Day Night Day Night

Sophisticated & simple film, really much more a look into the mind of a lost young girl than that of a suicide bomber. In fact I doubt it says very much about terrorism at all: this group is excessively polite and pan-ethnic — works by design as the film is not about assigning blame. But the film is effectively horrific as the viewer is alternately walking in her place and locked into her gaze; either way one is right there with her and developing an idea of what could bring a young woman to decide to blow herself up in Times Square. It’s an impressive, haunting existential film.

Eastern Promises

I must be missing something considering the rave reviews from most critics and members here, but to my eye it was shockingly conventional, in terms of the gangster film narrative. Still, the people who populate this dreary, atmospheric underground are unusually compelling and well-motivated… props to Viggo for an awards-caliber performance, props to all who voted ‘yea’ to gay subtext.