When I watched it for the first time, I thought the characters were too fun. When I watched it for the second time, I thought the photography was really beautiful and ironic. When I watched it for the third time, I thought that Director Payne's road movie was the same as the old man. When I watched it four times, I felt that it was not just a simple communication between father and son. When I watched it for the fifth time, I felt that I had read it in vain. When I watched it for the sixth time, I was overwhelmed by the emotions that came out of nowhere. Some movies are really often seen and often new, as if slowly getting to know a person who thinks they are familiar.
Uncle Woody didn't know how to reject others in his life, but in the end he didn't gain any respect, both in front of his family and outsiders. So when the countdown to his life began, he was suddenly hit by a million-dollar prize, and he had to go to receive the prize in person, regardless of whether it was a scam or not, because "time is running out". No matter how his wife scolds him (I'm used to it in this life anyway), and how my sons persuade him (it's not the turn of these little bastards to take care of me), he has to go away like a madman. The younger son with loser written on his face has a broken relationship (girlfriend is not a beautiful woman), and is frustrated at work (even if he sells a stereo, he can't understand it), he is indeed a filial son who is quite considerate of his father. In order to make the old man give up, and to escape this fucking life for a while, the youngest son David and the old man Woody embarked on a journey to receive the prize.
Of course there won't be any bonuses, so it's no use to go...? After the journey started, the director gradually gave the answer. Well, you can probably guess when you see this: But it's another road movie about family love. The father and son gradually got to know each other better during the journey, and finally came to a long-awaited hug from father and son? ? No, I wouldn't watch it a second time, let alone a sixth time, if it was that cliché. Since I didn't get the bonus (there was a consolation prize, a hat with "Prize Winner" printed on it, but it was clearly "Loser" on my head), and there was no touching hug, I ran back and forth for more than 1,500 miles (nearly 2,500 miles). km), and went back to his hometown on the way, what did he gain?
Revisiting the past, what is left
"Just some broken wood and weeds"
The whole film was shot in black and white, which deepened the sense of life and added a sense of vicissitudes. Woody's life was basically colorless. After he was discharged from the Air Force mechanic on the battlefield, his life was nothing but drinking and being scolded by his wife. But he has always dreamed of owning a true American pickup. And the black-and-white photography, complemented by the simple and rustic soundtrack, renders the film's theme of "nothing left behind" deep under the weeds (or in Woody's messy hair) softly and softly. Thick.
All the actors in this film performed well under Payne's training. The stubborn and deeply emotional Woody (Cannes actor) played by Bruce Dern, the comedy-born Will Ford's useless and filial young son David, David's two idle, rude and stupid cousins Bart, Cole, and even Woody's ex-girlfriend Ms. Nagy's last (probably) goodbye, They are all so moving and unique. The countless nominations of the male lead and female supporting role alone in that year is the best affirmation for their performance.
Humor is one of the factors that makes this film seem less thematically heavy. The humorous elements in the film are not only reflected in the lines and characters' personalities, but also in the setting of many scenes. For example, after Woody and David arrived at David's aunt's house, the family sat in front of the TV and watched a sitcom. The camera's angle of view was from the TV to the direction of the family, watching their family chat a little awkwardly with only a few words. The background sound was on the TV. The laughter of the audience in the sitcom that came out was a brilliant idea. This way of filming the group portrait from the direction of the TV, then appeared in the scene where Woody's brothers all came to visit. The brothers are all the Grant's ancestral people who don't like to talk, and the brief silence between the responses is also a kind of humor.
Another example is that after Woody thought he lost the lottery ticket, he sat down at the table with his head down, like a child who couldn't go to Disney. What this alcoholic had next to him was not a bottle of beer, but a glass of milk! (I only discovered this detail after watching it for the sixth time.) This prop immediately brought out the feeling of Woody's "old child", and then Woody heard from his son that the lottery ticket might have fallen, so it's better to look for it. Woody regained his energy at once, his legs and feet were fast, and there was no pain anywhere. Could it be that there was a "lid in the lid" in the milk?
The last scene is perfect! I feel moved every time I watch it, so that yesterday's emotions are crushed. As for why it's perfect, I said it at the sharing session yesterday, but now that I don't have that emotion, I can't write it out. (My friends who didn't come to the scene are sorry)
So what is the gain of this "willing to be deceived trip"? I personally think it is - when life is about to end, we always have to leave something for ourselves, our children, and the world. I think that's the theme of this film.
Of course, old Woody might not think so
"Just some broken wood and weeds"
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