Possum Holler

With the new, less invasive commenting options, I hope to hear from any of you that have seen these movies and have opinions of your own.

The Science of Sleep
Director: Michel Gondry
Possum’s Grade: A-

With The Science of Sleep, director Michel Gondry (Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) breaks away from his previous collaborator, Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) and ably writes a beautiful screenplay that is equally as schizophrenic as anything Kaufman could have imagined, if not more so.

Spain’s Gael Garcia Bernal (Motorcycle Diaries, Bad Education) proves as he interprets Gondry’s vision that he is the best young actor working in cinema today.

Gondry presents us with a world in which it is difficult to distinguish between dream and reality. In fact, this entire movie is like a dream and the ending is like being suddenly awaken and left with too many unanswered questions.



Marie Antoinette
Director: Sofia Coppola
Possum’s Grade: A

I’m not sure what I can add to the debate over this movie. At Cannes it was booed by the predominantly European crowd. A.O. Scott of the New York Times raved about it like few films that I’ve read his take on. Everyone else seems to fall somewhere in between. Personally, I feel closer to Scott than the French.

I understand why the French hate it. In much the same way that Coppola pokes fun at Tokyo in Lost in Translation, she is poking fun at France in Marie Antoinette. Not to mention the fact that she is glorifying a monarchy that they are likely none to proud of. In an early scene where Marie Antoinette is first being introduced to her role as dauphin of France she is greeted by a chorus of women of the palace each there to help her dress in the morning. Exasperated, she laughs and comments, “this is ridiculous.” Taken aback, her maiden responds, “this is Versailles.” In the end, Marie Antoinette (played a bit unevenly by Kirsten Dunst) is let off fairly easily. Coppola seems to glamorize a figure that history has vilified.

But, ultimately, that is not the point of this movie. Marie Antoinette, more than an historical period piece, is a visual feast. The fast-paced editing, the cakes and goodies, the champagne and the post-punk soundtrack serve to distract the audience from what is going on outside the palace. It isn’t until the final 20 minutes of the movie that the rising revolution is even acknowledged. And in this respect Marie Antoinette becomes supremely relevant as we witness a culture that is too often distracted by celebrity culture to pay attention to what is going on around us. Marie Antoinette becomes a Paris Hilton-like character that is far more appealing to look at than the French Revolution or whatever political mess we face today.

Three Times
Director: Hou Hsiao Hsien
Possum's Grade: C+


Art School Confidential
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Possum's Grade: C

The Prestige
Director: Christoper Nolan
Possum's Grade: B

I don't have a full review of this movie because to say anything is to give it away. But I still recommend it as a fun way to spend a couple of hours.



Possible coming reviews:
In Theatres: Volver, Stranger Than Fiction, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Running With Scissors
DVD: American Dreamz, Down in the Valley, The Break-Up, Sketches of Frank Gehry