As a Minnesotan, one might have thought that before I became "an adult" I would have seen Fargo. Sadly, this assumption should not be made. Fargo and No Country for Old Men really caught my attention as movies that I either could relate to or found interesting. At this moment I am feeling the inspiration to discuss the latter of those two films.
A scene from No Country that really disturbed me was when Sheriff Ed Tom Bell returns to the crime scene where Moss was killed. As Bell approaches the door we see that the lock has been characteristically blown out by Chigurh. At this time, we cut to a shot of Chigurh, inside the motel room where Moss had been staying, hiding behind the door with the light from the hole shining just enough to show his face and his gun. OK, when this flashed up on the screen, my heart skipped a couple beats. Sheriff Bell was my FAVORITE character in the film and there was no way he was gonna just be taken out like that. Back to the movie; Feeling that perhaps Chigurh could be in there, Bell reaches for his gun. When he opens the door nothing happens. Bell looks around the room and sees no one nor anything (this made me happpy).
As Tom sits on the bed he looks down to the side at an AC vent and we see the whole story. Now, what I would like to focus on now is the fact that sitting next to the vent cover is a dime with the heads side UP. In past encounters- the store clerk, Mrs. Moss- heads up has been lucky. My view is that Chirgurh asked himself whether or not to wait and see if Bell came back. The heads signified that Bell was really not a threat to him and that he did not need to die.
Truly, I have never seen another thriller/psycho killer film where the murderer has such a place in his brain for fate. In most slasher movies there is nothing that can be done to stop what has been set in motion. However, in No Country for Old Men Anton Chigurgh looks to fate and the unexpected to guide him on his true destiny. I thought this to be VERY cool!
Even though the film was not based off original material from the Coens AND it supposedly held faithful to the book, it can obviously be stamped a Coen Brothers film. Whether it was the setting that influenced the characters and events around them or the somewhat dumb nature of others. These are just two examples of typical Coen elements among many in such a a fantastic film.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Movement Three: Quite the Allegro!
All I can say is. "Matchpoint" (Woody Allen, 2006) really kept my heart beating. The plot was the most riveting part of this movie. The similarities to other recent Allen films were limited in number. However, I can say, in depth, they were quite....deep.
I think you would be happy to know that the awkwardness made another appearance in the next product of the Allen production lines. "Matchpoint" surely mocks "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (or would it be the other way around..?) with its vivid sex scenes. One absolute; both movies star Scarlett Johansson. The awkward dialogue found in VCB is not found as commonly here.
Cinematography-wise, this movie was quite flat. Most, if not 99.99% of the shots were medium-long shots. I counted the exact amount of close-up shots in the movie... grand total: 3! All of these emotionally raw accounts were centered on Chris (the tennis-player/instructor turned adulterer to his super-rich wife, whom cannot conceive a baby). This sadly, left me wanting more!!! I could barely make out the acting on most of the faces of people in most of the shots. Perhaps this, dare I say, is an attempt to mask bad acting? Though I doubt this very much, who knows. Thoughts? haha.
Character development isn't as deep as I would have liked, but it was more multi-dimensional than the cinematography... ouch! Scarlett's character, Nola, seems to make a serious turn of thought when she is suddenly the one in the affair between she and Chris that needs the other. Even MORE surprising is the fact that Chris commits DOUBLE HOMICIDE!!!! (WHAT?!?!?) I know.. Kind of caught you off guard, right? But it's true! This was truly just weird. I mean, this was not in his characteristic physche at ALL. I am quite disappointed by this seemingly cheap plot-driven prostitute of a ploy! :( :( :(
As you can see. I am sad. Plus, it's hard for me to deal with such suspenseful movies. I think it will give me heart disease!
I think you would be happy to know that the awkwardness made another appearance in the next product of the Allen production lines. "Matchpoint" surely mocks "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (or would it be the other way around..?) with its vivid sex scenes. One absolute; both movies star Scarlett Johansson. The awkward dialogue found in VCB is not found as commonly here.
Cinematography-wise, this movie was quite flat. Most, if not 99.99% of the shots were medium-long shots. I counted the exact amount of close-up shots in the movie... grand total: 3! All of these emotionally raw accounts were centered on Chris (the tennis-player/instructor turned adulterer to his super-rich wife, whom cannot conceive a baby). This sadly, left me wanting more!!! I could barely make out the acting on most of the faces of people in most of the shots. Perhaps this, dare I say, is an attempt to mask bad acting? Though I doubt this very much, who knows. Thoughts? haha.
Character development isn't as deep as I would have liked, but it was more multi-dimensional than the cinematography... ouch! Scarlett's character, Nola, seems to make a serious turn of thought when she is suddenly the one in the affair between she and Chris that needs the other. Even MORE surprising is the fact that Chris commits DOUBLE HOMICIDE!!!! (WHAT?!?!?) I know.. Kind of caught you off guard, right? But it's true! This was truly just weird. I mean, this was not in his characteristic physche at ALL. I am quite disappointed by this seemingly cheap plot-driven prostitute of a ploy! :( :( :(
As you can see. I am sad. Plus, it's hard for me to deal with such suspenseful movies. I think it will give me heart disease!
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