Blood in the Snow
Based on the bestselling novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, Tomas Alfredson’s Let the Right One In represents a truly exquisite and touching cinematic achievement that masterfully combines the frameworks of budding youth and sexuality with perhaps the most realistic treatment of vampirism yet to occur on film. A motion picture of maturity and intellect, its pace takes its time perfectly content to lose the action addicted in exchange for creating truly terrifying sequences for the astute. The film is not for dummies.
The weakness, vulnerability, and innocence of lonely and bullied 12 year old Oskar provides the perfect character to meet and befriend a strange girl new to town, one with a dark secret. Not adhering to horror formula, the film is a story of human interaction, compassion, and fear played against the screen of what is human and what is not, yet is. The film has the sophistication to produce more with less and stretch out on the skinny branches. See the film, and the distinction “skinny branch” will become clear.As the pre-teen girl "who is not a girl" Lina Leandersson delivers one of the most compelling vampire performances I’ve ever seen. The viewer truly feels the developing relationship in the poignant and moving reality of what it is to be one individual connecting with another. The film is a touching and thought provoking love story.
It ain’t no Twilight.
Watch this film, and I promise you will never forget it. Equally unforgettable:
The Cement Garden
Spanking the Monkey
Pan's Labyrinth
Labels: Cinema
posted by x4mr at 12:01 AM
5 Comments:
Wow. X4mr and I must be kindred spirits when it comes to film. I have seen every one listed here and they are among my favorites. He is spot on about their unforgettable nature. There is no way anyone will forget any of these. The links below will not disappoint.
Let the Right One In is so #@$#$ good, probably the best movie ever made with a vampire in it. The incredibly powerful yet vulnerable and lonely twelve year old girl asking, "Do you like me?" is priceless. The sexual tension between human and vampire is amplified by the fact that the two are so young, only twelve. When she strokes his arm, oh la la, but this is taken even further, and I don’t know if any film captures sexual tension better than The Cement Garden, "You want to know what it’s like for a girl."
Speaking of tighter than drum sexual tension,
Spanking the Monkey introduces an entirely new dimension to the concept of taking care of one’s mother. I saw this film in the theater, and the audience was literally trembling, with hands covering open mouths at certain times. Talk about unforgettable.
Set in WWII 1944 Spain, Pan’s Labyrinth is one of the most intelligent fantasy based pictures ever produced. It won three Academy awards. You can’t help loving Ofelia (and also Mercedes), and the super educated super brainy types here will recognize TONS of mythology motifs and themes. The DVD has extras that include Joseph Campbell stuff from his The Power of Myth writings.
Well, Nav, I suppose I don't have to tell you what I think of your comment, but will say it anyway. Great.
I imagine our taste in cinema is very compatible. I suspect we see a lot of the same when we watch a truly terrific picture.
The only one I have seen is Pan's Labyrinth, and I couldn't agree more with Nav's comments.
X4mr and Nav are spot on. Really, really great movies that show how good cinema can really be.
This is an extraordinary blog. I have not seen "Right One" but I have seen the others - very good. "Cement Garden" is just amazing, absolutely unforgettable, and one of the best motion pictures ever produced.
I don't quite understand how "x4mr" works, but without question he is brain food for people unafraid to be challenged and forced to think. I love it.
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