The Pale Blue Eye

The Pale Blue Eye (Scott Cooper, 2022)

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

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

Based on Book, 19th Century America, Mystery, Grief, Macabre

I don't know much about the earliest decades of America, that time between independence and the civil war. It isn't a period that my history classes focused on, sadly. Especially not the culture. But I did spend some time reading early American authors as an English major in college and so gleaned some cultural and historical knowledge. The Pale Blue Eye is an aesthetically beautiful film. It is incredibly melancholic, greatly aided by the snowy, wintry setting. And though it is a mystery with undertones of the occult, cultural/political conflicts, and grief, it is also a story about young Edgar Allen Poe. They really made Harry Melling look exactly like Poe! I was captivated by this blending of history and fiction. And I was drawn into the world as much as (if not more so) trying to solve its mystery.

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Poor Things

Poor Things (Yorgos Lanthimos, 2023)

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Rating: Q=8, P=7 / Obsession

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

Whimsical, Sci-Fi, Philosophical, Complex Relationships, Historical Fiction (sort of)

This film is incredible. It is truly something else. Poor Things, much like its main character, is a new kind of film and story. It is quirky and bold, aggressive and offensive, unabashed and unashamed. Poor Things and Bella makes you question and reflect on what it means to be a human being. Bella begins as an experiment and perhaps she shows us that every part of the human experience should be an experiment, as we must try and do --despite the risks-- in order to say that we live.

In addition to the fantastic story, Poor Things has the most memorable and intriguing artistry. The costumes, sets, score, and lighting are all so palpable. And very quirky and weird. At times, even surreal. I loved the Frankenstein and Wizard of Oz references, too. I will certainly eagerly watch this again and again. What a masterful piece of cinema.

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Shogun

Shogun (Frederick E.O. Toye and others, 2024)

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17th Century, Historical, Based on Book, Japan, Action

Season 1 Rating: DSQ=12, SP=8 / Can't Get Enough

Scale A=4, Scale B=4, Scale C=4, Scale D=4, Scale E=4

It has been quite a while since I've watched a series that is this intense--intense in story, acting, and visuals. Peaky Blinders was also intense, but in a different way with a different feel. At times Shogun is quietly intense, so much so that you feel you might explode from the tension. Other times it is roaring. The story of Shogun is one of discovery, cultures in contrast, strategy and intrigue, politics and war, customs and rituals, and especially honor and loyalty. But it is just as much (if not more so) a crushingly cruel, beautiful tale of love and loss, of identity and purpose. This is a grand tale of the human experience. What cinematography, costumes, and design! What moments! I was instantly sucked into the mesmerizing world of Japan in 1600 and I just want more. Stunning is not a strong enough word. Go watch this as soon as you can.

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Past Lives

Past Lives (Celine Song, 2024)

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Rating: Q=7, P=6 / Average OJ

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

Romance, Complex Relationships

What if I had chosen a different route home? What if that friend had stayed in the USA? What if I had not gone on that trip? What if I didn't take that class? etc. The concept of In-Yun is one I've thought about a lot since watching Past Lives. The interconnectedness of events and the concept that everything happens for a reason is one I've always subscribed to. I found the story of Past Lives incredibly emotional. Not special or captivating, not particularly interesting even. But it was absorbing because it was real. And it made me cry and think because it is so human. Circumstances do create destiny and change the course of our lives. It's impossible not to think about that boy you used to like and what might have happened if you hadn't immigrated/moved away. A truly beautiful film..

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