Mister Lonely is a bold, twisted stint at Harmony Korine's version of an inspirational film. The use of immortal personalities ranging from Madonna to The Pope is entertaining, but seems gimmicky when thought of as visual metaphor. Nonetheless, when thought of as "regular" metaphor, the film sets a unique platform for a pertinent critique on individual and media. It brings us into the lives of unenlightened slackers whose mental health is overshadowed by what seems like an almost mirage of a commune inhabited by those who choose a light-hearted lifestyle, but quickly morphs into a mere haven for freaks and losers.
When a vagabond Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) meets a Marilyn Monroe impersonator (Samantha Morton) in the midst of a retirement home gig in Paris, love forms. After a leisurely afternoon together, Marilyn offers Michael the opportunity to live in an impersonator commune in Scotland with her husband Charlie Chaplin (Denis Lavant), daughter Shirley Temple (Esme Creed-Miles,) and a lengthy list of other unreal personas.
Michael hesitantly accepts, and soon finds himself on a plush green island with a gorgeous Scottish castle, hot spring, and farm. Shortly thereafter, a vague feeling of isolation sets in. Sadness supersedes the vibrant environment when the portrait of an impersonator is colored in for us. But then this internal lack of self-worth is strangely counteracted by a pack of nuns led by Father Umbrillo (Werner Herzog.) Nuns fly, miracles ensue, peoples lives change, and truth slowly surfaces.
Living in the past is a common phenomenon, whether channeled out by sentimental reminiscence or embodying the appearance of a celebrity well past his or her prime (or no longer living,) everybody does it at least some of the time. All Harmony Korine is trying to say is don't do it. It's so uninspired.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Going On 13
Going On 13 is a documentary that follows four prepubescent girls residing in the Bay Area for four solid years, starting at age 9 and ending at age 13. Through the years, we're exposed to the to the sometimes unpredictable changes that occur in the preteen's mental growth. The film was shot Verite, which seemed to contribute to both its tone of naivety but also to an awkward mixture of episodic aimlessness branched only by the common thread of disadvantaged inner city girls.
Isha, a first-generation Indian-American, battles with the dangerously stagnating beliefs of her family. She also lacks literal space and privacy normally craved by children of that age. Due to her live-in extended family consisting of grandparents and aunts, Isha sleeps in her make-shift bedroom also known as the living room. Her mother lovingly defends her against racist bullies at school, but overtime we see Isha develop into someone more extroverted - someone with great potential for wild tendencies.
Ariana, a defiant Black tomboy, plays basketball, beats up boys, and gets suspended. She seems like the type of girl that would be put away in JD hall by age 13, but grows into someone refreshingly determined to succeed. Ariana has dreams of becoming a lawyer, and begins to pursue those dreams by transforming herself into someone who makes the grade and gets on the honor role.
Esmeralda, an overweight Mexican, struggles with her appearance more than the other girls. She's painfully aware of her weight, and unhappy with her overall physical appearance but doesn't have the capacity to do anything about. The admiration of Jermaine, her first boyfriend (who oddly doesn't appear in the film) gives her a much-needed boast of self-confidence. Esmeralda has lofty dreams of one day becoming a real estate agent. Sadly, she seems to be mesmerized by pop-culture more than the others and affected by it in a way that isn't terribly positive.
Rosie, the most precocious of them all, struggles with an unstable mother plagued by Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome. She does terribly in school for a while - a mixture of boredom and emotional strain resulting in a lackluster performance. But ultimately, she grows into a budding intellectual devouring nearly two books a day, and vocalizes a desire to start college early. Rosie seems to be heading in the direction of an artist or humanitarian.
As interesting as the four subjects are, the reality TV/episodic pacing of the documentary made it feel nearly superficial at times; thus, subtracting for its potential to be truly moving. Sometimes films shot mostly Verite lack the boldness of a director who might be more apt to investigate deeper waters. The score also has a gimmicky cuteness to it that is at best annoying.
The intention of filming children at an age where mainstream media normally wouldn't tap with a ten-foot boom pole is an aspect worth some recognition. Though, it perhaps would have had more depth if they had also focused on the subject's parents, or slightly older teens, who could reflect on a time period better forgotten by most. It also would have been interesting if they had focused on upper class children. This may have been the much-needed dimension that could have transformed this briefing of four girls' lives into a psychological study of environment, economics and age.
Directed by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Dawn Valadez
Going on 13 trailer
Isha, a first-generation Indian-American, battles with the dangerously stagnating beliefs of her family. She also lacks literal space and privacy normally craved by children of that age. Due to her live-in extended family consisting of grandparents and aunts, Isha sleeps in her make-shift bedroom also known as the living room. Her mother lovingly defends her against racist bullies at school, but overtime we see Isha develop into someone more extroverted - someone with great potential for wild tendencies.
Ariana, a defiant Black tomboy, plays basketball, beats up boys, and gets suspended. She seems like the type of girl that would be put away in JD hall by age 13, but grows into someone refreshingly determined to succeed. Ariana has dreams of becoming a lawyer, and begins to pursue those dreams by transforming herself into someone who makes the grade and gets on the honor role.
Esmeralda, an overweight Mexican, struggles with her appearance more than the other girls. She's painfully aware of her weight, and unhappy with her overall physical appearance but doesn't have the capacity to do anything about. The admiration of Jermaine, her first boyfriend (who oddly doesn't appear in the film) gives her a much-needed boast of self-confidence. Esmeralda has lofty dreams of one day becoming a real estate agent. Sadly, she seems to be mesmerized by pop-culture more than the others and affected by it in a way that isn't terribly positive.
Rosie, the most precocious of them all, struggles with an unstable mother plagued by Post-Traumatic Stress syndrome. She does terribly in school for a while - a mixture of boredom and emotional strain resulting in a lackluster performance. But ultimately, she grows into a budding intellectual devouring nearly two books a day, and vocalizes a desire to start college early. Rosie seems to be heading in the direction of an artist or humanitarian.
As interesting as the four subjects are, the reality TV/episodic pacing of the documentary made it feel nearly superficial at times; thus, subtracting for its potential to be truly moving. Sometimes films shot mostly Verite lack the boldness of a director who might be more apt to investigate deeper waters. The score also has a gimmicky cuteness to it that is at best annoying.
The intention of filming children at an age where mainstream media normally wouldn't tap with a ten-foot boom pole is an aspect worth some recognition. Though, it perhaps would have had more depth if they had also focused on the subject's parents, or slightly older teens, who could reflect on a time period better forgotten by most. It also would have been interesting if they had focused on upper class children. This may have been the much-needed dimension that could have transformed this briefing of four girls' lives into a psychological study of environment, economics and age.
Directed by Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Dawn Valadez
Going on 13 trailer
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