Inside Darkness
Thursday, October 16, 2008
The BIAS GOOMBAJust in time for the 2008 Presidential Election, Inside Darkness features three presidential candidates trapped inside a dark room. The three hostages:
1.) Presidential incumbent, Yvette Anderson- Protestant, female, Republican
2.) Senator John Bowman - Catholic, black,[ former Colonel, Democrat
3.) Patrick Weller - atheist, intellectual, Independent
The last thing they remember is being at the presidential debate, and though they share the same last memory, they do not share the same ideas about leading a nation.
Intense and symbolic, Inside Darkness is thrilling and politically charged. The dissonant music adds to the tension, and it churns the paranoia that progressively creeps into the slow shrinking room. The use of lighting is creative and spurs discussion. Why, for example, are some characters cloaked in red light at some points in the film? Why are there single points of light in a room full of darkness? There are other concepts to examine in this short film - Why do the captors keep looking to the sky? Why did the filmmaker choose such diverse demographical representations for his characters? How does religion affect their decision making, both in the room and out? And then, there's that ear. What the heck does that ear mean? The death of listening? One-sided hearing? Who knows? That's for you to discuss.
The analysis of Inside Darkness can go on for hours and hours, and you'll notice that I've listed more questions than anything else. Completely abstract, Inside Darkness is not meant to provide answers, which can be frustrating. This film is not for the artistically narrow-minded. It is, at times, hard to follow. There is no obvious plot, and no obvious message. It is meant to stimulate the exchange of ideas and promote thought, so it is important to keep this mentality in mind prior to watching the film. The episodic format makes this goal easy to obtain, so again, be prepared to watch a movie that is crafted as a visual art piece and generates conversation, not a flick to sit and eat a bowl of popcorn to (however, I'm sure Father Dominic would love for you to eat popcorn with this film).
To watch free, online episodes or buy the DVD, visit www.insidedarkness.com.
For more information on the filmmaker, Father Dominic De Lay, visit www.mudpuddlefilms.com.
For more information on the Dominican Friars visit www.opwest.org.
Into Great Silence
Thursday, April 19, 2007
3.5 GOOMBAS
Sound in deliberate absence is a very powerful symbol in film making. It can evoke anxiousness, tranquility, or self discipline; represent anger, meditation, or solace. Chronicling six months of life in the brotherhood, Into Great Silence is a documentary about the life of Carthusian monks at the Grande Chartreuse monastery in France. The filmmaker, Philip Groning first sought film permissions from the monastery 16 years prior to the making of the film, but the monastery declined stating that they were not yet ready. Sixteen years later, they said they were ready. Change works slow in the Catholic church.
Artistic and meaningful, the film is 95% silent, and it is a 100% diagetic movie, meaning no overlaying commentary or narration, no background music, and no sound effects. Shots are long, drawn out, and juxtaposed in a way that creates a senselessness of time. Sometimes its night, then its day. They're praying together in the dark, then they're alone. Its winter, now its spring. Its winter again. He's chopping wood, another monk is working on the garden, another praying and eating lunch. Is this a different day? Now its early morning . . . or is it dusk? One day rolls into another, and we are captured in this spell of seemingly non-existent time. These are how the monks live, and for three hours, so will we.
This is definitely not a popcorn movie. It's a meditation. To paraphrase what the Prior said to the novice entering the Order, "our way is of silence and solitude, and through it becomes one everlasting prayer." Great silence it is.
Art cannot be appreciated if not in the right mindset, so if you do decide to go see it, know that its the experience that makes this film special. That was the only way I was able to sit through a three hour, silent, monk documentary. I wonder how many "Hail Mary's" I could have said in three hours?
For more information on Carthusian monks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carthusian
The Nativity Story
Thursday, April 12, 2007
3.75 GOOMBAS
A lot of critics didn't like this film, but I thought it was exquisite. Whether or not you believe that Jesus is the messiah/saviour or even the most basic fact of his actual existence, this film provides such a charming take on the story of the birth of Jesus, factual or fictitious.
There were some weaknesses in The Nativity Story. I think that many of the critics were expecting a film of epic proportions, mainly because of the reputation this particular story possesses. However, this movie was somewhat opposite, and I can see why some critics might have felt let down. What this film also lacked was a strong villain. There was the king who attempted to prevent the new messiah prophesy from coming true, so he had all the first born male children killed. However, his role was, in my opinion, very de-emphasized.
