Really appreciate this way of looking at art - will go on a James Gray binge tomorrow.
What excites me about him is that he seems to put great emphasis on narrative. I think the more I delve into my novel (right now anyway!), the more I feel that true storytelling is the most wonderful thing. Story as a way of revealing truth, I suppose?
I think it's why a film like Saltburn didn't speak to me. It felt like a collection of things, with no struts to support - a bit like finding yourself tangled in a bed sheet!
I watched Memories of a Murder today (ill in bed so just binging), but goddamn is that great storytelling. Sterling character development. Very funny. Very beautiful. A well paced yarn. And that ending! By ye Gods!
If Little Odessa has anything to say, at least what I understood of it, and I watched it coincidentally just last week, is that its creator sees nothing in the world, especially of humankind, of any redeeming quality. His imagined world in this film is violent, crude, bereft of love and intelligence, sick, dreary and hopeless. If that is Art, and it is not, certainly I don’t need it or want it. A film maker ought to discover far better ideas to spend his money, time and effort on, but some evidently can see nothing but an abyss.
Really appreciate this way of looking at art - will go on a James Gray binge tomorrow.
What excites me about him is that he seems to put great emphasis on narrative. I think the more I delve into my novel (right now anyway!), the more I feel that true storytelling is the most wonderful thing. Story as a way of revealing truth, I suppose?
I think it's why a film like Saltburn didn't speak to me. It felt like a collection of things, with no struts to support - a bit like finding yourself tangled in a bed sheet!
I watched Memories of a Murder today (ill in bed so just binging), but goddamn is that great storytelling. Sterling character development. Very funny. Very beautiful. A well paced yarn. And that ending! By ye Gods!
Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. First time I'm seeing all of this from James Gray but I'm loving it all. Great piece Ed!
If Little Odessa has anything to say, at least what I understood of it, and I watched it coincidentally just last week, is that its creator sees nothing in the world, especially of humankind, of any redeeming quality. His imagined world in this film is violent, crude, bereft of love and intelligence, sick, dreary and hopeless. If that is Art, and it is not, certainly I don’t need it or want it. A film maker ought to discover far better ideas to spend his money, time and effort on, but some evidently can see nothing but an abyss.