Monday, September 8
MY SECOND BOOTLEG FILM REVIEW
yea yea it's of the same damn movie but I dont go out that much......................this movie is awesome and I'm so used to seeing derivative, commercial crappy films, that whenever I see something this good I get a little okay a lot excited. I'll try and break it down without giving anything away.
DIRTY PRETTY THINGS (did you see it yet?)
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, Sergi Lopez, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Wong, Zlatko Buric
Directed by Stephen Frears. Written by Steve Knight. 107 minutes. Rated R for sexual content, disturbing images and language. A Miramax film.
I have seen this movie described over and over again as a thriller which is very limiting and misleading because it is so much more than that. This film is also a hard examination of the life of underclass peoples. Specifically the poor and illegal immigrants of corporate driven countries who live invisibly and perform mostly menial but very necessary tasks.
"We are the people you never see, we clean your rooms, we drive your cabs, we suck your dicks............ " this is said by Okwe, a beautifully haunted Nigerean man, a character who is so sad and so serious. He works as a cab driver all day and a hotel clerk all night fighting sleep by eating mysterious leaves, the origin of the herbs is never explained. This is an example of one of those interesting but inconsequential details that adds to the characters complexities. He is the lead and star of the movie.
His performance is perfect and patient. This is his film debut, he is a trained stage actor and actually British born but raised by Nigerean parents. I was also raised by Nigereans so I can say with all certainty that his affectation is perfect although he does has an obvious advantage.
Then there is Senay, Audrey Tatou of "Amelie" fame playing a totally different role here of a hotel maid.
This is her first English speaking role which she must perform with a Turkish accent. Stellar. Both of them are manipulated by their aptly named boss, Sneaky aka Senor Juan (played by Sergi Lopez, the villain of "With a Friend Like Harry"). The hotel's other employees, who are also under Sneaky's brutal thumb, include striking and likable (albeit atypical whore with the heart of gold) prostitute Juliette (Sophie Okonedo) and the burly, cynical Russian doorman Ivan (Zlatko Buric). Rounding out the cast is Guo Yi who plays the crematory worker Benedict Wong. A thinking man, "Good at chess, bad at life." he proclaims glumly. I have never seen an Asian man play a character this multilayered before........he is superb.
We are taken on a special class trip to London, right at the heart of a besieged underground community of illegal immigrants from a variety of nations who all work at The Baltic Hotel. The hotel serves as a perfect visual backdrop to this story of desperate dreams. Being an aspiring production designer I get a special joy out of a film that uses the setting and sets as character.
These are a striving group of people hiding from the law while being viciously exploited by their employers. Subject to constant fear of exposure they are forced into the tiniest of lives. They are brutally pushed into a seedy world of crime and amorality.
The film is subtly acted, written and directed. I love subtle shit. Please don't hit me over the head to make your point mr. filmmaker I am not an indiot. I love when a film does not underestimate its audience's intelligence. This is the kind of film that made me want to work on films in the first place.
It moves hynoptically slow with sparse dialogue. Because I am a visceral movie goer, there were scenes that made my skin crawl, my eyes swell up with tears and my heart beat so fast I actually heard it beating. Perfect. Don't go to the bathroom you wont want..... to .....miss... a single......frame.
A love story and a dark mystery, with a strange touch of bitter humor. Multiple subplots abound within the film, syphillis, caviar, sweatshops - all of which morph into a simple understanding. A point, That there are people who live on the margins of society, struggling to keep their dignity, coping with isolation, acquiescing to their exploitation. We see them in our periphary every day they do anything and everything in the perfect words of talib kweli - 'just to get by.'.........Their life's work is surviving. It's all about SURVIVAL. The end. Period.
This movie will absorb you.
If you're poor and foreign see this movie. If you're rich and priviliged see this movie. If you've ever taken a cab you should see this movie. If you've ever been rude to someone who doesn't speak English see this movie. If you believe that art should not only entertain but challenge and inspire, see this movie.
If you're into films that aren't gratuitous, predictable,commercial , filled with lavish over the top concepts and special effects see this movie. Dammit just see this movie!!!
FOUR BLACK FISTS
ps:my quotes might not be exactly on the money because of my sometimes fuzzy memory
yea yea it's of the same damn movie but I dont go out that much......................this movie is awesome and I'm so used to seeing derivative, commercial crappy films, that whenever I see something this good I get a little okay a lot excited. I'll try and break it down without giving anything away.
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Audrey Tautou, Sergi Lopez, Sophie Okonedo, Benedict Wong, Zlatko Buric
Directed by Stephen Frears. Written by Steve Knight. 107 minutes. Rated R for sexual content, disturbing images and language. A Miramax film.
I have seen this movie described over and over again as a thriller which is very limiting and misleading because it is so much more than that. This film is also a hard examination of the life of underclass peoples. Specifically the poor and illegal immigrants of corporate driven countries who live invisibly and perform mostly menial but very necessary tasks.
"We are the people you never see, we clean your rooms, we drive your cabs, we suck your dicks............ " this is said by Okwe, a beautifully haunted Nigerean man, a character who is so sad and so serious. He works as a cab driver all day and a hotel clerk all night fighting sleep by eating mysterious leaves, the origin of the herbs is never explained. This is an example of one of those interesting but inconsequential details that adds to the characters complexities. He is the lead and star of the movie.
Then there is Senay, Audrey Tatou of "Amelie" fame playing a totally different role here of a hotel maid.
We are taken on a special class trip to London, right at the heart of a besieged underground community of illegal immigrants from a variety of nations who all work at The Baltic Hotel. The hotel serves as a perfect visual backdrop to this story of desperate dreams. Being an aspiring production designer I get a special joy out of a film that uses the setting and sets as character.
These are a striving group of people hiding from the law while being viciously exploited by their employers. Subject to constant fear of exposure they are forced into the tiniest of lives. They are brutally pushed into a seedy world of crime and amorality.
The film is subtly acted, written and directed. I love subtle shit. Please don't hit me over the head to make your point mr. filmmaker I am not an indiot. I love when a film does not underestimate its audience's intelligence. This is the kind of film that made me want to work on films in the first place.
It moves hynoptically slow with sparse dialogue. Because I am a visceral movie goer, there were scenes that made my skin crawl, my eyes swell up with tears and my heart beat so fast I actually heard it beating. Perfect. Don't go to the bathroom you wont want..... to .....miss... a single......frame.
A love story and a dark mystery, with a strange touch of bitter humor. Multiple subplots abound within the film, syphillis, caviar, sweatshops - all of which morph into a simple understanding. A point, That there are people who live on the margins of society, struggling to keep their dignity, coping with isolation, acquiescing to their exploitation. We see them in our periphary every day they do anything and everything in the perfect words of talib kweli - 'just to get by.'.........Their life's work is surviving. It's all about SURVIVAL. The end. Period.
This movie will absorb you.
If you're poor and foreign see this movie. If you're rich and priviliged see this movie. If you've ever taken a cab you should see this movie. If you've ever been rude to someone who doesn't speak English see this movie. If you believe that art should not only entertain but challenge and inspire, see this movie.
If you're into films that aren't gratuitous, predictable,
FOUR BLACK FISTS
ps:my quotes might not be exactly on the money because of my sometimes fuzzy memory
Sunday, September 7
My First Bootleg Movie Review
"DIRTY PRETTY THINGS"
This film gets 4 black fists.
It is incredible. Run, See it as soon as possible.
Hurry! What are you waiting for? GO!
More details to come.........
"DIRTY PRETTY THINGS"
This film gets 4 black fists.
It is incredible. Run, See it as soon as possible.
Hurry! What are you waiting for? GO!
More details to come.........
"Two things everybody's got tuh do fuh theyselves.........They got tuh go tuh God and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves." Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
Today while putting together HER dirty cloth diapers, a strange question popped into my head. I asked myself if I were in a position to hire someone to deal with these nasty stinking diapers would I? As a matter of fact if I were financially capable to pay someone to deal with all those gross, boring, mundane, little inconsequential aspects of what my world has become would I? The world of the stay at home mom where each chore feels like well......a chore
Definition - Daily or routine domestic tasks,especially a farmer's routine morning and evening tasks, such as feeding livestock. An unpleasant or burdensome task
There is a certain satisfaction that comes with getting your hands dirty with your very own sh*t (so to speak).
But are there any certain necessary life lessons that come along with being forced to deal with doing the same things over and over and over again?
More to come..................
Today while putting together HER dirty cloth diapers, a strange question popped into my head. I asked myself if I were in a position to hire someone to deal with these nasty stinking diapers would I? As a matter of fact if I were financially capable to pay someone to deal with all those gross, boring, mundane, little inconsequential aspects of what my world has become would I? The world of the stay at home mom where each chore feels like well......a chore
Definition - Daily or routine domestic tasks,especially a farmer's routine morning and evening tasks, such as feeding livestock. An unpleasant or burdensome task
There is a certain satisfaction that comes with getting your hands dirty with your very own sh*t (so to speak).
But are there any certain necessary life lessons that come along with being forced to deal with doing the same things over and over and over again?
More to come..................
