just watched Exotica and loved it, hadnt seen any of Egoyan's films but will be check them out. Some themes it left me thinking about; attempts of healing through ritual, transactional relationships and the barriers they create, healing does not happen untill the barriers are removed. Super enjoyed Thomas character, loved that he was a hairy trader of rare bird agents that went to the opera to sit next to hot boys and look at their dicks. Him reciting his speech in the club was hilarious.
I've only seen The Sweet Hereafter, which I thought was pretty incredible. Hoping a get a minute this weekend to do Exotica.
been busy the past few weeks so haven't had the chance to participate in this. looking forward to catching up on everything
That's so weird, I lost track of this thread and haven't participated but I independently almost watched Exotica the other night because it's been on my list for a while lol
Watched Carol last night. While the set design and visual composition were stunning, I think what really makes the film beautiful is its ability to evoke emotions without excessive grandeur. It draws you into its world with subtle glances and tender words, making the characters, and their struggles, feel painfully real. So much tension gets built up through every will-they-won't-they moment, every subtle glance, every scene involving Carol's ex-husband, that when we see Blanchett smiling in the final frame it feels like a cathartic release. Great pick.
From a beautiful film, to an ugly one - Cockfighter. While I appreciated the performances and the gritty visual aesthetic, the constant close-up shots of cockfighting made it difficult to watch in parts. Throughout the movie we watch as a character engages in self-destructive behaviour, pushing away loved ones and sabotaging opportunities in his relentless pursuit of a cockfighting award. The film concludes on a bleak note, offering little in terms of growth for Frank, apart from the return of his voice. The absence of redemption or self-reflection in his journey is disheartening.
Watched Exotica tonight, hadn't heard of it prior to this thread. I initially I found difficult to piece together, the film not giving us too much information to go on, other than it all revolving around a high end, and almost conceptual strip club, named Exotica. In a film full of one way mirrors or hidden communications, it takes a long while before you can see the bigger picture, between these group of people, and how they intersect. It didn't quite all ring true though, we see these desperate and broken characters, with the film gradually revealing the intricacies of their relationship, and as it progressed further, I found myself feeling that it was all a little contrived. As we learn more about these characters, I found them progressively less interesting, which is not the trajectory you'd want to go in, especially in an extremely dour film like this. The aesthetic of the club and it's secrets was fun, but I did find myself tuning out towards the end.
ahh shit I never followed this thread for some reason am I able to pass this week I don’t have anything ready to go.
Let's keep it light this week and do 1995's Party Girl directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer. The first movie ever to premier on the internet. It's been on my list for forever. Parker Posey is a national treasure, I know it had a huge impact on '90s fashion and helped cement her role as an indie film icon.
I forgot how impressive Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was from a visual standpoint. The action sequences and visual effects are stunning. However, despite its technical achievements, the characters remain one-dimensional, with Scott coming across as entitled and unlikeable, making it difficult to fully sympathize with his journey. Mary Elizabeth Winstead does her best with an underdeveloped role, but the central relationship lacks any real depth. While the film works on a conceptual level, the script's shortcomings hinder its execution, and the repetitive nature of the narrative diminishes any impact of the inventive visuals.
I forgot Scott Pilgrim was leaving Netflix so I only watched like half. Agreed, some really good visual storytelling and humor, but yeah I don’t find Scott endearing at all, so I don’t really care about his growth. I guess it doesn’t age that well for me. I still thought Kieran Culkin was funny though. Also finally watched Carol and thought it was really lovely, especially liked the score. But also Harge Aird, what a name!