Pure Hollywood just doesn’t do it for me. When I go to the movies I like it raw. I sift through the familiar and the obscure, the old and the new, in search of some real gems. Reviews only reveal so much about how I will like or dislike a film; after that it comes down to personal preference. Sometimes I am surprised by what I find, other times horribly disappointed. For those disappointing moments I resort to a specific formula. I give a film 25 minutes of judgement-free viewing, and after this period has elapsed if I am not enjoying myself, I stop watching. A film is supposed to be entertainment — not torture. Yes, there are formulaic elements that I yearn for, but they cannot be so easily quantified. I always enjoy a good story. Shot composition is important too. I love directors and actors who challenge the typical conventions of film. I enjoy watching characters I can relate to, ones who lure me into their deep inner world.
This month I hit the jackpot three times and struck out twice. My favorite flick for October is Tamra Davis’ documentary Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child. A well-told narrative incorporating intimate documentary-style interview footage of Basquiat in his studio interspliced with stock footage of Andy Warhol and the New York Art Scene in the 70′s and 80′s, extensive shots of his artwork and interviews with ex girlfriends, art dealers and others who knew him. The film exudes an aura of a well-told bi0graphy regardless of its documentary style. Basquiat’s enigmatic presence and dramatic life story give the picture a meaty richness and are well complimented by the fast flash editing style of shots of grafitti interspliced with close-ups of the New York Street, posh parties, and Basquiat himself. A beautiful story of a brilliant artist with a tortured soul who left behind a legacy of over 1000 paintings and 1000 drawings in his 27 year life. Ten out of ten!
The other two films I enjoyed this month are far less serious but equally entertaining: Toy Story 3, and Woody Allen’s 1985 classic The Purple Rose of Cairo. Toys that come alive and characters that walk out of the movie screen? A perfect fit for curling up with a bag of popcorn watching reality slip away.
While these last two films may seem like surefire winners (Disney and Woody Allen, how can you go wrong?), there are no guarantees in life. I rented Micmacs the other day; the latest flick by Jean-Pierre Jeunet (the director of the oh-so-fabulous Amelie) and was sorely disappointed. The hyperstylized nature of this piece dramatically overshadowed the characters and the plot, which were virtually soul-less. 25 minutes and you’re out — sorry!