Thursday, August 21, 2008

d is for 'don't look now'


'don't look now' is a wild and dark and mysterious and inventive film by visionary genius director nicholas roeg. it was based on the writings of daphne de maurier... (and i haven't read the story so i can't tell you whether its faithful to the original work or not.) what i do know is that it is a pure, lovely, spooky, genius movie from start to finish. and whoa, what a start this movie has! anyone who's ever seen it knows the sequence i'm talking about. it is almost an unfortunate truth that the rest of the movie has a hard time living up to the first 15 minutes. its a movie that requires patience and attention. but the payoff in beauty and intelligence is worth the effort. anyone who considers themselves a serious 'student of film' should see it. its not easy to watch, i mean, there aren't many 'light' moments. even the flim's infamous sex scene comes across as detached and base and the two parties, (donald sutherland and julie christie) seem to be outside of themselves. i could go on and on. as for this shot... well, it is both vital and insignificant to the whole of the production, but the shattering beauty of the 'colorside' shot is, in my 'film lovers' mind, iconic. dig it. (click to really enlarge)

1 comment:

lucynell2 said...

I feel pretty sure I attempted to watch this once...and I know for a fact I rented Track 29 (shot in Wilmington, NC) at least half a dozen times. I was in love with Gary Oldman, you see. I also loved the very beginning of that movie, with the 'gong, gong, gong' of John Lennon's "Mother" and Oldman screaming...weird and hot.