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copperhead123
Reviews
Unknown: Cave of Bones (2023)
Ego trip
These paleontologists are clearly passionate about their field of inquiry, and the subject matter is fascinating.
I do want to comment, though, on a scene I found unfortunate (if somewhat risible).
Expedition lead Lee Berger spends much of the movie bemoaning the fact he has been unable to visit the inner sanctum of the cave, which is accessed via a perilous and extremely narrow passageway, because he is "too large."
However toward the end of the expedition he suddenly announces to the crew that he will in fact visit the chamber that day. He says he is ready and feels "very fit." Some of the team are clearly surprised. One says (to the camera): "It's going to be a long day."
The next scenes feature the strenuous efforts of the team to shoehorn Berger through the narrow passageway. This clearly involves pain and strain (and worry) on the part of everyone. At one point Berger gets stuck and a team member needs to use a chisel to widen the passage so he can get through. It all ends safely, but the entire episode struck me not only as massively egotistical (and off-topic), but frankly irresponsible. Berger was willing to put his team into a clearly dangerous position to end his FOMO, and it didn't look like anyone else felt comfortable calling him on it. Pretty sad - and irresponsible.
The Blind Mouse (2019)
Amazing Amy Lyn
Wow - there's a strange and unexpected twist at the end of this film. (Actually, two strange twists.) Fine production values and another great performance by Amy Lyn Elliott!
The Next Shot You Hear (2017)
Amy Lyn Elliott is fun to watch
This is a dense, claustrophobic exploration. Mysterious noises; a nervous phone call from the basement. The conversation whipsaws across the emotional spectrum: panic, remorse, impatience, nostalgia, anger. The best line comes near the beginning, speculating about whoever is making all the racket upstairs: "When something like this happens, it's always a man." Hah!
The visual details reflect the banal "horrors" of modern suburbia. It's a dreary environment, punctuated by existential despair. Household chemicals, appliances, domestic clutter. There's a slow pan across a bare ceiling light bulb, which nowadays is a CFL.
I've seen Amy Lyn Elliott before, and she's pretty magnetic. When the real action gets going toward the end, she takes a star turn and shows off the character's true colors. Nicely done.
The Wait for Innocence (2013)
Good twist
This is a short film about a man's frantic and confused search for his lost daughter. The action takes place in his neighbor's kitchen. The two characters are unassuming "regular guys," encouraging the viewer's empathy. The men react to each other in flat, affectless tones, as though they're compelled to play out stereotypical everyman identities. Eventually the conversation veers into unexpected territory and true agendas are revealed. There are some off-kilter uses of timing and camera angles that create a sense of uneasiness and hallucinogenic unreality. In its slow movement from blandness to horror, the film reminds me of "Bug" (one of my all-time favorite films). There's a marvelous twist about halfway through. I couldn't look away.