Surprisingly, such a movie can't be discussed. The plot, suspense and action, and the slow-paced movie, actually attracted me to watch. I watched and smiled knowingly, and I was talking to the director in my heart: Isn't it all here? See how you continue?
But until the end of the film, I didn't find a chance to gloat. Before that, I was attracted by the few real, natural and superb characters created by the film. To be honest, few movies can bring me such enjoyment.
1. The character of Henry Poole, the male protagonist with "sad and anger" written on his big face
, is mainly an inner drama, which is a huge test for the director and screenwriter. Because of the setting of the plot: a handsome and more successful man was suddenly diagnosed with a terminal illness and only had a short time to live. He chose to come to the countryside alone and wait quietly for death... These alone are not enough to outline The uniqueness and inner richness of the characters are revealed.
Actor Luke Wilson has an excellent grasp of the character's inner world. He has shown the resentment, helplessness, sadness, and self-pity of a young and talented but unexpectedly unfortunate man towards his fate. However, what’s commendable is that the film’s creator’s portrayal of this character is not superficial and superficial. It is not that “I’m going to die” and you can let yourself go. On the contrary, other aspects of the character’s true nature have not been overlooked and remain The depiction is lifelike. For example: a somewhat withdrawn and introverted personality caused by a certain "shadow" of the parents' family life in the early years; in the face of the "ignorance" and kindness of the "neighbors" and the "enthusiasm" of the four-eyed girl at the supermarket cashier, the male protagonist is very " Annoying" but still maintained a gentleman's demeanor and did his due courtesy. Through many details and subtle expressions, words and deeds, the filmmaker portrays the character's good education and soft heart, and then reveals the huge conflict in the character's heart-the kind that most modern people have. The lack of support to the ultimate and the inner rejection of God... This point is fully explained in his question of the rational nature of the "aunt ignorant", his attitude towards the "wall of miracles" and the final act of "smashing the wall". The whole film contains tension in the calmness, and finally broke out at the climax. The director's handling is quite reasonable, which is admirable.
Speaking of this, it involves the fundamental idea and orientation of the film, that is, what the screenwriter and director really want to express. This is a question between the benevolent and the wise, but if you know that the director of this film, Mark Pellington, is the subsequent executive producer of "The Man from Earth", I don't think you can easily classify and judge it. Some websites about movies are incorrect.
Just like "The Man from Earth" (The Man from Earth), I regard this film as a reinvention and transcendence of the art of film by some avant-garde filmmakers in the West, representing the new trend of future film, and it is destined to become a A trend with strong vitality.
2. Ordinary and kind-hearted believer in God "Aunt Neighbor"——Espalan Martins
This "community aunt" type character may look a bit awkward, but she has unsculptedly reproduced the image and consciousness of motherhood of our previous generation. It is not difficult to understand their living conditions when they understand the advanced Western pension system. They live in symbiosis with the church religiously. God or Buddha is not the key. The important thing is that they have their own spiritual sustenance, even though they sometimes seem ignorant.
The extraordinary thing about this character is that she is very vivid, like an archetype in life, even if you cross faraway borders, you are still no stranger. Their kindness comes from the heart. Espalan shed tears several times. You can't imagine the actors can do this truly and naturally in such a mundane plot. Although they portray small characters, they are the best. The acting skills and inner quality are definitely not inferior to the master!
When expressing extreme perplexity and confusion to the new neighbor who "questioned God" in front of her, she did not show the slightest "defensive" and "crazy" behavior that occurred because of her faith, even when Poole hysterically smashed it with an axe. "The Wall of Miracles".
This is incredible. This alone is sufficient to conclude that the director is not dealing with the subject matter out of religious consciousness. The scale and popularity are not easy to grasp. The film producer group needs to have enough confidence in the audience to choose this. everything.
The same situation also appeared in "This Man Comes From Earth". In what I call "new trend" movies, the characters are very important, and their performance is extraordinary! Only a few shots are enough to impress you in your mind, letting you put aside the movie and return to the real life experience. Such art is great, and the people who created such art are amazing!
In the process of watching the film, I have been thinking about how to find and get the actors to this state? Maybe this only the director can answer.
3. The little girl of the weird elves and her mother,
the little girl, was very interesting and the acting was also very successful. She hasn't spoken for a long time because of the death of her father. She is a little autistic. She likes to stay quietly in her own corner, or play with a tape recorder to record the conversations of adults. Poole's desperate self-talk was recorded in this way, which aroused Poole's attention and sympathy for her.
This is a little girl who feels pity for anyone who looks at it. Not only that, she is also a well-deserved "matchmaker" for her mother and this "adult neighbor".
Watching children's dramas in Western films is a kind of enjoyment, and how well the children's dramas are handled often marks the director's talent and level. The girl's performance in front of the camera is amazing, you can't imagine how that was achieved! Anyway, the camera recorded all this faithfully.
There is a kind of precious affection between the little girl’s mother and the "adult neighbor" slowly growing. The director's handling of these dramas and dialogues is very artistic and sense of scale, and it is also in the implicit dialogue and subtlety. In the expression of, we can understand the inner world of this single mother.
The wild innocence of the little girl and the enthusiasm that the mother expects from the bottom of her heart are all accurately expressed, and everything is handled just right!
4. Enthusiastic, like the girl next door’s supermarket cashier, "Four-Eyed Girl"
wears thick myopia glasses, enthusiastic and cheerful, just talk a little bit too much. Her question embarrassed Poole, who went to the supermarket to buy a lot of alcohol and beverages to wait for his death, but he still frowned and finished the conversation, muttering in his heart: Is "sad and anger" really written on my face? If even a passerby can see it, then how failed I am! At this time, the male host is just in such embarrassment and despair.
"Four Eyes Girl" later regained her eyesight by touching the "Wall of Miracles". That almost monologue was a test of acting skills. Her performance is equally superb, but unfortunately the director did not arrange for her to appear again, but she has managed to stay in the audience's memory.
5. The ugly "housing intermediary girl"
appeared first. It is estimated that she will never encounter a second buyer like Henry Poole in her life. She clearly said that she could cut off the unit square price of 30 dollars, but the miserable and absent-minded man would not take advantage of this. Say: The higher the price, the higher your commission. This prompted her to help him paint the "wall" in order to be grateful for the new homeowner... It can also be said that she is the initiator of the "wall of miracles".
5. The silly "black priest"
There are not many scenes, but the impression is not shallow. He always smiles on the surface, but it feels very keen. In my impression, his question is similar to that of "Four Eyes Girl".
Poole: I won't stay long anyway.
Father: Why do you keep saying that?
Choking made Poole speechless, of course he couldn't say that I was dying. Although she couldn't help but confided to the little girl's mother later, she quickly became a well-known "news" in the community from "Long Mouth Mom".
In short, this is a movie with few characters, simple plot, and seemingly ordinary on the surface, but it is actually related to deep connotations and themes of how people face death, others, beliefs, and mystery. The film also reflects a certain relationship between people in foreign communities and has real reference value. From the theme to the form of expression of the film, the production team has shown a very high aesthetic insight, artistic attainment and control ability, which is amazing!
The real, natural and natural artistic effect it achieves is a classic and a model for filmmakers.
PS: The beautiful environment and several songs in the film are also quite good.
Complete film review with pictures: http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_507a70610100eewi.html
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