Luca Padovan and Robert Pattinson. © 2023 GKids, Studio Ghibli, and Toho.
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. VFA Nominee - 2 VFAs Including "Best Animated Feature Film"
Watched it at 59th The Chicago International Film Festival @ Music Box (CIFF #4)
How Do You Live? It has been a decade since Hayao Miyazaki's recent film, The Wind Rises. A decade of waiting. Waiting for the supposedly final film by Miyazaki and it is now here. Was it worth the long wait? It definitely is and Miyazaki pushes the animation genre with breathtaking animation and a deep story that will speak to our current lives and our morality. This story goes to new lengths to bring meaningful imagery and it lets us question our choices in life and the regrets we have that strengthen or weaken our relationships with others. So many questions that Miyazaki let us interpret with his latest film and it sure was a personal experience from beginning to end. Let's travel to the oceanic world and witness the beauty and madness of this world. Story: Mahito, a young 12-year-old boy, struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world. The beauty of this film is out of this world with so many deep themes while keeping the "awe" factor that makes this film colorful and spectacular. Through its synopsis, it seems like a straightforward story about finding a mother in an extraordinary unique world. However, the story is far more through the visual imagery and characters. The characters are the story of this journey. It feels like this story is just a simple blueprint for the vast depth and emotional complex of the characters in the film which combines another story within the main initial story. I always loved the visual complexity, symbolism, and philosophical themes that Miyazaki explores and there's so much to explore. Yet, the more I watch and think back to the film, it gets more personal and it slowly reveals a huge message about grief and family relationships. Also, a theme of trying to move on and pushing yourself to become your true self. A lot of thematic elements and central themes which are almost all laid out with the protagonist and the side characters in the film. It doesn't feel like a narrative structure, but rather, a thematic structure and it spices the film through its crazy adventure. It feels like two films into one but it culminates the main themes of the film into a very personal message for Miyazaki and his audience. With those thematic elements, the characters carry them which makes their journey, a journey through personal ups and downs. These characters are very likable with certain characters having a lot of depth. The cast of characters are very great with the Heron character and Lady Himi being the biggest standouts. Even with their American voice-over performances, they are amazing and they have some much depth in their character that connects to the overarching themes. Lady Himi being a representative of a mother is very heartwarming and seeing her with the protagonist Mahito Maki was emotional and touching. These characters click easily and they carry the film alongside its supporting cast of characters. With these characters, it paints a picture of a personal journey for the audience and Miyazaki. I feel like these characters are a representation of Myazaki's family but also a representation of his emotions and past memories. It is a very personal film and it easily resonates with me through its many symbolisms and visual imagery. Even with its simple story, it opens for interpretation and lets you soak into the many emotions these characters are going through each event and it makes their journey wildly special.
The animation alone is a fantastic treat and a spectacle of wonder, imagination, and texture of each world and location Mahito Maki visits. 2D animation always floors me. Even though I love 3D animation, 2D animation, especially hand-drawn animation, really adds depth and smooth flow to the animation and there is more freedom to do. The set designs are flawless with each distinctive location being tied to the emotional and thematic context. I also have to compliment the food animation because the food in Studio Ghibli movies looks delicious and this film is no exception. Besides the wonderful animation, the sound design is great alongside its breathtaking score by Joe Hisaishi. The mixture of sound design and score really made the sound aspects stand out more frequently which adds a feel of vividness and straight-up goosebumps. Some of the in-animation camera work is smooth with divine lighting and colors! Altogether, the animation and technical filmmaking hits the jackpot with its stellar attention to detail and letting the audience feel the sense of imagination and scale through its huge feat of animation. Even with all of this praise, there are some flaws that I would like to point out.
The film's pacing was a bit of a mixed bag. While I like the editing choices with certain sequences and transitions, it felt a bit slow, but unintentionally. It could slow some of its emotional scenes and some little scenes or moments could have easily been cut out. The majority was in the first half of the film but the second half was much stronger with its editing and pacing. Plus, some audiences would be a bit lost with its narrative or even a bit bored because there is nothing quite going on in terms of plot. I could see that issue flying over some audiences and I felt like for certain scenes, the plot moved more slowly than I expected. Yet, it amps up when we arrive at the magical world and the rest of the film is a treat. Miyazaki gave us a wonderful and thematic focus film that not only speaks to him but to his central audience. Jaw-dropping animation, well-rounded thematic story, amazing voice-over performances with Robert Pattison and Karen Fukuhara being the major standouts, and maybe an emotional send-off to Miyazaki's career. We don't know for sure that this is his true final film but time will tell what will Miyazaki and the team at Studio Ghibli will do next.
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Vizeit Score: "A"
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Copyright © 2024 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
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Sandra Hüller. © 2023 A24, Film4, Access, Polish Film Institute, JW Films, and Extreme Emotions. Directed by Jonathan Glazer. VFA Nominee - 6 VFAs Including "Best Motion Picture"
Watched it at 59th The Chicago International Film Festival @ AMC Theaters (CIFF #3)
Everything Seems Normal Until You Look Out of The Picture... The sounds of dread, death, and peace are through the house of a Nazi-oriented family. A manipulative view of peace and quiet is seen through the eyes of this family. Director Jonathan Glazer shows us a different perspective of a Nazi family who are living their lives like any other family, but secretly hear the violence playing in the background. It is a deeply rooted film through its psychological and philosophical presence. A film that may be uncomfortable to watch, but it will immerse you, keep you thinking throughout, and leave you in a complete state of mind when the credits roll. It is a film that represents the horror that we may be living in today, but Glazer lets us soak into this time when war was at its peak and fall during this critical point in human history. Let's go back to 1943 and take a peek at this family living next to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Story: A Nazi commandant tries to build a dream life for his family near the Auschwitz concentration camp. However, with leadership and international changes, he must find ways to keep his family stable while keeping his job and the future of the family. In the first few minutes of the film, it is totally pitch black. However, the film slowly brings up the dreaded and daunting music and sounds that seem unpleasant and unconformable. Yet, it is fitted with the theme and story of the film which showcases the first shot of the film where the family is enjoying a nice summer day like any other family would. Yet, when closely hearing the sounds through the speaker channels in the theater, I hear a small yet distinctive sound of work and possible gunshots in the distance. This is just the beginning of a film that utilizes sound as a character which elevates not only the experience but deeply connects to the family and the environment surrounding them. The sound design and mixing are flawless with the rich and unnerving sounds of the environment and the conversations of each family member. From the silent sounds to the loud chaos within the Auschwitz camp, it stresses and destresses your listening experience from scene to scene. There are moments where sound can be given as a breather moment but once those dreading sounds come back, the film pulls you in like an instant shock. The brilliant sound design of the camp sounds, the nature and home environment, and even each room tone gave a sense of nervousness and sometimes fear. Fear is the message with the sound design and mixing of the film which gives the entire experience a memorable experience but in a unpleasant way. If there was no dialogue and just pure sound, this film still would be a masterpiece due to the sheer amount of haunting dreaded audio from the camp and the calm noises from the home environment. It is like two worlds smashing into one which creates some of the most haunting sounds I have heard in film and by the end, I left shocked. I felt like I was watching this film in a museum with its presentation and this should absolutely be in museums around the world. It is a work of art. I didn't even get to the score of the film yet in this review and it is also very memorable and disturbing. Within the music, it gets distorted through the instrumental score with hushed piano music mixing in the entire score. There isn't a lot of music in the film but when it is present, it hits you silently. It is atmospheric through and through which steps up the cinematic experience. If I were an Academy member, this would easily win best sound at the Oscars without a doubt including a nomination for music as well! Yet, as a critic, I love the amount of detail and expression within the sound design in every second. Before I lose myself in the fantastic sound work, the story and characters drive the film forward which accompanies interesting philosophical themes that are being challenged throughout the film for audiences. Ever since I finished taking that "Philosophical Issues in Film" class during the fall semester, I have been more deeply into philosophy than ever before which leads me to this film filled with philosophical interpretations. Before I dive into the philosophical themes, let's take a look at the story of this film which is based on a book based on the same name. Even though it is based on a true story, many of the story plot points are based on the novel with some dramatic storytelling being added for dramatic effect. There isn't much dialogue within the story but the relationship between the mother and father of the family we follow is apparent and focused. Throughout the film, the film quickly shifts to the father's point of view while it switches back to the mother. There is a balance between those characters which gives a fresh view of their family actions and the life they are living. It gives us empathy for these characters in their lives and while we know that they are a Nazi family, that is mostly landed on the father. The father is pretty much the protagonist or even the antagonist of the film. Yet, Glazer lets us into the family's home and live into the moment of their lives from their morning routine until they go to bed. That is the most crucial part of the film because it deals with this family. If it was just focused on the father, it wouldn't be a strong story, let alone, the whole point of the film. Glazer uses the occasional character development for all characters but there is little for each family member until the Nazis are starting to lose or where there is conflict in the family. For some, it will feel late, but for me, it fits well into the structure of the story and it feels natural within the context of the situation. This is not a typical family drama. It is more experimental within its technical filmmaking and its directing style of Glazer. Yet, with the storytelling narrative being also the focus, Glazer allows his interpretation of the characters to feel real and write them in interesting ways like the way they react to the slow defeat of Nazi Germany and the fall of the Auschwitz camp. Even from their kids, they are raising them to think that they are going to be future Nazi soldiers and have nice families in the Nazi regime. When watching it through, it is very sad to see how these children were raised in this environment which makes it devastating and you feel a bit of sympathy for them, but you quickly remember that they are still part of the Nazis. It can be emotionally complex based on your relationship with the history of WWII and the Nazis, but it also manipulates your feelings about the family alone. There is so much depth within the storytelling of the film but by the third act of the film, the plot takes into a whole new direction that exceeds the first two acts and makes the ending devasting and real. There is so much to praise with this film but the one thing I would like to explore is its philosophical themes about the family, war, and the Holocaust. Even though this film is focused on a Nazi family, you can't ignore the fact that this is one of the many tragic stories of the Holocaust. It is devasting to witness a family living near the Auschwitz concentration camp where you hear gunshots, screaming, mining sounds, and death. It is heartbreaking and it feels like your breath is out for two hours due to the sheer experience throughout the film that you are being sucked into. The way the Holocaust is being viewed here is interesting because you don't see the camp inside. You only hear sounds from outside. However, the film lets you briefly enter the camp but with no actual sight of the camp. Only the father monitoring the camp while you hear the loud gunshots, mining, and crying in close proximity. That is one of the few moments in the film that brought a true horror aspect and it has stuck with me ever since. There are moments in the film where they talk about the killing of the Jews which made me sick to my stomach and I was very uncomfortable witnessing that. Yet, it was necessary and it is not an easy film to watch. Even though there are not any real disturbing scenes, it is still disturbing with the context behind it including the way these characters talked and treated the Jews. The final ten minutes of the film is where the Holocaust takes its importance over the family with a silent memorial of the Jews in which the father doesn't know what his future holds. It is a brilliant yet sad ending that I will not forget.
With its philosophical themes that Glazer is tackling like the problem of evil, ethics, and morality, it makes the psychological part of the characters a bit more complex. Evil is depicted in the film through the family actions with the Jews and the father working near the camp. There aren't a lot of on-screen evil actions but through the tone and atmosphere of the film, you can sense the evil and fear within the walls of the house and the camp walls as well. A sense of horror and dread is blocked off from the outside walls of the camp which questions the true evil within the family. Who is the problem of evil in the family? What is the problem of evil in the family? So many interpretations can be expanded but one thing to note is that evil is being hidden from the family except the father. He's the true evil person in the family and when he realizes that the Nazis are losing, his evil starts to die and he will be forgotten. He also has no morality in the Jews unfortunately except the mother but maybe not the kids. Morality is also being juggled here but their ethics within the family are very centered and we get to see it play out in the family. Some morality is developed between the family and their Jew workers but no morality is developed by the father which makes his character a bit soulless to have empathy. Yet, from a philosophical point of view, that makes his character a bit more sinister. The philosophical elements can be seen through its visual presentation than its character storytelling but it allows more interoperations of evil and morality within the characters and ethics running through the family. Through all of this storytelling, Glazer ultimately uses the technical part of filmmaking to bring this story in a thoughtful yet immersive dark experience of this tragic and haunting story.
The way this film was shot is quite simple. Yet, it is beautiful and the framing is exquisite and intentional. There are no handheld or gimble shots being used. It is purely static and tripod shots in every shot of the film. There are a quite few dolly shots but there are no pure moving shots which helps the film to not break the illusion that the film is intended for. Plus, the way the cameras are being positioned in the house feels like a camera watching them at all times. It gives a Big Brother feel to the experience of the film and with its slow pacing, it feels like it was playing in real time. The editing is brilliant with its sound mixing and editing. There are interesting editing choices that made the experience a bit more real. There is also a sense of rhythm through each scene with its pacing in each pivotal sequence and when it hits nighttime in the film, the editing keeps that rhythm momentum going like a CCTV camera. Even during the scenes with the mother and father, it only cuts up close to the person who is feeling a sense of uncomfortable or taking control of the conversation. The editing is better described when you watch the film. The production design is also fantastic and while the film is just in the house with some great VFX being placed with the wall and the camp, it takes a step further into the house. Even way beyond the house with its underground system and in the final act, it goes beyond the house. There is one aspect that may be overlooked but it is the costume design of the film. With the context of the story, it is scary to think that some of the costumes being worn could have been dead Jews and there is one scene where Sandra Hüller's character is trying out a nice winter coat. However, that winter coat belonged to a Jew, and seeing a Nazi mother wearing that was honestly shocking. The colors on certain characters' costumes including the father give a sense of authority, system, and emotional state. Even if we go back to the cinematography, the colors are mudded yet vivid with some standout colors like white, green, and gray. It feels like a documentary at certain moments but at the same time, it feels like you are actually being there. That feeling of if it is a documentary or a narrative feature. That blur is present throughout because of the fantastic production of the film and it is one of the best technical films of 2023. As I look back on the film, I don't see any major flaws besides that this film could be very slow for some people, despite being a 105-minute film. I didn't feel that at all throughout. However, I feel like I wish there was more family drama but I don't think that was the point of the film. It can be mixed for some people who had family members who experienced the Holocaust or had relations with the war in Germany. I know it can be emotionally complex for folks out there so I have nothing against that. This is not an easy film to watch. It will destroy your mood for the entire day or night. Yet, it is an important film that everyone should watch. Jonathan Glazer takes this important story and unfolds it into a daunting experience that will leave you numb or speechless. It is an important film that interestingly explores the Holocaust through a Nazi family but without seeing the Jews in the camp. It blocks you from seeing the horrors within the camp by keeping the "beauty" of the family right in front of your eyes. It can be manipulative but the film gets its point across with its dark themes about humanity, morality, and history. The ending is what made me say this film is a work of modern art. This should be shown in schools and show both sides of the events of the Holocaust. This film even made me join a course about the history of the Holocaust. Film can really impact you in so many ways and this film successfully did that. Even though I know the Holocaust in general, I still wanted to learn the many stories that aren't being told through the eyes of the Jews and Germans during this crucial event in human history. A true work of cinematic film art.
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Vizeit Score: "A+"
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Copyright © 2024 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
© 2023 Toho/Toho Studios and Robot Communications. Directed by Takashi Yamazaki.
Watched it at AMC Theaters (First Film Review of 2024!)
From The Nuclear Ashes, A Monster Is Born The Godzilla franchise keeps growing every few years with each installment from Japan and the US but this time, it has revolutionized. The Toho team including director Takashi Yamazaki, has created an emotional film that not only enhances the action and suspense that makes these films exciting and entertaining but greatly improves its human characters which makes this new film entry so powerful and thrilling. Finally, this is the Godzilla film I have been waiting for since the 2014 US version. Let's go back to the 1940s and witness Godzilla's first steps into Japan. Story: Post-war Japan is at its lowest point when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster, baptized in the horrific power of the atomic bomb. Trauma, violence, and heroism are some of the biggest thematic elements within the storytelling of Godzilla Minus One. There are more elements that I could mention but these were the biggest standouts because trauma is the biggest element that has been utilized throughout the franchise. Trauma being displayed here is refreshing because even though there is a big monster that represents the atomic destruction caused by the USA, but I think trauma is being used more based on second chances. The trauma of loss, second chances, and ultimately love. The protagonist, Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki), faces many traumas throughout the first hour of the film which makes his motivations and goals even more impactful throughout the film. The loss of his family and the destruction of Tokyo led to an unexpected path where he helped Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe) and a missing child after the war. We get to see him processing and moving on from his trauma by taking care of the woman and child and later, they develop to become one family. The storyline of this family is captured as a way to comfort Shikishima's family loss by developing a new family during post-WWII. The storyline gets more juicer in the later half of the film but it is done well within its execution. This leads to the second trauma sub-element which is second chances. Shikishima is given a second chance with his new family and we get to see many scenes trying to process and fight his trauma and PTSD of Godzilla and his family's death. The writing of these scenes is sharp and emotionally complex due to not just the amount of trauma the protagonist is facing, but the lost sense of love. The trauma of love within Shikishima's life and journey is a big challenge throughout the film. He didn't want to be accompanied by anyone else until he was forced to help out Noriko and the kid. His love is unbalanced but through each act, his love improves and it is a huge motivation throughout the final act in order to save Japan and ultimately, his family. These three sub-elements strive for the emotionality and direction of this film which keeps the story fresh and engaging. The complexity is far greater here than in any other Godzilla film to date and even if you take the trauma out of these characters, they still have their unique personalities and flaw traits that make the characters in this film likable and most importantly, actually caring for them. In past Godzilla films, the majority of the human characters are written as one-note or uninteresting with no complexity or flaws behind their character. Since the 2014 version of Godzilla from Legendary, there hasn't been a single character that stood out that I remember fondly. The only ones would be Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe's characters. I would also include Aaron Taylor-Johnson but those were the standouts for a long time until this film. This would be a huge hot take but the cast here are way better than the previous casts from Godzilla Vs. Kong and Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Each character in the film is memorable and has standout traits and moments that help the emotional climax and resolution. It is honestly refreshing to see a cast of characters who helped in some way to defeat Godzilla but they have actual relatable personalities, emotions, and even complexity. Each character gets a shining moment and it made me care about these characters. Also, the characters here were not written dumb or comically which was a problem with the majority of the characters in the American films. Thank god, these characters here were smart, relatable, and likable. Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka) was my favorite side character from the cast due to the likable personality of his character and Yoshioka's acting, but also his purpose to defeat Godzilla by trying to get everyone on the same page. He cares for everyone and wants Shikishima to complete his initial goal. To kill Godzilla and save his family. The chemistry between each actor is strong and radiant which helps create golden moments that made me appreciate their performances and the arcs they have. Also, finally, this film has good character arcs which the other films lacked on. Takashi Yamazaki wrote a well-written script that not only made these characters complex but also had emotionality behind them to care for them when they fought back against Godzilla. Speaking of fighting Godzilla, the action here is amusing and breathtaking which makes Godzilla look more deadlier than ever.
The action in this new entry of the Godzilla franchise is more grounded and real than any other Godzilla film. No sci-fi blasters or weird modern technology to kill the monster. It is pure chaos with no help from the government and you only see people running away from this monster. Even Godzilla himself looks more realistic with a dirtier and crisp look. The way these actions sequences were directed were almost viewed from the perspectives of the humans. There were not as many close-ups or epic solo shots as I thought the film would typically have. However, the action is tighter in its direction and it feels like there are actual stakes in the situation these characters are in. There were emotional stakes in the mix of the action and it made me care about the characters' fate, especially in the final act. I was legit worried that some of these characters were about to die and I was on the edge of my seat. That is how you deliver intense action sequences and Yamazaki cooked it to the max while still focusing on the characters. I was surprised by the beautiful dark look of these sequences because when I saw that the film's budget was around fifteen million dollars, I was astonished by the work behind this project.
From the visual effects to the CGI, I was so mesmerized by the design of Godzilla and the destruction in the action sequences. For a supposed fifteen million dollar film, this looks fantastic and it looks way more expensive than I thought it was. The VFX and CGI are unreal. Even though the VFX seems to appear more clearly within the destruction of Ginza, it still looks very good with a blend of practical and visual effects. The cinematography is slick and smooth with its unique color pattern in each major sequence. Some memorable shots truly show the epicenes and real threat of Godzilla. The score is heart-pounding and energetic with Godzilla appearing in a scene. With the music, it allows a sense of true fear and intensity. Combined with the sound design, it makes the whole experience exciting and thrilling! Overall, the technical elements are fantastic and well put together in a low-budget blockbuster film that looks better than the majority of big CGI films. However, there are some flaws that I want to point out that are still plaguing the franchise. Throughout the franchise, some characters will be underdeveloped or forgotten which is a continuing problem in the series. In this entry, Noriko Ōishi, the partner of the protagonist, was a bit underutilized in the film. She was introduced as an important character and she only had a small amount of screen time presence. She had her moment but I feel like there was so much left out from her character which makes the relationship feel unstable. There were some typical cliches within the story's actions, especially in the final act but I was still engaged with some unexpected twists and turns. Thrilling, emotional, and epic, this is what the Godzilla franchise needed and this film succeeds in it. I was captivated every second from the destruction created by Godzilla to the well-written characters that I actually cared about. This is a breath of fresh air for the franchise and it was a cool experience in theaters. I hope this franchise continues in this direction. I also hope Legendary learns from this film and go back to the old direction from the 2014 version. Either way, I cannot wait for the next film.
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Vizeit Score: "A"
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Copyright © 2024 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Sophie Wilde. © 2023 A24, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, and Causeway Films. Directed by Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
Ok...Talk to me. When I saw who was directing this project, I knew right away this was going to be an instant banger. After seeing the film twice, this is going to be an interesting review to write because this is the freshest horror story I've seen in a long time. The creativity on screen is immaculate and the horror aspects are through the roof. This is a film that hardcore horror fans and even movie fans will absolutely enjoy and be glued to the screen. The film doesn't just do horror right, but it allows you in on the characters' emotions, struggles, and addiction. Let's go to a wild party and test out this weird magic hand that you may encounter dead people through...or become the dead person itself. Story: When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits with an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill and high-stakes party game -- until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. Directors Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou took a simple horror concept and twisted it to its limits. The sheer amount of violence, horror, and insanity is present throughout this film. The Philippou brothers used their camera and directing magic from the YouTube videos they created and turned this film into a cinematic horror-fest. While this film isn't the huge gore fest and crazy camera work from Philippous' original content, there is still the flavor of RackRacka that is through the excellent camera work and direction with the characters and story. Speaking of characters and the story, the story is very engaging from start to finish. There is emotional weight and consequences behind every action these characters commit. The main character Mia (Sophia Wilde) has a unique character arc that goes in different directions that you may never expected to see. Wilde's performance really captures the teenager experience and her dynamic with her friends feels natural. I really loved how we get to experience these events through the eyes of Mia by following her every move with the hand object and how every action she takes will affect others. Plus, her personality makes her character more engaging and the performance feels fresh and vivid. The supporting cast is amazing including Alexandra Jensen as Jade. Miranda Otto is also great in the film as Sue. While she doesn't get to do much, she really encapsulates her presence between Mia and Jade. Overall, the performances here are some of the strongest I've seen in a horror film this year. With those performances into a gripping and haunting story, it makes the film more special and chaotic, in a good way. The story is simple yet refreshing to see in a unique horror film that anything can happen. The opening prologue sold me for the next hour and a half of the film. All in one take, setting up the vibe, atmosphere, and bloody horror of the film, I knew that I was going in for a treat. The film's pacing of the story was very smooth with no filler in between important scenes and character moments. It lets the story digest the world, characters, and the myth of the hand object. Plus, the hand object lore isn't explored a lot but the film gives you a quick rundown of the history behind this object and it's enough that you want to theorize more later. Certain plot points get very juicy when certain characters start to play with the object way too much where at a point, chaos starts to erupt. By the hour mark, the tension and horror don't stop and it holds you until the end. It's written so well by letting every scene and moment feel it has weight and it lets the audience digest each moment that has importance to the entire story. While the film is about supernatural beings and friendship, the film is really about trauma, grieving, and broken relationships. Plus, it's about fixing the broken things that have been broken for quite a while and you can't seem to fix it until you literally become broken. That is what I analyzed through the film's ending. Without spoilers, it's a heartbreaking ending that will let you think about your current relationships and how far can we maintain them until we destroy them with one action. Or even an action further. The story doesn't get too convoluted which is great because there's so much mystery behind this hand but it's really about these characters trying to get out of a situation that they shouldn't even be then in the first place. Even if the characters are not part of the situation with the hand object, they are still affected by the consequences of certain characters which makes the stakes of the film feel tight and real. With the addition of the horror aspects, it makes certain sequences feel haunting and fucked up. It's not full-on RackaRacka violence, but it gets you there at a point where you are in for a wild fucking ride.
That wild ride is carried by its horror elements. The camera work is fluid throughout the horror sequences with interesting shots and angles. Plus, the RackRacka flavor and directing makes these sequences feel like action sequences but in this case, through horror. The make-up effects of the creatures beyond the hand are scary and disgustingly good. Even some of the gore effects are pretty gruesome and deadly impactful to the story. The cinematography is very slick with interesting lighting choices and coloring use of muted and bright blues and reds. The editing here is also surprisingly great for a horror film. The pacing of each scene flows well and it doesn't waste its time on certain moments. However, when there's a crucial scene in the film, it slows down yet, with the strong directing from the Philippou brothers, the pacing through those scenes feels fast yet slow and meaningful. The score of this film is also solid alongside its interesting music choices. Nothing too crazy with its production design but I really like the simplicity of the possessed hand figure and to think that thing is real on the A24 shop is insane. Overall, the production and technical work of this film is amazing. With this film costing under five million dollars, it's incredible how they pulled off some of the biggest set pieces throughout the film while giving us an impactful terrifying story that expands on horror elements with a unique taste.
While there aren't a lot of flaws in this film, the one thing I could point out is the father dynamic between Mia and her father. I feel like there was something missing. Even though I loved the scenes between her and her mother because that's the core of the film, the father's storyline felt weak. Yet, I was still hooked in their scenes when they got into an argument about their mother's passing. Besides that, there could be some logical issues with its story decisions, but I was still invested from beginning to end. Haunting, darkly vivid, and gripping, Talk to Me is what horror films in this new era of cinema should be doing. Creating simple horror films with unique twists and turns that audiences won't expect. It passed beyond my expectations and I loved every second. This is a horror flick that many cinephiles and general audiences should watch. It's also emotional with its story and by the end, you will be asking more adventures of this hand fucking up people's lives. A definite must-watch horror film.
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Vizeit Score: "A"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Sandra Hüller and Swann Arlaud. © 2023 NEON, Les Films Pelléas, and Les Films de Pierre. Directed by Justine Triet.
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Watched it at 59th The Chicago International Film Festival @ AMC Theaters (CIFF #1)
Did She Do It? The mysterious fall that everyone keeps talking about but we have the same question in our minds? Did Sandra kill her husband or was it just an accident? This film deeply explores a lot of themes of marriage but also trust, love, and identity. Anatomy of a Fall is a film that has a lot to unpack from but with the stellar performances and direction, you will find yourself glued to the screen. Let's visit the courtroom and listen to the unraveling truth of this "fall" while listening to 50 Cent. Story: A woman is suspected of her husband's murder after a mysterious fall. However, during trial, her only witness is her blind son which leaves the mother and the son in a moral dilemma. Suspense fills the air throughout this film and director Justine Triet captures it very effectively. The atmosphere and tone of the film are dreading and every second leads to something very important that the audience will miss in the background. Triet uses interesting yet beautiful and insane shots to make some of the most vital "evidence" in the film surprising. Simon Beaufils's beautiful camera work with Triet's great direction brings up certain moments that elevate each character's view of the murder. Even with the slick editing from Laurent Sénéchal, it allows the audience to become one of the jury members to witness the evidence presented during court. All of that is accompanied by Sandra Hüller's amazing performance which she lets her character bring her judgment into the picture and unravel who she is which answers the question of her husband's mysterious death. Even with the supporting cast of the film, Swann Arlaud was one of the highlights of the film which brought the tension higher and engaging. The writing of Hüller's character is so depth and nuanced that you already connect to her character in the opening of the film. A lot of well-put-together writing pieces make the prediction a bit more difficult in a good way to allow the audience to engage more with the story. Plus, the writing of the film doesn't overstuff certain character backgrounds and traits which allows the fluid of the film to be more thrilling and certain around the protagonist. The dialogue feels so natural and also the comedy here is intentionally and unintentionally funny which makes the dialogue and acting feel natural in its presence. Yet, some overlooked filmmaking elements should be highlighted in this review. The sound design here is interesting because it takes silent and loud moments which adds to the mystery of each scene. Even the opening sequence alone with the loud PIMP song by Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band can make the scene feel more tense and annoying in a good way. The distractions that Triet applies in each scene will force the audience to look beyond the picture through sound and interesting directing cues. When this is also applied through the courtroom scenes, it will make you think of what evidence is presented through each sequence. The courtroom sequences are well executed with a lot of intense drama and well-paced scenes that will leave you hooked. That piece of drama included in the film is its themes which capsulates the protagonist's story and the whole case surrounding this mysterious death.
Anatomy of a Fall has interesting themes about identity, marriage, and trust in and out of the courtroom. Since Sandra's accusation of her husband's death, she begins looking back on the decisions she made with her husband. The mother-father relationship is heavily discussed with the relationship of their child. Sandra's only child who can help her and himself to get out of this trial. However, Sandra's past was being discussed with her bisexual relationship with other women and we see her flirting actions right in the opening scene. It opens up on how Sarah really is at the point of her marriage and the matter the fact is that she's not happy with her relationship. Without any spoilers, the ending answers Sandra's marriage and identity problems in the opening scene. However, Sandra's struggle with trust makes the courtroom scenes more tense due to her blind son's lack of trust in her mother. All of those themes combined bring up a question, is Sandra really a trustworthy mother and wife? The answer speaks for itself in the film. Through all the narrative elements, the technical filmmaking here once again is sleek and amazing. The coloring of this film is very beautiful and saturated yet realistic. The production design of the house is unique and cozy as well. Technically, it's a well-made film but with its narrative, it is a strong foot. However, I have some criticisms that could've made the film much faster.
The film's pacing can be very slow in the second act of the film. There is tension to the scenes but sometimes, the tension can drag a bit which almost kills the suspense in the room. The film feels a bit long so that's why I felt like the film's pacing was slow right in the middle. There are easily some scenes that could've been shortened but not cut out because all of them were very essential. However, the one thing that I wished the film had was more energetic moments in the courtroom. There for sure were energetic moments outside of the courtroom scenes but during the trial, the energy felt mixed yet, the energy was still heated. Still, even by the final shot of the film, I was surprised at how this film hooked me till the end. Chilling, tense, and sophisticated, Anatomy of a Fall delivers a well-executed court drama that will leave you questioning the justification of the murders and Sarah's personal life. A lot of great thematic elements that add depth to Sandra's relationship with her son and husband. With the unique direction from Justine Triet, it elevates the courtroom sub-genre into a new direction in which other films will follow suit. Also, this is the right time for Sandra Hüller to get the Tár treatment during awards season.
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Vizeit Score: "A-"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC]) |
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