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Mvandermeulle32096
My personal theater of expertise spans and includes genres between and combinations of drama, comedy, action, fantasy, sci-fi, history, alt-history, and/or more.
Reviews
Station Eleven (2021)
An unforgettable tale of the truly lost and broken
Station Eleven weaves together multiple stories and timelines to effectively depict an apocalypse and it's aftermath. Each of the main characters - the leaders of the Museum of Civilization, the Traveling Symphony, as well as the "Prophet" and his child following - are nearly equally relatable through their doubt, anger, and agony. The series yanks viewers between perspectives of wanting to preserve/return to the past, choosing to let the past die, and observing the very struggle that the two opposing objectives create.
The story is engaging, beautiful, and heart-breaking. I'm not one to get emotional seeing things on TV, but I had a lump in my throat at least once every episode. The characters are so extremely well played such that the feeling of a life/world/reality yanked from their innocent hands portrays a truly tragic existence. Those who remain after the world has ended attempt to pick up the pieces while simultaneously considering whether their former world is worthy of rebuilding.
All that, and mix in overlapping story lines, un-knowing connections from 'Before', a prophetic graphic novel, Shakespearean tragedy, and broken childhoods as well as the elders who try to protect them from their shared reality, and you get Station Eleven.
The show is more or less about whether or not the survivors should hit the re-set button on civilization or forget the past that disappointed them so.
"I remember damage... then escape. Then, adrift in a stranger's galaxy for a long time... But I'm safe now. I found it again. My home..."
"I have found you nine times before, maybe ten, and I'll find you again... until the last time - I always do."
"I don't want to live the wrong life and then die."
("SO PRETENTIOUS!!!")
Beau Is Afraid (2023)
Unlike chewing gum, it takes more mastication to fully appreciate this unique film.
I'm still processing what I saw in "Beau Is Afraid". I'll admit to feeling lost at times during my first viewing, but the movie always brought me back. You need to digest this! After my first watch-through, I was left with many unresolved feelings and emotions about what I had just witnessed. Upon further reflection and popular internet attempts to explain this work of Ari Aster's, I find my appreciation deepening greatly.
Joaquin Phoenix delivers yet another heart-breaking role of someone who cannot fit in with the world he's been delivered into. I plan to watch it again soon with the reasonably critical perspectives/analyses that I have read in mind. It's not so like Hereditary or Midsommar, but it does harken to them and his lesser-known YouTube shorts.
It's not as scary as Hereditary; It's not as disturbing as Midsommar. But it will discomfort you in the way that Aster has brought his fans to expect and (strangely) enjoy!
"Beau is Afraid" flips the classic 'Hero's Journey', such that our 'hero' (Phoenix), no matter his actions or intent, lead to the worst possible outcomes or understandings of events. Beau is a man who seems to be always given the worst possible outcome, reaction, or understanding of any event involving him.
Beau is an ultimately tragic and pathetic person who, against his free will, embarks on what should be a classic hero's journey - to travel to his mothers home upon his fathers death's anniversary, and later to be there for his obligation to his seemingly disappointed mother.
Too bad that his lack of heroism is greatly exceeded by his intense regret, guilt, fear, and seemingly worst of all, his longing to be the man everyone demands he be despite the abuse he's endured that preclude him from being so.
Beau isn't just afraid. He is sad; he lives in the past; he doesn't trust; he's stuck; he's pathetic; he's a natural victim; he can't distinguish between what the world does to him from what he invites upon himself; and strangely enough, he is fiercely loyal to both his mother and his childhood sweetheart (though neither have reciprocated those loyalties since he was a child - Beau is now a middle-aged, pudgy, balding sad-sack).
This movie is DEFINITELY not for everyone, but if you've enjoyed Ari Aster's "Hereditary" and/or "Midsommar", do yourself a favor and continue patronizing his incredibly unique works, such as this film.
This film (in my opinion) requires viewers to just go along for the ride. If you try to pick details apart on first viewing, you'll lose the forest for the trees. Just take the ride! Allow yourself to recognize how the hyperbolic and dramatized situations draw fairly straight lines to the thoughts, fears, and paranoias that countless people (who are not Beau) feel on a daily basis: Am I being blamed for something I can't control? Do the people I trust really have my back? Is what I'm feeling love or obligation? Can I trust this person, or anyone for that matter? Is the world out to get me, or do I just not trust people in general? Are my confidentials being kept confidential? Do the people I love, love me? Am I alone in a world that wants to hurt me? Am i accountable for anything and everything I've ever said, felt, or thought? What punishment do I deserve, and is death an exacting price for such transgressions?
Beau is a complicated movie. I was motivated to think deeply about it's content because I'm a huge fan of Aster's previous works, and I'm glad to say that, while Beau is pretty different from what I had expected, it is still even more than I thought it would be. It's deep, disturbing, intellectual, and strange, which is all I could have asked for and it's why I love Aster's movies.
Keep'em coming Ari!
Siren: Survive the Island: What I Do Isn't Easy (2023)
Beware! Watching the first episode is a slippery slope to binging the whole season!
Soooo... yikes. I watched the whole thing in a day. I only planned on checking out the first episode based on a recommendation and I couldn't stop until the final episodes credits rolled. This is like Survivor, Ninja Warrior, and capture the flag combined, but jacked up by the teams being comprised of emergency-/combat-trained groups.
I definitely rooted for one group or another throughout the show, but I kept having my expectations and hopes dashed and re-set. The irregular format of the episodes definitely played a part in making it hard to put down, but I'm not even mad. It was so enthralling that I didn't want to stop. If I started an episode saying "this is the last one for the day", I ended it saying "No, the next one will be".
Now I just want to see other countries follow South Korea's example with this show. This could become international with the best groups, or best combinations of players amongst a country's groups, to compete with others.
South Korea has quickly become an extremely serious contender amongst global entertainment hubs, penetrating America's previously/seriously uncontended coast-to-coast empire. Yet, as an American myself, I am delighted by both the (friendly) competition, and a better look at another culture through reality TV, film, music, and more!
Countless Americans are both energized by and excited for more South Korean entertainment. Keep going. What you're putting out for the world is amazing and it's earning more and more appreciation with every year, movie, show, album, etc.
We love you.
Siren: Survive the Island (2023)
They cracked the code of the forced binge-watch and I'm not mad at all
Woah! I've never watched a full season in a day until now. I just couldn't stand stopping when the episodes ended. I literally called people and changed plans for my day. They shirked the 'every episode follows a format' concept, and my guess is that they shot and captured everything that was interesting and wisely divided it up into 40 minute segments regardless of where things would leave off or how many episodes it would amount to. It was an intense watch, but you couldn't cleanly break from the show for a day or so between episodes because most of them left off mid-challenge/battle. My congratulations to the victorious team (though I rooted for others for most of the show). I hope the next season comes fast, and I also hope more countries follow this show's example. From the U. S., hats off to South Korea for their amazing talent for drama and excitement! Many of us are watching closely, excited for much of what your country churns out. Keep it up and we love you! Maybe later seasons will feature the best teams from different countries, or even the best players comprising teams to represent each country. Who knows. This show was an inspiring breakthrough! Yet another in a long line of great South Korean creations!!!
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
The first movie to give me a panic attack
This movie was made, maybe, a little too well. A masterfully told, pitiful story of people going down rabbit-holes of their own making. All in all, it's a very sad tale. Through separate experiences of addiction run amok, this movie ends with a crescendo of mind-racing, heart-popping intensity. I spent the vast majority of this movie seated on my preferred end of the couch and ended it pacing back and forth, clutching my chest, trying and failing to not watch the screen. I highly recommend it, but I think the single viewing is enough for me in this lifetime.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
I needed this
If you didn't already love Nic Cage...
A)You we're wrong.
And B) there is no B, just shut up and enjoy the ride!!
We all appreciate someone who can poke fun at themselves, but rarely does that person earn as much respect in doing so as Nic Cage does in this movie. I rented this on Amazon semi-reluctantly and it was worth triple the price. Probably because I watched it again with a friend the next night before the rental expired. Do yourself a favor and give it a watch!
Veep (2012)
Superbly cynical, justifiably jaded, and by most accounts, not that far off.
Veep offers a hilariously unfortunate perspective of American politics through the lens of a Vice President and her sultry staff of foul-mouthed, misanthropic ladder-climbers. Decorum and respect are nothing but a laughable facade, reflexively implemented in order to dupe the masses as a matter of business. Cynicism, thy name is Veep.