9: Primer (AKA I don’t understand science)

Primer – October 8, 2004
Starring: Shane Carruth, David Sullivan
Written and directed by: Shane Carruth

The plot: “At night and on weekends, four men in a suburban garage have built a cottage industry of error-checking devices. But, they know that there is something more. There is some idea, some mechanism, some accidental side effect that is standing between them and a pure leap of innovation. And so, through trial and error they are building the device that is missing most. However, two of these men find the device and immediately realize that it is too valuable to market. The limit of their trust in each other is strained when they are faced with the question, If you always want what you can’t have, what do you want when you can have anything?” – Sujit A. Varma at IMDB

My thoughts: Let me tell you guys that I’m notoriously known for not understanding movies after I watch them. Even when I think I get them, I probably don’t. So, what results is me Googling like a crazy person, trying to find explanation of what I just saw.

It happened again. With half the dialogue being weird, science-y jargon, I didn’t really follow. It was like watching a foreign film without subtitles. So, let me lay down what this movie is about because that summary up there is dumb (sorry Sujit.) These guys accidentally create a device that allows for time travel in a strange way. They take advantage and decide to make some money on stocks and betting on sports. And then it gets kind of convoluted because there are two doubles existing at the same time in the spaces and I think at some point there’s three of one of the guy? I’m obviously still kind of lost.

I can’t blame a movie that was, I think obviously, supposed to be somewhat confusing or at least tricky to understand. What actually ruined it a bit for me was the music. At times where it should have been tense, the accompanying piano was full of major chords, which was off-putting and as far as I can tell, didn’t seem to be intentional. It happened a few times throughout the movie and it broke my focus on the movie.

For being on a budget of about 7,000 dollars, the movie looked pretty good. Some shots were grainy and seemed very handheld, but for every one of those was a beautiful shot. In terms of the technical language, I don’t know how accurate any of the science-related language was or if it was mostly made up for the sake up creating a “normal world.” However, Carruth has apparently said that he didn’t want to water it down just for the sake of the audience.

In general, it was a cool little independent sci-fi mystery film. Shane Carruth did a great job writing, directing, and acting in the film. If you’re into flexing your brain and enjoy saying “huh?” after watching a movie, check it out. And when you’re done, you might want to check out the wikipedia page for the movie. It explained a lot. According to one reviewer, “anybody who claims he fully understands what’s going on in Primer after seeing it just once is either a savant or a liar.”

Stars: 3/5

7: The Vicious Kind (the good kind, to be sure)

The Vicious Kind – January 17, 2009
Starring: Adam Scott, Brittany Snow, Alex Frost, J.K. Simmons
Written and directed by: Lee Toland Krieger

The plot: “A man tries to warn his brother away from the new girlfriend he brings home during Thanksgiving, but ends up becoming infatuated with her in the process.” – IMDB

My thoughts: I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or be horrified or feel uncomfortable throughout this movie. Let’s just say it went through a lot of emotions, which I think is pretty true to life. Adam Scott (oh, how I love thee) is brilliant in this movie. One second he’s a horrible asshole – and I mean just the worst – and the next second he’s cracking a smile and being perfectly sarcastic that butterflies suddenly show up in my belly and I love him all over again.

The movie is definitely a character focused piece; not much really happens in the movie. Krieger does a really wonderful job of subtly letting us discover the complexities and layers in his characters. Perhaps the least developed character is the one whose presence sets everything in motion, Brittany Snow’s Emma. All we really get is that her mother is an alcoholic and that she’s not as innocent (or perhaps doesn’t want to be as innocent) as she appears to be.

Let me just cut to the chase and say that it was nominated for and won a number of prestigious independent film awards. And they were deserved.

Stars: 4/5

This movie is called Bellflower and it looks SICK

Bellflower – August 2011
Starring: Evan Glodell, Jessie Wiseman, Tyler Dawson
Written by: Evan Glodell
Directed by: Evan Glodell

“Bellflower follows two friends as they venture out into the world to begin their adult lives. Literally all their free time is spent building flame-throwers and weapons of mass destruction in hopes that a global apocalypse will occur and clear the runway for their imaginary gang “Mother Medusa”. While waiting for the world to end, their call to excitement comes unexpectedly when one of them meets a charismatic young woman and falls hard in love. Quickly integrated into a new group of friends, they set off on a journey of betrayal, love, hate, infidelity and extreme violence more devastating and fiery than any of their apocalyptic fantasies. Often life’s simplest and most obvious truths are the hardest to see, but once you’ve burned everything to the ground it may be the only thing left standing.” – Coatwolf Productions

My thoughts: This movie looks unbelievable. I hate to use the same word that everyone else is using but “gritty” most definitely comes to mind while watching this trailer. The cinematography looks incredible – look at that lighting! And a major plus is the fact that I’m intrigued by the plot. The reviews have been insane and an official selection from Sundance? I’m in. One more thing: that bitchin’ song in the trailer for Bellflower? “Secrets” by Small Town Zeros. How delicious is that beat?