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roycenow
Reviews
Moonage Daydream (2022)
Intimate and Personal
It would be too easy to focus a review by letting my teenage fanboy run this commentary, or to praise the stunning visuals of this delicate, vibrant, and luminous documentary. It's so much more than that. A decent biography about a favorite artist would have more than pleased this viewer. And that was provided, but as a secondary narrative to what was supremely important - to understand the thoughts, feelings, drives, philosophy, and creative instincts about this famed artist. This was not an intellectual exercise. The viewer, if they allow themselves to be flooded by the work as a whole, will acquire the the feeling of joining Mr. Bowie on his creative rocket ship. What a joy it is to not just learn about an artist, but to have an interior glimpse of what he experienced as his own nature. Lovely. Truly lovely.
Être et avoir (2002)
Gentle and Wise
I sincerely wish this film were available again. It's so gentle and wise; a fine film to prompt contemplation of life transitions and pleasures inherent in quotidian moments. Please release it again, and please share the profits with everyone involved. It's worth it.
A Love Song (2022)
Beautiful
This movie was utterly beautiful in every way. I did not know that I needed to witness strength and vulnerability in silence and was tremendously moved by Dale Dickey's honest and transparent performance. I can now count two times that I have been in awe inspired by an actor's performance when motionless and silent: (1) was watching Anthony Hopkins's heart break in Remains of the Day, and now (2) Dale Dickey letting go of a romantic fantasy and confront a deeper level of grief in A Love Song. My sincerely thanks to everyone on this production. It's been three days since I've seen it, and the impact of the movie is still felt acutely. Bless you and your humanity.
Elvis (2022)
Meh, but Butler is Great
Austin Butler and Tom Hanks are both convincing in their roles. I rarely walk out of movies, but I did for this one.
I found observing Elvis's story through the Colonel's eyes utterly boring. It worked too hard at making this the Colonel's story, and I really wanted it to be Elvis's story from his own first person subjective experience. For me, the Colonel and his role in Elvis's life is no longer controversial enough to be experienced as an intrigue interesting enough to hold my attention.
In this, we watch Elvis as a phenomenon and spectacle as the outsiders we have always been. Yawn. I, and anyone who has liked Elvis to any degree, has been doing that their whole lives.
With that said, Mr. Butler is perhaps the best impersonator ever. Truly an amazing replica of an admired performer. I hope his performance provides him with a cannon shot to stardom that he deserves for his portrayal.