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Review #57: Greyfriar’s Bobby

Post #62

9/10/2020

Next up is 1961′s Greyfrair’s Bobby

Enjoyment : [5]

Did I enjoy this movie? No. Did I NOT enjoy this movie? Also no. This movie illicits a lot of emotions from me, but like, all neutral emotions. Is it boring? No it’s not boring. Is it entertaining? I am not sure. The plot revolves around a very slow debate over the ownership of a dog after his original master dies. There isn’t really a villain, or a protagonist, or much of a conflict beyond who will pay the fine for a license. This SOUNDS like it would make for a very boring watch, but it wasn’t. The characters are all well rounded and have good writing behind them, and the dog is a very good boy who you want to see happy... But there is just a melancholy that lays over the whole production. This movie gave me the same feeling I had, when I had to clear out the belongings of a deceased family member. There wasn’t so much a pointed sadness, but more of a faint uncomfortableness dealing with items who have no one to belong to. This movie made me uncomfortable, but that was also very clearly the movies intention, so did it succeed or fail? I don’t know. I just feel like I need a hug.

Quality : [4]

There is nothing to say in terms of cinematography. I saw a few motivated shots, but nothing really stood out. The camera work is subpar but luckily the writing saves it. I like that all the characters speak in this very understated and realistic manner. The script meanders a bit but that fits since the dog also meanders back and forth throughout the story. I don’t really have much to say since this is just such a neutral movie. I can’t say much negative about it.

Hold up : [5]

This movie has no overtly hateful messages. The characters are mostly respectful to one another and there are a few named female characters (although they don’t talk to one another.) Since this is a historical movie about an actual place and actual events it represents reality as best it can. Any questionable aspects that popped up where not worth subtracting points, since it felt historically accurate without supporting it. (Like, one kid makes a dated comment about his own disability but it’s like, yeah a kid in that time period would probably talk like that.) I also kinda liked its take on the law. While the ending is a little forced, having a character point out that what is legal and what is moral are not the same thing. Good moral, even if it only comes up towards the very end.

Risk : [6]

This movie is pretty safe for the most part. The place where it really stands out is in how it depicts death. It just sorta happens without much fanfare to someone who didn’t deserve it, and the time that comes after was long, painful and uncomfortable. There is a distinct lack of fairy tale magic to this movie and I think it is better for it? It went out of it’s way to be honest even if that meant being less child friendly and that deserves some respect.

Extra Credit : [2]

This movie has some charm to it. I like how the two old men open up their hearts bit by bit and end up happier because of it. I am a sucker for defrosting grumpy older characters. I also liked how the orphans all got happy endings and help from the wealthier adults.

Final thoughts:

I really can’t find words to describe this movie. It isn’t bad, it isn’t great and it isn’t boring. I know a lot of things this movie ISN’T but I am having trouble putting into words what this movie is? Maybe that’s the point. This movie is about the void death leaves behind, and it ends up feeling like a void in the process. There isn’t really a happy ending for Bobby since the only thing he wants is his master back. We want Bobby to be happy but we also know that can never happen. He has new people who love him, but the movie makes it clear that they don’t fill the emptiness left behind. We don’t get much in terms of closure or even structure, and we as the audience feel that void in every frame and even after the movie is over. The reason I am not jumping for joy declaring this some sort of experimental masterpiece is that I have no way of knowing how intentional any of this way on behalf of the filmmakers. The camera does not feel motivated enough to be pushing this feeling on purpose, and if this sort of void was their goal from the start, the camera would have reflected this in someway. I might just be projecting my own experiences with death onto this movie a bit and so I feel like I can’t land anywhere definitively on it. If you want to unravel this feeling for yourself, it is free on youtube. If you want to watch two sad Scottish men debate ownership of a sad dog for an hour and a half this is the movie for you.

Also, the dog playing Bobby is a good boy.

Total Score: 22/50

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