We Need to Talk About Kevin (2011)
For me it was one of the most anticipated films of 2011. And it amazingly exceeds my expectations. But I think it won't satisfy everyone here. Anyway, this may looks like an interesting new take on an "Evil Child" story from its trailer, but this is not our typical killer kid film. Based on American author Lionel Shriver's 2003 novel of the same name, this is actually more of a very gripping & unsettling psychological drama about a mother, Eva, who was ambivalence toward maternity...about her first born child Kevin; as she wasn't sure if she really wanted a child at that time. On the other hand, Kevin, a strange, largely silent, cynical, often malevolent child who as grows older, eerily become hostile toward her mother; only Eva's husband aka Kevin's father Franklin, hoping for the best, manages to overlook his son's faults...eventually results a series of domestic disturbance from a dread mother-son relationship and we see the birth of a cold-blooded sociopath.
Masterfully directed by Lynne Ramsay, the film goes back & forth by slowly revealing Eva's tortured & emotionally devastating past & present through her everyday guilt-ridden struggle to understand & cope with her son, Kevin.
Besides the excellent figurative direction, the lead cast & their performance also amplifies the film's strength to a great deal. Particularly the child & young actors played Kevin at his two different age and Tilda Swinton, who was incredible as Eva, a terrified suburban mother bearing the ramification of her sociopath son, who later becomes alienated by guilt & anger after losing everything!
Overall, this is an arty psychological horror film (which I expected from
Martha Marcy May Marlene but failed terribly) focusing an unflinching battle of wills & dominance between a petrified mother and her sociopath son.
>>: A
Final Destination 5 (2011)
Most of the death scenes weren't cool & creative, the cast & characters were very average BUT this 5th entry at least comes with a decent & better story than the earlier sequels and a pretty interesting little surprise at the end. I appreciate their effort to doing something little different this time. Though I have a doubt but this can be a good "end" to the series.
>>: B+
Balada triste de trompeta aka The Last Circus (2010)
Quote:
Originally Posted by fortunato
Ho-lee cow.
This is one of the craziest film experiences I've had in some time. A fairly tongue-in-cheek allegory of extremes in Franco's Spain, it's told through the story of a twisted love triangle between a sad clown, a happy clown, and a beautiful trapeze artist that is at once completely absorbing, engrossing. The film just flies by.
It reminds me a bit of The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover, too, in that it represents these extremes with its production. In the real sense of the word, this film completely absurd. Every frame is loaded with color and movement, the darkest humor, and (sometimes goofy) extravagant violence. It is that rare, spot-on blend of eye-rolling pulp and art-house spectacle. And it's held all together with a clear sincerity. The ideas and inspirations behind the film are strong. Performances are great, the cinematography is a marvel. Even without its commentary, The Last Circus is an unbelievable work.
However, it does suffer at times from some conspicuous CGI, but for me at least, it was easy to forgive.
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Couldn't agree more and can't describe better than above...only I can say it's a totally unpredictable, magnificent mayhem of a love triangle that's a must see for everyone.
Thanks a lot for the rec, Fortu :)
>>: A-