mtrusk

Awesome documentary, very personal and beautifully shot. Gets straight to the point in telling the story of the power of music to not just connect us to each other as human beings but also to tether one's own personal soul to the Earth. Any fan of Phish/Trey or someone who's felt music ever saved their life in one way or another will find this doc essential viewing.

Here is a filmmaker who does not feel limited by what has come before him. Boots Riley is not afraid to take his message to its absurdist extreme; he knows that film and fiction are more than just the mundanities of the real world. You will not see him resort to melodrama to convince the viewer as lesser new filmmakers on the scene have been doing. Riley understands the unique opportunities available to telling a story through the medium of film: live action, animation, comedy, drama, clever scene transitions, bold use of color, amazing original music, all on display here. Lakeith Stanfield as usual does a fantastic job of letting you understand his character. The soundtrack by The Coup only enhances how much of a creative explosion this film is. It's not perfect; some jokes could be rewritten and a couple scenes could have been streamlined, but in the end this is one of the most original films of the year. Riley goes all out to let the viewer contemplate the injustices we as a society are willing to endure before inciting real change.

This is "subversionist western" at its least emotional. There's a very good movie somewhere in this script, but the Zellners arent wise enough to execute to their full potential here. The cinematography, score, and acting (especially from David Zellner who channels the best of Woody Harrelson to combine it with a wimpier persona) all shoot well above par, making watching Damsel rather enjoyable. There are isolated moments that approach near perfection, but unlike better Westerns there is not the tonal confidence to glue the rest together. The Zellners set up rather intriguing backstories for the characters only to never explain them and squander the runtime on a three-quarters-baked attempt at cranking up a Coen brothers blend of comedy. It's usually very funny and well meaning, but I can't quite shake the feeling that this movie would have done better without repeated depictions of how strong the lone female character is against a slew of weak-minded males. The message is fine, but the time spent on it and the hammer over the head tone is apalling at times. It feels like they ran out of things to write about in the middle of the second act. In the end this movie gives you a lot to chew on but not much to really sink your teeth into.

I don't think the people giving this a 1/10 went into this with realistic expectations. This is French cinema, it's going to be sad and harsh and difficult and the character likely won't come to a concrete and obvious realization leading to her happiness. This movie does not hold your hand, but it is well worth it for those willing to look deeper into their emotional history to see what it is reaching for. There are some conversations that don't land but a lot do because Juliette Binoche gives a stellar performance. This is the type of character study that most actresses wait their whole life to do, she's a volcano of emotions bubbling under the surface for the whole runtime. Her character is probably a "bad person". She dates several married men, but that does not invalidate her problems. This movie is about the idea that chasing perfection can often lead you down the wrong path in your relationships and lead to a fear of commitment. For anyone who finds it difficult to be swept off your feet and easily believe in the rest of your life with someone, this is the movie for you. If you think the title of the film is a task that is easy to achieve, maybe it isn't.