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A few weeks ago, Other Kenjari and I watched The Grandmaster, a 2013 film by Wong-Kar Wai about martial arts Master Ip Man,who taught Bruce Lee. It's not at all a typical kung fu movie, but it's just as enjoyable. The cinematography is gorgeous - it all has an old-fashioned warmth that really captures the early 20th century settings of most of the film. The fight choreography is wonderful, and Kar Wai's direction is more thoughtful and contemplative than most movies of the genre. Kar Wai also tells the story with just the right amount of sentimentality to bring out the emotional highs and lows without so much that things become sappy. It's well worth watching.
Last night, we went to see the long-anticipated Only Lovers Left Alive, Jim Jarmusch's recent vampire movie with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston. It was every damn thing I'd been hoping it would be. Jarmusch's slow pacing worked beautifully - his lingering on images or events and sparseness of plot events really let me live in the world he created. Swinton and Hiddleston are absolutely perfect as vampire lovers, one of whom still finds the world and her existence in it interesting and worthwhile and the other of whom is not quite sure he's really up for going on. But this is anything but a tired story of someone finding a new lease on life. it's much more interesting and cooler than that. I really loved the way their relationship was portrayed - they really truly did act like people in a longterm relationship that has not lost its passion or immediacy. The significant looks, the casual draping of limbs across each other while lounging or sleeping, the deep comfort with and understanding of each other. It all rang true and was wonderful to watch. Also damn sexy. The use of colors, the soundtrack, and the recurring motif of a spinning shot taken from above were all delights for the eyes and ears. I need to see this film again, I need to own it for repeated viewings. You all should see this - it's possibly the best vampire movie ever made and also my favorite of Jarmusch's work.
Last night, we went to see the long-anticipated Only Lovers Left Alive, Jim Jarmusch's recent vampire movie with Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston. It was every damn thing I'd been hoping it would be. Jarmusch's slow pacing worked beautifully - his lingering on images or events and sparseness of plot events really let me live in the world he created. Swinton and Hiddleston are absolutely perfect as vampire lovers, one of whom still finds the world and her existence in it interesting and worthwhile and the other of whom is not quite sure he's really up for going on. But this is anything but a tired story of someone finding a new lease on life. it's much more interesting and cooler than that. I really loved the way their relationship was portrayed - they really truly did act like people in a longterm relationship that has not lost its passion or immediacy. The significant looks, the casual draping of limbs across each other while lounging or sleeping, the deep comfort with and understanding of each other. It all rang true and was wonderful to watch. Also damn sexy. The use of colors, the soundtrack, and the recurring motif of a spinning shot taken from above were all delights for the eyes and ears. I need to see this film again, I need to own it for repeated viewings. You all should see this - it's possibly the best vampire movie ever made and also my favorite of Jarmusch's work.
