The Killing Of A Sacred Deer

The Killing Of A Sacred Deer was released in 2017 and was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The film follows a seemingly very happy family. The father Steven, played by Collin Farrell, and mother Anna, Nicole Kidman, have two children who seem to be doing well at school, well-paying jobs, a beautiful home, are respected in their fields and seen as pillars of their community. However, Steven has a dark part of his past as a surgeon sticking to him, Martin (Barry Keoghan) who slowly worms his way into Steven’s social and personal life, and as his intentions become clearer, begins to spark chaos in his perfect, pristine life.

One thing that the film does well is its pacing. The first act of the movie may seem slow and even boring, but it shows that the filmmakers are patient, and building up to important plot points and events by placing subtle hints and foreshadows in the time where not much is really happening. This captures our attention when the pace picks up and peoples true intentions are revealed, and also gives plenty of time to build mystery, suspense, and introduce/establish characters. The time taken, for example, to build and emphasise how truly perfect and seemingly spotless Steven’s life is makes the slow and painful downfall of it more powerful and involving for the audience.

The cinematography of The Killing Of A Sacred Deer is also very notable. The shots are often long and wide, giving the characters plenty of space to move around screen. This creates the atmosphere of the film, which is tense, and often feels like something is missing. The way that the characters talk and interact also conveys this. They seem to have such a happy and perfect life, yet all seem devoid of any emotion or feelings. It is akin to how psychopaths are depicted in other films, like they are using people to suit their own purposes. It makes the people feel fake, unreal and distrust worthy, bringing into question who the real villain is. The obsessive and intrusive martin, or violent and impatient Steven. It is a theme that the film portrays excellently and when the revenge aspect of the plot is revealed, it brings into play themes of morality and justification, which give the film a deep inner-meaning. The close-shots used when people are talking one to one also creates the feeling of claustrophobia, making the audience feel trapped, much like Steven does at points in the film, portraying his descent into madness without words.

The sound design in the film is also very impressive. Often long periods of silence are inserted to keep focus on the dialogue and the subtle meanings and foreshadows included in what is being said. These build up to very shocking and disturbing sounds akin to an engine starting, or motor revving up. It is always used in times of distressing situations, and creates a suddenly tense and powerful scene and atmosphere. It forces the audience to become involved in the film, keeps their attention and does not let them take their eyes away from the screen. It is an interesting technique, as these unnatural sounds in the non-diegetic composed score make us feel uncomfortable to hear, therefore affecting us more. It is also used to break the perfect peace of Steven’s life, symbolising a turning point in events, and portraying just how distressed he is.

The film is also very violent. The fates of the characters is very cruel and sadistic, and, like previously mentioned, makes the audience question where justification for a wrongdoing does not justify the means. It perfectly portrays a young man obsessed with revenge, which seems justified but the film regularly blurs the line between just and unfair, and makes this character seem more and more evil as the film goes on. it also portrays a man obsessed with maintaining a perfect life, who is suddenly confronted by an imperfect part of his past , and his life begins to fall apart, along with his sanity.

Regardless of all of the films subtler meanings, the method with which revenge it taken is extremely fascinating and grim and unique. The development arcs of each character is tragic, Shakespearian almost, and done perfectly. The film also builds suspense very well, with a slow and calm events slowly escalating into stunningly gruesome and powerful scenes, moving the audience by breaking of cinematic boundaries, and eventually builds up to an extremely intense and memorable ending through its shock value and deeper meaning.The killing of a sacred deer is a staple of revenge films, suspense-building, character development and hidden meanings. That’s why I rate it 5 stars!

Blade Runner 2049: The greatest sequel ever made!

Blade Runner 2049 was released in 2017 and directed by Denis Villeneuve. It is the sequel to the 1982 classic made by Ridley Scott. The film is a sci-fi thriller that takes place in the not so distant future of Earth, where clones of humans, named replicants, are forced to work so that the rest of humanity can thrive. Our protagonist is K (Ryan Gosling), a replicant blade runner, who’s job it is to hunt down escaped replicants. But on his latest job, he has made a discovery that brings into question the morality of his job, and may decide the future of humanity.

One of the greatest shots in cinematic history!

The movie cannot be talked about without spending a good portion of the analysis on the movies visuals. Blade runner 2049 is one of the most stunning and visually striking movie’s that you will lay eyes on. The scope of the dystopian landscapes is massive, and the extreme wide shots are done perfectly to emphasise how absolutely huge the buildings are. The massive, cramped buildings, and old decaying statues all create the atmosphere of a future and alien world. This is easily one of the most aesthetically stunning films I’ve ever seen, and one of the most breathtakingly beautiful too. Every shot keeps the viewers eyes glued to the screen. I’d say this is thanks to the excellent cinematography, fascinating imagination of Denis, and amazing mise-en-scene.

The sets are completely fleshed out to invent an entirely different feel and air to each place. The massive, overpopulated cities feel dirty, cramped and dangerous. This is due to the strange and dirty clothing, and the soundtrack in these scenes is often loud and filled with surprising sounds. On the other hand, when we are in the large, replicant-producing company buildings, the lighting is much darker, and this makes it feel more clean, but also more sinister and even subtly evil.

The architecture is also mind blowing. The buildings are huge, and they all even seem like massive monsters that reach the cloud line. They perfectly accompany the dark and gloomy climate that is often present in the film, and they even come across as intimidating at times. When inside these buildings it is much the same, with giant halls that make people seem tiny and insignificant, or the enormous abandoned spaces, or dark and silent library we see in one scene. It all contributes to the movie having a grand and stunning scope, one that leaves an extremely profound impact on the audience.

A good example of how baffling yet stunning the scenery is in Blade Runner 2049.

The film does not just excel in the visual department though. The story of Blade Runner 2049 is also extremely engaging and emotional. The environment and world which the story is set in is quite miserable, but the story has a much more somber and powerful meaning. It is about a hero who does not matter in the end, and the small glimpses that we see of his inner thoughts lead us, the audience, to ponder on what he is. Human or replicant? The concept of replicants is also explored brilliantly here. We really see how cruelly they are treated by humans, and how dystopian a world is when these living, thinking beings, synthetic or not, are made to massacre each other. We also see the production of replicants in one scene, which exposes how brutal and disgusting it is. The process is similar to a birth, but the product is an adult human, which makes the sight extremely repulsive yet fascinating.

The main character, K, is also a very interesting person. We see, throughout the film, a synthetic being come to the realisation that he may be more human than he thought. This brings some philosophical questions into play, like “does this mean he’s been living his life a slave despite being a person”, or “is he the next step in human evolution?” It also puts him into an extremely dangerous situation, and flips everything that the viewer knew before on its head. It is an interesting plot twist, but is no where near as powerful and brutal as the one at the end. All of this is without mentioning how incredible Ryan Gosling’s performance is as k. He is extremely calm and reserved, since he is a replicant, but when his emotions show it is completely compelling and powerful, since they feel real and genuine, making him an extremely sympathetic character to watch.

Another thing that I like so much about this film is how well it executes the neo-noir genre. Neo-noir is a modern revival of film noir. Blade Runner 2049 does it so well by following the classic noir format of a detective with a pessimistic view on life living in a grim world as he puts together the pieces of a puzzle. This film also flips the genre on its head though, by putting it in a completely sci-fi setting. One that is unlike any other put to screen as well.

The soundtrack to the film is also remarkable. Composed by Hans Zimmer, the score perfectly matches and accompanys the settings of the film, but also adds to them. The score is powerful in emotional moments, and stunning when the scene is of a large and grand environment. It not only accompanies the film, but makes up an essential part of it, like any good score should.

I also stated in the title of this blog post that Blade Runner 2049 was and is the greatest sequel of all time. I say this because the film does not just piggyback off its predecessor, but adapts and adds to the lore and world that the story is set in. It has essential characters from the first film, and the plot in this one is a direct consequence of the one in the first, making it an actual sequel. But, at the same time, the movie has a new plot, and does not waste time on making shallow references to the first film, letting it use its time effectively. The film also has just as much, though probably more depth and power as the first Blade runner movie, with the same philosophical themes and dark outlook on the future, but new characters and lore to use to make a great film.

Because of its grim and dark atmosphere, absolutely incredible cinematography, memorable soundtrack, outstanding performances, beautiful scenery, powerful aesthetic and unforgettable moments/story that will leave an emotional impact on the audience, I think that Blade Runner 2049 is a perfect film, and on of the few sequels that is actually better than its predecessor . It is also my personal favourite film!

The Revenant

The Revenant(Alenjrando Gonzales,2015) is a historical drama that follows Hugh Glass(Leonardo DiCaprio), an American fur trapper in the 1820’s who is ruthlessly mauled by a bear, then left for dead by his co-workers, played by Tom Hardy and Will Poulter. The movie is brutal, gritty and violent, and follows the character of Hugh Glass almost constantly, as he, against the impossible odds before him, hunts the man who betrayed him for revenge.

Leonardo DiCaprio delivers one of his best ever performances in this film, one so powerful that it won him the Oscar for best actor. He perfectly portrays the image of a broken and revenge-obsessed man, with only one thing on his mind. Thoughts of violence. His past is mysterious, which draws us to him as a character, and his struggle is entirely believable too. Every hit he takes feels genuine, and you can just tell hoe tired and damaged he is by the end of the film. He actually feels like a ghost, a man who is supposed to be dead, but was killed in so brutal a way that he has come back to avenge himself and his son. A haunting performance, and one of the most investing and sympathetic character that I’ve ever seen in a film.

The movie is also stunning! The cinematography won an Oscar, as it should of. The images of 17th century America are genuinely breathtaking, and are so grand and powerful they they feel almost unreal. It also shows how unlikely Hughs’ chances are at survival, since the environment is so hazardous and intimidating. It really portrays the image of a grand, powerful environment, almost one not made for man to roam, and one that is yet in-tamed or colonised.

The film Is also incredibly violent. Usually violence in films can seem pointless, or just there for show. While violence rarely subtracts from a film, it can be used to add to it. In this, violence and gore is used to display the brutality of life at this time, in this place. It is used to portray how evil people could be, and how selfish everyone was. No one cared for another person, only looking out for themselves. It almost feels like a post-apocalyptic movie. It reduces people to their primal instinct, almost like animals. Also, the violence is used to have an impact on the audience. If the movie was not violent, then it would be less of an experience on the audience, and they’d be more likely to forget it. More violence has more of an effect on those who see it.

Another way that Gonzales immerses the audience in what is happening in the movie is by using very prolonged and lengthy shots. These often just follow characters moving between places, but, whether being used in a slow-paced scene or an action sequence, this method of filming brings the audience into the scene, making them feel like they are there surrounded by all the violence. The camera cuts between characters, but when following one, it is usually just one long continuous shot, following them but also paying attention to details in the background. This also helps build tension and show the events happening around the character were following.

The movie also splendidly helps the viewer grasp just how harsh the environment is, and immersing them in the time period. All of the costumes feel real because of the dirt and grime on them. The weapons are accurate, and the environment is cold and cruel. You feel everything that the people in the film do. You can get a very good idea of just how cold and brittle the landscape is. It is this immersion that makes The Revenant such an experience. You feel uncomfortable watching it, because you see and feel every injury inflicted on Glass, and gauge just how awful it would be to be in the situation that he’s in.

Gonzales also does an incredible job at portraying each characters motives. There are four characters in question, all of which, despite only one being the protagonist, you understand perfectly. Glass(Leonardo DiCaprio), Fitzgerald(Tom Hardy), Bridger(Will Poulter) and Henry(Domhnall Gleeson). Hugh has been betrayed and abandoned in an extremely horrible way. All he had was taken from him, right in front of his eyes, while he couldn’t do anything about it. It is a miracle that he is even alive, so all he has to life for is vengeance. Fitzgerald has found himself in a sticky situation. While serving his best interests he has left a man for dead, but now that that man is back from the dead and looking for revenge, Fitzgerald is terrified and desperate to crawl out of the hole he dug for himself, and Hugh Glass. Bridger is a young boy, terrified about what he’s been dragged into, only wanting to escape the responsibility of Fitzgerald crimes, and the consequences of his own gullibility. Henry is a local lawman, who wants to be fair and honest in his justice, but finds that more and more difficult in a world where everyone serves themselves, and revenge and chaos run rampant.

Understanding every character is crucial for gauging why people do what they do, and what leads the film to the fates of everyone. Right from the start of the film Gonzales establishes the personality’s of the the characters and their philosophies, and at the end of the film that leads them to their fates. For example, Fitzgerald has seen the darkest sides of the world, and has been tortured to the point where he can only care for himself, but that’s what leads him to ruining what’s left of Hughs life, which eventually leads to Glass handing Fitzgerald over to the Natives, the very people to made him such an evil person. Full circle.

Lastly I will touch on the more subtle undertones and meanings in the movie. The one that I noticed was the relationship between Hugh Glass and the Native Americans. At the start of the film we see that Hugh has a Native son, but this does not stop him from engaging in battles with tribes, like at the beginning of the film, where we see much violence shown from both sides, the fur trappers and Natives. So after establishing that Hugh has a personal connection with the Natives, but still is violent towards them, the movie starts. Hugh’s son is ripped away from him, and he is forced to go on a somber journey to avenge him. The hypocrisy of killing Natives but still being heart broken over his sons death shows that Hugh is a flawed person, which sets off the start of his punishment.

Throughout his quest, Hugh is both hunted by Natives and also finds comfort with them. At first he runs from them, but as the movie progresses, he meets more and more Native Americans, even establishing friends with some, and going as far as to risk his life saving one of them. His relationship with the Natives is completely subtle, and is hard to notice, except for when you think about it. It quietly improves over the film, until Hugh almost only ever see’s them. He lets a group of Natives kill Fitzgerald, and by this point at the end of the film you understand that he has completely let go, and accepted that this impossible land that has almost consumed him, ultimately belongs to those who were here first, and handing over the man he has travelled so far to kill is his form of sacrifice for his wrongdoings to them.

The film also subtly references Native American beliefs on the environment in which they lived. The grand, beautiful shots of the landscape, with Glass as such a tiny, minuscule presence in it symbolises his life being at the mercy of the world around him, almost humbling him. The film never presents Hugh as an unstoppable force, but a ghost, a husk of a man travelling through a world with no mercy, slowly accepting his fate and weakness. Native Americans used to value paying respect to the Earth and its creatures, so being mauled by a bear and forced to trek through America is a fitting punishment for Glass.

The movie even ends with Hugh seeing a vision of what we assume to be his child’s mother, a Native American woman. So after all of his trials, as it were, Hugh is finally taken up by his deceased wife, after finally establishing a respect for the people he has waged war with for years. A somber, beautiful ending.

Overall, The Revenant is a gritty, hard to watch adventure of revenge and obsession on the surface. But underneath there is beautiful, meaningful story of punishment and redemption. Made perfectly, and impossible to look away from, The Revenant is a modern masterpiece that I rate ★★★★★!

A Marriage Story

A Marriage Story(Noah Baumbach, 2019) is an academy award winning movie that follows play director Charlie(Adam Driver) and actress Nicole(Scarlett Johansson) who are going through a divorce, and the movie follows their individual struggle, changing relationship, and desperate fight for custody and integrity in a painful and destructive situation.

Firstly it would be good to pay some attention to the way that the movie plays out. It tends to follow Nicole for a while at the start, just before she and Charlie separate, and this time is used to tell what her side of the story is like. The way that she presents her story makes her ex fiancé Charlie come across like the selfish one in the relationship, using his wife and never doing as she wanted. But later on in the film we seen what Charlie does when he’s alone, and since he is more hesitant than Nicole to hire a lawyer for the divorce, it takes a lot more time to see how he perceives things, and how he feels of the marriage and his ex-partner.

This grounded format of story telling makes the characters feel real and genuine, almost like they are being documented, not written. The way that the protagonists act, usually imperfectly, exposes their flaws and shows to the audience what kind of people they are. Their differences let us know why they are divorcing, and why you can’t route for either one of them, since both have character flaws and moments of selfishness.

The movie also cleverly uses film en scen and cinematography to convey subtle messages to the audience. The best examples of this are how often objects are placed between two characters to show that they are divided. This is obvious in the images above, used early in the film so say, without words, how the two characters in frame are related. Close but separate. Together but apart. This also happens when one character goes into another room but the frame remains on the person outside said room, to emphasise that there is a subtler meaning behind this.

Another thing that I noticed about the story was the cruelty of it all. A big aspect of the film is how Nicole and Charlies story is slowly used more and more by their lawyers to attack the other ones case in the divorce. The lawyers are not villains, you understand, but they are very aggressive in court, and over time make their clients look more and more selfish and greedy, making the relationship between Nicole and Charlie worse, despite their best intentions and efforts to remain friends. But one thing that I noticed early on in the film was that Charlies style of play directing seems to focus heavily on the emotions of the character. We see in a brief scene how he portrays his characters and symbolises their emotions, through dramatised and artistic directing and scenery on stage.

It is an ironic twist of fate later on in the film that he and Nicole, who often acted in his plays, should have their own emotions twisted so bitterly, to the point where Charlie and Nicole are almost acting out their own tragic play. Except in real life, the way that people portray their emotions is a low more raw and ugly, as seen in Charlies later breakdown. So it is almost like Charlie is learning that real life is different from his plays. He has no control over it, and his emotions are on display for everyone to see. His obsession with doing only what he wanted to do was the main reason Nicole divorced him after all, and we see as the movie goes on Charlies desperate effort to have control grow and grow, and this is symbolised through his fight for custody. Over his son, Henry. And the ending of the film shows that Charlie must come to accept he can’t control real life, and must settle for being content with what he has.

Adam Driver plays the husband, Charlie, in the film, and his performance is one of the most genuine and real I’ve seen in a long time. He was nominated for best supporting actor, but I honestly believe he should of won it. His crying is heartbreaking to hear, his anger feels real, and his trying soon becoming desperateness creates a flawed but sympathetic character. Scarlett Johansson also gives an incredible performance, one that won her a nomination for best supporting actress. Both of them are so realistic that you are completely engrossed in their story arc’s, development, and emotions. Even to the point where you forget it isn’t.

Their son, Henry(Azhy Robertson) is also used strategically as a plot device to reveal more about the characters. He is still a character in himself, but is mostly there to show what Charlies motivation is, how Nicole views her ex husband, and why they are struggling here. Charlie wants only to new a good father, Nicole wants to be more of a mother, without Charlie looming over her, and how the marriage is failing due to their failure to share their kid. A goal that they end up striving towards through realisation of their flaws and shortcomings as parents and people.

I think that that is the main message that the director, Noah Baumbach, was trying to convey. No matter how much you may hate someone, or how much you fear you may lose to them, being kind to those who rely on you id the kindest trait that one must try to have, and never forget. At their end of the day, when all is settled, the best thing that you can look back on, is the memories where you did something for someone else, and forgave someone for doing something wrong to you. And even forgiving yourself for your own inadequacies.

I personally loved this movie! I thought the writing was raw and compassionate, the acting real and believable, the pacing perfect and the story a strong and engrossing one. This movie is beautiful and truly a piece of art. I was never bored, confused, or in-interested. I wanted to know how this story ended, and when it did I was happy for watching it. I rate A Marriage Story ★★★★★!

No Country For Old Men

No Country For Old Men(The Coen Brothers, 2007) is a crime/thriller directed by the Coen Brothers. The movie tells the story of Luwelin Moss( Josh Brolin), a young hunter who one day accidentally stumbles across the crime scene of a drug deal gone very wrong. Upon finding a brief case of 2 million dollars, Moss decides to take the money and run, attracting the attention of local sherif Tom Bell(Tommy Lee Jones), and ruthless killer assassin Anton Chigurah(Javier Bardem). As the movie goes on, more characters are introduced and more are killed, as the events gradually escalate into a 2 hour long sequence of suspense and violence, in a country unfit for old men.

One of the best aspects of the movie is the character of Anton Chigurah. Played to a T by Javier Bardem, who actually won an Oscar for his performance, this unstoppable force kills almost everyone who he meets in the film, and savagely mocks his prey with taunts and ironic philosophical questions, before putting them to the gun, or the coin. In a few instances in the film Anton gives his victims the choice of heads or tails, and if they choose what side the coin will land on correctly, they win. If they lose, they die. These moments make for some of the best scenes of suspense in cinematic history, but they also serve as a metaphor of death, and the complete randomness of it.

We see throughout the film the completely brutal efficiency and violence that Anton dispatches people with, and his complete lack of emotion and hesitance in doing so. After a while, it may become evident that Anton is almost a walking image of death. But in these coin toss scenes, we see that he still has his own set of morals. If they win, he lets them live, and vice versa. But in these moments the Coen Brothers show that Anton, like death, is random, and may or may not happen at any moment, hence the 50/50 chances of the coin toss.

Anton Chigurah(Javier Bardem).

Another aspect of the film that makes it so successful and beloved amongst film lovers and critics around the world is its genius scenes of suspense building. Scenes such as the coin toss moments are extremely good at creating tension, both from the excellent writing, acting, and use of cinematography. There is also no music whatsoever in the movie, which is perfect for creating suspense and letting the course of events play out uninterrupted, and lets the audience stay immersed in the situation. The mise en scene is also utilised well, with a lack of interesting items in the background of a scene, The Coen Brothers direct all attention on the characters and the things happening in the foreground.

The sound design also plays a crucial part in the method of suspense building in the movie. The long, drawn out silences build suspense, and these can go on for minutes at a time, with the only noises being footsteps, the wind, or even just the breathing of the character in the shot. This massive suspense is, in some scenes, slowly bled out, like in the first coin toss scene, where nothing intense happens, but the viewer is left on edge from the suspense built up throughout the scene. In other scenes though, that suspense comes to a climax in a sudden moment of intensity. This happens a few times in the movie. For example, when Anton arms himself, and then slowly approaches the motel room. He takes his shoes off to avoid making noise, which quietly signals to the viewer that something violent is about to occur. At the same time, the perspective cuts back to Moss, who is desperately trying to drag the briefcase of money through a vent. The lack of noise up to this point makes the squeaking of the case on metal an agonising moment of nail biting tension.

The way that the perspective keeps on switching between Anton and Moss is how the directors make the audience wonder what will happen next, and if Anton will enter the room as Moss has his back turned, or if Moss is prepared. The moment when all of the drawn out suspense climaxes is when Anton’s cattle gun shoots out the lock of the motel room, which, due to an abundance of silence up to this point, is extremely loud and shocking to the viewer, making it an effective use of built up tension. The intensity and violence of the events that follow are just the icing on the cake of this already incredible scene.

Lighting is also used amazingly throughout the movie. The way that shots are often placed on dark areas force the viewer to wonder whether or not someone or something is there. In some scenes, Anton is mostly covered in shadow from being in darker areas, and this is a good method of making him seem inhuman. Like a monster hiding away from the light, making him and even more terrifying antagonist.

All in all, no Country For Old Men is one of the most intense, immersive, exiting and engrossing movies of all time. It has one of the most terrifying yet believable villains in cinematic history, uses lighting and sound design to create suspense, and expert cinematography to keep attention where the Coen Brothers want it to be. It is easily one of the best movies of all time, and that’s why I rate it 4 and a half stars!