Protecting The Private Life

Having seen other works from Sophia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Somewhere) I knew what to expect, but I still wasn’t prepared for the surrealism that permeates through “The Virgin Suicides”. Within the first 30 seconds I was enthralled; unable to guess what would happen or how things would play out. The basic plot of the movie is utterly depressing, and yet the somewhat alien interactions between the sisters (and their interactions with the world) negate this depression to the point of being a pleasant curiosity. And yes, it’s as unusual as it sounds. It’s the kind of movie that makes you sit there at the end, staring dumbfounded at the credits, soaking in exactly what it was you just saw. Absolutely nothing is resolved or explained by the end, and yet it remains extremely satisfying with no real questions remaining. It should by no means be described as “entertaining”, at least not in the traditional sense, but instead as “compelling”. It’s definitely not for everyone. Ki...

Despite the bland name, “The Lookout” is a surprisingly insightful look into the lives of damaged, flawed people. Nearly every character with even a handful of speaking lines had an interesting, nuanced background, while remaining very much rooted in reality and the lives of ordinary people. It’s a pity that by the end of the movie, there really wasn't time to resolve all the different relationships and character struggles, and it left me feeling unsatisfied despite the objectively excellent climax.  By far the most glaring example was his ex-girlfriend, who only gets a quick conversation in a dream when there was a hell of a lot more potential for exploration. In many ways, the bank heist actually gets in the way of the main character’s opportunities for growth, rather than enabling it. After putting all that attention into introducing and growing a swathe of characters, it was a pity to see it all ultimately boil down to a movie about money. The movie certainly doesn't ...

“Dear Zachary” could very well be the saddest movie you will ever see in your life. Just when you think things are starting to turn around and get better, the movie slams you back down, over and over again. What starts as a biography quickly turns into a true crime documentary, with an audience that is extremely emotionally invested by that point. Not only is it a true story, but everything from the filming, interviewing, producing, music, and editing was done by one family friend of Zachary’s father. It’s incredible how good of a job he did – especially with the editing. Bits of the narrative are cleverly hidden until they can have maximum impact, and the result is some really impressive pacing that keeps you constantly on edge. The emotional turmoil "Dear Zachary" puts you through really can’t be described. The movie puts the complete annihilation of an elderly couple’s hopes and dreams on full display, and doesn't pull any of its punches. Moments like when they desc...