4 out of 5. Director, Majid Majidi's CHILDREN OF HEAVEN is a deceptively small film with big talent just under the surface. For the two Persian child-actors, who have never acted before or since, to carry this film was amazing. Their sincerity rang true. As brother and sister, their characters were genuinely caring of each other, which I haven't seen the likes of in a very long time. Maybe, because it lacked the cynicism of the west. The cinematography had me wondering time and again whether this was shot in the 70s. The lighting was gorgeous and the film grain grounded us in reality. Nothing slick here, except for the smart engaging script and storytelling. The ending asks a lot of the viewer but really, we all know the outcome.
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5 out of 5. Harmony Korine broke cinema and put it back together in his own image with GUMMO. From its non-plot story to the fractured narrative as far
as I'm concerned this was the most entertaining and fascinating bit of
raw cinema. It's not shock or abstraction for abstractions sake.
Theirs and underlying weight of truthful and honest humanity that pulls
the viewer in to the lives of those living in a small post-tornado Ohio
town. It's daring the viewer to identify with the any one of it's
subjects and yet one is lucky they are far removed. What's beautiful is
that it doesn't feel forced and leans toward documentary every so often.
I'm not sure Harmony Korine has been this good since, though I did
enjoy Julian Donkey-boy for its deconstructionist footage and
assemblage. If you like your home-movies with the creepy feeling of
Deliverance, then you will enjoy this.
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3 out of 5. CUBE is a great example of how a
smart director like Vincenzo Natali can make the best use of his art
skills with so little. Like PRIMER the concept is deceptively simple and
yet highly believable in the context
we're given. It's a great little thriller/horror film that is clever and
smart without being overly aware of itself. I like these kinds of films
because when you pull back to see the larger picture there is an even
bigger story at hand.
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