Film: 4/5-4/11

Like Someone In Love, Abbas Kiarostami: 2.5 / 4

This film tells a story in a distinctly. The humans are so interesting; the emotions of the student and the actions of the professor are puzzling, yet sensible. This film has really grew on me, as I reflect a week later. It was peculiar and unique. Some scenes were magnanimous, really....incredible. Kiarostami's got a Palme d'Or, and it's not completely unexpected after watching this film.

It Felt Like Love, Eliza Hittman: 2 / 4

Here's another dark and devastating teen drama which is just a pain to watch. Is it really that bad? I guess that's what Europeans ask about Mean Girls. But really...I hope it's not like this. I read on wiki that it took place in Brooklyn. I was amazed; it didn't seem American at all. It didn't seem attached to any sort of place. It was some dark alternate universe where everything is shit. My evaluation of dark movies is usually quite simple: What did we gain from our descent into darkness? The answer here, is nothing. It was dark for the sake of being dark. The only time that's acceptable is if it's Refn or something. The darkness must be beautiful. The Hunt is an example of a film that descends into darkness and pulls something out. That something, it oozes humanity. That film offers an interpretation of humanity. There's none of that here.

Days Of Heaven, Terrence Malick: 3.5 / 4

With this film, Malick has leapfrogged into my director hierarchy, probably somewhere around 5-7. I'd seen The Tree Of Life, but never really understood it. I understand what this is, and why it's great. It's shot beautifully, with a clear understanding of how to make things look beautiful. Of the main characters, there is ambiguity, because we don't see their emotion, but it's there. Trying to figure out Bill and Abby felt like an intellectual experience. This film had a certain glow to it, and I'll certainly continue with Malick to rekindle that glow. I anticipate to embark on To the Wonder within the month.