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Jul 28, 2014Gary Geiserman rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Oh, baby! It’s a pleasure to have any thing to do with this film. Co-writer with James Ellroy, and director, Oren Moverman is me if I was him. This is ways to direct audio/video, man. This is ways... James Ellroy said it was the only movie of his writing he liked. -- The commentary is delicious, Moverman and his cinematographer, Bobby Bukowski (who he met on “The Messenger”) were meant to work together. They agree on all the new stuff you can do with the machines, (digital here, I think Alexa). And man, what stuff they do. Totally different than the status quo of ‘movies/hollymoney’. No rehearsing, just psych into character, than work it out with camera running and have the cameramen go guerilla and ‘find’ them. No marks or blocking, no hours of lighting, either (no fear of dark). Like Friedkin in parts of “French Connection 2”, following Hackman around in Marseilles. -- And that’s just for starters. They sought out light glare to highlight LA’s interminable weather from Hell. Purposely avoided cliches vigilantly (it’s fun being creative) and did what ever fell into their purview as they went along. It’s the attitude that ‘what ever they come up with, it can be made to work and be great’. And why not that attitude; they’re using light and sound which is what our illusory vr world is made of and we are gods (small pieces of). -— Check the scene at 30:15—31:36! WOW! Two hand-helds that are in the center of a few people and they revolve casting the people one at a time going left to right continuously like a carousel. I’ve never seen this before, and so simple. What an effect. --- Woody Harrelson is magnificent. He’s been veggie for a while and plays a character who doesn’t eat, just chain smokes (vice is BACK). And he really doesn’t eat so he’s so thin and dangerous. Very dangerous. Great performance. -— Story is tough, just a guy going down for an hr, 45, with women watching. The Goddess is back and real men can come out of hiding; “Date Rape” Dave is disappearing. -— Saw a production reference to “End of Watch”, a similar flick done by David Ayer, a kindred spirit. ----- Free copying of disc! TAKE THAT, HOLLYWOOD!