It’s a sad thing about Blood Diamond. An important story that ought to be told and told well, but here they’ve framed bleak reality with any number of Western tropes, archetypical characters, and a stream of inane dialogue (every word that comes out of Jennifer Connelly’s mouth is unbelievable). Africa is sad enough without “one man’s search for his family and his son’s soul!” and other tangents. So: a lock for a Best Picture nomination.
I started thinking about this when I watched They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? recently. Same thing with this film.
Some films, which are concerned with horrific and true events, get a leg up because the subject matter itself is so moving. Whether the film itself is done well or not, the result will be strongly affecting. I watched a fair portion of United 93 sobbing. Was it for the film, or the thing itself? It was for the thing itself. For the reminder.
It’s difficult to separate the film from the feelings one has for the thing itself, I suppose; and I’d be missing the point if I tried too hard. I can’t rate this as simply as I often do. The film is a sort of document (not to say documentary). It’s done well enough. If it were purely fiction, it might be only a *** film. As it is, it’s tied to the reality.
Should a film be made to document what happened on that plane? I suppose so. As it goes, it was well done. But not a profound film. Just a good film that deals with a profoundly moving event.
How do I rate it? I have no idea.
2006 / Nicole Holofcener
Principal Cast Jennifer Aniston, Frances McDormand, Catherine Keener, Joan Cusak, Jason Isaacs, Simon McBurney
Writing Credits Nicole Holofcener
Country US
Genre comedy / drama / romance
Links IMDb
I expect even slice-of-life films to have some sort of conclusion. Call me a traditionalist. Tired plot, pleasant enough, accomplishes nothing.
