This is my first review (here) ever, so it's safe to say that Attenberg was an experience I won't forget. I can't recall seeing a movie that was so infuriating in its desperate desire to be quirky and original. The most valid point this movie makes is that not anyone in Greece can pull out a Dogtooth, even if they've collaborated with Lanthimos and cast him in the film. It's painfully clear that this was Tsangari's aim. Yes, Attenberg deals with same themes. Yes, the actors are almost as brilliant. But that's all these two films have in common.
This movie seems to lack any kind of rhythm. Cinematography is downright pedestrian and the editing disjointed. There are way too many - and way too long - uninteresting shots, most of which obviously underline the poor state of Greece. I stress the word "underline" as the point was already made in the first 10 minutes. The awkward kissing scene and the childish dances are really effective, but combined with the snail-paced dullness of the rest of the material, they stick out like sore thumbs. In this context, these weird elements serve absolutely no other purpose than making the watcher uncomfortable.
I really tried to like this movie, but can't escape the fact that it didn't provoke a single thought and came across only as an opportunistic slice of pretentious art cinema. Maybe that was the aim, who knows.
1/10
10 Exceptional 9 Outstanding 8 Excellent 7 Very good 6 Good 5 Enjoyable 4 Watchable 3 Bad 2 Very bad 1 Abysmal
This movie seems to lack any kind of rhythm. Cinematography is downright pedestrian and the editing disjointed. There are way too many - and way too long - uninteresting shots, most of which obviously underline the poor state of Greece. I stress the word "underline" as the point was already made in the first 10 minutes. The awkward kissing scene and the childish dances are really effective, but combined with the snail-paced dullness of the rest of the material, they stick out like sore thumbs. In this context, these weird elements serve absolutely no other purpose than making the watcher uncomfortable.
I really tried to like this movie, but can't escape the fact that it didn't provoke a single thought and came across only as an opportunistic slice of pretentious art cinema. Maybe that was the aim, who knows.
1/10
10 Exceptional 9 Outstanding 8 Excellent 7 Very good 6 Good 5 Enjoyable 4 Watchable 3 Bad 2 Very bad 1 Abysmal