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In Your Eyes, film, 2014, dir. Brin Hill
The premise is engaging and its execution is often successful, thanks in large part to the casting—there's a convincing, lively bond between the protagonists. But their romantic hurdles grow tedious, existing purely for the sake of plot and doing little to progress either characters or relationship. This has the feel of Whedon: missed potential, accessible but unsubstantial high concept, and watchable.
Deadman Wonderland, anime, 2011, studio Manglobe
A lot of high worldbuilding, a lot of cliché characterization, and some loving, creative violence. If you go in for psychopaths and gratuitous violence, there's enough here to keep you entertained—it did me. But Deadman Wonderland cleaves to the standards of its genre to its detriment; the dearth of modulation and creativity render it pointless. Don't waste your time.
Four-Faced Liar, film, 2010, dir. Jacob Chase
The thing is, this isn't awfully unconventional. I love the messiness of the relationships and the refusal of a neat conclusion, but its monogamy and under-explored gender conventions, especially atop the stereotypical roles of the main couple, leave something to be desired. Still, a likable film—a little glib, but engaging and well-intended. It's just not as good as it could be.
In Her Skin, film, 2011, Dir. Simone North
If this didn't seem to have the family's blessing, I'd say this film rides the edge of exploitation: a little too slick, not awfully subtle. The only part which feels underwritten is Caroline Reid Robertson, but Ruth Bradley is phenomenal, knitting together Caroline's fragmented story into a compelling, unsettlingly sympathetic whole. In Her Skin holds interest but never sits easy, and not for the right reasons. The content is discomforting, sure, but the execution is moreso.
Stranger by the Lake/L'inconnu du lac, film, 2014, dir. Alain Guiraudie
Out of curiosity, Franck , what did you expect would happen? I loved this in concept, but less in execution. The dynamic felt splintered: Franck in fear vs. Franck in lust, with not enough to illustrate the fragile and strange bridge between the two. All the rest, I like: the concept is unique, the execution unflinching, and the cast is great. But, despite the premise and loads of sex, this isn't as compelling as it could be.
The premise is engaging and its execution is often successful, thanks in large part to the casting—there's a convincing, lively bond between the protagonists. But their romantic hurdles grow tedious, existing purely for the sake of plot and doing little to progress either characters or relationship. This has the feel of Whedon: missed potential, accessible but unsubstantial high concept, and watchable.
Deadman Wonderland, anime, 2011, studio Manglobe
A lot of high worldbuilding, a lot of cliché characterization, and some loving, creative violence. If you go in for psychopaths and gratuitous violence, there's enough here to keep you entertained—it did me. But Deadman Wonderland cleaves to the standards of its genre to its detriment; the dearth of modulation and creativity render it pointless. Don't waste your time.
Four-Faced Liar, film, 2010, dir. Jacob Chase
The thing is, this isn't awfully unconventional. I love the messiness of the relationships and the refusal of a neat conclusion, but its monogamy and under-explored gender conventions, especially atop the stereotypical roles of the main couple, leave something to be desired. Still, a likable film—a little glib, but engaging and well-intended. It's just not as good as it could be.
In Her Skin, film, 2011, Dir. Simone North
If this didn't seem to have the family's blessing, I'd say this film rides the edge of exploitation: a little too slick, not awfully subtle. The only part which feels underwritten is Caroline Reid Robertson, but Ruth Bradley is phenomenal, knitting together Caroline's fragmented story into a compelling, unsettlingly sympathetic whole. In Her Skin holds interest but never sits easy, and not for the right reasons. The content is discomforting, sure, but the execution is moreso.
Stranger by the Lake/L'inconnu du lac, film, 2014, dir. Alain Guiraudie
Out of curiosity, Franck , what did you expect would happen? I loved this in concept, but less in execution. The dynamic felt splintered: Franck in fear vs. Franck in lust, with not enough to illustrate the fragile and strange bridge between the two. All the rest, I like: the concept is unique, the execution unflinching, and the cast is great. But, despite the premise and loads of sex, this isn't as compelling as it could be.
