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La tirisia (2014)
Fascinating Picture
If it comes to motion (pictures), then we are facing a tangibly magnificent one. Extremely fascinating cadres that impart to the audience an independent visual value, apart from being parts of a cinematic narrative. The narrative gaps left on purpose coerce the viewer into partaking of the building of meaning. Examples for these gaps include the nature of the relationship between Silvestre and Serafina (his supposed wife and mother of his sex mate Angelis), the everyday (salty) puzzle work of the guy (Parra) and the nature of Angelis' feelings when she succumbs to her salt baths on a daily basis. Director Jorge Solano makes extensive use of the local customs of that secluded village and builds a network of symbols that serves the dramatic onward movement of his movie, e.g. the tradition of putting umbilical cords of the newborn into small wicker cases and letting them hang on nearby trees. We see the returning husband finding out the truth about his wife's condition through discovering the third wicker case hung by the tree, alluding to a third baby that is not his. Later, we see Adriana Paz (Cheba) letting that case go away with the current of the river, as a token of forsaking her third baby for the sake of continuance of her marriage. Imperial and capitalist strength is evident, first through the candidate who runs for governor of the county or whatever, unheeding the true maladies of its poor forlorn inhabitants, and secondly through the unnamed destination of Cheba's husband (Carmelo) as he returns and we hear the only English statement in the movie from him when he says: "I'm hungry" in his native Mexican dialect. He refers to that unnamed destination that is evidently USA when he had just made love to his wife, saying she would have never dreamed of the cruelty with which he was treated there. On the whole, it's a movie that is definitely worth watching. Great acting by the main characters also.
Evening (2007)
Evening of Consciousness
Evening of consciousness comes when one barely recalls how he or she considered his/her deed in a certain situation, and if recalled, one can barely distinguish the right deeds from the wrong ones. It transpires that we are "mysterious creatures", craving things that end up as totally unimportant to us. Evening of life comes when we stop caring for life, except when we see a flying butterfly. We begin to chase it as the epitome of life that we long forgot! The wedding song tells of a lover who rejoices in her beloved one hurrying to see her in the evening after his working day is over. May be one needs some fellow creature hurrying to see him/her in their evening of consciousness that is their evening of life. This is what occurs as Lila (Meryl Streep) visits her dying friend (Vanessa Redgrave) on her deathbed. Lajos Koltai made a wonderful movie. Scenery is amazing. Cadres are fantastical. It's the type of film that one wishes to see again and again. Thanks to the cast and crew. Lovely work of art.
Untraceable (2008)
Ferocious Retelling of the Old Tale of Voyeurism!
A ferocious retelling of the old tale of voyeurism, supplemented by the behind-glass-partitions shots. It brought to my mind the memory of Hitchcock's (The Rear Window). A good casting is waiting for you there. Diane Lane was like enthusiastic .. The guy who played the serial killer gave the traditional flat affect imprinted on serial killers' faces in movies. His methods of killing seemed to me rather complying with the social roles of his victims, for example the anti-coagulant bleeding of the naturally cold-blooded pilot and the heat lamp burning of the announcer who brings secrets to light on TV. Actually voyeurism continues till the last moment as the chat room displays comments.. It's a good movie on the whole.
August: Osage County (2013)
Revival of a Masterpiece
A great drama film with a bunch of talented actors. Just everyone fits in their roles. Meryl Streep has got the lovely moderated theatricality that defines those who bring cinematic rendering of theater plays to completion, reminding me of the mastery of Vivian Leigh at realizing Blanche of A Streetcar Named Desire and of Elizabeth Taylor at capturing Martha of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
Julia Roberts is really wonderful. Look at the long scene of the family lunch with the well plotted dramatic development culminating in the ravishingly natural Roberts' angry jumping over her mother/ Meryl Streep. This is what I call finesse.
Chris Cooper is a fine example of genius with his overwhelming performance through a limited role. He reminds me only of himself as the homosexual overprotective father in American Beauty.
Benedict Cumberbatch is also noteworthy with his ability to give flesh to that awkward son flowing with negative emotions. I liked the guy indeed!
Individual shots are great most of the time. Beautifully carved cadres.
Finally, I find the plot reminiscent of William Faulkner's The Sound And The Fury. The family about to utterly fall, the young man of the limited capabilities (Little Charles) versus the mentally retarded Benjy of Faulkner's masterpiece, both epitomizing the probably divine punishment of a family with deranged Christian morals, and even the sympathetic Black servant and caregiver who takes Benjy there in her refuge is revived here in the Native American servant/ Cook who offers the fallen protagonist Violet/ Streep the last obvious token of sympathy by the end of the film, plus her heroic defense of the little Jean. I don't know if the playwright/ screenwriter Tracy Letts was influenced by Faulkner, but who can escape the great Faulkner anyhow?!
It's an excellent movie, and worth watching.