pauljonathancampbell Reviews

Sound of Metal (2019)

Not Just About Deafness

[8/10 · 26 January 2023]

A meditation on resilience and the ability to regroup and persevere when life doesn't go the way you think it will, of learning to accept change and coming to peace with what is and what isn't within your control.

An authentic lead performance, powerfully illustrating the emotions associated with grief and loss, frequently in an outward rage but also often enough in quiet contemplation.

Tight focus and direction magnifies the sense of isolation. A unique exploration of the experience of deafness, amazing sound design which allows the audience to live through the same experiences as the protagonist.

The Lost City (2022)

4 Writers For This?!

[2/10 · 13 January 2023]

Seemed to be going for the broadest audience possible, like a movie created by artificial intelligence; a bit of comedy, a bit of action, a bit of adventure, a bit of romance but not particularly successful at any of it. Anyone who has rated this movie highly has incredibly limited expectations for a move. Will hopefully disappear without a trace within a couple of years.

Incredibly implausible premise, I wouldn't even call it entertaining. I'm sure you are supposed to just go along for the ride but there's surprisingly little happening for a 2 hour movie.

Channing Tatum's manchild schtick was incredibly irritating. Sandra Bullock tries to make the most of her character but succumbs to attempts at physical comedy.

It would be great if Hollywood made an effort in future but I'm sure they won't given all the money this movie made.

Manchester by the Sea (2016)

Difficult to Watch But Important

[9/10 · 2 January 2023]

Representations of men in movies struggling with experiencing and expressing emotion is not new. Like most movies covering similar themes you get the repression, the rage, and the avoidance. The power of Casey Affleck's performance comes from being able to demonstrate all these intense feelings without saying much at all.

Whilst in other movies the protagonist remains stuck in this cycle of pain, here you also eventually get a glimpse of something else - an admission of a struggle, of anguish, and most poignantly, of guilt. Initially it is portrayed as coming from a place of self-defeat, as giving up. But the movie continues a bit longer and you realise that it's from this acknowledgement that you get a glimpse of hope. Not that things will suddenly and dramatically improve, but of the rediscovering of how important connection is.

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

Beautiful Looking Love Story

[6/10 · 31 December 2022]

What is remarkable about this movie is that so much of the focus is the love story. Violence is implied and prejudice and injustice are discussed, but they are of secondary concerns. It is a relatively rare occurrence in modern cinema.

A love story suits Barry Jenkins' directing style; long takes, gliding camera pans, front-on close-ups of actors. There is tenderness and intimacy here. The saturated colours, beautiful score, soundtrack and set design add to the atmosphere.

By focusing primarily on the love story however there are surreptitious messages about the power and limitations of love that are touched on but not fully explored. Depending on what you're looking for this may be a positive or a negative.

Marriage Story (2019)

Unlikeable Characters, Stilted Dialogue

[6/10 · 29 December 2022]

Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for a divorce drama (is anyone ever?) but I found the main characters overall unlikeable and unsympathetic and the leads miscast and lacking in chemistry. Definitely not convinced by Adam Driver playing the role of a theatre director.

I found the delivery of the dialogue stilted and forced (particularly during fight scenes), as though the actors had little opportunities to stray from the script, and I think setting the movie in the tv and theatre world made this more obvious, making the story feel very 'acted' and limiting the relatability of the events portrayed. I also found the score ill-suited and jarring.

On the other hand though, I think the slow disintegration of the relationship after the commencement of the divorce was well portrayed, as was the simple intimacies demonstrated throughout the film.

Excellent supporting cast, particularly Laura Dern who steals almost all scenes she is in. The dry sense of humour permeating throughout maintained attention and I found the commentary on the legal intricacies of divorce interesting.

Overall A+ for effort but was just not invested.

L'Avventura (1960)

"Adventure" as Sardonic Journey

[9/10 · 28 December 2022]

Taken at face value, this is a meandering and unsatisfying film. Normally we would consider an adventure as a fun and exciting experience, here it is a (mostly) sober examination of how to live life. To really appreciate what is going on you need to reflect on the symbolism of what is presented.

This is not a story of a woman who goes missing, it is about what happens when a society is lost. Anna is unfulfilled yet the only character who seeks guidance and an understanding of how to live (as represented by the books she leaves behind). Though there are initial attempts to find "her", almost everyone quickly moves on. Antonioni pointedly displays men as animalistic in their treatment of women as desirable objects that are disposable and interchangeable.

Without guidance from other sources we are left to ourselves to decide how to live life. Claudia as the protagonist feels her feelings and emotions strongly but does not know how they can guide her on her path. Empty churches = empty pleasure, empty wealth and empty relationships. She ends the film accepting "love" that does not meet her expectations.

Artful directing, particularly the carefully orchestrated blocking and staging, beautiful cinematography. A collision of beautiful images and powerful themes, this is what cinema should be about.

The Loneliest Planet (2011)

Beautiful Scenery, Little Else

[3/10 · 28 December 2022]

More of a travelogue than a movie - events are experienced by the characters and witnessed by the audience but everyone is left to themselves to interpret meaning, leading to an apt movie title but an unsatisfying movie experience.

Given we do not learn much about the characters and their relationship throughout the movie this is somewhat unsurprising, perhaps even somewhat realistic to how real-life couples may deal with the events that unfold. At the very least the movie does provide the opportunity for a lot of physical acting and pensive looks and some long takes of beautiful Georgian scenery.

Midsommar (2019)

Plentiful Style, Not Enough Substance

[4/10 · 27 December 2022]

Beautiful cinematography, staging and directing with a palpable sense of dread and foreboding despite the bright and sunny setting. You know things are not going to end well, you just don't know how - a modern psychological horror story.

However, despite the run time and the opportunity to say something significant about relationships given the dynamics included in the initial scenes, the metaphors and messages of this movie alternate between being too weak and too graphic. A real missed opportunity to elevate this movie.

Kids, don't take drugs while you're trapped in a cult and isolated in a foreign country with no chance of escape.

Downhill (I) (2020)

Aids Understanding of Force Majeure

[4/10 · 27 December 2022]

More blunt and obvious in its approach compared to the film it remakes, particularly towards its characterisation of women, it provides the opportunity to better understand the behaviour of men as was the main focus in the original.

Thus this film serves as a companion-piece rather than a strict remake serving as a counter-point to say 'men are the way they are because women are the way they are' rather than 'why are men the way they are?' as positioned in the original.

Some noticeable directing choices such as making the couple older to exacerbate the issues of the previous movie, further emphasise these themes.

Force Majeure (2014)

Nuanced Examination of Masculinity

[7/10 · 27 December 2022]

A potentially life threatening event leads a wife and husband to examine their relationship and the movie to raise questions about a man's value in the world.

Supporting characters are used effectively to question the purpose of relationships, gender roles, parenthood and how these balance with the pursuit and exploration of one's self and self image.

Really enjoyed the final scenes where the sense of finality you thought you had is flipped on its head and you begin to question everything again.

Stunning cinematography, great use of music to escalate the tension, subtle humour scattered throughout.

Triangle of Sadness (2022)

Pointed Social Critique

[9/10 · 26 December 2022]

Many of the reviews don't seem to "get" this movie, others seem to think it is too obvious in its intentions - please watch this movie and make up your own mind.

The quote mentioned half way through this movie "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" is key to understanding what is trying to be achieved here - the first half of the movie demonstrating where modern society places its value, the second half raising questions of how (and if) things could be done differently, with the ending a struggle to decide where should we go from here.

Thought-provoking and funny.

Wild Strawberries (1957)

"I'm dead although I'm alive"

[7/10 · 25 December 2022]

An exploration of life's choices; how the paths we take are often influenced by the choices of others and the reverberations our choices can have on those around us.

A multilayered meditative and literal journey of how things are, how they could be different (not necessarily better), how we can change our outlook and approach to life, and the limitations of our ability to change. The narrative of allowing the cynicism, optimism and realism of different characters to provide the opportunity for the protagonist to identify opportunities for change is simple but effective.

Artistic directing choices, memorable surrealistic and metaphorical scenes and images.

The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)

Charming Dark Comedy

[8/10 · 24 December 2022]

Something charming about characters who are so blunt and straightforward about what they think.

Seemingly a straight-forward story of the disintegration of a friendship raises thought-provoking themes of how and what we value and prioritise as individuals and how that impacts on those around us, how life experiences change us and can often beat the humaneness out of us, how powerless we often are to change and influence others, how significant disagreements can come from small misunderstandings and our inability to accept what is.

Beautiful scenery and cinematography, well rounded cast of characters, well acted.

Aftersun (II) (2022)

Just didn't connect

[4/10 · 22 December 2022]

Beautiful visuals and a lot of subtlety. Not much is said and not a lot happens.

This is a movie about memory and therefore a sense of disconnection permeates throughout. We see a father and daughter holidaying together. Glimpses of a story are gradually pieced together, but this is much more about what goes unsaid.

It's a story about our relationships with those closest to us, how everyone in our lives has their own life they are living and their own realities they are experiencing and how often we don't or can't understand.

More than anything it's about cherishing the small moments we have with others, and the vital importance of communication.

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

Ennui Personified

[8/10 · 21 December 2022]

A sincere, touching and unique portrayal of the doubt and restlessness involved in finding your own path in life and love and the impact this can have on those around you.

What starts out as a light romantic comedy tonally shifts to become a meditation on relationships; the process of how we decide what we value and prioritise in life, often discovering ourselves through trial and error, trying things and people out to see what fits whilst often ignoring and disbelieving the wisdom and perspectives of those closest to us.

Great cast and beautifully filmed in Oslo, a city not often captured on film.

Tár (2022)

Subtle and slow meditative character study

[6/10 · 20 December 2022]

A number of complex themes are explored - power, desire, repression, and relationships, the nature of art and music, ageing and obsolescence and the evolving nature of cultural and societal discourse. Beautiful set design and cinematography and of course a mesmerising central performance from Cate Blanchett.

Focused almost entirely on the protagonist, the film very slowly comes together yet could easily have done with a heavy edit (particularly the first hour) and still have powerfully communicated its messages, a director trying too hard at times. Requires additional viewings to fully appreciate (if you have the patience).

She Said (2022)

Competent, procedural, focused

[6/10 · 19 December 2022]

Solid seems to be the most common adjective to describe this film, and that it is - solid cast, solid acting, solid storytelling, solid pace, solid directing and solid cinematography.

It is tightly focused on telling the story of how THE story came together and is almost documentary-like, with enough detail to allow you to gain an adequate understanding of the ins-and-outs of reporting.

The wider implications of what is being covered - how the news story is representative of the experiences of many, many women, and the personal and societal impacts - are only fleetingly touched on which is a shame as I found these to be the most powerful parts of the movie.

My Policeman (2022)

Joyless, sombre love triangle

[5/10 · 28 November 2022]

Predominantly gloomy and doleful, tightly focused on the three leads but surprisingly limited exploration of the characters, their backgrounds and their relationships between each other.

A real missed opportunity to explore significant themes of love and identity, what attracts us and what sustains us in relationships. Somewhat stereotypical and limited exploration of being lgbti in the late 1950s with nothing really new to say.

It would have been great to explore the conflict within each of the characters, why they make the choices they do and how they deal with the consequences and aftermath.

Causeway (2022)

Healing through connection

[7/10 · 21 November 2022]

Yes it's slow and not much seems to happen on the outside, but it's a realistic telling of the processes and time involved in healing from traumatic experiences.

The feeling of impatience of wanting to move on, of wanting to avoid the harsh reality and eventually the reluctance of accepting of what has happened to you - the processes involved in grief. Yes, a lot goes unsaid but isn't that true to life when it comes to emotional pain?

A strong character study, focused on the two leads (though perhaps more scenes with the mother and brother would have been good). Well supported by beautiful cinematography and soundtrack.

It's Fine, I'm Fine (2022– )

Uneven, overall worth sticking with

[6/10 · 16 November 2022]

By focusing on a number of individual characters, the brief and episodic nature of this show means that its success relies on the audience sympathising with the characters, something which is occasionally difficult to do.

It's great when you see a character make progress and a few of them do - the fourth episode was a highlight.

I hope they make more episodes in the future and they focus on a couple of characters rather than having too many and allocating short segments to each. It would also be great to gain more insight into the life of the therapist (which they start to do towards the last couple of episodes).