The Wildest Dream

I'd love to believe Mallory climbed Everest & this documentary explained it all quite well. Well done. 4/5

The Wildest Dream on Netflix

Bellflower

I watched and reviewed "Bellflower" for the first time on July 24, 2012. In my initial review I gave the film only three stars, citing "nebulous writing" and "rough acting" as my main problems. I have mentioned and written about the movie a few times since that first review, each time thinking and writing about it far more positively. I few weeks ago I ran across my first review and couldn't understand how this movie which had continued to live in my head so vibrantly was one I only rated as three stars. Last night I rewatched "Bellflower" and, my god, I was so very wrong the first time around.

"Bellflower" is an absolutely brilliant film that is gorgeously and strikingly directed. The cinematography is some of the best I've seen in years, and that's saying something. Evan Glodell, who wrote, directed and starred in the film, utilizes gritty film and shots that move in and out of focus to create a world that is hallucinatory and surrealistic. Some of the shots - most notably the epic shot of the car near the end of the film - are just so perfectly done they took my breath away. This film is visually stunning, even more so on second viewing.

So what about the plot that I found somewhat lacking the first time around? Honestly... I think I just didn't get it. I had felt the movie wasn't believable, but a movie about two men creating weapons for the upcoming apocalypse in service of their gang Mother Medusa isn't really based in this reality, now is it? No, this film is a morality tale told in shades of magical realism that bares more than a passing resemblance to "Fight Club" in plot and tone. It's not supposed to be realistic - it's a dark film that uses heavy symbolism to tell a cautionary tale of what becoming a man means in this violent day and age. Every frame of the film and every nuance of the plot services this point and I'm stunned I didn't understand this in my first viewing.

The one complaint I need to keep is that the acting is weak for the most part. However, what I didn't appreciate is that all of the actors in the film are comprised of the skeleton film crew and actors hired off of Craig's List. This film was shot on virtually no budget - although you'd never be able to tell that from the look of it. So, yes, the acting isn't stellar, but it's not terrible either. In fact, the overly hammy acting in the first act of the film is necessary to make the degeneration of the characters through the rest of the film more believable.

Conclusion? I was totally wrong and I admit it. "Bellflower" is a stunning film that gets better the more it percolates in your brain. After my second viewing I was so blown away I bought the DVD, so that's saying something from me. If you like strange, dark, gritty films that are visually stunning and off the beaten path rent "Bellflower" - it's a wonderful film that should be seen by everyone. 

Bellflower on Netflix

Gangster Squad

I was completely surprised at how good this action thriller was - I was totally captured from minute one. Nice. 4/5

Gangster Squad on Netflix

Mad Hot Ballroom

The kids in this documentary are great dancers but I really wanted to know more about them & their lives. 3/5

Mad Hot Ballroom on Netflix

Only the Young

I was very engaged in this interesting documentary & quite invested in its characters. Surprisingly good. 4/5

Only the Young on Netflix

Just Go With It

This ridiculous rom-com is just barely watchable & utterly unbelievable from beginning to end. Bah humbug. 2/5

Just Go With It on Netflix

Treeless Mountain

This Korean film is understated & dark in it's tale of lost children. Magnificently acting, very affecting. 3.5/5

Treeless Mountain on Netflix

Promised Land

This would have been a far better movie it is wasn't based on such horseshit. As it stands, good, not great. 3/5

Promised Land on Netflix

Letting Go of God

Julia Sweeney's monologue isn't stand-up per se but is a rather brilliant examination of life & meaning. 4/5

Letting Go of God on Netflix

This Is 40

This was better than most of Apatow's recent crap but still relentlessly average & so not accurate about being 40. 3/5

This Is 40 on Netflix

The Jacket

Adrian Brody is wonderful in this thriller but the plot feels a bit flimsy for most of it. Good, not great. 3/5

The Jacket on Netflix

Reprise

Lie & Trier reunite for a fantastic drama about fame and the nature of love & madness. Brilliantly acted & directed. 4/5

Reprise on Netflix

Tchoupitoulas

What was the point of this film? It was pretty but I was so bored to tears I shut it off half way through. Bah. 2/5

Tchoupitoulas On Netflix

Kumare

I think this is an incredible relevant & important documentary that took huge risks for a wondrous payoff. Amazing. 5/5

Kumare on Netflix

Samaritan Girl

This Kim Ki-Duk film isn't as satisfying or profound as many of his other works but is quite beautiful. 3/5

Samaritan Girl on Netflix

Thin Ice

Maybe I just watch too many movies but I guessed every single second of this, beginning to end. Good acting though. 3/5

Thin Ice on Netflix

Wanderlust

Just a terrible, awful, trite little comedy about bad people behaving badly - Apatow is losing his touch I think. 1.5/5

Wanderlust on Netflix

Shane

A classic story told very solidly & compellingly, although it did feel more than a bit long to me. Well done. 3.5/5

Shane on Netflix

Pawn

This great thriller was brilliantly acted, well plotted & superbly executed - so refreshing to see such a smart film! Plus Michael Chiklis' Cockney accent was so good I actually paused the film to see if he might be British. Wow! 4.5/5

Pawn on Netflix

Love Comes to the Executioner

This very black comedy is far wittier than I expected & solidly acted as well - I'm surprised. 3.5/5

Love Comes to the Executioner on Netflix

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Else

This disturbing, bizarre drama is really hard to watch but ultimately worth it all. And yes, this is a very flawed piece, but it's honest in its art and that makes all the difference. 3.5/5

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Else on Netflix

Silver Linings Playbook

I can't explain it, I should have loved this, but I found it very average save for the amazing acting. David O. Russell's only truly astonishing film is "Spanking the Monkey" which is required viewing & just so amazing. This... honestly? Meh. 3/5

Silver Linings Playbook on Netflix

Flight

A powerful, insightful, realistic & ultimately redemptive portrayal of alcoholism wonderfully acted by Denzel. However, knowing what I know about the rooms, I feel very strongly that the very last line was a mistake, but I can forgive that. 4/5

Flight on Netflix

Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words

I've never seen Bo before - he's funny, insightful, dry witted & really daring. I enjoyed this. 4/5

Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words on Netflix

My Piece of the Pie

It's an interesting enough dramedy but a morality play? By what standard? The end really sunk this for me. 3/5

My Piece of the Pie on Netflix

The Details

This black comedy is incredibly smart & compelling - I was fascinated the entire film. What would *you* do? 4/5

The Details on Netflix