Review: "Meanwhile"
Feb. 12th, 2013 07:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livingdebWe saw the new Hal Hartley movie, "Meanwhile" (2012) this week. (It's available for purchase at his website.) I liked it.
According to the director, it's about everyday ordinary things. And he doesn't like setting up scenes, so you only get to see place if a character is in it. So, he made this movie basically about a journey through New York City.
Those things were not exciting to me. In fact, I didn't see everyday ordinary things. What I liked was that the main character talked to total strangers all the time (which I basically never do) in a way that never creeped them out. He also went a little bit out of his way to help others, and this mostly worked. This is especially surprising in New York City where there are just so many people that you really can't even begin to connect with or help everyone you see. So that was really fun.
The character himself was having an interesting day with, admittedly, some boring errands. And there's suspense: Is he some kind of loser? Or is there just an undeserved string of bad luck? Here's one of my favorite dialogs (I'm getting the quotes wrong, but hopefully communicating the gist):
Joseph (the main character): Why do you think I need money?
His brother: Well, last time I saw you was seven months ago, and you were wearing those exact same clothes.
Joseph: These? No, this is my look.
The movie also touches on basic questions of what people should do with their lives, both the smaller details and the big picture. So that can be thought-provoking.
Unfortunately, I don't buy the first scene (though Robin does). And the ending is crazy. But I do enjoy the journey.
If you don't like Hal Hartley movies, you won't like this one (although I was surprised by good acting by some of the actors--who knew Hartley would allow that?). If you have Robin's taste in Hal Hartley movies, this is one of the good ones (some of the recent ones have been not so good). If you love New York City, you'll have an extra enjoyable layer to your experience.
Quote of the Day - 'It has begun. [My four-year-old daughter] asked me this morning, "How do mommies and daddies actually make babies?" I explained it was sort of like baking, we used special mommy and daddy ingredients.' - my sister
I think this is the most awesome vague response ever.
According to the director, it's about everyday ordinary things. And he doesn't like setting up scenes, so you only get to see place if a character is in it. So, he made this movie basically about a journey through New York City.
Those things were not exciting to me. In fact, I didn't see everyday ordinary things. What I liked was that the main character talked to total strangers all the time (which I basically never do) in a way that never creeped them out. He also went a little bit out of his way to help others, and this mostly worked. This is especially surprising in New York City where there are just so many people that you really can't even begin to connect with or help everyone you see. So that was really fun.
The character himself was having an interesting day with, admittedly, some boring errands. And there's suspense: Is he some kind of loser? Or is there just an undeserved string of bad luck? Here's one of my favorite dialogs (I'm getting the quotes wrong, but hopefully communicating the gist):
Joseph (the main character): Why do you think I need money?
His brother: Well, last time I saw you was seven months ago, and you were wearing those exact same clothes.
Joseph: These? No, this is my look.
The movie also touches on basic questions of what people should do with their lives, both the smaller details and the big picture. So that can be thought-provoking.
Unfortunately, I don't buy the first scene (though Robin does). And the ending is crazy. But I do enjoy the journey.
If you don't like Hal Hartley movies, you won't like this one (although I was surprised by good acting by some of the actors--who knew Hartley would allow that?). If you have Robin's taste in Hal Hartley movies, this is one of the good ones (some of the recent ones have been not so good). If you love New York City, you'll have an extra enjoyable layer to your experience.
Quote of the Day - 'It has begun. [My four-year-old daughter] asked me this morning, "How do mommies and daddies actually make babies?" I explained it was sort of like baking, we used special mommy and daddy ingredients.' - my sister
I think this is the most awesome vague response ever.