Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel & Ethan Coen, 2013)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3
 

Music, 1960s, Bleak, Philosophical, Folktale
 

My soul crumbled a little after watching the latest Coen Brothers film. Inside Llewyn Davis made me painfully aware of how undervalued the arts (and artists) are in our society--it is an age old story. Llewyn is a true artist--his heart full of passion and love for the music he plays. But he gets no money from his recordings or gigs. He has no bed to rest in, only other people's couches or floors. He doesn't even have a coat or boots to keep him warm in the bitter New York winter. Even when he journeys hundreds of miles and sings from the very depths of his soul, he is denied. Because, he is told...there isn't any money in his art. And he sees the acts, hears the silly songs, and learns about the deeds that do bring comfort and cash and it disgusts him. This is 1961. Sadly, little has changed.

Oscar Isaac amazed me (why have I never heard this guy until now?) in being the character I know so well. I think all true artists have a little bit of Llewyn inside, trying desperately to find a place that is not hostile or false feeling. And company that appreciates real talent...like I said, my soul crumbled a little.

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Philomena

Philomena (Stephen Frears, 2013)

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Rating: Q=6, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2
 

Philosophical, Separation, Grieving, Mystery, Complex Relationships
 

Forgiveness is an act which shows tremendous mental and emotional strength. Philomena is a moving story about a woman who has wrestled for years with shame, guilt, and hatred but chooses to forgive rather than be angry. She chooses to smile and be gracious rather than brood and become cynical. It is not just a mystery tale about adoption or an investigation into the secrets of a nunnery. There are subtle philosophical moments and quiet lines that make you think about how you are living your life. Is revealing the truth enough repentance? Dame Judi Dench and Steve Coogan make an amazing pair. Watch this film and you will wish to feel a bit lighter.
 

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Nebraska

Nebraska (Alexander Payne, 2013 )

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3
 

Dark Comedy, Witty, Understated, Age, Father/Son
 

I really enjoyed this film. I went in knowing that the film would be about an old curmudgeon who thinks he's won a million dollars. I knew it would be funny and bleak. But the film is much more than these things. For me, Nebraska is about inevitability. It is a very philosophical excursion in understanding and appreciating the journeys we make. In a way, the film reminded me of The Last Picture Show, which is interesting because that film is about coming of age. Nebraska is coming of age at a different point on the road, a point which appears hazy, distant, and far too close to the end. Nobody wants to lose the things that have defined his/her existence whether it be a car, a house, a girlfriend, memories, or reputation. Best to embrace this awkward and scary part of life.
 

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12 Years a Slave

12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013)

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Rating: Q=8, P=5 / Can't Get Enough

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Slavery, Mid-1800s, Historical Drama, Gritty
 

What an emotional drain. I expected this film to hit me hard and tense every muscle in my body, and it did. Steve McQueen shows us the very worst moments of our country but also how resilient and hopeful the human spirit can be. There are a fair number of scenes that are incredibly difficult to watch but they need to be watched--these events happened. And happened frequently. I urge everyone who lives in the USA to watch this film and think about it.

Michael Fassbinder is undeniably creepy and disturbing as a slave master. Paul Dano is under-appreciated and amazing, per usual. One "character" that is utterly amazing is the musical score. Incredibly moving. I can't say I will watch it again soon but I feel a better person for watching it once.

 

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The Grand Budapest Hotel

The Grand Budapest Hotel (Wes Anderson, 2014)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=4

 

Literary Homage, Whimsical, Melodrama, Multi-Genre, Caper

 

After much anticipation (it was supremely difficult not to read many reviews and articles) I watched the latest Wes Anderson creation. In one word it is: brilliant. It is at once what fans will expect and not what they'll expect. It is quirky, fast-paced, escapist, visually overwhelming and beautiful, and completely chalk-full of intertextuality. But this film is different than many of Anderson's earlier endeavors. The biggest, I believe, is that this is a story about storytelling, not the story itself. It is about characters, not human beings. But it doesn't completely lack emotion, it is just that the emotion is at a different (broader) level. We can't really relate to Gustave, Zero, Agatha, Madame D, or others because they aren't fully real. They are recollections that have become stylized over many decades of reflection. What we can relate to is the desire to remember -- the serious need to remember -- the past. Moonrise Kingdom (still probably my favorite Wes Anderson film) does this, too, in a way. Nostalgia evokes some of the strongest responses.

 

Ultimately, this film is a tribute. It is a story within a story within a story. It is an homage to early film and melodramatic narratives, and a wild one at that. There are many moments of vaudeville and the silent film era melodramas, cartoons and comic sequences, Film Noir, even Fellini-esque qualities made an appearance. It is incredibly ambitious and meticulous. Many reviewers have likened it to the towering pastry confections that the film's Agatha bakes: "superficially frivolous with thoughtful and contemplative notes," to quote one. Yes, it is light-hearted but the more I analyze and contemplate the film, the more amazed I am at how deep it is. In the end-credits, Anderson notes that the film is much inspired by the works of Stephen Zweig, arguably the most popular writer in the world in the 1920s and 30s but now all but forgotten. Much like the characters, hotel, and long-lost poetry of the film. What is remembered? What becomes history?

 

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