Change Your Image
vikiirna
Reviews
The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004)
So rich!
I just saw it, and it's late, so I can't be very expressive. But I thought it is an excellent movie. There is so much woven into it, I'm sure it's going to be worth seeing again and again. I think it was well written and edited too; everything all worked together. Despite some common themes, there was so much unexpected too, which doesn't happen much. I just loved the subtle, subtle life-like humor. I'm surprised the critical community didn't pick up on it more. I bet it did well in Europe. The actors balanced each other well. I liked the fact that I rarely was thinking "This is a Bill Murray movie" or "I'm watching Owen Wilson." No one was drawing attention to themselves; they were all totally telling a story. I think the disconnect from the characters that many of us feel in the beginning is deliberate. I think the director wants us to feel as dubious about the protagonist as he is feeling about himself. I'm not familiar with Wes Anderson's work, but now I want to be. Such a funny, thoughtful, funny movie.
Tokyo Cowboy (1994)
Warm, funny and graceful
This is a perfectly balanced film. The timing is all right as it moves between tension and humor, sentiment and meaning, uncertainty and resolution. The movie never wastes its time to pull out tears or laughs from the audience. All the enjoyment flows out naturally and uncontrived. Nor is the director's artistry on parade. Rather the film's beauty is subtle and supportive. The cross-cultural clashes are much more bilateral and accurate than in the more acclaimed "Lost in Translation." Though the "coming out" theme is old, this handling of it is fresh; and the script is well written. The cast works very well together. I wish I could see more of them. I'd especially like to see some other of Hiromoto Ida's works. I also very much appreciated Anna Ferguson and Alec Willows in this.