life moments that feel more honest, fresh and innovative in there presentation than I have ever seen before. The usual spoon feeding conventions are non existent in this film, leaving a content audience to sit and watch these real life moments trickle one after the other on the screen. While watching the movie, and even upon post contemplation, it is hard to believe that these amazing performances where actually that, performances. Every moment with the large cast of actors felt like the truth being exposed in their daily usual lives. Even so, "Apart From That" does not feel like a documentary or reality television, but instead transcends into a category of its own, with its unique cinematography and direction. I look forward to watching this new category of storytelling continue with other films by directors Jennifer Shainin and Randy Walker.
This movie must be seen.