Suddenly, Last February

Cary Grant showering | 1

directed by NOAH BAUMBACH
with GRETA GERWIG

After all the love thrown around the web for this one, I was rather excited to finally sit down and watch Baumbach’s latest picture. He’s a director that I’ve grown to appreciate over the last few years, wining me over with his first feature film, The Squid and the Whale. Greenberg was a little harder to digest, but one thing to easily like about it was actress Greta Gerwig. She has an appeal that is hard to describe… I can’t quite put my finger on it. It’s nothing superficial, but rather a state of being, a certain way she behaves when on screen, like the camera is not there. 

That same casualness fills the movie Frances Ha with a very unique feeling, breathing luminous light into a compelling story and character. I’ve seen it twice now, the second time simply to capture all its wondrous shots for a Film Aesthetics post, since this is also a gorgeous, gorgeous movie. 

Though one of the most talked about movies of 2011, I somehow never got around to watch it until now. I’ve never encountered anyone who didn’t like it, and with good reason: here’s a good film that is also highly entertaining, that is both interesting and a good laugh. Emma Stone was great, Viola Davis brought emotional depth to the screen for the second time this month (first with Doubt), and I now worship Octavia Spencer. All in all, the cast was good and the story will have you glued to the screen, whilst shedding another light into the not so distant past of racial oppression. Did you also notice Mike Vogel, or was I the only one who watched Pan Am?

I watched Doubt for our Interesting Movie of the Fortnight special on actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. I’ve shared my thoughts on the film there, saying that it not only features a masterful performance from the late actor – and from Streep and Adams too – but it is also a movie that everyone should watch for the message it conveys.

Doubt tells the story of a catholic school nun (Streep) who raises questions about the relationship between a priest (Hoffman) and one of the students. She is certain that he is molesting the child, while he firmly asserts that her allegations are not true. Between them is a younger nurse (Adams) who can’t find firm ground to form an opinion on. Regardless of the truth, the priest’s life is destroyed, and in this lies the two main themes of this film: one, is the reckless impulse to judge based on irrational arguments such as a feeling, or an inner certainty; the other, is the devastating consequences of acting on prejudice, of spreading dangerous rumours – even if with the best of intentions.

Jarmusch’s vampire tale was a huge surprise. I expected a peculiar, atmospheric film with good performances, and it is and has all of that, but it also has a couple of simple yet inspiring messages that made it not only entertaining but also a meaningful watch.

I have one post lined up about the set design, and will be working on an article with my thoughts on the movie itself this week, so I don’t want to give too much away for now. In the meantime, be sure to catch this one when you can, knowing only that you may love it or hate it. One last word for Hiddleston and Swinton working together, that was one inspired casting choice.