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Reviews
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
slow but anticipating, disturbing but beautiful
***SPOILER*** ***SPOILER*** I was lucky enough to spy this movie on the IFC. It was a culmination of contrasting effects: slow but anticipating, disturbing but beautiful, restrictive but free... The cinematography was fantastic and very atmospheric, giving aura to the girls, especially those who turn out missing. The greatest moments contained in the film lie in its very beginnings up until the point in which the "missing" takes place. Little to nothing ensues after that, much to the annoyance of the audience, but that is the point. The girls will forever remain missing, they will forever remain as they are, and no one will ever no the reasons behind it. The main storyline is thus at its core effectively haunting, leaving the audience with lingering feelings. Wanting to know more, but more is never given. However of the subplots, which circle around Michael infatuation and drive to know what happened leading to his search for the girls and Sarah's "doomed" fate, I would have like to see them more intertwined, seeing as Sarah's brother "Burty" is revealed to be Michael's confidant, of whom's name escapes me... (maybe it was Albert?) If somehow, he had found out that Sarah was his Sarah, the movie would have felt more connected within its subplots. Needless to say, however, I felt the movie was eerily stunning. (And if anyone has IFC, they know that when IFC plays a movie, it is usually replayed over and over throughout the day--a ritual that makes viewers watch over and over... especially a movie like that of Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Dare to Love (1995)
A sweet and uplifting movie
I recently watched a Lifetime TV re-air of Dare to Love and was left with a great and hopeful feeling about love and life. It has very many similarities to Splendor in the Grass with Warren Beatty and Natalie Wood. I saw the latter movie actually after Dare to Love and immediately drew parallels between the two movies. What makes both these movies great is the connection between the main characters--the audience is always aware of the strong love that both Bisset & Gedrick's and Beatty & Wood's characters... in good times and bad. I highly suggest seeing both and compare for yourself as their endings ultimately diverge and differ in terms of audience reaction.