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Reviews
Uncertainty (2008)
Saw this at TIFF08
I really liked this film. Joseph-Gordon Levitt's choices in films are almost always stellar ("Stop-Loss" ruins his 'street-cred'). This film assures us that he has not lost his ability to find solid scripts and amazing directors.
The reason why this film is so interesting is because of its structure. To help make a decision, a couple flips a coin, then two stories progress simultaneously. Each story shows us the outcome of a different coin-toss result. One story is a mystery/action film and the other shows us how the two characters interact in a dysfunctional family BBQ. Beautifully shot and performed. The film masterfully uses the coin-flip device and avoids being gimmicky kudos!
The Fountain (2006)
I really wish this was better
Okay, this movie is not very good.
I mean, I understand that it has a strong foundation in a philosophy of death and he's showcasing a theory that he wishes us to think about, but there are serious issues here in character development and plot.
The characters in "The Fountain" (Izzie and Tommy) are only interested in one another and as an audience it is hard to see why because we get no background on either character, all we know is that they love each other. We are also told their emotional position on Izzie's tumor. I really wish I could have felt for either of these characters, but I could not because I did not know enough about them to care for their loss and their pain.
Imagine a line that most developed characters go through that looks like this: A - B - C.
The character starts at A, hits a revelation at B, and winds up going with C. Something like that. In "The Fountain" the characters start in the middle of B and C.
Sure, Aronofsky is trying something new and you have to credit him with that. I am just saying it does not work. Maybe he should stay away from writing because once again you can see he has the technical aptitude to make a solid film, there were just too many problems in the foundation.
Cactuses (2006)
Amazing work!
This film was made by a collection of high school students and a handful of college students, but it is by no means a "student caliber" film. When putting together a film so independent from any studio, with very little marketing involved, it is rare to even FIND the movie. Luckily they offer the film for free, on their website...that's right, this movie is FREE...
I had just come home from seeing "Nightwatch" at the Paramount theater in Toronto. Disappointed, I checked what was going on online and I found this film. A movie like "Nightwatch" has no right asking you for your money when there is a film like "Cactuses" available for free.
The film centers around a troubled youth that has issues with his father, his brother and his girlfriend. Even at his worst moments, you can still relate to him, this is a feat that is generated by tight acting and throughly contemplated writing. It takes a relatively frequent plot formula (an older, wiser person takes a troubled youth under their wing and transforms them into some sort of demigod) and instead makes the troubled youth's accomplishments reasonable, respectable and deserving.
I don't want to spoil anything, but watching this film made me feel very good about myself and it really did inspire, something that a lot of films claim to do, while few actually deliver. Do yourself a favor and download this free movie and then write to the makers and let them know you appreciate their work...because you will.