The director wants to express too much and lacks the ability to control, which is the final effect of this film.
It can be seen that he is trying hard to get closer to the classic movies with multi-line structures such as pulp fiction. Parts of the chapters stand out on their own, but when put together they lack coherence. Indulging in the overwhelming little details but forgetting the theme that the core of the film wants to express, not only makes the work fall into an embarrassing situation, but also loses the previous "hut in the woods" like aura.
On the other hand, in the works of Quentin or Nolan, multi-line is just a means to serve the plot, even if it is dazzling, it is justifiable. The best way to deal with the plot well is to use persuasive dialogues that fit the characters, and to "self-promote" the development of the plot through the characters. The opponent's play for two people is already slightly difficult, and the difficulty of the group play can be imagined. This has always been Quentin's personal stylized magic weapon, and Nolan is slightly inferior. On the other hand, in this film, the performance of the characters in the group drama is not regular. This is not just the difference in acting skills, but whether the dialogues that conform to the differentiated characters are really well-crafted, and the dialogues or behaviors of individual characters are incoherent. The whole will not be coherent.
From this point of view, the director still has a long way to go.
Whether it is mapping Martin Luther King or the Manson family, they are just accessories. The main dish is not fragrant, and no matter how deep the memory of the accessories is, it will not become a famous dish.
But in all fairness, I'm quite optimistic about his future works, after all, there are only a handful of directors who can write and direct.
As for this one,
I actually like it too, especially the composition.
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