Minimalist Meek

Sparse.

Barren.

Quiet.

Hushed sounds.

Strained listening.

Did they say what I think they said?

Kelly Reichardt's Meek's Cutoff is not for everyone, judging by comments on the web. This western is based on the true story of a wagon train to Oregon that is led by a guide, Stephen Meek, who attempts to bypass the route through the Blue Mountains where an attack by Indians is rumored to await, leading the train into a harsh desert.

Things become desperate. Meek's leadership is question.

An Indian is captured who now becomes an enigmatic guide through the harsh terrain.

Michelle Williams plays a strong-willed woman, Bill Patton as her husband, and Bruce Greenwood as Meek in a small cast that reduces the true story's large group of hundreds of wagons to just three.

This reduction serves the story well and the cast does a great job with a sparse script.

As alluded to above, the sound design is purposefully designed so that dialog is difficult to understand in some cases. Meaning is what is made of words misheard. Or missaid.

The framing is 4:3, designed to mimic the women's bonnets and the wagons themselves, where a narrow field of vision is only available to the viewer.

This does not prevent some amazing cinematography being put on display of the barren Oregon landscape.

Much has been said of this allegorical tale on politics, untrustworthy leadership, and current events.

Everyone should see this movie.

Alternate Takes
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Listening To Morgan Spurlock

Tell the tale of how he was evicted from his apartment and ended up living in a hammock at night at his workplace, and going deeper and deeper into debt all during the dotcom bust, which happened prior to getting the idea that spawned Super Size Me, was awe inspiring, motivational, and hilarious.











Director of Super Size Me, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden, and one of the creative forces behind the FX TV series 30 Days, Spurlock is definitely a unique character who was introduced as possibly one of the few people to have their creative output actually make a difference in the world: alluding to the aftermath of Super Size Me that saw improvements at some fast food restaurants.

Apparently his next film is an adaptation of the book Freakonomics along with other documentary filmmakers, including Alex Gibney. I cannot wait!

Twenty Five Years Of Criterion Collection

Bringing esoteric, arthouse, independent, and sometimes shlocky DVDs and Blu-Ray discs to you for 25 years.

This video from 1985 (with Leonard Maltin) when viewed amidst today's digital abundance is sort of sad and sort of amusing:

Paranormal Activity

This movie is an independent filmmaker's dream scenario.

Take your own house. Remodel it a bit. Spend time finding the two actors that are perfect for the part. Shoot a movie in 7 days using claustrophobic handheld camerawork and very simple and effective lighting.

Profit.

The box office is approaching $100 million. Made for what is routinely reported as $25 K, this film has become the most profitable independent film ever.

A Blair Witch Project for 2009.

A sequel has already been announced.

The film is constructed simply and yet is very effective. With only two main characters, a newlywed couple that are investigating paranormal activity by recording the events, a camera (which almost becomes a character), and realistic dialog, the film forces the viewer along for a very uncomfortable ride. The suspense builds very effectively not by showing everything, or using the hyper-editing style that is favored by those with ADHD, but by simple leaving the camera still and using very effective sound to use the viewer's imagination against them (the sound design is impressive). Hitchcock would have been impressed.

Recommended both as entertainment and as a lesson.

IMDB. Wikipedia.