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The Lost Daughter (2021)
The Inevitable Biopsy of an Unnatural Mother
A haunting story of choices made and the necessary confrontation of the person those choices created. Have we properly grieved our losses? How will we allow our scars to affect those in our path?
The plot points do nothing to surprise the audience, only perpetuate what exactly is presented to us. A surprise, in fact, would be a flower prematurely in bloom. We must first endure the seed planted, break open, and die before we're see growth.
A journey to vacation, i.e. To get away, does not represent what this character needed; it showed us who she is. Her endless compulsion for isolation has brought her yet again somewhere she can't properly commune. When offered hospitality, she thinks for only herself and clasps like a toddler at a father figure without the willingness to release. When asked for aid, she steals, keeping all nourishment for herself.
Funny she goes to appreciate nature and nature attacks her. Funny she goes to dissociate from society yet society hasn't yielded hope to her. All this time we wonder which daughter is lost. In the end, each has a chance at redemption.
A refreshing deep breath of modern film. A sophisticated debut for Maggie Gyllenhaal. My favorite of the year.
The Consultant (2023)
Our Ethical Advocate Manifested
On the surface, this was an entertaining string of seven episodes with a confusing eighth. Looking back and underneath, it is a mirror to our submissive relationship to capitalism.
Some are speculating that Regus Patoff is the personification of the devil, but he seems to me more specifically the personification of ruthless capitalism. Him name, of course, is Registered US Patent Office shortened. Not only is he in the business of creating, providing legacies, he is the reason, the key, he alone is the patent legacy for a company.
The show displays the many qualities of business, ethics, and casual life we hold in such high regard in capitalism:
Patoff would eat whatever, whenever at the shaky hand of a professional go-fer, working 24/7 to serve her boss hand and foot. He lacked any sense of self-discipline, saying only 'yes' to his every craving.
He set incredibly high standards with no wiggle room. Maximum efficiency regardless of the employee's commuting ability or handicap. If max effort wasn't attainable, they would be fired. More production with a smaller budget. Fast tracked projects where failure was unacceptable.
Regus groomed Elaine into a cold, manipulative control freak like himself. I think the ending was meant to give us the viewers hope that Elaine, the sane, good character would now be able to lead the company in an ethical manner; however, I feel that the only "good" left in her is the reluctance we saw in her face to obey the orderings of Patoff. At the end, Patoff orchestrated the company to fall into her hands, though it would still be her decision to take the reins, open the door, and lead the company. The question is, would she try to clean up the ethical mess, or would she CONTINUE down the path Regus had dragged her. Remember, she did manipulate an upper management office out of the hands of an easily controlled staff member. I believe she as continued to bite her cheek in dismay about the ethics or her company's past and present, she took the boss' chair because she had come to embrace the capitalism Regus planted in her conscience.
I think this show also gives us a look at the moral dilemmas Millennials and GenZ faces in the workplace specifically in the character Craig. At first he is an ambitious hopeful, yet crippling lazy and generally apathetic employee. One of his chief complaints was Sang's inattentiveness to his creative prowess. His problem with authority continued after Patoff took over, leading Craig to choose sarcastic, rebellious personal projects over something that could benefit the company. Then after showing only an inkling of interest, Regus turned Craig's demeanor 180 degrees. Even after Craig had researched Patoff and found the suspicious video of his interaction with Sang. A word of encouragement was all it took to take Craig from angry, apathetic liability to potential criminal accomplice.
He is made of our most cherished resources. His skeletal makeup is wealth that can gain value as compared to an aging, dying body.
Watching this show makes us look in the mirror. Will we listen?
Black Swan (2010)
The Cost of Perfection
What's it worth to gain the world but lose your soul? A devastating descension into darkness, minimally rewarded by temporary applause. A road that began by seeing the end, what would happen once she aged she would be pushed out just like Beth unless Nina reached perfection first. And the cost of perfection, first her soul, then her life.
A film of non stop tension. Loss of innocence. Fantastical transformation into utter perfection in a field that can only be attained by first damaging those above you (Beth's legs, Thomas' lip, and Lily's (actually Nina's) stomach).
Lose yourself. Let go. Kill (yourself) or be killed by aging out. Nina lived at home, unable to mature beyond her childlikeness due to her mother hanging over her. She spent many years in the Company, spinning in immaturity before being yanked out of innocence and faced with an impending adulthood she couldn't handle. Would she stay young and innocent, the white swan? Or would she entertain the presence of the black swan and play both roles, able to keep her head on her shoulders? Or would she tighten the springs by leaning too far into immaturity before being catapulted to the other side where she would meet the black swan face to face before consuming her? Before she could realize, the white swan had died, the black swan was born, but little did she know, that in attempting to play both roles, killing one swan would kill both. Although she did get her chance, but she died. And it's doubtful she had any fun doing it.
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
"Wow" is an all-purpose exclamation. I just realized that.
I remember seeing the title to this film, never having heard of the book, thinking it was a film about suicide. After seeing the trailer I realized I was wrong. And then wrong again one more time.
This story doesn't allow the viewer to believe things are as they seem. It doesn't allow the viewer to think they understand the characters history, values, or reality. Everything is in question including the film's title.
Upon giving the film's meaning a deeper look, it becomes clear that Jake and this Young Woman share conscienceness. Just as they share a moment of their own in the photograph. Just as they both share a general dislike of Jake.
Like I said, I haven't read the book but in reading other reviews, the mysterious phone calls were omitting "the one question" the caller was inquiring about which was supposed to be, according to the book, "what are you waiting for?"
Looking back I think it's interesting how Jake and the Young Woman share the burden of death. We first hear it in the first words of the film which again are shared with the title. The Young Woman is the one who bears the weight of intending to "end things" although she isn't too keen on death. When she sees the dead and frozen sheep, she inquires about their remains and whether they'd have a proper burial someday. Jake's response is cold and short. He quickly changes the subject to an even more horrifying story about maggot ridden pigs who had to be prematurely slaughtered. Jake's childhood on a farm has prepared him to deal with death; however, we later learn that the Young Woman grew up in the country too, but her experience did not give her any bravery about death. There are even moments when the Woman's personality and visual presence are experienced as the woman in the rom-com who was studying to be an animal rights lawyer who couldn't bear the thought of eating animals let alone mercilessly killing them. Yet, it is the prime motive of the Young Woman: to "end things."
The Woman, as explained by Jake in his retelling of Wordsworth's story as an idealistic woman, has many different careers in this story. She is an artist, a poet, studying quantum physics, and evidently in her free time studies age. At one point the work she has to get back go in the morning is mentikned to be a waitress job clearly referencing the rom-com diner scene with the Sante Fe chicken. At one point the Woman, in her contemplation, admits her appreciation of Jake's education, yet the only work he seems to mention is his ability to see "the kids" rehearsing Oklahoma while he works. Obviously Jake is the janitor but we're given the impression that he is much more than that considering his education. But it is evident that the Young Woman's vast array of study and expertise is another delusion he is imparting on his version of a ideal woman, with the body of a woman he met long ago.
We see multiple occasions of Jake's interest sneaking into his delusion. There are the countless poems and movie references and references to authors dissecting the content. But one more interesting point is the entire lack of reference to the story's location. Except for one shot while driving of the backs of their heads, including the car's back windshield and license which reads: Oklahoma. There are numerous references to that musical. Most of them obvious even without having seen the show myself. After hearing other people explain the more detailed references to the show and Jake's relation to the main character, this is one more layer we can add to his delusion, that not only does Jake like the show, make constant reference to it, but also views himself as living IN Oklahoma. They have a conversation about movies and the saturation they have in our lives. Later making a point that everything wants to live "even fake crappy movie ideas want to live. Like they grow in your brain, replacing real ideas. That's what makes them dangerous."
Finally, I wonder if the high schooler with the rashes could relate to Jake. Generally speaking, the pair of girls who make fun of Jake could easily represent girls when he was in HS, the kids he sees in the supermarkets who used to rehearse Oklahoma, or the kids currently in HS while he works as a janitor. Whichever time of his life it is or was, they represent the unreachable. First they are female which was never attainable for him, a girlfriend or any rom-com style love. They're also bullies who look down on him for being a loner. And they're humans which shows his overall lack of connection even as a kind janitor. But the girl with rashes could easily be a symbol of empathy. She too is lonely and isolated. Certainly not every unpopular high schooler has suicidal thoughts. Although it is familiar to many people including Jake's story. I also wonder if she and the animated pig say the same things. She at the ice cream shop, quietly encouraging the Woman, saying she doesn't have to keep going, she can stay here. Perhaps referencing life and continuing to live. The pig's big line is: "It's not bad, once you stop feeling sorry for yourself because you're just a pig, or, even worse, a pig infested with maggots. Someone has to be a pig infested with maggots, right? It might as well be you. It's the luck of the draw. You play the hand you're dealt. You make lemonade. You... you move on. You don't worry about a thing." And I wonder if the smell in the back of the shop had anything to do with a maggot infested pig.
Now it is possible that the pig was also the final encouragement to "end things" considering the pig called Jake a pig too. And to farm-boy Jake, killing pigs can be brutal but is entirely necessary and normal.
This might be the case considering it seems Jake the janitor did "end things" after all when we get the final frame of the film. Art had been mentioned throughout the movie. But not just any art, painted landscapes. And although the Woman gave a few options to Jake's dad, the only emotion that seemed to stand out in this story was loneliness. The pictures in her phone, which were also those in the basement, all had dark and gloomy colors, projecting a sad and lonely feeling. As was with the final shot. His car was covered and left us to interpret his decisions as to whether he could have "ended."
This film took some digging to come to a conclusion on the ending and the pieces leading up to it. It became increasingly hard to follow but only drew you in even more. It was exceptionally creative and deep, matched with outstanding cinematography and acting. I think a second watch would give a greater appreciation for even those who didn't like it. But I'm excited to see it again, knowing what I know now, listening for every subtle reference amongst the already colorful dialogue.
Nocturnal Animals (2016)
Interesting
The director said the ending was shaped to be subjective and interpreted by the viewer.
Most interpretations I've seen swing one way or the other: either Edward stood Susan up because he had finally overcome his "weakness" and didn't need her anymore, or Edward actually killed himself because of the devastation of their relationship.
I think the (albeit subjective) truth comes more from his narrative. Probably the most gripping scene was Tony's meltdown after Lou was shot and Ray got away. Bobby turns to Tony confused as to why he wasn't satisfied with Lou's death and probably more confused as to why Tony hadn't shot both of them when he had the chance. Bobby even said to him, "You know I had to shoot him right?" In response, Tony screamed, "I'm glad he's dead... (falls to his knees, cries, and screams) I should have stopped it."
I think this is the clearest picture we get of Edward's true turmoil.
There are clear parallels between Edward and Tony's stories. The most significant is that both lose their wife and child. Tony's family dies by battery and Edward's family dies by abortion and (symbolically) divorce. The director makes it plainly obvious by the piece of artwork that stops Susan in her tracks towards the end of the film, this is a revenge story. In the novel, Tony is at first passive with his revenge on the victimizers, letting Bobby kill the first one. This is reminiscent of his 19 years of silence. Then he finds confidence and fights Ray which eventually kills him. And I think this is the parallel for the final scene. Edward finds confidence to write a novel which he uses to vengefully torment Susan. And even though it seems like it could have reconnected the previously married couple, it divides them and leaves Edward to die. Whether he committed suicide or continued living his life until he died of old age, it shows how he and Susan are completely divorced from their entire world. Edward has no wife and no children. Susan has neither first or second husband and her relationship to her mother and daughter are both shaky at best.
I think Edward's biggest source of pain comes from the line, "I should have stopped it." I think he partially blames himself for not being able to stop the abortion. Maybe if he had fought longer for their marriage, they would have got the news of pregnancy together and Susan would not have gone through with it. It's a bit of a darker perspective but it's the parallel I see from the novel.
Either way, it was an interesting movie.