Intriguing and sensitive art house flick starring Daniel Craig and Samantha Morton, which is based on Ian McEwan's acclaimed book of the same name. Sensitively acted and thoughtfully shot, the film has one of the most memorable and surreal opening scenes that I have ever seen.
It's great to see where Craig got his acting chops from and I particulary like how the lighting and composition eluciadate his state of mind. The ending could have been better but all in all, quite a good film.
Jul 9, 2007
Jul 6, 2007
The Crimson Rivers - Matthieu Kassovitz
Taut, effective french policier helmed by the blessed Matthieu Kassovitz and starring two of my fav actors Jean Reno and Vincent Cassel. Some very interesting shot selections and groovy lighting. Perfect Saturday Night movie to digest all that Japanese food and Sake.
Chiquitita
As I was rushing to get to Penn Station in the morning today, I heard a busker play "Chiqutita" on a flute today inside the station. Now I was going for what might have turned out to be one of the most important interviews I have ever given but hearing the music stopped me dead in the tracks.
I sat down and listened to him play an extended 10 min version of the song. As I sat there breathless I was immediately transported to the fantastic African grasslands of my childhood.
Some sort of childhood memory was let loose and I could literally feel the wind blow on my face, the smell of the elephant grass and the never ending horizon. All this while sitting underground in a subway station in New York.
The power of music never ceases to amaze me.
I sat down and listened to him play an extended 10 min version of the song. As I sat there breathless I was immediately transported to the fantastic African grasslands of my childhood.
Some sort of childhood memory was let loose and I could literally feel the wind blow on my face, the smell of the elephant grass and the never ending horizon. All this while sitting underground in a subway station in New York.
The power of music never ceases to amaze me.
Jul 5, 2007
Pathfinder
Hooray finally got to see Pathfinder. Had been lookin forward to is for almost a year. A very loose remake of one of my all time fav films , the mesmerizing 1987 Sami language "Pathfinder", the film is a mixed bag of delights.
It has numerous flaws starting with piss poor acting, atrocious dialog and lack of sufficient characterisation for any character.
However since this review is mainly about the visual aspects of the film and not the inherent content, I will say this. PATHFINDER IS A FUCKING AWESOME FILM. It's been amazingly shot by one of my heroes Daniel Pearl. Pearl is the resident God / Genius of music video and commercial DP's. He eschewed features to make a mark on the short form and what a fucking mark it is.
Over the years he has shot most of my all time fav music videos including "November Rain" , "I Love You" and "Wrapped around your finger". He's done features intermittently but Im crazy bout his music video work and last year he won an honorary Golden Frog at Cameraimage.
This film has some spellbinding action sequences and jaw dropping cinematography throughout in Pearl's trademark pictorial style which is majorly influenced by the legendary "Blade Runner". Shot in a jungle with what seems to be available light most of the time, the film is a visual masterpiece. Lots of people didnt like the desaturated bleach bypass look but I think it's perfect. It gives the savage violence an almost poetic and balletic feel.
If only they had cut out the awful expositional dialog and made the entire film silent it would have an been an cult classic like "Quest for Fire". The visuals are powerful enough to tell the story.
Watch it if only for the Lighting if nothing else. Danny u rock mate !!!!
It has numerous flaws starting with piss poor acting, atrocious dialog and lack of sufficient characterisation for any character.
However since this review is mainly about the visual aspects of the film and not the inherent content, I will say this. PATHFINDER IS A FUCKING AWESOME FILM. It's been amazingly shot by one of my heroes Daniel Pearl. Pearl is the resident God / Genius of music video and commercial DP's. He eschewed features to make a mark on the short form and what a fucking mark it is.
Over the years he has shot most of my all time fav music videos including "November Rain" , "I Love You" and "Wrapped around your finger". He's done features intermittently but Im crazy bout his music video work and last year he won an honorary Golden Frog at Cameraimage.
This film has some spellbinding action sequences and jaw dropping cinematography throughout in Pearl's trademark pictorial style which is majorly influenced by the legendary "Blade Runner". Shot in a jungle with what seems to be available light most of the time, the film is a visual masterpiece. Lots of people didnt like the desaturated bleach bypass look but I think it's perfect. It gives the savage violence an almost poetic and balletic feel.
If only they had cut out the awful expositional dialog and made the entire film silent it would have an been an cult classic like "Quest for Fire". The visuals are powerful enough to tell the story.
Watch it if only for the Lighting if nothing else. Danny u rock mate !!!!
4th of July Fireworks
Saw the 4th of July Fireworks on the East River. As amazing a visual as I have ever seen. Just made me realise what a fucking stroke of genius Mark Romanek had when he shot "Cochise".
Even Anand Surapur's "Teri Deewani" was fucking awesome. Unforgettable dancing silhouette with the exploding fireworks.
Even Anand Surapur's "Teri Deewani" was fucking awesome. Unforgettable dancing silhouette with the exploding fireworks.
Jul 2, 2007
Ghost in the Shell 2 : Innocence
Stunning. Just plain out fucking mindblowingly stunning. Had meant to see it for a long time but had been putting it off for a long time. What a fucking film !!!
Amazing Production Design , divine pictorial lighting , virtuso cinematography and a truly mindblowing plotline combine to make this one an Anime masterpiece. Showing the human side of Batou was absolute genius. I still can't get some of those angles out of my head. Need to watch it again just to study the composition.
Fav Moment - Batou bonding with his Basset hound. Sigh, I miss Silver......
Amazing Production Design , divine pictorial lighting , virtuso cinematography and a truly mindblowing plotline combine to make this one an Anime masterpiece. Showing the human side of Batou was absolute genius. I still can't get some of those angles out of my head. Need to watch it again just to study the composition.
Fav Moment - Batou bonding with his Basset hound. Sigh, I miss Silver......
Jul 1, 2007
Weekend Update
Well this has been a frutiful weekend. Though I was busy shooting I did find time to read and watch some truly virtuoso pieces of art.
In chronological order
1) Whiteout and Whiteout: Melt - Greg Rucka's brilliant graphic novel series about murder in the South Pole. Visually unique in the sense that its so awesome to construct a noir-ish story in black and white when the setting is Antartica. Fabulously cinematic and Im not surprised that the film version is out next year starring the yummy Kate Beckinsale. :-)
2) More - Gorgeous and profound stop motion short film with an extremely powerful yet personal message. It's amazing that despite being totally bereft of dialogs how the visuals and claymation characters were able to portray such vivid emotions and plot. Standing ovation for Mark Osborne.
3) Signal to Noise - Creative Superstar Comic book team of Neil Gaiman and Dave Mckean reunite to create this stunning tour de force. Ostensibly bout a filmmaking facing his mortality, the book goes much deeper. Gaiman is brilliant is usual but the real star here is Mckean with his sublime mixed media palette of visual storytelling. Maya Deren would approve.
4) Man on the Train - Perfect film. Roger Ebert in his film said that he cant find any flaws in this film and I totally concur. Gorgeously shot and beautifully acted, this film is the sort you dont find in abundance these days ie a an intimate character study about male friendship akin to "Sideways". Perfect Cinema........
In chronological order
1) Whiteout and Whiteout: Melt - Greg Rucka's brilliant graphic novel series about murder in the South Pole. Visually unique in the sense that its so awesome to construct a noir-ish story in black and white when the setting is Antartica. Fabulously cinematic and Im not surprised that the film version is out next year starring the yummy Kate Beckinsale. :-)
2) More - Gorgeous and profound stop motion short film with an extremely powerful yet personal message. It's amazing that despite being totally bereft of dialogs how the visuals and claymation characters were able to portray such vivid emotions and plot. Standing ovation for Mark Osborne.
3) Signal to Noise - Creative Superstar Comic book team of Neil Gaiman and Dave Mckean reunite to create this stunning tour de force. Ostensibly bout a filmmaking facing his mortality, the book goes much deeper. Gaiman is brilliant is usual but the real star here is Mckean with his sublime mixed media palette of visual storytelling. Maya Deren would approve.
4) Man on the Train - Perfect film. Roger Ebert in his film said that he cant find any flaws in this film and I totally concur. Gorgeously shot and beautifully acted, this film is the sort you dont find in abundance these days ie a an intimate character study about male friendship akin to "Sideways". Perfect Cinema........
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