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Reviews
Our Souls at Night (2017)
Delicately woven story
I was struggling with the "old age" references in some reviews, especially euphemisms such as "octogenarians" or "elderly citizens" that make it all sound detached and condescending. Our Souls at Night is about two lonely souls who found a true emotional connection with no age tags attached. Addie Moore and Louis Waters are two emotionally evolved personalities, who find solace in the presence of one another.
Loneliness does not choose any life stage in particular, as we see it with Addie's grandson, Jemie, who has already been introduced to this hollow feeling at the age of ten.
The active phase of life provides multiple tasks to distract us from having a glimpse beyond that daily micromanagement process. At a young age, we can't imagine any relationships developing without an edge. We find them lacking if it's not a white knuckled-ride.
It's refreshing how naturally and smoothly Addie and Louis' connection was growing with no need for any obvious signs or loud words, drama, or declarations. Their story is an enviable example of how much tact and respect two people could radiate towards each other and people around them and how strong and accepting we could be in our relationships.
I love how delicately the warmth of the newly revived intimacy is pictured with no emotional manipulations or clichés to ruin it. This soul fulfilling story is definitely a pleasure to watch.
Bonjour Anne (2016)
Savoring the present moment
"Are you happy?" is the question the director Eleanor Coppola wants you to ask yourself and invites you to explore what it is that makes us truly happy.
We see a neglected wife of a businessman rediscovering how to enjoy life, but the movie is bigger than that. It's not about an uneventful car ride to Paris among bucolic sceneries and savoring the French cousin, as many might see it. It's about the art of staying truly present.
We think that we are living by hectically skipping from one step stone to another, but instead the life fleetingly passes by. Eleanor Coppola calls us to experience life, see subtle details and take in your existence. Immerse in the surrounding environment, instead of incessantly rushing towards your next destination.
The annoying and persistent French associate of Anne's husband, Jacques Clement, patiently teaches us that attention is the key: the attention to details, focusing on your sensations, noticing subtle expressions of your companion's face and taking time to see the world around.
Instead of constantly thinking of the goal of the journey, attempt to enjoy the process as it is. Instead of living in the imaginary future, making one mental assignment after another to keep your mind busy, why not being content with where you are. Paris can wait as all your other distracting mental destinations, but your life can't.
If you want to explore a mere process of moving to a goal, but not checking off the list what the main characters did or did not do, it's the movie for you.
The Beguiled (2017)
Soul Eroding Effect of Hypocrisy
Sophia Coppola addresses one of the most overlooked problems - a ubiquitous issue of hypocrisy that is reigning in the political games lately and remains an intrinsic part of our society.
An isolated group of women in the movie represents a slice of society, while Colin Farrell, an outsider, who is simply struggling to find his place within it. The outsider is condemned for putting an act, but nobody says or does anything that reflects true feelings. Nothing comes from a genuine respect for another human being. False pretenses and masquerading based on flattery is the only way the characters communicate and stay together. And unfortunately, the only way we know. The only time we see their true colors is during paroxysms of rage, outbursts of lust, hatred and jealousy. But as long as the ugliness is hidden under the veneer of a civilized decorum, it is considered all right by the majority.
Jealousy or repressed sexual desires is just what we see on the surface. All the inner mechanics of their behavior are driven by the fear of a misstep in the eyes of the polite society. The morality they know teaches them to never question the rules and never step out of the dogma-ruled world. Rules like 'keep your stitches even," shield them from facing real moral dilemmas.
The unfolding drama is depicting how morality, which it's just a set of rules established by a self-proclaimed civilized society, has replaced all spiritual concepts. Morality, as a set of standards, is bent and stretched without mercy. Anything is possible for the sake of appearances and propriety. Those who dare to break those pretensions are ostracized, banished or simply discarded.
Sofia Coppola showed the modern world slipping further down into the abyss of hypocrisy, when almost everyone fails to stay true to oneself, twists "morality" as one pleases and values what's proper over what's right.
Passengers (2016)
Life is a journey, enjoy living it
The movie is simple, but profound. It's not about romantic notions of youth or sci-fi adventures, though we are treated to very enthralling action sequences, nonetheless. It's about discovering your true self and developing a rewarding connection with another sole that could be truly life saving.
Enveloping space sceneries pull you into the cosmic depths. The rotating space ship makes you feel like sailing though the skies rather than feeling trapped in a tin can. Superb acting, when facial expressions are all you need to feel an array of conflicting emotions, makes the movie a delight to watch. Very true to life glitches caused by the electronic brain create a creditable environment.
The moral dilemma Jim Preston (Chris Pratt) faces seems so outrageous to many, but don't we all pursue our desires and base our actions on what we want without giving a thought of what others need. We violate the free will of other people easily on a daily basis.
The movie offers an interesting concept, how it feels, when you free yourself of all social, corporate and family constraints. What remains of you, if you dissociate yourself from all imposed duties and obligations. Suffering of the people stranded without an illusory purpose and personal value is ineffable, unless they could look into themselves and find courage to trust and really know another human being.
Jon Spaihts encourages us to search for answers to the multiple questions. What is real happiness and how to achieve it, if you have no society to feed you egoistic mind and encourage you cravings for the things that boost your self-importance. Does your happiness depend on the place, surroundings, situations and events, or you are still the same person despite the change of scenery. Dou you really always need to be in another place and spend your life waiting for something better?
Many viewers find the concept of just being and living your life boring, but it's the only thing that we have.