dferrari
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
19 years
Reviews
Be My Oswald (2006)
A Must See
First, this movie hits you with an impact somewhere in between, say, Midnight Cowboy and Taxi Driver, for its soothing New York sensitivity and suicidal tendencies. In this respect I'm really talking about the underlying violence and compassion found in many lonely hunters.
BE MY OSWALD, supported by superb acting in every role, manages to create a world full of the most deranged and passionate characters possibly ever to appear on screen. From A, the socialite activist's child-like naivety about the world to B, the militant vegetarian's deranged, yet thoughtful, philosophical bantering, I think the passion lies not only in the character's personalities as they are portrayed but in the way they plea to the movie viewer for mercy. As a struggling writer of some year's experience dealing with all sorts of rejection I was particularly drawn to this aspect of the film.
Thus, and it's fair to point a finger, this movie is definitely driven by a filmmaker's passion for character study and social issue concern. Instead of a story written and filmed to primarily indulge, as is too frequently the case in films today, the undeniably strong, clever, and unpredictable film-making in BE MY OSWALD lies in the interweaving use of both film and video. Serving, I believe, as vehicles to get you involved or distanced from the characters; as though in one minute it's quite comfortable to share an intimate cup of coffee with your character and the next peeping at him or her from a distance.
Finally, and I can't help to say, this film reminds me of Pulp Fiction. As in that film it's sometimes hard to place in a single genre - drama, crime, dark humor. And while Pulp Fiction is no doubt clearly much more violent, like the classic BE MY OSWALD is not without a distinctive theme of misplaced innocence.
In conclusion, do yourself a favor and watch this film, it is easy to see why. Fundamentally, it's important as much as it is entertaining. It is a must see for anyone who considers themselves a movie-goer and can handle intense social subject matter.
BE MY OSWALD, supported by superb acting in every role, manages to create a world full of the most deranged and passionate characters possibly ever to appear on screen. From A, the socialite activist's child-like naivety about the world to B, the militant vegetarian's deranged, yet thoughtful, philosophical bantering, I think the passion lies not only in the character's personalities as they are portrayed but in the way they plea to the movie viewer for mercy. As a struggling writer of some year's experience dealing with all sorts of rejection I was particularly drawn to this aspect of the film.
Thus, and it's fair to point a finger, this movie is definitely driven by a filmmaker's passion for character study and social issue concern. Instead of a story written and filmed to primarily indulge, as is too frequently the case in films today, the undeniably strong, clever, and unpredictable film-making in BE MY OSWALD lies in the interweaving use of both film and video. Serving, I believe, as vehicles to get you involved or distanced from the characters; as though in one minute it's quite comfortable to share an intimate cup of coffee with your character and the next peeping at him or her from a distance.
Finally, and I can't help to say, this film reminds me of Pulp Fiction. As in that film it's sometimes hard to place in a single genre - drama, crime, dark humor. And while Pulp Fiction is no doubt clearly much more violent, like the classic BE MY OSWALD is not without a distinctive theme of misplaced innocence.
In conclusion, do yourself a favor and watch this film, it is easy to see why. Fundamentally, it's important as much as it is entertaining. It is a must see for anyone who considers themselves a movie-goer and can handle intense social subject matter.
Taxi Driver (1976)
A great screenplay breathes life to a real character
Keep this movie simple when watching. What you really have is a man who went to war, survived, came back to civilization but remained a soldier. Soldiers are taught to fight and protect. Travis remained a soldier when he returned as a taxi driver and saved a young girl from the streets. We call him a hero because he saved her. We call him an anti-hero because he murdered. But to Travis it's not murder, it's war. In war you find your spot, you watch and pick out your enemies, then you prepare to combat knowing that a soldier must learn to fight with one thought in his mind: fight not for survival but for the benefit of others. Travis did that.