Granny Stamp
I feel the need to elaborate because I'm always so conflicted on indie flicks, especially when they're trying something more experimental.
I am not a Dogme 95 expert but this claims to be the 37th film. I have only seen 3 (The Idiots, Festen and Julien Donkey-Boy). I know the rules, what it's going for, and also that these films also tended to break the rules occasionally. I get the philosophy. I know Korine, though I'm less into Larry Clark and Vincent Gallo, two other influences I've seen mentioned. So there's the context.
The problem is that this film is at odds with itself. It's a Dogme 95 movie, but it doesn't look natural. I don't mind that you hear wind, that's endearing and more raw. Plus it's supposed to be shot like a documentary, though in this day and age (remember, a rule is the here and now) we have so many tools at our fingertips that you wouldn't lose authenticity by, you know, doing a little post-production. But that was fine.
It's the look. You can get a better looking, more natural feel by shooting on the phone that the director undoubtedly has, which would cost 0 dollars. And then you can say, well it is overexposed for artistic effect. Think of something like Aggro Drift which is purposely washed out and infrared. But this is a gritty look at an ex-conflict trying--and failing--to integrate into society. It looking like garbage isn't the same as looking raw/real.
Then the other problem is the pacing. We spend way too much time with him doing nothing. The filmmakers that influenced him do not spend this much time doing the same thing. Especially Korine. Yeah, he's picking up trash, woo hoo. You don't need this much time. Then he meets John and it's just so awkward, and not in a natural way. The guy who plays John is not good, though credit to Scott who I think has a lot of potential, and a roughness that could be sanded down and turned into something quite good. He was good enough that I almost felt for the character.
I mean, the writing can be really bad.
John: *coughs*
Barney: You okay man?
John: Yeah. Cancer bro.
Barney: Oh okay.
[May not be exact but I'm not going back and finding this part].
John never gives you any real reason to make you think Barney would trust him, even if Barney is desperate. Plus almost everything he says is cringey.
I hate dissing movies that are this indie. I've actually made one with a friend, though it was a short film in a completely different genre. I don't love what we did, but considering it had no budget, and we rushed it in a day (something I regret doing), it was okay. I'd redo a lot. I understand what it's like to not have professional actors (I specifically suck at acting, though my friend is better), no money, etc. So being negative brings me no joy, and I do appreciate it on some level.
I actually think this would have worked better at about 30 minutes or even less. There's an important story to be told in there. And the director is 21 so I mean, keep going (not that you'll read this). Just don't get in your own way. Sometimes experimental should get out of the way to more conventional methods, such as with the visuals of this movie. But the passion is cool.
In closing, I'll tell you what: I would take this 10/10 times over low budget horse shit like Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. This at least has ideas. And the poster for this is sick.
I am not a Dogme 95 expert but this claims to be the 37th film. I have only seen 3 (The Idiots, Festen and Julien Donkey-Boy). I know the rules, what it's going for, and also that these films also tended to break the rules occasionally. I get the philosophy. I know Korine, though I'm less into Larry Clark and Vincent Gallo, two other influences I've seen mentioned. So there's the context.
The problem is that this film is at odds with itself. It's a Dogme 95 movie, but it doesn't look natural. I don't mind that you hear wind, that's endearing and more raw. Plus it's supposed to be shot like a documentary, though in this day and age (remember, a rule is the here and now) we have so many tools at our fingertips that you wouldn't lose authenticity by, you know, doing a little post-production. But that was fine.
It's the look. You can get a better looking, more natural feel by shooting on the phone that the director undoubtedly has, which would cost 0 dollars. And then you can say, well it is overexposed for artistic effect. Think of something like Aggro Drift which is purposely washed out and infrared. But this is a gritty look at an ex-conflict trying--and failing--to integrate into society. It looking like garbage isn't the same as looking raw/real.
Then the other problem is the pacing. We spend way too much time with him doing nothing. The filmmakers that influenced him do not spend this much time doing the same thing. Especially Korine. Yeah, he's picking up trash, woo hoo. You don't need this much time. Then he meets John and it's just so awkward, and not in a natural way. The guy who plays John is not good, though credit to Scott who I think has a lot of potential, and a roughness that could be sanded down and turned into something quite good. He was good enough that I almost felt for the character.
I mean, the writing can be really bad.
John: *coughs*
Barney: You okay man?
John: Yeah. Cancer bro.
Barney: Oh okay.
[May not be exact but I'm not going back and finding this part].
John never gives you any real reason to make you think Barney would trust him, even if Barney is desperate. Plus almost everything he says is cringey.
I hate dissing movies that are this indie. I've actually made one with a friend, though it was a short film in a completely different genre. I don't love what we did, but considering it had no budget, and we rushed it in a day (something I regret doing), it was okay. I'd redo a lot. I understand what it's like to not have professional actors (I specifically suck at acting, though my friend is better), no money, etc. So being negative brings me no joy, and I do appreciate it on some level.
I actually think this would have worked better at about 30 minutes or even less. There's an important story to be told in there. And the director is 21 so I mean, keep going (not that you'll read this). Just don't get in your own way. Sometimes experimental should get out of the way to more conventional methods, such as with the visuals of this movie. But the passion is cool.
In closing, I'll tell you what: I would take this 10/10 times over low budget horse shit like Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. This at least has ideas. And the poster for this is sick.
Mini Review: I don't want to be too hard on a low budget Dogme 95 movie but I didn't enjoy it. Scott is rough but actually pretty good. The twist at the end is somewhat interesting. I appreciate what it's trying to do because I'm also a huge Korine fan. But low budget doesn't mean bad dialogue, editing and visual quality, which this has in spades. Plus, the pacing at the beginning is horrendous. An hour feels like 2.
Watch the Trailer