Unsane is Steven Sodorberg's 2018 thriller. It was shot mostly with an Iphone and is the story of Sawyer Valentini. Sawyer relocates from Boston to a small town in nowhere Pennsylvania. She relocates as a way in hopes to escape the man whom has been stalking her for the last two years. Once she relocates, she goes to see a counselor, and unbeknownst to herself, she signs papers to have herself committed for 24 hours. The 24 hours then becomes a week, and she then becomes convinced that her stalker is one of the night nurses. She does what she can to try to survive and get out.
While this wasn't the best thriller I've seen this year, I think it brings to light some of the stigmas most of what our society has towards getting help. At the same time, the movie can serve as a hindrance for a lot of people to want or be able to admit or try to get the help they need. While I'm sure that there are psychiatric centers like the one portrayed in this movie that tries to get patients by any means necessary and bill insurance for what they need.
I appreciated the approach of using an IPhone to shoot this movie, however, I think that Soderberg used this method, as this seems to be the new up and coming method to approach film-making. At times, the phone allowed for some new fresh angles. The downside, was in a lot of the dark hospital scenes or forest scenes, the coloration of the shots becomes distracting. The approach fails to have the sheer beauty of Tangerine, the 2015 crime thriller movie that started the iphone approach to filming.
The thriller aspect of the movie, was mostly a sleeper approach, wanting to appeal more towards the "smart people horror movie" crowd. (The Witch, Good Night Mommy, A Quiet Place would also fall into the same category). While the movie had some good seat jumper moments, and surprises and plot twists. I wanted to enjoy the movie, and while the story seemed new to the genre, it still fell short. I had paired this with a double feature with the 12 days documentary. While I think the two served as a good contrast on the topics of self help and care, ultimately it still fell short a bit in being a solid approach for what I was expecting with this film.
Monday 16 April 2018
12 Days
12 Days is a 2017 documentary out of France. It's US release date was in March 2018, and I viewed it at the Parkway Theater. By law, in France, anyone whom is committed to a psychiatric ward or hospital, must see a judge roughly 12 days after their commitment. This is to deem whether or not they are fit to be released or should continue treatment.
The documentary follows a grouping of patients, some of their time in the hospital, as well as their hearings. They also have many scenic scenes between cases. The scenic scenes help set the tonal, grey and cold rainy or misty scenes of some of the hospitals. The premise of the documentary is fascinating to me, as the stigma of needing to get psychiatric help in the United States is always a challenge. Many in the states can't get the help that they need due to sheer costs, limited insurance or options for that matter. Many of the stories that they portray are heartbreaking. Some don't see the need for their commitments, while others appreciate the help that they are receiving and comment on how they feel the treatment to be helpful. Unfortunately, I'm sure mostly due to doctor-patient privileges, most of the documentary covers only the trials. Some of the trials we see are early in the treatment process, others are later. Everyone that we witness, the patient is told that they need to receive more treatment.
There is enlightenment in seeing another country's process, it's just a shame that we weren't given more information about maybe the hospitals, what allows others to commit certain people against their will, in addition to the court cases. I realize that most families, friends, patients or doctors may not want to disclose everything about why somebody is committed, the healing process, treatment, etc., but there are just so many other approaches that this documentary could have brought forth in it. The documentary itself was relatively short, and like I said, was a string of the different court cases. It also would have been beneficial to see a variety of different rulings, in addition to the variety of judges. Another topic that could have been pursued could have been why these judges chose to hear these types of cases. Overall, I enjoyed the film, I just left wanting to know more.
The documentary follows a grouping of patients, some of their time in the hospital, as well as their hearings. They also have many scenic scenes between cases. The scenic scenes help set the tonal, grey and cold rainy or misty scenes of some of the hospitals. The premise of the documentary is fascinating to me, as the stigma of needing to get psychiatric help in the United States is always a challenge. Many in the states can't get the help that they need due to sheer costs, limited insurance or options for that matter. Many of the stories that they portray are heartbreaking. Some don't see the need for their commitments, while others appreciate the help that they are receiving and comment on how they feel the treatment to be helpful. Unfortunately, I'm sure mostly due to doctor-patient privileges, most of the documentary covers only the trials. Some of the trials we see are early in the treatment process, others are later. Everyone that we witness, the patient is told that they need to receive more treatment.
There is enlightenment in seeing another country's process, it's just a shame that we weren't given more information about maybe the hospitals, what allows others to commit certain people against their will, in addition to the court cases. I realize that most families, friends, patients or doctors may not want to disclose everything about why somebody is committed, the healing process, treatment, etc., but there are just so many other approaches that this documentary could have brought forth in it. The documentary itself was relatively short, and like I said, was a string of the different court cases. It also would have been beneficial to see a variety of different rulings, in addition to the variety of judges. Another topic that could have been pursued could have been why these judges chose to hear these types of cases. Overall, I enjoyed the film, I just left wanting to know more.
Sunday 15 April 2018
Annihilation
Annihilation is 2018 film from Alex Garland. Garland had previously directed 28 days Later, and wrote and directed Ex Machina. It was released in February and I screened it in March in a Chinatown theater in DC. Annihilation is by far one of the best visually stunning movies that I have seen in years. Certainly a movie made for the big screen, and not one that would have the same effect if you were to watch it at home, especially on a computer.
Annihilation's premise of the movie, centralizes, around Natalie Portman's character, a army veteran biologist. It's sent in a dystopian type world, where her husband returns from the "Shimmer". The Shimmer is the result of an alien asteroid hitting earth. It expands and alters the world around it. While the movie was based on the book of the same name, of the Southern Reach trilogy of Jeff Vandeermer. This is where the movie was a bit shaky. Perhaps Garland's weaker film of his body of work. Ex Machina was pretty well executed, and I'm not sure if it's because of his ability to write a solid script on his own. While I haven't read the book, I can't say how true the movie is to the book, or whether or not Garland ruined the concept of the original book. I am also not sure if the intention is to make the trilogy. As a downfall of the movie, at times the story-line is a bit muddled and inconclusive. It's hard to say if this was an issue, or whether or not there is going to be a follow up and finishing of the series.
Annihilation is visually stunning. It succeeds well in pulling in and captivating the audience with it's visual effects. Much like Blade Runner 2049 and Mad Max Fury Road, the world created in the movie was the driving force, and everything else seemed to fall by the wayside. Unlike Blade Runner 2049 and Mad Max Fury Road, the movie's acting and storyline didn't live up to everything else. While creating these hybrid creatures, the movie is able to stir in the tension thriller aspect I have been craving solidly all season from my thriller movies. The CGI wasn't so overly done to make the Shimmer, creatures, or side effects odd. They all played well and drew the viewer more so into the film. While the team of women explore the Shimmer, the tension is laid on thick and viewers are drawn drastically into determining and learning about what the ultimate causation is, and Portman's story of working through the Shimmer. I appreciated the woman dominated cast, especially portraying roles you don't often see women in: science, veterans.
The acting in the film was a bit short, but I felt it wasn't the mere driving force of the movie. You frequently forgot how the acting was poor in areas, when something visually stunning like deer with flowering antlers prance around the screen. The story line had some holes and was a bit hard to follow at times as it jumped around in time with flashbacks. Despite the somewhat flawed script, this is one of the films I've enjoyed the most this year. The final 30-45 minutes of the film justified the whole movie going experience with this movie for me.
Annihilation's premise of the movie, centralizes, around Natalie Portman's character, a army veteran biologist. It's sent in a dystopian type world, where her husband returns from the "Shimmer". The Shimmer is the result of an alien asteroid hitting earth. It expands and alters the world around it. While the movie was based on the book of the same name, of the Southern Reach trilogy of Jeff Vandeermer. This is where the movie was a bit shaky. Perhaps Garland's weaker film of his body of work. Ex Machina was pretty well executed, and I'm not sure if it's because of his ability to write a solid script on his own. While I haven't read the book, I can't say how true the movie is to the book, or whether or not Garland ruined the concept of the original book. I am also not sure if the intention is to make the trilogy. As a downfall of the movie, at times the story-line is a bit muddled and inconclusive. It's hard to say if this was an issue, or whether or not there is going to be a follow up and finishing of the series.
Annihilation is visually stunning. It succeeds well in pulling in and captivating the audience with it's visual effects. Much like Blade Runner 2049 and Mad Max Fury Road, the world created in the movie was the driving force, and everything else seemed to fall by the wayside. Unlike Blade Runner 2049 and Mad Max Fury Road, the movie's acting and storyline didn't live up to everything else. While creating these hybrid creatures, the movie is able to stir in the tension thriller aspect I have been craving solidly all season from my thriller movies. The CGI wasn't so overly done to make the Shimmer, creatures, or side effects odd. They all played well and drew the viewer more so into the film. While the team of women explore the Shimmer, the tension is laid on thick and viewers are drawn drastically into determining and learning about what the ultimate causation is, and Portman's story of working through the Shimmer. I appreciated the woman dominated cast, especially portraying roles you don't often see women in: science, veterans.
The acting in the film was a bit short, but I felt it wasn't the mere driving force of the movie. You frequently forgot how the acting was poor in areas, when something visually stunning like deer with flowering antlers prance around the screen. The story line had some holes and was a bit hard to follow at times as it jumped around in time with flashbacks. Despite the somewhat flawed script, this is one of the films I've enjoyed the most this year. The final 30-45 minutes of the film justified the whole movie going experience with this movie for me.
Thoroughbreds
Thoroughbreds is a 2018 thriller centralizing around two reunited estranged teen friends. It seems that the 2017-2018 film scene seems to be frothing at the bit for teen drama movies, thrillers, romcoms, Thoroughbreds seems to be one of the better of the crop that's been coming out recently.
The premise behind the movie was that two friends, Lily and Amanda, whom grew up in a suburban Connecticut town, much like the Stamford ilk, rekindle their drifted friendship. Lily is home from her elite boarding school, Amanda is working towards revamping her image. The two hatch a plan to solve both their problems.
I found this to be one of the better thrillers I have seen of 2018, most have been an attempt at thriller, but it seems that Thoroughbreds builds more plot twists and suspense than others that I have seen recently. I found the premise between the two friends to be believable and relatable. While this isn't much of a movie targeted for more the teen audience, but more like Ladybird, where I think most of the audience attending the movie is going to be younger adults reflecting back on their youth. This seems to be a driving theme in approaches to movies recently, and part of me wonders if with Thoroughbreds, the screenwriter and director perhaps wanted to hitch a plan of what they had WISHED they had done growing up. Despite this, it seemed like the ultimate revenge bitchy stuck up teen movie, of girls with nothing better to do with their time than to hatch a plan to get back at a nasty step father.
The music added some good overall tension to the movie, and the lighting and camera angles at times where an interesting approach. While the movie didn't really leave me on the edge of the seat, it was a creative approach to teen angst.
The premise behind the movie was that two friends, Lily and Amanda, whom grew up in a suburban Connecticut town, much like the Stamford ilk, rekindle their drifted friendship. Lily is home from her elite boarding school, Amanda is working towards revamping her image. The two hatch a plan to solve both their problems.
I found this to be one of the better thrillers I have seen of 2018, most have been an attempt at thriller, but it seems that Thoroughbreds builds more plot twists and suspense than others that I have seen recently. I found the premise between the two friends to be believable and relatable. While this isn't much of a movie targeted for more the teen audience, but more like Ladybird, where I think most of the audience attending the movie is going to be younger adults reflecting back on their youth. This seems to be a driving theme in approaches to movies recently, and part of me wonders if with Thoroughbreds, the screenwriter and director perhaps wanted to hitch a plan of what they had WISHED they had done growing up. Despite this, it seemed like the ultimate revenge bitchy stuck up teen movie, of girls with nothing better to do with their time than to hatch a plan to get back at a nasty step father.
The music added some good overall tension to the movie, and the lighting and camera angles at times where an interesting approach. While the movie didn't really leave me on the edge of the seat, it was a creative approach to teen angst.
Saturday 7 April 2018
Kill Me, Please
Kill Me, Please is a teenage slasher film set in the West Side of Rio De Janerio. It was released in Brazil in 2015, and had a release in 2017 in the States. It made it's way to the Parkway Theater in Baltimore, in 2018. Kill Me, Please, or Mat-me por Favor is a different kind of movie, but I have been a bit underwhelmed by the Brazilian movies I have seen recently, as the grouping I have seen seems to lack a direct story line approach. The movies tend to have a general theme, and groupings of scenes that support that theme without much plot driven concepts. This movie seemed of the same concept, and left a lot to be desired. It was a sex comedy thriller. Unfortunately, the movie was two thirds of scenes of teens making out, which got overly tiresome. I realize that most teenagers tend to be make out kings and queens, the quantity of making out scenes seemed pretty excessive.
The movie, set in Barra de Tijuana in the richer outer parts of Rio De Janerio, a city that is home to a gaggle of usually bored youths full of hormones and living a sheltered life until a serial killer turns up in the neighborhood. Young Bia, becomes fascinated by the killings, more so, when she and her clique of mean girls, find one of the girls in a bush, just prior to her life runs out. Bia, is also equally obsessed with her friends, sex, and her cute boyfriend, Paulo. The two frequently hook up in a variety of settings, however, Paulo is trying to redirect her attentions to the more religious groups at school.
The movie has a solid soundtrack, and decent thriller scenes when they get beyond the takeout scenes, however, the minimal scenes of the thrillers didn't hold my interest, or build enough suspense. While, the movie eventually draws on ideas on how Bia's brother is connected, it ended without really answering any possible questions. While I realize most good movies creates more questions that it answers, this movie doesn't answer any. It just seems to try to mix drama thriller and horror with comedy. With other Brazilian movies I've seen this year, the writer and director, Anita Rocha da Silveria has created a movie similar to other Brazilian movies I've seen this year. She also, mentioned that she drew inspiration on David Lynch, Dario Argento, Brian De Palma, and Claire Dennis. This is evident in some scenes, but overall I wish I had taken a by on this film.
The movie, set in Barra de Tijuana in the richer outer parts of Rio De Janerio, a city that is home to a gaggle of usually bored youths full of hormones and living a sheltered life until a serial killer turns up in the neighborhood. Young Bia, becomes fascinated by the killings, more so, when she and her clique of mean girls, find one of the girls in a bush, just prior to her life runs out. Bia, is also equally obsessed with her friends, sex, and her cute boyfriend, Paulo. The two frequently hook up in a variety of settings, however, Paulo is trying to redirect her attentions to the more religious groups at school.
The movie has a solid soundtrack, and decent thriller scenes when they get beyond the takeout scenes, however, the minimal scenes of the thrillers didn't hold my interest, or build enough suspense. While, the movie eventually draws on ideas on how Bia's brother is connected, it ended without really answering any possible questions. While I realize most good movies creates more questions that it answers, this movie doesn't answer any. It just seems to try to mix drama thriller and horror with comedy. With other Brazilian movies I've seen this year, the writer and director, Anita Rocha da Silveria has created a movie similar to other Brazilian movies I've seen this year. She also, mentioned that she drew inspiration on David Lynch, Dario Argento, Brian De Palma, and Claire Dennis. This is evident in some scenes, but overall I wish I had taken a by on this film.
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