Relentless close-ups aren't low key,

Posted by rhizomatic (A) on March 3, 2004 at 09:05:49

In Reply to: Re: "close up mode" posted by rico on March 3, 2004 at 08:16:35:

they're hyper-dramatic and claustrophobic. A la every other Hollywood film which bullies the viewer into being impressed--much like the overbearing strings that weigh the movie down.
Vanilla film-making. Run of the mill. The Unforgiven was much better, in my opinion.

I don't know why he would choose to emphasize the 'trapped' quality of their lives anyway, when that isn't what the film is about. If the film was about "I'm never going to escape this dreaery working-class existence," that might make sense. Although, really, what the film is 'about' I can't say, because it certainly isn't about the 'rippling effects of a childhood trauma' or whatever. Any film that deals with its supposedly determinant moment in less time than it takes to roll through the credits is bound to be lacking in contentfulness. Critics can try and bootstrap the film into profundity, but what happens is: something happens to some kids, then something happens to those same people when they're adults. And the way everyone behaves in the film is just implausible, especially at the very end, which is just plain surreal. And I've flipped through the book and found the writing to be alarmingly poor, so I don't think the film really failed the book. I think they both suffer from heavy-handedness.

Sorry, I don't mean to sound defensive towards you, this is just a sore spot, since I feel like the movie has some obvious and serious flaws, and I didn't read a single reviewer who addressed them, which I found really puzzling.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Went to see Mystic River last night, for the second time. - clarkjohnsen 14:01:05 03/01/04 (19)

Re: Woulda won best picture award if it wasn't for the 3 Troll movies...(nt) - mkuller 12:18:42 03/02/04 (0)

I don't know about this film specifically (haven't seen it yet), but... - C.B. 11:12:25 03/02/04 (4)

Have you considered moving to a civilized city? nt - clarkjohnsen 12:21:00 03/02/04 (3)

Yes--do you know any? (nt) - C.B. 12:24:27 03/02/04 (2)

Brilliant response! - Dmitry 20:08:11 03/02/04 (1)

Au contraire -- assumes a fact not in evidence. nt - clarkjohnsen 13:27:55 03/03/04 (0)

21 Grams was a far superior film, with better - tinear 07:43:19 03/02/04 (6)

Re: superior cinematography or plot? (nt) - mkuller 13:30:23 03/02/04 (4)

I'd say so. - rhizomatic 07:00:32 03/03/04 (3)

Re: "close up mode" - rico 08:16:35 03/03/04 (2)

Relentless close-ups aren't low key, - rhizomatic 09:05:49 03/03/04 (1)

Re: Relentless close-ups aren't low key, - rico 09:59:56 03/03/04 (0)

How's the tan tin? - dennzio 10:16:43 03/02/04 (0)

"...this one especially wouldn't work at home." - Unfortunately, it doesn't work in the theatre either! (nt) - Audiophilander 21:33:22 03/01/04 (0)

I wanna fight! - rhizomatic 14:03:07 03/01/04 (4)

I nominate - Bulkington 07:04:51 03/02/04 (0)

Mystic River = Xanax - Dmitry 15:54:51 03/01/04 (2)

Excellent.... - Hepcat 16:43:56 03/01/04 (0)

Bravo to you brilliant comparison . . . - albee33 16:33:39 03/01/04 (0)

Follow Ups

Relentless close-ups aren't low key, - rhizomatic 09:05:49 03/03/04 (1)

Re: Relentless close-ups aren't low key, - rico 09:59:56 03/03/04 (0)

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