violetsky_
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
18 years
Reviews
Peacock (2010)
A spellbinding piece of independent film
Peacock like many other films about emotionally disturbed individuals is a character study, however strong performances by the lead actors and Michael Lander's visual storytelling push it to be something of a delightful anomaly.
Peacock is a portrait of a man, John Skillpa who is a victim of child abuse, played expertly by the Irish thespian Cillian Murphy. He is also suffering from a great loss, and in his grief he invents an alter ego by the name of Emma. What is notable about Murphy's dual role is his attention to detail - differentiating the withdrawn and short tempered John from the graceful and attentive Emma, demonstrating his skill as an actor and not solely relying on the magic of movie makeup. Cillian Murphy has established himself as one of the most under-appreciated and under-rated actors of his generation. The supporting cast of Bill Pullman, Susan Sarandon and Ellen Page give nuanced portrayals of rural folk in 1960s Nebraska.
Enigmatic, elegant and poignant.
There is no spectacular twist at the end, and frankly this film does not need one. If one pays careful attention to the narrative it is neither convoluted nor patronizing to the audience. A masterful feature film debut by Lander, it is a wonder this was not picked up for wider distribution. If Hitchcock made Psycho a drama in the 2000s, this would be it.
Peacock is a portrait of a man, John Skillpa who is a victim of child abuse, played expertly by the Irish thespian Cillian Murphy. He is also suffering from a great loss, and in his grief he invents an alter ego by the name of Emma. What is notable about Murphy's dual role is his attention to detail - differentiating the withdrawn and short tempered John from the graceful and attentive Emma, demonstrating his skill as an actor and not solely relying on the magic of movie makeup. Cillian Murphy has established himself as one of the most under-appreciated and under-rated actors of his generation. The supporting cast of Bill Pullman, Susan Sarandon and Ellen Page give nuanced portrayals of rural folk in 1960s Nebraska.
Enigmatic, elegant and poignant.
There is no spectacular twist at the end, and frankly this film does not need one. If one pays careful attention to the narrative it is neither convoluted nor patronizing to the audience. A masterful feature film debut by Lander, it is a wonder this was not picked up for wider distribution. If Hitchcock made Psycho a drama in the 2000s, this would be it.
Leaves of Grass (2009)
Twice the screen time with Edward Norton!
I had the pleasure of watching the world premiere of Leaves of Grass at the Toronto International Film Festival and was not disappointed. Edward Norton plays identical twin brothers, Billy, an accomplished university professor and Brady a big time drug dealer in Tulsa. The film wonderfully builds up to their first encounter after many years of being estranged, bringing with it much hilarity. The acting was superb - I was thoroughly engrossed in Norton's portrayal of two seemingly different characters. The supporting cast was strong and the director, Tim Blake Nelson had a major role in his own right. Billy and Brady's mother, played by Susan Sarandon brought a nuanced and understated performance. Subtle references to Norton's other films such as Primal Fear and Fight Club were a clever touch. Overall, the film had some great humour and lots of suspenseful moments. This movie is a must see for any Ed Norton fan.