Indie – Page 20 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“I Carry You With Me”

By Brett_G on July 17, 2021July 17, 2021

8.1

First, this is a love story. Then, it’s a family drama. Then, it’s a life and death struggle for survival action thriller. Then, it’s a documentary chronicling the political fallout and collateral damage of immigration policy. I could have gone for any one of these and been satisfied, but they checked every boxed and blew every one of them out of the water.

Cinematography-wise, the face closeups, I think, were intended to convey intimacy between the two lovers but ended up just being distracting for me as half of them were out of focus. I was also driven insane by the unnecessary shaky cam used throughout for no apparent reason. These were my only two gripes about the film.

The beauty of food and the way it can transcend countries and language barriers, bringing people together. The power of love, regardless of distance or any other barrier that may be dropped in the couple’s way. This film is all about facing insurmountable odds, sacrifice, and love. It was well worth the subtitles.

Drama Indie

“Pig”

By Brett_G on July 17, 2021July 17, 2021

8.1

I cried during the pig movie. I’ll admit it.

I’m also beginning to thing Nicholas Cage has a new rider in his contracts that he is to say no more than 15-20 words per film.

Also also, I unwittingly saw 3 chef-centric films last night. Did not see that one coming.

On the surface, think “John Wick.” But instead of a dog, a pig. Instead of Keanu Reeves, Nicholas Cage. There’s a sweet car, and a guy comes back from the dead to kick ass and take names.

Digging deeper, this film has a lot going on. There is a lot of wisdom woven into this script, from the meta-commentary on the nature of success and the intimacy of the culinary arts to the value of friendship. I did not expect the depth that begins to unfold in the third act but was left in awe of how impressed I was by the time the credits rolled.

Every Nic Cage movie, I’m reminded of this scene from “Community”…

Drama Indie

“Zola”

By Brett_G on July 11, 2021

5.8

Not what I expected from A24. Or really from a stripper movie. This was dumber than “Showgirls,” and that’s saying something. I guess the lesson here is don’t ever base a movie script off a chain of tweet and reddit threads. I don’t even think they re-wrote and polished them. Just printed screenshots and ran with it.

Another valuable lesson – don’t go to Florida with a stripper you just met to go dance. Especially when she travels with a duo of… questionable men.

I’ll fully admit that I may have missed some deeper meaning here, but I also feel almost as resentfully confused as I was walking out of “Uncut Gems.” Also slightly offended? Let’s just say I have new frown lines and almost lost my voice yelling “WTF?!?” at the screen throughout the runtime. (Don’t worry, I was the only one in the theater)

Horror/Thriller Indie

“Inside”

By Brett_G on June 14, 2021June 13, 2021

7.5

WHAT DID I JUST WATCH?!?!

^Me through most of this movie.

Solid recommendation on this one! A super-tight claustrophobic thriller that kept up its believability and tension the entire runtime. Where most will stumble with minor details, this film doesn’t lose itself in becoming too crazy or too over the top. Similar to “The Strangers,” it invades your safe space and leaves you deeply disturbed despite the momentary victorious comfort at the close of the finale. The crime statistics at the beginning of the film perfectly set the tone for what’s to come. (It’s insane that this is a thing.) Well written, well acted, well put together. Well worth an hour and a half.

Horror/Thriller Indie

“Censor”

By Brett_G on June 13, 2021June 13, 2021

8.7

“Horror is already out there, in all of us.”

File this one alongside “Midsommar,” “It Follows,” and “Hereditary.” The originality and intelligence on display here are off the charts!

From the score to the cinematography, everything is as razor-sharp and as detail-oriented as Enid’s discretion as a member of the British Film Ratings Board. There are so many clues in the dialogue and scenes that this shouldn’t have caught me by surprise as strongly as it did, but nonetheless, I was left in a daze by the finale. This is not your traditional slasher-thriller, though it might play off of many of the same tropes and allegories.

This film perfectly encapsulates what I love most about the genre. Great films help us contextualize and process things in our world that we may have difficulty approaching traditionally. The irony in Enid being a film rating specialist who becomes numb to the violence she witnesses and suppresses, similar to the trauma in her real-life being her downfall, was superb. The very thing she is trying to save others from becomes the thing she can’t keep herself from. As I said earlier, there are many verbal and visual clues along the way in this film that come full circle. Some even in the trailer. My jaw still dropped multiple times.

Processing of disbelief aside, I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for something out of the ordinary and thought provoking. It’s not the scariest, it’s not the bloodiest, but it is so perfectly crafted that you can’t help but appreciate the art at its highest form on the silver screen.