Month: May 2022

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An American Family: Anniversary Edition (1973/2011)

Being a fan of early reality television, I have long wanted to watch the full An American Family series, which is often considered the first reality series. This provides highlights of all twelve episodes, edited into one film, and it was almost as good as checking out the entire series. The Louds may not have been representative of all or most families in the 1970s, but they do provide a window into an upper class American experience and the changing attitudes between the generations at the time. The DVD came with a bevy of extras that include interviews that explore the crews’ experiences working on the show and the impact it had then and now.

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A Single Shot (2013)

After accidentally shooting a young woman while illegally poaching deer, Sam Rockwell finds himself hunted by her criminal acquaintances. Slow paced with a well-trod plot, the film is anchored by a solid performance by Rockwell whose every action is shadowed by his struggles to keep a job and his family. He’s also not hurt by a strong supporting cast that includes William H. Macy, Jeffrey Wright, and a fairly unrecognizable Jason Isaacs.

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2046 (2004)

Part of Wong Kar-Wai’s informal trilogy, Tony Leung Chiu Wai attempts to come to terms with the loss of Maggie Cheung in his life through his relationships with other women and by writing a science-fiction tale about the titular room. Like the other films, it does not follow a linear narrative which makes for a somewhat convoluted, but richer story. Filmed in equally lush colors and settings, I didn’t quite love it as much as In the Mood for Love, but it provides an intriguing exploration of coming to terms with lost love.   Romance

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The Grass Harp (1995)

Based on one of Truman Capote’s semi-autobiographical works, this follows the coming of age experiences of Edward Furlong after he is sent to live with two maiden cousins, Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie, following the deaths of his parents. Along for the ride are a whole bevy of eccentric townsfolk including Walter Matthau, Nell Carter, and Roddy McDowall. Not being a huge fan of Capote’s work, I wasn’t enthralled with the film as a whole, though it is somewhat sold on its incredible cast, barring Furlong’s stilted performance. The shoehorning in of Mary Steenburgen as a sexy, travel evangelist with fifteen children is weird as many of her scenes don’t even involve the main characters and isn’t necessary to further the narrative.

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Elvis (1979)

Made only two years after his death, this biopic follows the life of Elvis Presley from his early days in Tupelo, Mississippi to his comeback in the late 1960s. Kurt Russell plays the title character and he along with Shelly Winters as his doting mother work really well together in portraying that significant relationship. The film glosses over or ignores some of the seedier aspects of his life, but in general is a pretty good introduction to the life of the King. I was initially annoyed at how the setting for Graceland was simultaneously similar to the real place and yet got so much wrong, but then I reminded myself that there probably weren’t thousands of pictures of the house available to anyone at the drop of a hat when the film was made.  Music

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The Worst Person in the World (2021)

Renate Reinsve is a directionless 20-something whose experiences in various jobs and relationships are chronicled over the course of fourteen chapters. While the film had a few poignant moments, overall, I didn’t relate to the main character, especially as the film progressed, nor the decisions she made in her aimlessness. In fact, all of the characters that receive any narrative in the film come off as potentially interesting at first only to reveal them as dull and dislikable. Regardless, I found the chapter divisions interesting in that they jumped in and out of the main character’s life, though they like everything else in the film got less engaging as the film continued. Reinsve’s performance is strong; it just seems that the narrative didn’t really know what to do with her.

Oscar Nominations: Best Original Screenplay; Best International Feature Film

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