"Whatever happens is good."
The best films are an artful mix of the mundane and the profound. Tarr mixes the two deftly here, while throwing in a dash of absurdism to keep things interesting. The long takes and the stark black and white imbue the humble, at times squalorous surroundings with added depth and make even the most dry conversation seem more meaningful. At 7-1/2 hours, it's tedious at times, but there's always something to look at—cracks in a wall…
Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs —
Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes;
Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers' tears.
– Romeo and Juliet Act 1, Scene 1
Typically when a story is a Romance, the focus is squarely on the lovers, two people from different worlds irresistibly drawn together like opposite poles of a magnet. Any previous love interest that either protagonist may have had gets quickly forgotten or turned into a…
The first movies that a director makes are often not very good, but I still find it valuable to trace their growth. Sometimes those first projects can be quite uninspired and derivative, which is definitely true of Sean Baker's first feature, Four Letter Words. The film follows the 90s indie playbook of just getting some people together in a room and having them talk at each other for a while. It's a little Linklater, a little Tarantino, a little Kevin…
Incredible movie. Beyond the outstanding visuals and the bravura performance by Ed Harris, I love how Cox directly and openly connects this prototypical American to present day politics. Subtlety and nuance are great and all, but when it fits the tone of the film, a flashing neon sign can be cool as well.
If you want me to sympathize with a Nazi, having her sleep with a 16-year-old in her 40s isn't the way to do it.
There's something uniquely feminine about this movie. Leyla is allowed to be intelligent and curious and self-assured while also being nurturing and kind-hearted. Canan is conflicted in a way that feels natural and not plot-driven. There are no villains. No angry screeds or violent confrontations. It's deliberately paced but never boring. Warm but not cloying. It's something special.
