Dec 20, 2021·edited Dec 20, 2021Liked by Roy Edroso
-there are things we need more than we need to be who we think we are-
40 years from now when someone googles " Ed Roso quotes" that will be number 3.
Thanks for the review.The news is laughably grim and I'm ready for a moratorium, at least through the holiday though maybe for the rest of my life.
I watched "Persona" again last winter, a film all about identity. Your quote could easily be slipped into post Persona chat at the coffee shop and everyone would nod in affirmation, (all the while hating you because they couldn't think of anything half as cogent to say themselves.)
Now I want to see the film. Can't ask for any more than that!
I saw the title of the movie on the marquee of the Nuart. When I heard about this movie, I thought it could be good if handled right. The other review I heard mentioned the fact the cast for the Uncle Vanya production was made up of people speaking different languages, and I felt that alone could be interesting. But I cannot get the Beatles song out of my head when I see or think of the title.
I read a review of this film which mentioned that the all-important car was a Saab 900. Having owned one of these many years ago I thought I couldn't possibly revisit that trauma just for the sake of a movie. However, your terrific review has changed my mind, although I'll have to wait until it's streamed somewhere. (I'll still be waiting for the clutch cable to snap at the worst possible moment.)
Mar 27, 2022·edited Mar 27, 2022Liked by Roy Edroso
I just got home from seeing it. I'm sure it would have taken me at least 100 guesses to come up with communication as the answer to the question of what that movie was about. I just don't see it. Is communication one of Murakami's typical themes? Is Uncle Vanya about communication? I'm thinking not, but perhaps I'm wrong?
The movie, as it is a very good movie, is about a lot of things. Storytelling, to name one. But as it is basically Murakami retelling Checkov, it largely will be about what those authors are about. In this case, I'd say isolation, and the necessity to trudge onward regardless, is the common theme that best unites the authors and the disparate elements of the story. That they use storytelling to help them trudge on through their isolation is a Murakami layer on top of the Checkov.
I haven't seen all of the Oscar nominated pictures, but am fairly confident that this must be the best among them. Before seeing this I would have chosen Card Counter as the likely best picture from the past year, but now it's very close and if I had to choose I'd probably go with Drive My Car. I thought it was an excellent film and what I found most excellent about it was how it effectively told a characteristically Murakami story in a characteristically Murakami way in a visual medium and managed to re-tell Uncle Vanya in a compelling manner at the same time. Either of those would be a great accomplishment. To manage both was special.
Another thing that really impressed me was the sound design. I thought it was incredible throughout. It was mostly subtle and quiet, and it would periodically veer off into some very strange soundscapes. Along with all the footage of a car being driven around a large Japanese city, I was often reminded of the Tokyo driving scene in Solaris (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rswYl7RLRNE).
From a visual perspective, I was uninspired by the cinematography in the early parts of the film, but it got much more interesting as it went along. I think it kind of changed gears when he had her drive him around Hiroshima just to see the sites, or places she liked. The snow scene near the end had some incredible frames.
Just watched pursuant to our film club meeting in a couple weeks. Was conscious of the "wanting to see what happens next" urge that Roy mentioned in re another film.
Note to web-savvys here: Since I nominated the film, I'm also leading the discussion for the club. One thing I depend(ed) on for analysis: I used to be able to take a screen grab from a flick so I could go back later to study the frame, and look for subtle details. Now Prime blocks that by making any screen grab of a film just a black sheet of nothing. Anyone got a workaround?
This isn’t a remake of “Baby Driver”? Ok, sounds good. Which of the available eighty seven streaming services has it?
-there are things we need more than we need to be who we think we are-
40 years from now when someone googles " Ed Roso quotes" that will be number 3.
Thanks for the review.The news is laughably grim and I'm ready for a moratorium, at least through the holiday though maybe for the rest of my life.
I watched "Persona" again last winter, a film all about identity. Your quote could easily be slipped into post Persona chat at the coffee shop and everyone would nod in affirmation, (all the while hating you because they couldn't think of anything half as cogent to say themselves.)
Now I want to see the film. Can't ask for any more than that!
I saw the title of the movie on the marquee of the Nuart. When I heard about this movie, I thought it could be good if handled right. The other review I heard mentioned the fact the cast for the Uncle Vanya production was made up of people speaking different languages, and I felt that alone could be interesting. But I cannot get the Beatles song out of my head when I see or think of the title.
I read a review of this film which mentioned that the all-important car was a Saab 900. Having owned one of these many years ago I thought I couldn't possibly revisit that trauma just for the sake of a movie. However, your terrific review has changed my mind, although I'll have to wait until it's streamed somewhere. (I'll still be waiting for the clutch cable to snap at the worst possible moment.)
That last paragraph, Roy--But there are things we need more than we need to be who we think we are,--You may be in danger of achieving wisdom.
I just got home from seeing it. I'm sure it would have taken me at least 100 guesses to come up with communication as the answer to the question of what that movie was about. I just don't see it. Is communication one of Murakami's typical themes? Is Uncle Vanya about communication? I'm thinking not, but perhaps I'm wrong?
The movie, as it is a very good movie, is about a lot of things. Storytelling, to name one. But as it is basically Murakami retelling Checkov, it largely will be about what those authors are about. In this case, I'd say isolation, and the necessity to trudge onward regardless, is the common theme that best unites the authors and the disparate elements of the story. That they use storytelling to help them trudge on through their isolation is a Murakami layer on top of the Checkov.
I haven't seen all of the Oscar nominated pictures, but am fairly confident that this must be the best among them. Before seeing this I would have chosen Card Counter as the likely best picture from the past year, but now it's very close and if I had to choose I'd probably go with Drive My Car. I thought it was an excellent film and what I found most excellent about it was how it effectively told a characteristically Murakami story in a characteristically Murakami way in a visual medium and managed to re-tell Uncle Vanya in a compelling manner at the same time. Either of those would be a great accomplishment. To manage both was special.
Another thing that really impressed me was the sound design. I thought it was incredible throughout. It was mostly subtle and quiet, and it would periodically veer off into some very strange soundscapes. Along with all the footage of a car being driven around a large Japanese city, I was often reminded of the Tokyo driving scene in Solaris (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rswYl7RLRNE).
From a visual perspective, I was uninspired by the cinematography in the early parts of the film, but it got much more interesting as it went along. I think it kind of changed gears when he had her drive him around Hiroshima just to see the sites, or places she liked. The snow scene near the end had some incredible frames.
Just watched pursuant to our film club meeting in a couple weeks. Was conscious of the "wanting to see what happens next" urge that Roy mentioned in re another film.
Note to web-savvys here: Since I nominated the film, I'm also leading the discussion for the club. One thing I depend(ed) on for analysis: I used to be able to take a screen grab from a flick so I could go back later to study the frame, and look for subtle details. Now Prime blocks that by making any screen grab of a film just a black sheet of nothing. Anyone got a workaround?