blackblackwhite

Winter’s Bone

gotgotneed — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:12:19 +0000

Two films last weekend – the rather too claustrophobic Buried and the rather brilliant Winter’s Bone. Oscar tipped Jennifer Lawrence delivers a staggering performance laden with maturity well beyond her tender age (19). Against the bleak backdrop of the Ozark mountains, Missouri the film draws on an earthy aesthetic of wintered trees and crank weathered faces. On Friday’s Review Show, critic (and pretentious charlatan) Pat Kane described the film as poverty porn – in my mind a rather dismissive portrait on Debra Granik’s re-working of Daniel Woodrell’s novel. The film neither titillates nor glamourises the American underbelly it seeks to scratch, rather opting to lean on it’s use of dramatic effect to beautifully illustrate a part of America often unexposed this side of the pond. Shocking, hostile but ultimately heart-felt I have a feeling this is the sentiment will live on the longest. It also worth mentioning the sublime performance of John Hawkes as the film’s redemption finding bitter-sweet hero, Teardrop – wonderful.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

gotgotneed — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:06:31 +0000

As I mentioned yesterday, the photography of Sally Mann reminded me of a favourite film of recent times: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. There is so much to write about Andrew Dominik’s masterpiece, it seems to excel on every level and is ultimately a thing of rare beauty that in my opinion is as close to perfection as possible. The meandering pace is deliberately methodical and unnervingly tense – the use of the landscape as a focal point and a reluctance to use a short-tempered editorial style reminiscent of Terence Malik. The friction oozes to a chilling soundtrack scored by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis. Cassey Affleck, Brad Pitt and Sam Rockwell are all extraordinary.

http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/theassassinationofjessejames/

Sally Mann

gotgotneed — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:38:09 +0000

I was fortunate enough to be introduced to the photography of Sally Mann at The Photographer’s Gallery today. Her work is haunting and has stuck with me, her dreamlike take on family and the surrounding landscape extremely moving. The antique technique and process of developing she uses seems to evoke a very ghostly tone touching upon a voice of Americana. It also reminded me of the cut-away scenes from a favourite film of the last decade The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford – http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/wb/theassassinationofjessejames/ – more on that soon

Never Let Me Go

gotgotneed — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:22:57 +0000

I can’t picture a better cast of young british actors right now – this has me gripped tears ready

The Sublime Return

gotgotneed — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:00:10 +0000

http://www.interpolnyc.com/

The Maze

gotgotneed — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:47:11 +0000

http://www.stuartpearsonwright.com/themes/maze/

Esben and the Witch

gotgotneed — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:40:37 +0000

http://www.esbenandthewitch.co.uk/

Crystal Castles

gotgotneed — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:33:02 +0000

http://crystalcastles.com/

Racing Dreams

gotgotneed — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:30:01 +0000

http://racingdreamsfilm.com/

Youth burn Beatles

gotgotneed — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:14:03 +0000

Happened across this gem in the Guardian this morning… http://blackandwtf.tumblr.com/