Anyone who knows me well knows that no matter how many I see or how old I get there is something still inherently magical to me about being told a story on the big screen. This year I am the poorest I have ever been but I still managed to save and spoil myself with 6 films at the festival. So below are the first few I have seen and my thoughts.
1. The Savages
Was a bit let down on this one as with Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman two actors I rather admire I thought it had to be good but I felt it tried too hard to be the typical quiet overcome tragic childhood drama didn't really move me.
2. Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S. Thompson. I have loved this man since my early twenties when I first read his book fear and loathing in las vegas. He had such a different way of looking at the world around him. He made me feel like I wasn't alone in my way of imagining oddities. Sadly though like so many of us who deeply hold the pain of the worlds wrongs on our shoulders he eventually couldn't take it and I believe gave up or gave in. Another loss to the world of the different and another win for the banal and mainstream. check out this website for the amazing illustrations of hunter www.ralphsteadman.com
"For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled."
3. Mongol - Indulging my fascination with history and trying to figure out the massive legacy of people before me that have shaped the world I now live in I went to this film about the life of Ghengis Khan. It was a fantastic movie and so beautiful to see the ever changing landscape but in the theme of the movies I have been watching of late shows that humans haven't learnt much in thousands of years as we are still fighting over love, land and power and it seems for every great leader for the good of humanity there are many more bad ones waiting in line to ruin their hard work.
"Do not scorn a weak cub,He may become a brutal tiger."
4. Patti Smith - this was the last for this weekend and yet not the least it had a profound effect on me I laughed – I cried and I came away deep in thought and feeling part of a larger consciousness of people saddened by the pain in the world and trying to do their part to change it. It reminded me why I always try not to ignore the forgotten people the people outside our walls. She spent ten years making this auto biography and it was just simply superb.
"When time, blissfully awry, spreads milky arms across the black expanse, to sleep, of what does time dream. And, thus unraveled, of where does time long.
In the wake of such delicious oblivion who presides over the edges of our sleep and the parting star and the hour under glass... "
So highly recommend all bar one of the films I saw. Just hope the remaining two are as inspiring.
No comments:
Post a Comment