I've been a Sono fan since stumbling across Cold Fish in a video store when it was first released. He isn't the kind of filmmaker that I'd put on any favorites lists, and he's one of those artists who seems too prolific for his own good, but his unique and fun style keeps me coming back. When Netflix released Forest of Love as a 2 1/2 hour film, I was disappointed. It was a jumbled mess- jumping between young teenage girls talking about their virginity, to a abusive, scheming man who is conning every woman (and their female relatives), to an amateur film crew who are always just... around. It seemed like a student film, all improvised scenes in random order and- I didn't get it.
Now, with the Deep Cut coming out of nowhere, I can say that almost everything I didn't like (or didn't understand) about the story is gone. With room to breath, the story is really very charming and funny when it's not displaying the absolute worst of human qualities. It's dark, strange, freewheeling, absurd, and most of all, fun. Forest of Love -Deep Cut- reminds me of the more psychedelic rock albums of the 70's... skilled, technically competent, but decidedly different.
Why Netflix released the film version at all, let alone first, is insane. You would think the "streaming giant" would be learning from past mistakes, consistently putting our better content, but no. They still spend millions a year on terrible stand-up comedy specials. They pay top dollar to "filmmakers" that make Tyler Perry look like Bresson... I bet "The I-Land" just got renewed for 5 seasons...
Forest of Love -Deep Cut- isn't perfect, but I have to assume perfection isn't something Sono strives for. If F.O.L. is like a 70's garage rock album, Sono himself is the ultimate punk rocker, which is maybe why "the man" (netflix) panics and tries to reign him in-
I'm not sure what the relationship between Sono and Netflix is, but I will give the streaming app credit for releasing this show, I just wish they stopped giving money to studio execs who want only to keep releasing universally hated "steamy thrillers" or mindless teen dramadies. Everyone enjoys good art, while only the dumbest people enjoy the majority of Netflix's catalogue.
