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Last night I went to see this latest film by Ethan and Joel Coen. It's very dark - and pays homage to 1940's film noir - but I think it's outstanding, well worth seeing, and I suspect it could easily be overlooked with LOTR, Amelie, and so much else on.
It's set in Santa Rosa in 1949 and portrays a stupid America in black-and-white and, occasionally, barely noticeable slow motion, making it seem almost hyper-real. The central character is Ed Crane, a barber who works for his brother-in-law, is discontented with his life and is strangely remote. His narration - delivered in a monotone from the first frame - holds you in thrall through all the twists, surprises and ironies of the plot, all skilfully handled, I thought. Billy Bob Thornton as the deadpan Ed who chain smokes, Bogart-style, is astonishingly good.
The music is surprising in its incongruity with the plot - Beethoven at his most lyrical and tender - but it does eventually become linked and adds to the haunting angst of the film. There's a memorable moment when Ed asks a young pianist, Birdie, (with genuine wonder) 'Did you make that up?'
I was reminded of Camus' L' Etranger and Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt but it seems to be paying homage to/parodying a lot of other films as well.
Anyone else seen it? What did ya think of it?
[ 13-01-2002: Message edited by: Cavatina ] |
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