Rango

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I went to see Rango with my brother and sister, partly because it looked interesting, but mostly because it seemed like the best of limited options. Early March is not high season for the movies. But we found ourselves enjoying it. A lot. Much more than we thought we would, and certainly more than the little boy sitting next to us. Rango is made not for kids.

It’s a subtle homage/satire of the Western movie genre, to which is thrown in a bit of adult humor, language and cultural criticism.  The visuals are truly stunning – this is one of the few times I’ve actually appreciated cinematography and art direction in an animated film, and it’s certainly the most beautiful animated film I’ve seen come out of a studio other than Pixar. The music, composed by Hans Zimmer, perfectly compliments the action. And it’s also one of the few times I’ve ever stopped to appreciate sound mixing in a movie. Seriously? Sound mixing? You’ll know it when you hear it. Rather than creating something that would appeal to the lowest-common-denominator, the creators of Rango made a beautiful little film that won’t appeal to everyone…but is wonderful all the same.

The Weekend Five

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1. Monsters

A sadly underrated indie flick that gives a fresh face to the “alien invasion” genre. This is more than just excellent science fiction, it’s an exceptional little movie, and more people should see it.

 

2. The Social Network

If you don’t like Mark Zuckerberg now, you’re probably not going to like him much more after seeing this movie. It may seem a little premature to create a film about a website that’s only a few years old, but Facebook was a game-changer for social media, and The Social Network is a fascinating look at how it came to be.

 

3. Never Let Me Go

I read, and loved, Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Never Let Me Go. I was very hesitant to see its screen adaptation, worried that it might be altered beyond recognition. It isn’t. It’s beautiful and devastating and unforgettable. You should read the book…but give this movie a chance, too.

 

4. Easy A

File this one under ‘very pleasantly surprised‘. It’s a teen movie the way that teen movies should be: sharp, self-aware and stocked with strong characters. It’s only major flaw is that it doesn’t always know how far to take the satire, and it sacrifices subtlety for broad stereotypes. But at its best it’s honest and witty and very, very funny.

 

5. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Studios that want to produce adaptations of graphic novels should look to this movie. Moviegoers who want to see incredible special effects should definitely go see this movie. I’ve never read the graphic novel, but I’ve heard this is a pretty faithful rendering. It certainly looks and feels like something out of a graphic novel, but never once did I think that it would look better animated. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a feast for the eyes. My only criticism – and having not read the book, take this with a grain of salt – is that these characters just aren’t likeable.

You look at the other four movies and you’ve got giant alien invasions, Harvard super-nerds, an organ-harvesting future distopia, and high school drama. And in all of those movies, diverse as they were, all of characters were at the very least relatable. I’m trying not to be too harsh; I’m a big fan of Watchmen, I understand the concept of the anti-hero. But Scott Pilgrim is kind of a loser and he wants to date a loser, and so he fights all of her loser ex’s, and we’re supposed to care because…? Well, it’s pretty. I will give it that.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

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I love street art. I love that I’m moving to a city that values street art. And I kinda love Banksy.

 

Theirry Guetta loved street art, too, and he set off to film some of the world’s most famous (and elusive) artists. Only his film was kind of crap and Banksy, who really wanted the world to get a glimpse of this unique art movement, took over the film and told Thierry to go home. Make some art.

 

Which is exactly what he did. Thierry had spent the better part of a decade learning the art of street art, not just the creation and display, but also how to get oneself noticed as an artist. Within months, and almost entirely through self-promotion rather than actual artistic creation, Thierry Guetta (aka, Mr. Brainwash) was the rising star of the street art world. Thousands lined up to see his exhibition debut, and in less than a week collectors would purchase nearly $1 million worth of Mr. Brainwash’ art.

 

The debate over “What is art?” will be an eternal one. I think “good” art is anything that people can find a connection with, be it emotional, spiritual or intellectual. I think there will always be a great variety of art simply because there will always be great variety in people’s love and interest. Art enthusiasts love the works of Mr. Brainwash. Does it change the art in some way to know that he commissioned other artists to do much of the creating?

 

Shepard Fairey explains his iconic image OBEY as an “inside joke” without much inherent meaning. “The more stickers that are out there, the more important it seems. The more people want to know what it is, the more they ask each other. And it gains real power from perceived power.” I like that. By the end of the film, the street artists all seem to be a little resentful of Thierry. Street art is subversive, illegal, fleeting, and above all, free for public consumption. Thierry became a part of the street artists’ world to tell their story, and taking what he learned at the feet of the masters, he would mass-produce and commoditize it.

 

“I don’t know what it means – Thierry’s huge success and arrival in the art world.

I mean, maybe Thierry was a genius all along.

Maybe he got a bit lucky.

Maybe it means art is a bit of a joke.”

 

- Banksy

 

 

Exit Through the Gift Shop on Netflix