in the attic

[imatticted-blog]

VIOLENT

2014

Last winter, I went and saw My Bloody Valentine in Seattle. It was one of the loudest, most incredible concerts I have ever been to. Bright  patterns projected everywhere, loud waves of sound that overwhelmed me entirely, and over-all musical textures and emotions that I can't explain. I was a little bit shaky after the experience because it connected with me in so many ways. I felt this way after watching a screening of Violent during the Vancouver Film Festival. The shakes weren't as strong as when I saw Terrence Malick's, Tree of Life, but they were getting there. Not saying that either films have formulas, but this film carried a similar formula to TOL (I hate that I called it that), in that it goes back and forth between a glimpse of a girl's life while she's trying to grow up and fight loneliness to beautiful visuals with some voice-over poetic narration that leave time for meditation and complete understanding on the internal or even spiritual layers of what's really going on with that girl in Norway--just like how in Tree of Life it... agh, just watch it. The cinematography was exquisite and some of the shots were emotionally moving--also like Malick. I was a bit unsure on whether or not this movie was going to be good because it was made by some young dudes in the lower mainland of Vancouver who play in the semi-successful band We Are The City, that gets played on the Peak radio station everyday--which in itself turns me off of the whole idea--not that I don't think they're talented. We Are The City did the score as well and it was by far the best thing they've ever done musically. I would gladly pay good money for the OST on vinyl. All of the moods of this film were pulled off really well. The comedic parts were hilarious, the thrilling part was scary--even upsetting, the spiritual parts were raw and inspiring, the meditative parts were peaceful and didn't feel out of place. It's impressive that this movie was filmed on such a low budget--even the visual effects looked really good. It's also impressive that this movie was filmed in Norway, and in Norwegian--although I don't completely understand why, other than that the people are really cute there, the land is beautiful and the language is quite ear-pleasing. I don't think it'll be easy, but you should watch this movie somehow! I really want a copy on Blu-ray so I can tell people, "Come over to my house cuz I got that Violent movie on B-ray, BITCH!" You could really convince any douchebag to watch this movie by saying, "You should check out this Violent movie!" I'll stop.

9/10

[imatticted-blog]

THEY CAME TOGETHER

2014

Remember when you saw Step Brothers when it came out in the theatre and you were sore from smiling and laughing by the end of it? Maybe that wasn't your experience, but it sure as hell was mine. I had the same sore cheeks from They Came Together. Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler guide you through a comical journey displaying the stereotypes of heart warming romantic comedies. Every aspect of this film is a satire on rom coms--even the way it's filmed with countless cheesy montages (including the classic-girl-trying-on-everything-in-her-wardrobe-to-80's-music montage), aerial shots of New York City in the opening scene, and an overkill zoom-in on character's face to see his reaction to a situation. The plot has everything you need in a romantic comedy: the quirky clumsy girl, Paul Rudd, the guy's douche-bag college friends, Robyn from HIMYM, a Norah Jones' music video, the break-up, the get back together--the list goes on and on. This movie is pure genius. I watched it twice in a week's time. Don't expect an insanely layered witty film that's a deep reflection on society. Instead, expect a hilariously unique dumb comedy that is a reflection on some of the bullshit we accept and like in film. 

8.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

THE 400 BLOWS

1959

A coming of age story about being a young boy, dissatisfied with society (the confusions and complications of schooling and regulations), and his dealing with rebellion, independence, love, and honesty. This is the only François Truffaut film I have seen so far. Incredible performance from the young (at the time) Jean-Pierre Léaud. You will be surprised by the experimentation and interesting cinematography in this movie, considering when it came out.

8.5/10

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HOWLS MOVING CASTLE

2004

After seeing movies like this, I wish that I had grown up watching Studio Ghibli movies instead of Walt Disney. Visually breathtaking, incredible storytelling, and emotionally moving. One of Miyazaki's best. 

9.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

THE ART OF FLIGHT

2011

Professional snowboarders flying down backcountry mountains all over the world, avalanches, M83, amazing cinematography, and all of these things at once. Amazing. Some of the voiceover narration from the snowboarders were unintentionally hilarious--snowboarder jock guys  trying to say poetic things about snowboarding and living life on the wild side. I wish there was more footage of the snowboarders dickin' around like in a Spike Jonze skate film--because we ALL know snowboarder guys dick around and it's sometimes funny.

7.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

THE DOUBLE

2013

Ornate aesthetics. That's why I like this movie. The story is whatever and nothing new. But aesthetically this movie shines. Original intricate sound effects, music, and cinematography. Watching this movie, I knew that director, Richard Ayoade and all of the others involved planned each detail visually and audibly to work with each other. Even lifeless objects in this film were filmed in a way that they seemed to have character  based on the sound effects and perspective you saw it. The aesthetics of this movie seems like a weird dream that Wes Anderson would have. I must say, this movie was a lot better than Richard's The Submarine.

7.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

WANDERLUST

2012

I'm always up for making fun of hippies and things of that sort. I also love Paul Rudd and the director's newest movie, They Came Together, was the funniest movie I had seen in a long time. Sadly, this movie dragged on and only had a couple really funny moments that stood out. It was boring and not funny enough.

5.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS 

1964

This was Sergio Leone's first Spaghettii Western movie, and it's definitely not his worst. I would even go so far to say that I liked it just as much, if not more than his notorious The Good, The Bad  and The Ugly. The story was not predictable in the least and it kept me intrigued the entire time--which can be hard for an old action movie to do. Ennio Morricone's soundtracks are always incredible.

8.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

IN BRUGES

2008

Funny, slightly gritty and entertaining--a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Colin Farrell is a good actor who usuaaally picks shitty movies. This was a better choice on his part.

7/10

[imatticted-blog]

GREENBERG

2010

This movie should just be called "Ben Stiller's Hair", because just like Ben Stiller's hair--there's not much to it, it's sort of long sometimes, and it's sort of cute. I like Noah Baumbach, I like Greta Gerwig, and sometimes I like Ben Stiller. I was expecting the quality of Baumbach's Frances Ha. It wasn't quite there. It wasn't a terrible movie, it just wasn't a good movie.

6.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

LOCKE

2013

This is a movie of a guy in his car on the highway. You see the vulnerability of a man alone in his car with his life being torn apart by the seems. It is suspenseful and gripping, you surprisingly won't loose interest. The cinematography is really amazing considering the small pallet they had to work with of just a car and a highway, inside and out. Tom Hardy's performance was really good--he was believable and layered--terrifyingly real at times. He performed this entire movie on camera many times a night for a while. The director would send random phone calls to him during the filming to add some spontaneous improvisation and real surprise. 

8/10

[imatticted-blog]

BOYHOOD

2014

This movie is an experience that is so profoundly simple and true. The entire film is packed with subtle moments that help shape the main character, Mason. I grew up pretty much at the same time that Mason grew up so it was a weirdly satisfying time warp with lots of nostalgia. The movie would prosper better with a slightly different soundtrack. Surprisingly, Ethan Hawke was my favourite part of this movie, considering I don't like his face. Some of the other father figures weren't fully believable, (plot spoiler) oh great, ANOTHER controlling alcoholic dad. This movie is to be highly admired for how real and true it is to growing up and singular moments in ones early life. I was impressed how it didn't have to say "1 year later" at any point in the movie, they just used real age and different haircuts to get that point across. But, to be perfectly honest, the making of this movie is more impressive than the actual movie itself. Don’t worry I won’t give you the whole shpeal--how they filmed it over twelve years and all. 

8/10

[imatticted-blog]

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

2014

Marvel’s best movie yet--which isn’t saying much. Strangely, it’s ranked #54 best movie of all time on IMDB--which is a total insult to cinema. It’s hard to believe that a movie almost entirely Computer graphics could make it to one of the best films of all time--when the amount of actually filming is scarce. Some filming with green suits and green screens and a couple of months in the computer graphics studio is not--in my opinion,  deserving so much praise. I value computer graphics and 3D animation and consider it art, but it is an entirely different thing to create real physical illusions in front of the eyes as a camera. Maybe I should just get into theatre. Nonetheless this movie was  fun and well-done.

7.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

APOCALYPSE NOW

1979

Usually when watching an older movie, I put on a filter of appreciation for a movie based on when it came out. This filter grants permission for boring scenes, cheap effects, and out of date content. Apocalypse Now destroyed that filter and absolutely blew my mind. Detailed crystal clear experimental cinematography, surreal images that pull you into the overall vibe, brilliant effects, haunting acting that is on the verge of reality, a script that is up to par with the inspiration--Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, and a score that saturates you and pulls you through. There are no cheap tricks visually in this movie. This is the pre-visual effects era. This is real cinema. Everything you see is a real physical mind trick in front of rolling cameras. A true masterpiece. One of my favourite movies ever. Worth watching many times.

10/10


PS: I have not seen the redux yet, but I will review it when I have.

[imatticted-blog]

HEART OF DARKNESS

1991

This is a documentation of the making of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. The story of the making of that movie is in itself, chaotic, unstable, haunting, and fully wild--breathing the same chaotic air as the vietnam war itself. This is the most vivid and engrossing “behind the scenes” story of a film being made since the wild adventure of the creation of Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo. 

8.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

PIERROT LE FOU

1965

Honestly, Godard seems like a pretentious French filmmaker who thinks he’s really cool. The thing is, he’s right, he is really cool. This movie is really cool. Visually stimulating colours, guns, poetry, style, action, women, and layers of meta that will catch you off guard. What more to ask for in a film? Just don't expect a romantic love story that will leave you smile and cuddling a pillow--you'll be left feeling almost the opposite.

7.5/10

[imatticted-blog]

PSYCHO

1960

A detailed visual masterpiece that is as entertaining as it is thrilling and it is as thrilling as it is original and I note, it exceeds in all of these ways. This unintentionally quirky film is a milestone for not only cinema, but storytelling in general. I plan to watch all of Hitchcock's films.

8.5/10