VicBooth Reviews

The Two Pamelas (2016)

A charming throwback to pulp LA noir

[8/10 · 5 December 2013]

Fans of the hardboiled detective genre will immediately recognize the title's reference to the classic 'The Two Jakes' and the pulp novel poster. The film follows that general theme as it goes on but, by being based in the present, stays wisely in the region of homages rather than a pastiche, The same way The Big Lebowski incorporated many of the narrative tropes of classic noir detective films and still remained a relevant comedy, The Two Pamelas does the same with its visuals themes, making it a taut and, at times, brutal contemporary thriller. The sepia tones, Dutch angles and almost asynchronous dialogue are charmingly out of place in the modern setting, almost like Pleasantville.

The film follows the investigation of a casting director's murder and the various suspects that arise from it, leading to quite a gripping third act that seems almost from a James Ellroy novel. Although often conceptually unoriginal, it does manage to create intrigue where others often fall short.

The film finds fault in its digital format and texture, where some of the visuals feel incongruous with such a modern look. But at the same time, paradoxes are what makes the Two Pamelas fun in the first place. A good effort, for a low budget film.

Mud (2012)

Looking for adulthood in all the wrong places

[7/10 · 26 November 2013]

At first, the film seem follows the classic precocious-small-town coming-of-age-drama, where a boy is pitted against the anxiety created by needing to change and move forward. To those ends, our protagonist has a petulant best friend, parents with a troubled marriage, pursues an older girl and forms an inappropriate friendship with and adult named Mud(McConaughey) with a seemingly shady past, who he strongly admires for his independence and untamed masculinity.

Pretty boiler plate, so far.

Where Mud really finds distinction is in the way these almost cliché coming-of-age elements play out. Where one would typically find triumph or a valuable lesson learned from love lost, one finds that even with love, every human being is unavoidably selfish and fallible. Where one would find compromise and hard-earned self-respect, one instead finds that process of life can't be negotiated with. And when it normally turns out that hero worship leads to actualization or disillusionment, you're shown that such a polarity is ridiculous.

The acting is almost effortlessly authentic and raw. McConaughey and Tye Sheridan are charming in their disregard for charm. Although Sheridan's involvement automatically draws comparisons with Tree of Life, which shares many themes with Mud and it's obviously visually influenced by Mallick and his strong focus on nature.

Mud is a film for those who enjoy their tropes warped in front of them, taking something that's become a little trite and giving it the realism treatment, while still retaining a fairy tale quality.