R is something that comes with surprise. A movie that is led with magic, displaying great camerawork, editing and overall production design. Each scene has a visual awe, especially the tracking shots and night shots. They flash, the stun and they are beautiful. As for the story... Very solid. It goes in depth to the mind of a director. That mind being arrogant, naive, narcissistic, self centered and denial, especially when sometimes collaborating with a talented writer. All these traits of the character led back to bite him and ruin. Something that was a realistic and ultimately the correct decision. Whilst there are minor changes I would undergo with R, the movie overall was solid and something that I would happily rewatch.
3 Reviews
Another great indie film
shayenu14 July 2023
'R' is a great film. And although there are a few small issues, it does a fantastic job amalgamating different genres and tones to create a humorous, engaging, well-paced watch that manages to pack lots of detail and character depth - allowing its weaker elements to be forgotten about as the credits roll.
Diving into 'R' , you'll notice the film is very dialogue heavy, which can often be disengaging for certain audience members. Whilst this was not necessarily a problem for myself (as I was intrigued by the premise), the humor integrated into the film really helped me to enjoy this watch a bit more. And for those who dislike heaps of dialogue, this humor will help keep them engaged as they watch.
Although this dialogue might cause some problems, it actually helps the story become a lot more character-driven. Characters develop through their dynamics and conversations with other characters and you can really sense the depth and detail that was put in to them. What Pollak does here is the main gem of the film, as he clearly sets out and crafts clear arcs for our main characters and even supporting characters in the process.
In terms of the story, 'R' is very unique. Before watching, I pondered how a film like this would play out, and thought it would take a cliched route. Yet I was wrong, Its clever how certain plot beats and elements are connected and flow really nicely to complete the film. And although it isnt the perfect story in any way - its great to see how such a simple premise (a man making a movie) can be elevated to create a film with such detail and even more enjoyable plot points/ turn of events.
Acting is good at most parts, and their are some moments that feel off .However the standouts for me are Brad Pollak (who brilliantly plays the lead character Director Gordon Flemyng), and J'amore ward, who does a sublime job portraying a lead actor in the film. Eric Roberts and Oliver Cooper play small parts in the film, yet they still shine.
Aesthetically, there are problems as this is a low-budget film, however the cinematography and uniqueness in shots really encapsulate a 60's vibe extremely well. Especially considering the budget!
Ultimately, 'R' is a great watch, and although it may be a simple premise - it's Holden Pollaks beautiful crafting of characters and perfectly infused dialogue that keep the score up nice and high for me and make the premise even better than it is.
Rating 7.5/10.
Diving into 'R' , you'll notice the film is very dialogue heavy, which can often be disengaging for certain audience members. Whilst this was not necessarily a problem for myself (as I was intrigued by the premise), the humor integrated into the film really helped me to enjoy this watch a bit more. And for those who dislike heaps of dialogue, this humor will help keep them engaged as they watch.
Although this dialogue might cause some problems, it actually helps the story become a lot more character-driven. Characters develop through their dynamics and conversations with other characters and you can really sense the depth and detail that was put in to them. What Pollak does here is the main gem of the film, as he clearly sets out and crafts clear arcs for our main characters and even supporting characters in the process.
In terms of the story, 'R' is very unique. Before watching, I pondered how a film like this would play out, and thought it would take a cliched route. Yet I was wrong, Its clever how certain plot beats and elements are connected and flow really nicely to complete the film. And although it isnt the perfect story in any way - its great to see how such a simple premise (a man making a movie) can be elevated to create a film with such detail and even more enjoyable plot points/ turn of events.
Acting is good at most parts, and their are some moments that feel off .However the standouts for me are Brad Pollak (who brilliantly plays the lead character Director Gordon Flemyng), and J'amore ward, who does a sublime job portraying a lead actor in the film. Eric Roberts and Oliver Cooper play small parts in the film, yet they still shine.
Aesthetically, there are problems as this is a low-budget film, however the cinematography and uniqueness in shots really encapsulate a 60's vibe extremely well. Especially considering the budget!
Ultimately, 'R' is a great watch, and although it may be a simple premise - it's Holden Pollaks beautiful crafting of characters and perfectly infused dialogue that keep the score up nice and high for me and make the premise even better than it is.
Rating 7.5/10.
Clockwork Film Review
jeremy_bader0316 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Self-reflectiveness has always been a major part of movies, and for good reason. When working under the "write what you know" pretense or any other number of oft-repeated artistic mantras, it only stands to reason that the artist should wish to make art about... art. Still, it's difficult to ignore the apparent surge in these metacognitive works in the past year alone, whether it's Steven Spielberg's articulation of the deep-seated influence cinema has on his life (and vice versa) in The Fabelmans, Jordan Peele's analysis of spectacle in Nope, or Martin McDonagh's dialogue over the longevity of art in The Banshees of Inisherin.
With that meta-commentary being at such a prevalent point, it makes sense that amateur filmmakers feel so drawn to tell their own "movies about movies." One such instance is the upcoming wide-release debut from 20-year-old filmmaker Holden Pollak, the pseudo-biographical drama R. Evoking the same knowing energy with its title as X (another movie-centric movie from last year), R effectively details the plight of real-life filmmakers Gordon Flemyng (Brad Pollak) and Robert Sabaroff (Mark Baker) as they set out to create the heist movie The Split. The film, released in 1968, was notably the first R-rated picture to be shown in American theatres, but despite that fact, retains a minimal legacy in cinema history. Despite having a basis in a little-known historical event, R is a mostly-fictional imagining of Flemyng and Sabaroff's journey; although the film successfully presents itself under the guise of a friendship drama, its intentions draw much more similarity to another "art on art" piece.
With R being his wide-release debut - excluding numerous other projects from as early as age 10 - writer/director Pollak demonstrates impressive control as a young storytelling talent. Nowhere is this more evident than in his sentimental (but never corny) screenplay, which shines even despite a small handful of glaring budget limitations falling onto the more technical aspects of the film. With a tells-it-like-it-is script, Pollak's tale oozes a genuine heartfeltness that is seldom seen even in the case of more experienced filmmakers. All at once, it works as a love letter to the art form, the artists, and the unfiltered artistic process itself. Pollak's resulting thesis effortlessly glorifies the artistic process as a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts, ultimately articulating the purity and honesty of art made for oneself. As far as Pollak's career as a filmmaker is concerned, one hopes only that he maintains that ideology in his future work as much as he does here.
With that meta-commentary being at such a prevalent point, it makes sense that amateur filmmakers feel so drawn to tell their own "movies about movies." One such instance is the upcoming wide-release debut from 20-year-old filmmaker Holden Pollak, the pseudo-biographical drama R. Evoking the same knowing energy with its title as X (another movie-centric movie from last year), R effectively details the plight of real-life filmmakers Gordon Flemyng (Brad Pollak) and Robert Sabaroff (Mark Baker) as they set out to create the heist movie The Split. The film, released in 1968, was notably the first R-rated picture to be shown in American theatres, but despite that fact, retains a minimal legacy in cinema history. Despite having a basis in a little-known historical event, R is a mostly-fictional imagining of Flemyng and Sabaroff's journey; although the film successfully presents itself under the guise of a friendship drama, its intentions draw much more similarity to another "art on art" piece.
With R being his wide-release debut - excluding numerous other projects from as early as age 10 - writer/director Pollak demonstrates impressive control as a young storytelling talent. Nowhere is this more evident than in his sentimental (but never corny) screenplay, which shines even despite a small handful of glaring budget limitations falling onto the more technical aspects of the film. With a tells-it-like-it-is script, Pollak's tale oozes a genuine heartfeltness that is seldom seen even in the case of more experienced filmmakers. All at once, it works as a love letter to the art form, the artists, and the unfiltered artistic process itself. Pollak's resulting thesis effortlessly glorifies the artistic process as a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts, ultimately articulating the purity and honesty of art made for oneself. As far as Pollak's career as a filmmaker is concerned, one hopes only that he maintains that ideology in his future work as much as he does here.
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