In the 1960's, when the nation was divided over a war that many thought to be a tragic waste of human life, when many citizens thought the man in the White House to be an incompetent crook, and anyone who protested got labeled `unpatriotic'. wait, this is starting to sound familiar.
Anyway, in the sixties, Bob Dylan wrote a song wherein he sang, `Something is happening and you don't know what is, do you Mister Jones?' He was of course referring to the squares total inability to understand what the hipsters were up to. In fact, the squares would sometimes hear this song and have no idea what it was about. Well, the same holds true for writer-director Lisa Cholondenko's latest work, `Laurel Canyon'.
Here is a movie featuring characters that are truly authentic. The story is captivating, introspective and well worth telling. And yet, this picture is only playing in relatively few theaters and the critics, for most part, don't seem to get it. How can this be?
What's unique about this movie, to me, is that is has a soul. At certain moments it reminded me of some of Altman's work in the seventies. It moves at an organic pace. The characters feel alive. The house in Laurel Canyon, where much of the story takes place, serves less as a backdrop and more as window into one's self. Perhaps this is what some of the critics found particularly disturbing.
Here's what some of them had to say, followed by my comments.
E! Online said they couldn't figure out `what point the filmmaker is trying to make'.
The filmmaker isn't `making a point'. Most movies which try to make a point, suck. She is instead asking questions - questions which might present a challenge for some people to confront.
The New York Times called writer-director Lisa Cholondenko `an acutely observant chronicler of upscale bohemian subcultures'
What the hell does that mean? This movie is not about bohemians. It's about boundaries - the boundaries that destroy relationships and the boundaries that preserve them. It's about the limitations we place on ourselves which cheat us of the possibility of discovering who we truly are - and it's about the limitations which prevent us from hurting ourselves and others. Perhaps these issues fly beneath the radar of "Mister Jones".
Variety thought the `characters tediously one-dimensional, the dialogue banal.'
Well, all I can really say about that Bob Dylan already said much better. `Something is happening and you don't know what it is.'
The music in this movie is awesome, thanks to the writing talents of Mark Linkous, the creative force behind the critically acclaimed band "Sparklehorse." The songs are sung by actor, Allesandro Nivola, who's performance was awesome - as was Francis McDormand, Kate Beckinsale, Christian Bale and Natascha McElhone. All I can say is go and see it.
I saw it a week ago and it's been on my mind ever since. The movie speaks for itself.
Anyway, in the sixties, Bob Dylan wrote a song wherein he sang, `Something is happening and you don't know what is, do you Mister Jones?' He was of course referring to the squares total inability to understand what the hipsters were up to. In fact, the squares would sometimes hear this song and have no idea what it was about. Well, the same holds true for writer-director Lisa Cholondenko's latest work, `Laurel Canyon'.
Here is a movie featuring characters that are truly authentic. The story is captivating, introspective and well worth telling. And yet, this picture is only playing in relatively few theaters and the critics, for most part, don't seem to get it. How can this be?
What's unique about this movie, to me, is that is has a soul. At certain moments it reminded me of some of Altman's work in the seventies. It moves at an organic pace. The characters feel alive. The house in Laurel Canyon, where much of the story takes place, serves less as a backdrop and more as window into one's self. Perhaps this is what some of the critics found particularly disturbing.
Here's what some of them had to say, followed by my comments.
E! Online said they couldn't figure out `what point the filmmaker is trying to make'.
The filmmaker isn't `making a point'. Most movies which try to make a point, suck. She is instead asking questions - questions which might present a challenge for some people to confront.
The New York Times called writer-director Lisa Cholondenko `an acutely observant chronicler of upscale bohemian subcultures'
What the hell does that mean? This movie is not about bohemians. It's about boundaries - the boundaries that destroy relationships and the boundaries that preserve them. It's about the limitations we place on ourselves which cheat us of the possibility of discovering who we truly are - and it's about the limitations which prevent us from hurting ourselves and others. Perhaps these issues fly beneath the radar of "Mister Jones".
Variety thought the `characters tediously one-dimensional, the dialogue banal.'
Well, all I can really say about that Bob Dylan already said much better. `Something is happening and you don't know what it is.'
The music in this movie is awesome, thanks to the writing talents of Mark Linkous, the creative force behind the critically acclaimed band "Sparklehorse." The songs are sung by actor, Allesandro Nivola, who's performance was awesome - as was Francis McDormand, Kate Beckinsale, Christian Bale and Natascha McElhone. All I can say is go and see it.
I saw it a week ago and it's been on my mind ever since. The movie speaks for itself.
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