The Netflix Nebulous: Part 1

I watched a trio of movies this weekend that offered up a few surprises and a whole lot of time well-spent.

The first movie I watched is called 'Wristcutters: A Love Story' and it was written/directed by Goran Dukic based off of a short story by Etgar Keret. The film stars the usually great Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), the oft-overlooked Shannon Sossamon (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang), and the incredible Shea Whigham (Tigerland, All the Real Girls). It also has some wonderful, small roles played perfectly by Tom Waits and Will Arnett.

The movie centers around Zia (Fugit), a twenty-something who has just had his heart broken by the woman he loves. Before you tune out, there is actually a creative development here! Zia decides to end his life and is immediately finds himself in the Land of Those Who Off-ed. Apparently, in the movie's world, when you kill yourself you are sent to a parallel world that is very similar, but just a lot crappier where in the words of Mikal (Sossamon) it is "a place where you can't even smile? It's hot as balls, everybody's an asshole." This leads to some dark and unexpected comedy throughout the whole movie. The fact that no one in this alterna-verse is happy means that everyone connects with everyone else on a level that is completely devoid of fun or joy or happiness. This melancholic connection of its characters is sometimes heartbreaking sometimes hilarious, and often both at the same time. I can't remember the last movie that left me feeling so content.

The second movie I watched was called 'Eagle vs. Shark' and it was written/directed by Taika Cohen. It features relative newcomer Loren Horsley and, to my surprise, Jemaine Clement who we all know to be Jemaine in Flight of the Conchords. Anyway, this is an off-beat comedy which finds Lily (Horsley) being rejected by her co-workers and friends and looking for love in the almost unloveable Jarrod (Clement). Jarrod is driven by the need for revenge against his high school bully and he drags Lily along for the ride. Horsley's performance absolutely makes the movie. She is somehow naive yet aware, awkward yet incredibly cute, and a loner with a big heart. This is definitely an independant off-beat comedy that'll make you wish that more movies were made like this.

The third and final film I watched this weekend was the third and final film in the 3 Colors trilogy by Krzysztof Kieslowski, entitled 'Red'. The previous films in the series were both great (Blue being the best) and I had pretty high expectations for this one as well. Kieslowski is best known for these 3 films and a set of films he did for Polish television entitled 'The Decalogue' which are films based on the 10 commandments. Kieslowski always paints this swatch of humanity so beautiful that it could not possibly be real, but also so tangible that it could hardly be fiction. His use of music and color has been noted a million times over, but equally impressive is the vast amounts of tragedy and complexity that he imbues into each characters. This last film in the series showcases the fraternity of France which is represented by the red of the French flag, but this fraternity is found in degradation and Kieslowski seems to be saying that we are connected not through our triumphs and joy, but through our failures, loneliness, and lies. It is a haunting movie that sticks with you long after you are done watching Valentine (Irene Jacob) model fashionable coats. A truly remarkable film.


Wristcutters: B+
Bear vs Shark: B
Red: A-