lady924642003 Reviews

A Ghost Story (2017)

Could have worked out better as a short film

[1/10 · 16 November 2019]

I have seen a lot of movies. Some of them were bad, some good, and some great. I don't even know where to put A Ghost Story. Definitely not good or great, and bad is not a good word for it either.

I watched it all the way through. I gave it a chance. I really did. It started out fine, though, I wondered why it held a static shot for so long with no action, dialog or music. I thought, okay, fine. I see it's wanting to be one of "those" films, which I like.

But those kind of shots kept coming. Over and over again I became bored with watching nothing. I must have fast-forwarded this movie at least 8 times to get past the photograph I was watching in a movie. There was about 5 minutes of dialog within the first hour, then when the dialog did come, it was from one person who talked for 5 minutes. I liked what was said, and I thought the movie would rectify itself in the last half hour. It didn't.

I know what this movie was trying to do, but for me, it failed miserably. It possibly could have worked out better as a 10 minute short film.

Set Fire to the Stars (2014)

A beautifully scripted and photographed piece of cinema

[9/10 · 9 August 2015]

At times my poetic prowess reaches as far as "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish." Most prose filled literature bounce over my head, but I'm not totally blind to the verse language.

There are a number of movies that have come along to awaken my vernacular intellect. Adaptations of Shakespearean works such as Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III and Othello. Modern films like The Remains of the Day, Six Degrees of Separation, Agnes of God, Inglourious Basterds, even the romantic comedy Roxanne have dialog that's swept from a Broadway stage dripping with idyllic narratives. I can now add Set Fire to the Stars on this list.

My first impression of the semi-autobiographical film of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas' first visit to America by the hands of John Malcolm Brinnin took me to a place where I thought I should be marveling at the actors and sets in a stage play. The lines that leap from the screenplay makes me grateful to be a fan of films such as this. Every now and then one comes along that utilizes speech in a way that makes it masterful.

My second impression instantly made me revel at the glossy black and white cinematography. It's punchier, brighter and crisper than any monochrome 1950s movie I've seen. I can't get that image of New York City's skyline with falling snowflakes out of my head. It reminded me a snow-globe in which the city glowed and shimmered like the energetic place it is.

Other than the stark imagery, the performances are just as captivating. It's both difficult and entrancing to watch Celyn Jones bring the poet to life. To see someone recklessly destroy himself as well as those around him should make one appalled. When Dylan is stripped from New York City and taken to John's quiet country home, it's sort of like caging a wild lion. In the DVD outtake he says to John, "It's like a Presbyterian wake." Dylan does get loose and has a unique way of alluring people to him. He also has a knack of alienating them. It's not due to his celebrity, but his inclination with words and brash demeanor. Celyn as Thomas is a being who is poetry in motion. He's both devil and angel, moral and corrupt, bitter and sweet, tears and laughter.

Elijah Wood is suited well in this period piece with the look of a classic actor from the era in which the film is set. As opposed to Dylan, there's not much known about John Brinnin. However, the way Elijah portrays the Harvard scholar, he makes us believe the literary critic to be reserved but holds a powerful status. We struggle with John every step of the way as he wants to be a colleague and advocate but instead is diminished to a caretaker and scapegoat. Despite all this John is still an admirer. In one scene he watches Thomas recite his poem "And Death Shall Have No Dominion" to the Yale big wigs. Dylan fumbles at first then settles in. The camera closes in on John and you can feel the admiration in his eyes while the others show little sign of validation. Elijah delivers in this film just as eloquently as Celyn.

Together, Elijah and Celyn poured themselves into these men and brought a precarious relationship to the screen. One is loose while the other restrained. John pushed Dylan as much as Dylan pushed John. The two were like oil and vinegar but when mixed properly, they delivered a savory retort. There was a bit of a montage of them working intently on their upcoming engagement at Yale. I would have loved to witness more of that collaboration and listened how they discussed, agreed and bickered. It was a quiet battle between them and when all seemed good, one did something to destroyed what they had working.

The supporting cast is great composed of Shirley and Stanley, a married couple who live near Brinnin's lake home, coming in to have a wild evening of drinking and story-telling. Rosie, a spunky little waitress in a diner and Jack, John's adversary from Yale who wants to see John fail knowing the attitude of Thomas. One of the stronger scenes is the apparition of Dylan's wife Caitlin. Throughout the movie there is a letter from her that Dylan refuses to open. It scares him to do so and that bothers John deeply.

When Caitlin appears to Dylan, she speaks and taunts him with her poetry on why he left her and their children and why he had to. This exchange arouses Dylan to behave in the manner John has been wanting him to act since they met. John is now upset by what Dylan's wife may have written and says, "What did that woman say? What did she say that awoke you from your dream? I need to know. What is it she can scribble down in her violent, cheap-hand that eclipses my entire being?" After they struggle about, Dylan brings the movie to its purpose. "Don't open a book." he says. "Open a window," explaining to John life is in right front of him.

It's hard to believe they shot this film in 18 days. One would think it took months to complete if not for the dialog alone. Not knowing Thomas' work, it doesn't bother me that his poems are not recited in their entirety. I'm glad in fact. As I said, most poems need to rhyme for me to understand them, but just enough of them are spoken to help the screenplay along. But if you're aching to hear them, they are recited by Celyn in the DVD extras.

If this were to be in the running at the Oscars, I could see Set Fire to the Stars getting a nod for cinematography and screenplay. Celyn Jones and writer/director Andy Goddard penned a beautifully scripted and photographed piece of cinema.

Wilfred (2011–2014)

Wilfred Pilot Review

[10/10 · 11 June 2011]

After given the chance to review the pilot of Wilfred, I know exactly why the people at FX Networks chose to add it to its lineup. It's absolutely hilarious! From someone who is paid to do this, James Hibberd from Entertainment Weekly has called Wilfred the funniest pilot he's seen since Modern Family and I have to agree.

FX being an innovative network has chosen for American audiences a brash Australian sitcom that stars the original actor, Jason Gann in the title role. Joining him is Elijah Wood as Ryan, a man so bent out of shape he feels there's no way out so he tries to commit suicide and he can't even do that right. Fiona Gubelmann plays Jenna, the new girl next door and Wilfred's owner. Dorian Brown who portrays Ryan's uptight sister, Kristen, completes the leading cast.

Wilfred is set in a quaint community in Los Angeles California. The audience follows along through Ryan's disillusioned eyes as he tries to get a grip on reality. Trotting into a pivotal point in his life is a dog. Everyone else sees a cute, lovable pooch but Ryan sees a man in a dog costume.

Both man and beast are leery but Wilfred settles in and Ryan has to get over his shock to accept the fact he has. Ryan walks, feeds and runs after Wilfred like any rambunctious pet. When others come into the scene, the audience and Ryan are jolted to the fact that Wilfred is not a man but a dog. It's in these instances that takes Ryan on a new level of hysteria and makes for humorous circumstances.

On my first viewing of the pilot, my own dog was laying beside me and I laughed so loudly and so often, I scared the poor girl. It made me wonder what she may have said to me in those moments.

Wilfred may not fit everyones tastes but for someone who isn't bothered in the least by profanity and yes, sometimes vulgar humor will enjoy Wilfred immensely. I believe this is because the crudeness is smoothed over by wit.

The acting is sharp and cunning and in Wilfred's case, his bite is worse than his bark. Other than talking, drinking and getting high, Wilfred behaves like any dog. Not to be cliché but Gann wears the dog suit perfectly. He's lovable and sweet though more times impetuous and you feel he needs the sting of a rolled up newspaper but he turns around and gives lessons and shares his wisdom that Ryan can take to heart.

For those who have some reservations about Wood's comedic talents, you can put them to rest. It's not that he's setting out to be humorous, but is simply reacting to odd and perplexing situations and those lead to some hysterical moments. I'd put this in the category of "funny man, straight man" comedy and it's Elijah's strong ability to give emotions to his characters without saying much at all that makes him perfect for this bewildered individual.

Gubelmann brings an air of lightheartedness to the show's gritty premise and sassy Brown's pretentious older sister will undoubtedly bring further mayhem with her intimidation. The timing during collective dialogs between the characters is amusing and a testament to the smart, creative and imaginative writing.

The cinematography is ingenious that when Ryan drifts inside of himself, things around him diminish but only enough where he's still within the realm of his surroundings. The whimsical music and sound editing co-exists perfectly with the camera work which emphasizes the psychosis running amok in Ryan's mind. Wilfred not only tickled my funny bone but my senses as well.

In the end, the question remains who's the man and who's the best friend? Perhaps at some point that will be known but until then, Wilfred should be entertaining and an adventure to find out