Waking Life is a boring test of patience in many scenes (mostly in the beginning). But then you're suddenly hit with its brilliance. Most scenes are lectures on life and existentialism and they're hard to get through. But you're rewarded with piece of mind. It takes you out of day to day life and places you in a dream.
The entire film is following one character as he treks through his subconscious dream life. The rotoscoping animation was beautiful but sometimes left me a little weary. Sometimes I wished I could watch the film un-animated. But for the most part, it works.
Of Linklater's work, this is more along the lines of a Slacker 2. Waking Life improves on the concepts of Slacker in that the ideas are expressed more clearly.
I still don't quite know how I feel about the film as a whole. It definitely makes you think. But I feel like there was just A LOT of talking. I was tempted to skip ahead on the DVD, but thankfully it picks up speed towards the middle.
Here are two of the best scenes...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1n19SF5IqE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtuYWyjk4ZI&feature=related
Linklater remains one of my favorite directors because of projects like these. Even if they don't end up being my favorite films, they're still so innovative and experimental.
Showing posts with label linklater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label linklater. Show all posts
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Ughhhhh I love film and a review of Before Sunset and Panic Room
I know I love film to the extent that I do when it's rare for me to find a movie I really hate. Sometimes I feel like every other film I watch I love, 10/10, perfect. I can see through it and understand what the director was going for, even if the film itself is by no means perfect. I build it up too much in my head, the second viewing of the film a disappointment because it doesn't live up to expectation.
I just love the moving image (and still image for that matter) with such a passion that I can find something, one thing about a film that I take away with me.
I do, however, have a critical eye. I watched Panic Room last night and was horribly disappointed. I really find it hard to believe that a film connoisseur like David Fincher directed it. I mean I guess you have to give it props from a technical stand point. There was some incredible cinematography and special effects. But at its base, one of the worst scripts I've ever seen failed to hold the film together. I really don't even want to talk about it. It was stupid.
Now Before Sunset on the other hand, was incredible. Simply put, it was two people with a romantic past walking and talking for 80 minutes. But it completely worked. It was so raw and believable that you were sucked into their lives for the films duration. To be able to keep the audiences attention for 80 minutes while only walking and talking is a feat and both Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy do so masterfully. Director, Richard Linklater does a great job of standing on the side letting the actors do their thing. I was just so impressed by the pacing of the film. It's a big risk for the film to have its climax near its ending, especially with the given circumstances. There's no time for the viewer to anticipate what will be said next because they are constantly talking. That's what makes the climax and pacing work so well.
Not only that, but the improvised script is a beautiful testament to "love". It's a realistic story you can't help relating to. The film stays with you in the hours (and most likely days) after the initial viewing. I loved it.
I just love the moving image (and still image for that matter) with such a passion that I can find something, one thing about a film that I take away with me.
I do, however, have a critical eye. I watched Panic Room last night and was horribly disappointed. I really find it hard to believe that a film connoisseur like David Fincher directed it. I mean I guess you have to give it props from a technical stand point. There was some incredible cinematography and special effects. But at its base, one of the worst scripts I've ever seen failed to hold the film together. I really don't even want to talk about it. It was stupid.
Now Before Sunset on the other hand, was incredible. Simply put, it was two people with a romantic past walking and talking for 80 minutes. But it completely worked. It was so raw and believable that you were sucked into their lives for the films duration. To be able to keep the audiences attention for 80 minutes while only walking and talking is a feat and both Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy do so masterfully. Director, Richard Linklater does a great job of standing on the side letting the actors do their thing. I was just so impressed by the pacing of the film. It's a big risk for the film to have its climax near its ending, especially with the given circumstances. There's no time for the viewer to anticipate what will be said next because they are constantly talking. That's what makes the climax and pacing work so well.
Not only that, but the improvised script is a beautiful testament to "love". It's a realistic story you can't help relating to. The film stays with you in the hours (and most likely days) after the initial viewing. I loved it.
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