Tuesday, May 04, 2004

So, in my quest to self-medicate my depression, I went to see another movie tonight. This time, I took two of my favorite flaming residents, Jason and Jimmy, to the theater with me. They were bored and begged to do something with me. Then they poo-pooed my movie choice of 13 Going on 30, so I chose a more suitable film for the audience - Young Adam.

If you've never heard of this movie, you're not alone. It was released in 2003 in Great Britain, but due to controversy over full-frontal nudity and explicit sex scenes, Sony resisted an American release. Finally, they decided not to censor the film, released it with an NC-17 rating, and audiences everywhere (well, in large metropolitan areas) get to see Ewan McGregor's (beautiful) penis. It's a Scottish movie based on a book by Alexander Trocchi. Parallel plotlines tell the story of Joe Taylor, an aspiring writer who only has complicated relationships with women. The movie was image-driven; I'd like to own this film just to study the cinematography. It's grainy, slightly blurry in places, but extremely beautiful. The clear, luminescent flashbacks with Cathie contrast with the dark starkness of Joe's living condition on the barge. Music plays another notable role in this film. The soundtrack consisted of haunting music by David Byrne, who proves that he's more than just a member of Talking Heads. Dialogue was almost non-existant. With the exception of an eloquent speech by McGregor's character in the beginning, people tend to stay silent. The acting was strong enough to carry the film without too much exposition or explanation.

I liked it. I feel that Young Adam is in the vein of Girl with a Pearl Earring - both films rely on mood to convey a story. Neither has a "concrete" ending. Exchanges of glances drive the plotline. It's an introspective film that refuses to give easy answers. While the "mystery" could not be considered challenging, the film shied away from turning itself into a thriller. Instead, Young Adam focuses on its careful examination of the complex protagonist. While the pacing was off at times, I think the director ultimately suceeded in his quest to document an intricate man's reaction to an unpleasant situation.

Is my blogger turning into a bastion of movie reviews? Well, I suppose I'm trying to fulfill my new role as Cinema Floor RA. This is all just prep for next year. However, because I'm still Jen, I'll post a nice picture of Ewan McGregor from Young Adam. He's dreamy. And I love him, despite the fact that he's only half an inch taller than me, married, and a famous film actor that I'll never meet in person.



Enjoy.