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Ratings6
hammond-42572's rating
Reviews4
hammond-42572's rating
There is a scene about 3/4th of the way through the film (it's in the trailer as well) where Cristin, the drummer in the doomed band that makes up the cast of this film, looks to the lead singer and proclaims "It's just art right? It's not that big of a deal." The moment is (I assume) to evoke some levity in the film after the aforementioned band seems to be teetering on professional, psychological and even metaphorical disaster. But the moment serves a dual purpose: bridging the gap between the first and second half of this film.
The first half is billed as a popcorn, escapist romp as a late 90s band arrives at a haunted chateau to re-record a new album and reverse their failing fortunes a decade past their prime. (Just art right? Not that big a deal).
But where the film shines is the dramatic turn it takes for the worst in the second half. Instead of a bloody 3rd act, the film opts for a mainly bloodless one where the main character gets psychologically gutted instead. Which turns it's "Just Art right? Not that big a deal" into a sarcastic taunt, much like the music world treats the main character and band leader Ryan.
The duality of the film for me is where it's brillant: it serves as painful reminder that even a nihilistic viewpoint of artistic pursuits has a very real and psychological toll. I didn't expect the film would be structured like a classic tragedy, and yet by the time we get to the denouement, I found myself much more emotionally affected than I expected. Kuddos to the filmmakers for an unexpected great story.
The first half is billed as a popcorn, escapist romp as a late 90s band arrives at a haunted chateau to re-record a new album and reverse their failing fortunes a decade past their prime. (Just art right? Not that big a deal).
But where the film shines is the dramatic turn it takes for the worst in the second half. Instead of a bloody 3rd act, the film opts for a mainly bloodless one where the main character gets psychologically gutted instead. Which turns it's "Just Art right? Not that big a deal" into a sarcastic taunt, much like the music world treats the main character and band leader Ryan.
The duality of the film for me is where it's brillant: it serves as painful reminder that even a nihilistic viewpoint of artistic pursuits has a very real and psychological toll. I didn't expect the film would be structured like a classic tragedy, and yet by the time we get to the denouement, I found myself much more emotionally affected than I expected. Kuddos to the filmmakers for an unexpected great story.
I went into the film blind, I had seen a bit of the trailer, but had purposefully ignored any reviews or chatter online. And I felt it delivered on the promise of the premise: an eery, frightening and all too real look at what it would it would be like to have a civil war in america.
The documentary approach felt compelling, the acting stellar, and like the fog of war itself, it was not about grand narrative structures or heros or villains. It just...was. And that's what was honestly refreshing about the film.
This is not Independence Day, this is much more "A 1000 times goodnight" (which is also an awesome film). Would recommend!
The documentary approach felt compelling, the acting stellar, and like the fog of war itself, it was not about grand narrative structures or heros or villains. It just...was. And that's what was honestly refreshing about the film.
This is not Independence Day, this is much more "A 1000 times goodnight" (which is also an awesome film). Would recommend!