06-30-2016, 02:02 PM
The Lobster - 2016 - 6/10
Non-spoiler review (highly recommend watching and knowing as little as possible going in)
I was really engaged in this movie for the first half or so. I have not seen Dogtooth but heard enough about it to know I was getting into something weird here. I thoroughly enjoyed Colin Farrell's performance in this movie, I like the almost affectation-less style the director is generally going for. The half of the film in the Hotel itself was gripping and entertaining. I laughed multiple times and felt the full range of emotions. The satire was biting and the messaging sharp. From the opening scene (which is a real WTF moment if you do not know the central premise of this film) I was hooked.
And then the story changed up the scenery. This half really fell flat for me. I completely understand the point and all that but it was much more difficult to get through. The oft-so-brilliant-that-people-don't-realize-how-brilliant John C. Reilly is great, there are characters which both inject humor (some very dark) and act as perfect thematic representations. The second half is dominated by characters which are not very pleasant and the metaphors become super on-the-nose. Okay, many throughout are but when they're done with pinache and humor it's all good.
In the end, this was a fascinating movie that left me thinking about life, the universe and everything (okay, maybe just love). I imagine parts will stick with me for years.
Failure at the box office I think. Much like Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Green Room, Midnight Special and Neon Demon, most people continue to say they are sick of movies based on existing IP and long for more original, smaller, creative movies but then do not actually go see original, smaller, creative movies. Sigh.
Non-spoiler review (highly recommend watching and knowing as little as possible going in)
I was really engaged in this movie for the first half or so. I have not seen Dogtooth but heard enough about it to know I was getting into something weird here. I thoroughly enjoyed Colin Farrell's performance in this movie, I like the almost affectation-less style the director is generally going for. The half of the film in the Hotel itself was gripping and entertaining. I laughed multiple times and felt the full range of emotions. The satire was biting and the messaging sharp. From the opening scene (which is a real WTF moment if you do not know the central premise of this film) I was hooked.
And then the story changed up the scenery. This half really fell flat for me. I completely understand the point and all that but it was much more difficult to get through. The oft-so-brilliant-that-people-don't-realize-how-brilliant John C. Reilly is great, there are characters which both inject humor (some very dark) and act as perfect thematic representations. The second half is dominated by characters which are not very pleasant and the metaphors become super on-the-nose. Okay, many throughout are but when they're done with pinache and humor it's all good.
In the end, this was a fascinating movie that left me thinking about life, the universe and everything (okay, maybe just love). I imagine parts will stick with me for years.
Failure at the box office I think. Much like Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Green Room, Midnight Special and Neon Demon, most people continue to say they are sick of movies based on existing IP and long for more original, smaller, creative movies but then do not actually go see original, smaller, creative movies. Sigh.
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