Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
6.2
Half-human, half-lamb. There you go. Then there’s a centaur at the end. No idea what the Beach Boys song is there for.
It’s all in Icelandic. I just saved you two hours of your life. To think, this was one of my most anticipated watches of last year… yikes.
8.1
This film makes about as much sense as the title. Be warned.
That being said, all involved deliver brilliant performances in this twisted tale of fame, romance, adolescence, entrepreneurship, showbusiness, and politics. This struck me as a cross between “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” More running than any film this side of a Tom Cruise flick, this film’s soundtrack will make you want to dance in the aisles. Fascinating, inventive camera shots. A fun, inspiring original plot. A marvelous addition to Oscar season.
7.9
Serene Simplicity
This film accomplishes so much with so little on the screen. The meaning of every frame, every action, every word is magnified by the framing of this journey to enlightenment we find these characters on. It’s definitely one you have to focus on to catch the details in order to fully enjoy. The meaning of life, the meaning of the connection between beings, purpose, societal constructs… all tackled with a breathtaking balance by the time the credits roll. Definitely not a popcorn flick. Don’t watch when you want to mush-mind. When you want a thinker, this is it for 2021. It’s just as strange as the trailer would lead you to believe, but much more profound and fulfilling than one would expect walking in.
7.3
A mouthful of air, a heart full of sadness, and eyes full of tears.
Holy crap, this movie is sad. But, it does a phenomenal job of shaping a narrative and framing things so that, as a viewer, you feel deeply connected to the actors’ emotions on the screen. You can feel the tension of some scenes in your soul.
Some of the dialogue was a bit shallow for such a deep, rich story, but it didn’t distract too much from the incredible impact of the overall picture.
Content Warning: If you are sensitive to the subject of suicide, beware.
If you are reading this and could use a listening ear and assistance, https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ is a phenomenal resource.
8.1
The sister film to “Censor” from earlier this year.
From the first frame to the last, you will be on the edge of your seat with your head cocked, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. I’m going to be honest; you probably still won’t know when the credits roll. If you do happen to figure it out, let me know. I’m still processing what I just saw.
In a tale reminiscent of the “Max Headroom” broadcast signal intrusion in the ’80s, this film journeys down the rabbit hole to explore human nature, obsession, love, friendship, paranoia, and our need to make sense of the world around us. The reason I compare it to “Censor” is that it also analyzes what happens when one envelopes themselves in the darkness of the world for too long and the effects it has on them and their interactions with the world. Spoiler alert, it gets weird.
The most effective part of this film to me was the tie-in to an actual life event that haunted us as a society in real life. Something is unsettling about the still-unsolved crime. The way it fractured our peaceful plane of existence and was never fully resolved makes for a strong base for a horror movie. Silly as the prank may have been, there’s something rather sinister about it that makes it feel discomforting. That feeling of unease covers this entire film, bathing it in well-earned intrigue, waiting to see where the twists and turns will lead next.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 