AmaiStina
05-13-2004, 12:28 AM
i read Rick Kisonak's review of Gus Van Sant's film Elephant to see what he thought of the film.
Elephant review (http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=5690)
I'm not disagreeing with what he discussed, but I think how I reacted to the film further substantiates the notion that not everyone sees the same thing when they watch the same movie.
my thoughts as i watching the film:
--Gus Van Sant uses much offscreen space. He creates dimensionality by including all the offscreen space. It's wonderful.
--Zero Day (Ben Coccio) is a lot more intense b/c youre placed into the company of the characters, a result of direct address technique. Elephant puts up a barrier. You're a voyeur no doubt, but youre not experiencing the events in the film with the characters. There's more emphasis on space and the organic quality of pedestrian movement (long takes on people walking, bending, running, playing football).
--The non-linear element is interesting. I'm not sure about the bulimia bit, though (three girls nibble at a salad lunch and then throw up).
--Zero Day gives a philosophy, an understanding but no motive as to why the two boys go on a shooting spree. Theyre direct, "here's how i feel and think about stuff and im doing this just because." Elephant gives a casing, a likelihood, but no motive. Theres criminal intent, but no clear motive (one kid is bullied, but what about the other one?). "heres what i do or possibly have to go thru on a weekly basis at school. but you have to assign feelings to me."
--Zero Day's narrative culminates into something, Elephant's doesnt.
Elephant review (http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=5690)
I'm not disagreeing with what he discussed, but I think how I reacted to the film further substantiates the notion that not everyone sees the same thing when they watch the same movie.
my thoughts as i watching the film:
--Gus Van Sant uses much offscreen space. He creates dimensionality by including all the offscreen space. It's wonderful.
--Zero Day (Ben Coccio) is a lot more intense b/c youre placed into the company of the characters, a result of direct address technique. Elephant puts up a barrier. You're a voyeur no doubt, but youre not experiencing the events in the film with the characters. There's more emphasis on space and the organic quality of pedestrian movement (long takes on people walking, bending, running, playing football).
--The non-linear element is interesting. I'm not sure about the bulimia bit, though (three girls nibble at a salad lunch and then throw up).
--Zero Day gives a philosophy, an understanding but no motive as to why the two boys go on a shooting spree. Theyre direct, "here's how i feel and think about stuff and im doing this just because." Elephant gives a casing, a likelihood, but no motive. Theres criminal intent, but no clear motive (one kid is bullied, but what about the other one?). "heres what i do or possibly have to go thru on a weekly basis at school. but you have to assign feelings to me."
--Zero Day's narrative culminates into something, Elephant's doesnt.