Oh fuck. I need two hours back. Olivia could play a cucumber, but the story has no point. The trailer shows us one thing and we get a whole different movie.
The weird family, the flashbacks, the story is there, but it was so poorly edited/written.
At first I loved this movie for it's interesting visuals and engaging story with amazing performances. Although constantly on the line of being an Oscar Bait, it didn't bother me right until the third act where the the forcefully tragic ending made me dislike the whole thing.
Nevertheless, it's definitely an amazing debut!
“I want to say how nice it is not to be alone.”
‘The Power of the Dog’ is a triumph return for director Jane Campion after a 12-year absence from cinema. The movies pace is steady and patient, so some people will take issue with that and find the movie too slow and uneventful, but for me, I was never bored by it. Instead, I was captivated by its eeriness and complexity. It’s a movie that never explains itself and nothing is articulated, but you can pinpoint the long-troubled history just from reading the characters faces and actions.
This is one of Benedict Cumberbatch’s best performance of his career and it’s my favourite role from him. He plays Phil Burbank, a repulsive and cruel human being, who deep down has this boiling rage inside of him that he unleashes by abusing animals such as horses. However, I also found the character fascinating, because you never really know why he does the things he does. The expression throughout the movie was irritation, as if the western wind said something that got under his skin. His got the personality of a misbehaved child, sometimes mimicking and mocking those around him. Sulky and strange, with a thousand-yard stare.
But man, Jesse ‘mother fucking’ Plemons, who plays George Burbank, the brother of Phil Burbank. I mean, holy shit what a natural and gifted performer. His relationship with his brother is complicated to say the least, and George is powerless to Phil’s constant insults towards his weight, appearance, and his new love for a female hotel keeper. Even then, the two brothers would still share a bed together. As I said before, it's complicated.
Kirsten Dunst plays Rose, a local hotel keeper who romantically falls for Jesse Plemons and gets thrown into the ranch life, something she and her son are not suited for, which sets the story into motion. Her son is played by Kodi Smit-McPhee, an awkward kid who stands out for the wrong reasons. Dunst and McPhee, both child stars who grew up into maturity on film and both deliver effective performances. Just from the facial expressions alone they manage to convey some much hurt and curiosity that the characters experience when in the presence of Phil Burbank. It’s one of the finest roles.
The use of music here isn’t something you will remember after the movie ends, but I feel that when re-watching it, the score, along with the scenes playing out, makes the experience more hypnotizing and oddly mystical.
The movie was filmed in New Zealand, and it never looked more beautiful until Jane Campion is behind the camera. Even with the muted colours and harsh quality to it, it still felt dreamy.
Although, if you’re a massive lover of animals, then beware because there’s a couple of scenes in this movie of animal abuse that may upset you. It’s not on screen for long, like a few seconds, but man those few seconds are rough. Or just cover your eyes.
Overall rating: whistles menacingly
Critics dismissed First Knight as a cliched Hollywood production and they wouldn't be wrong. But as much as the snobby side of me wanted to dismiss the film, I really liked this film.
The film flows quickly without any boring scenes. Although the film is a cliched love triangle, I thought it was handled with maturity. Furthermore, I found it refreshing from the usual Arthurian films. It focuses on Lancelot (Richard Gere) as the central focus.
Yes, Richard Gere looks too old, too modern, and American. Yes, the chemistry between three principles is tepid at times. But for what it's worth, Richard Gere is charismatic, the sword fights are pretty realistic and not over the top.
Sean Connery plays Arthur with dignity and looks amazing. And Julia Ormond is beautiful. But my favorite is Liam Cunningham (best known as Davos "the Onion knight" from Game of Thrones). Although his part is minor, he looks badass.
This story is both strange and compelling. Raw in its essence. The hypnotising dance that causes these characters to be bond to each other is astounding and unorthodox. Against all odds and reason they found a common language without words. The performances given by Keitel (George) and Hunter (Ada) were remarkable and powerful. Jane Campion's weaving of the Maori culture adds complexity to the story and lends a new pair of eyes to the same situation subtly. She is indeed an excellent director and writer. The choices in manipulation of light and cinematography framed the story in the most movingly haunting way. Within the frame that starts out so black and white with shades of grey and brown, a burst of red penetrates it as Ada's life is penetrated by him (George). Red is found with him and their love and the unravelling, as with her hair, ensues. Love can give you strength while rendering you helpless against it and Ada's release and rebirth are inevitable in the face of it. A truly profound movie and well worth the watch.
Super cool coming of age birding/road movie!
The Eight Mountains is Felix van Groeningen and his wife Charlotte Vandermeersch's latest film. Van Groegingen directed 'Beautiful Boy' and the brilliant 'Broken Circle Breakdown'. 'The Eight Mountains' though is a different beast. Based on the book of the same name written by Paolo Cognetti it charts 25 years or so in the lives of two best friends who meet in a tiny village in the Italian alps. The two friends Pietro and Bruno seem inseparable as they more or less live a mountain life but they are different. Pietro is the lead character and via his narration we see themes of self doubt, self discovery, regret, belonging. The cinematography is obviously therefore brilliant with vast sweeping mountainous landscapes and lakes.
But what makes this film stand out is the writing. The dialogue and the moments of deep emotion are truly brilliant. The film itself explores family, friendships in small communities but asks the viewer to think about their life choices......who did life correctly? Who made the right choices? Who won at life? Who conquered it? Along the way are relationship dramas and some tragedy but by the end I was left philosophising over a magnificently emotional picture.
'The Eight Mountains' is one of the most profoundly beautiful and moving films I have seen in recent years. Stunning film.
10/10
Great film! Fantastic acting! Slow burner for sure. If you think you can predict what's about to happen next, ha! Your gladly mistaken. Jane Campion's masterpiece will keep you guessing. Do yourself a favor and watch this film!
If you’re not into it after the first 10 minutes, just turn it off, because you’re not going to like it.
It’s a true musical in every sense of the world: everything is extremely (melo)dramatic, and it’s filled with as much overacting and oversinging as you’d expect.
If that’s your thing, this is for you, I really commend Lin Manuel Miranda and Andrew Garfield for going all the way.
But to me it just screams as tacky and inauthentic, there’s a fairytale quality about it that makes me feel icky.
The way it tries to force emotion onto you by spelling out the feelings of every character isn’t very artful, in my opinion.
I was kinda surprised to see Black Thought show up, which is probably the highlight of the film for me, being a fan of The Roots.
