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Reviews
The Real Charlie Chaplin (2021)
Good look into the tramp
Love it or don't. What's not up for debate is that it absolutely is needed in any Chaplin dossier. Complicated genius or whatever anyone wants to say or not... I actually don't care. This film is just necessary.
Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977)
A descent into hell
The New York Times called the book "a complex and chilling portrait of a woman's descent into hell... full of insight and intelligence and illumination". If the film falls a little short, it's only because Keaton is so lovable throughout her myriad performances that I projected my own love for her onto this adaptation. The truths of the story are still universal (although maybe not as stunning as they once were -- or if stunning is the wrong word, than maybe terrifying is the right one)
Overall, the terrific supporting cast, plotting, and general atmosphere of danger make this a must watch film of 1970's cinema.
Down by Law (1986)
Comedy in the awkward silences
Like all of JJ's films, I've always found the comedy to be lurking in the the awkward silences. That's what makes it totally unique.
When you add Tom Waits and Roberto to a style which Lurie clearly has mastered you have Jarmsuch's finest films and one of the best films of the 80's.
The Transcendents (2018)
Strangest Editing In Recent memory
Admittedly, I'm an editor so I pay attention to editing more than most people and most people don't pay attention to it at all -- nor should they. But the editing here has a very specific style that impressed me -- (a lot of this has to do with the DP and Director's style of shooting).
First -- In the scenes that take place in the modern day, there's a Bam/Bam "Smash Cut" style. Pretty much seems as though it represents the main character's anger and lack of focus on a revenge journey.
Second -- In the past, the scenes are clearly done with a heavily roaming handheld technique. I saw an earlier review that says this has to do with memory. It COULD. But I took it as a send off to "rock documentaries". In the past you see the band (The Transcendents) being formed and much like other rock docs, the camera crew is just lucky to be in the rooms and happy to grab whatever shot they could.
Finally -- There's these LOOOOOONG dolly shots that move into character's brains without any cutting. The characters go from being unreliable narrators to truth tellers before our very eyes. Its fascinating.
These three styles in editing, amongst many others in other departments make this film incredibly unsettling and a unique way of telling a haunting story of the past and present colliding.
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977)
Terrific adaptation of book
The strange intelligence of the mentally ill rings beautifully true in this story, through much of it is hard to process at times. When characters are speaking in metaphors, the meaning often can become less than clear.
All together though this was a powerful and painful viewing reading (the book) and viewing experience and not necessarily something I would have naturally gravitated to on my own.
As a parent of a child with challenges, it was a difficult world to enter when trying to distance myself from reality, but one i was nonetheless grateful to enter.