This month I read 4 books and watched 7 movies. I did not get around to listening to any new albums.
Best book = Ethan Frome
Best movie = Run Lola Run
I watched two Criterion films, Man Bites Dog and Salesman. I would recommend watching these two together. I was able to think about Salesman a lot more deeply having watched Man Bites Dog first.
Watched this after Man Bites Dog which definitely added texture to both films.
Probably best described as cute. It was a nice take on friendship and generosity winning out over animosity and greed.
As a kid you hear the story of a group of people who find a bag of money and decide to split it evenly. But they grow suspicious of one another and, whatever the version, it never ends well.
This movie seemed like an optimistic version of that childhood cautionary tale.
So depressing but it still followed that familiar, family movie theme—follow your dreams and in the end everything will turn out for the best. Ugh.
For me the film sparked a conversation about “What is art?” Only there was much to consider on a topic that—prior to viewing this film—seemed over-discussed.
The title of the film also made us think about the nature of journalism. If the unusual is more interesting to report on than the usual, then soon the unusual becomes the usual. Then what replaces it?
The rape scene was the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen in a movie. Was that necessary? Or would we have taken away the same from the movie without it?
Also, I don’t know how this could be viewed as dark humor. Maybe I’m wrong, but I suspect that’s something the film makers came up with after the controversy started.
They also said this was just a film about movie making that could have been about a door-to-door salesman as easily as a serial killer. If that’s true then maybe they didn’t even understand what it is they created.
Not as depressing as I would have expected from the subject matter. All three main characters—Ethan, Zeena, and Mattie—are tragic characters. It is harder to identify with Zeena than the others, but in her own way she deserves as much pity.
FAQ | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | | Robot Co-op Blog | Copyright © 2004 - 2008 Robot Co-op
