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Reviews
The Staggering Girl (2019)
Homage to Woody??
It's not just the font of the opening credits that winks at Woodyphiles, we also see hints of "Another Woman" in its flashbacks, cold earth tones seen in costumes, settings and cinematography itself. We even hear a woman's confessions through what might be a vent similar to the character of Marianne in Woody's Bergmanesque chamber piece. The director gives a nod to "Autumn Sonata" playing with the mother/daughter relationship. Both Woody and Luca relish in the use of flashbacks where characters peer into their pasts as the are "played out" in front of them. One of Woody's favorite themes makes an appearance in the struggle of the artist and how hat struggle affects those closest to them. A fine homage to two masterful filmmakers (Bergman and Allen) and one might want to add Luca into the pantheon of the (film) giants.
WeCrashed (2022)
Leto as a vampire?
Is it me or does Jared Leto sound like the vampire on Sesame Street? "One WeWork, Two WeWork..mwah ha ha!" Skip and watch the documentary-it covers everything this trite bio pic does. I kept asking myself "Why....just why??"
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)
Nothing "wicked this way come"
Calling all "Macbeth" Shakespeare nerds and cinephiles! When teaching "Macbeth" to seniors; I show the Polanski film companion as it has only been a year after his wife, Sharon Tate's brutal murder that he embarked on such a heavy/hefty subject. He uses his own anger and rage to present to us a murderous, raging character filled with hubris abetted by his "hand- wringing"/ecstatic "partner in crime". Polanski was asked why the film was so bloody and grim and he quite simply said, "You should have seen the inside of my home last summer".
I say all of this to say I was disappointed in the the recent Cohen version. We had all the wonderful cinematic elements that paid homage to Orson Wells' use of German Expressionist lighting (his 1948 version) but here we lack the fire in the belly of the characters- they were lackluster at best. I give credit as it's always nice to see a version of a Shakespearean classic, but "Nothing wicked this way came" except shadows, fog and ravens.
Lady Macbeth is supposed to be in ecstasy making murderous plans when lying on the bed "unsexed"- Francis McDormand seemed to fall asleep. This was a huge missed opportunity. In Polanski's version, Lady Macbeth is under a spell - she's giddy with thoughts of power and how to obtain it. Not staring up in boredom as seen in this version.
Perhaps I "doth protest too much" ?
In order for a story (of any kind) to be made for the screen, the director must dig into his/her darker side as Polanski did in order for us to believe that indeed "something wicked this way come". Discuss?
Clairevoyant (2021)
Bliss
I'm so ecstatic that my spiritual guides led me to the film that enlightened me into eternal bliss; leaving the "me" and entering the "you" (excuse the disgusting imagery). I too, like Claire, am on my journey and have cleared my chakras (orange in particular) and am trying to channel my next guru. I'm going to sit here until phone rings. Until then...congratulations Claire on finding your groove.
*Side note: see film to understand review.