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Reviews
Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)
Rare Masterpiece
Blew away a screening room of industry professionals at the Producers' Guild New York. Far more interesting than the publicity and most published reviews. It's intensely visual, in a way that I associate with visual masterpieces like Avatar.
It's a world of 9 year old girl Hushpuppies and her neighbors and friends in a Louisiana Bayou. They are poor in a way most of us never have to face, incredibly spirited, and far more complicated characters than commonly met in film. They are constantly surprising us in what they do, where they go, and what their world looks like.
Quvenzhané Wallis is only nine years old, never acted before, and gives a performance worthy of an Oscar. She's never acted before, but Benh Zeitlin drew an amazing performance from her. The actors all come alive, as does the world they are filmed in.
the aurochs are also remarkable.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
Quiet, slow, then overwhelmingly interesting
The film's 9/11 connection is well-known but turns out to be almost irrelevant. It's about a boy whose father dies, his journeys, and a remarkable family including Max van Sydow as the unforgettable grandfather.
For at least the first half hour, I wasn't sure the film was working. No action, nothing cinematic. Action, except for a few surprises late, never happens. The movie is about the people. They begin as interesting characters then become absolutely riveting.
I saw the movie at an industry screening at New York's best theater, the Zeigfield. It is a small film in essence, mostly just two or three characters who might have been on stage. But it's shot so well it commands the large screen. The audience agreed and left talking enthusiastically. Dave Burstein