One of the reasons I'm hyperblogging right now is because I'm trying to isolate myself from all other activities but writing so I can stay focused and not distracted - it's a good time to shoot out a bunch of other thoughts:
I'm proposing that these three films are "2009 Recession Movies."
Moon, directed by Zowie Bowie
Inglorious Basterds, by Tarantino
and
District 9, by Neill Blomkamp, produced by Peter Jackson
I had the same exact reaction to all three of them: I was really impressed by what a practical risk these films took in blending genres - but I didn't exactly enjoy them.
Moon combined things in a way that five years ago, you wouldn't have expected people to invest in: high-quality, sci-fi level graphics of the surface of the moon and a view of space, mixed with a kind of very very ordinary, low-budget, one-location type handling of the characters. I enjoyed it as an artistic experiment but somehow didn't get engaged in what was happening. I kept thinking there was some political commentary going on, and trying to look for it. I kept thinking to myself: the reason 2001 was so great was because it was a spectacular sci-fi landscape and every shot and bit of sound design lent to how spectacular that atmosphere was.. whereas this film was sort of taking the location and doing the opposite, trying to make the reality very ordinary.
Inglorious Basterds was great because Tarantino made something closer to the real style of an old French film than he ever has before - with the long takes, the drawn-out dialogues - as opposed to just using hints of the French style for uniqueness. It's also cool that he was applying his clever form of ultra-violence to the more political context of Nazis/Jews conflict (was it always his plan?). But again, I didn't totally enjoy it - couldn't really get engaged in it. I thought it was too slow and heavy-handed. I kept thinking, the whole reason we love Tarantino is because of his explosive, quick energy. It'd be cool if he dealt with important subjects but retained that energy.
District 9 - again, it's INSANE to see something like the level of 3D and graphic work that existed in this film alongside a really casual, mockumentary sort of shooting style, and set in a developing country, for God's sake. A friend and I had a similar idea: we said, what if you were to shoot a really effects-heavy horror movie in a place like Guizhou? Weird. I think out of the three, I'm most impressed by District 9, which made a strong political point through its execution alone. But still, I didn't totally ENJOY it. I dunno. I kind of wish Blomkamp/Jackson would take the brilliance they exhibited in combining sensitivity with subject material AND graphics (I thought they were more subtle and real than the average Hollywood film with 3D stuff) and NOT make it like a mockumentary, or NOT have the acting style be a little "casual."
My take on 2009 Recession Movies. Politically, and in terms of artistic risk-taking: bravo. It's a good time to experiment, and experiments aren't always head to toe perfect. But I hope we come away with ideas toward a better future in entertainment.
