Me, You and Everyone We Know

Me, You and Everyone We Know

This film for me wasn’t terribly boring or exciting, it was average. Whilst some of the narrative was strange and confusing others were funny and smart, which was something I especially liked about this film. The quirky and slightly edgy humour in this film is again something that I liked, but at points I wasn’t sure whether I should have been laughing or not.

The narrative is loosely based on Miranda July’s character but more on the diverse and strange relationships that surround her. With the two best friends who are constantly competing with on another or the two brothers weird and lonely relationship with horny people on the internet. The film’s ending was quite unresolved and annoying; whilst the relationships carried on I felt the characters had not developed or changed enough for me to like how it finished. Although Miranda probably wanted an ongoing story; one which wasn’t defined by the ending. It left me feeling almost betrayed in not letting me know what to take from this film; was it a hilarious, unusual and terribly honest  take on modern relationships or a very pessimistic depressing view on how most if not all relationships are somehow based around sex. Or maybe I too misjudged the film entirely.

In conclusion my opinion on this film is unsure, whilst my age and interest in other genres might make me bias to hate this film I don’t; and so believe that this film is decent and at least 3 stars.

Joel Hooper

The Craft

The craft is a very unusual and intrepid take on a high school drama/ coming of age film, but although its fictionally based it still surprisingly manages to detain some familiarity with modern high school life, even with it being more then 10 years old.  Strangely I found the narrative of this film to be a lot like “Mean Girls” but obviously with a fictional subtext and a much darker ending. Retrospectively I found this film is very smart in the way it portrays different social groups with different characters and the way they react given the supernatural context. Obviously this familiarity doesn’t really apply to British high school life but might still have some relevance in American high school life, which not only says a lot about this film but a lot about high schools.

The story bases itself around Sarah; a newcomer to a Catholic High school who’s moved with her father to Los Angeles, but soon falls into the wrong crowd and when rumours about her start to stir Sarah decides to seek friendship in a strange group of girls. When Sarah realises they’re withes she decides to join them but they all underestimate Sarah’s power and soon after face fatal consequences for it.

I like this film for its originality in genre mix and narrative, although at points I felt disappointed with the narrative/character arks chosen for individuals but also felt that the narrative for some characters wasn’t in depth enough for the narrative to flow properly. But what they attempted to do with this film was incredibly smart and gutsy.

I would give this film 3.5 stars; for its originality, good narrative and interesting and smart interpretation of teenage life.

Joel Hooper

The Machinist

A quirky horror/psychological thriller, was my first thought of this film from my glance at the front cover of the box.  I may have been slightly right in my prediction but still very wrong. I wouldn’t really classify this film to any sort of hybrid genre but it is definitely psychological, whether its horror or thriller depends on the viewer. Although there are scenes of gore and slight jump scares the feel of the film has a more unknown genre basis, one which I myself am still unsure about.

Christen Bales body if anything the biggest indicator that it might be more of a horror film, no CGI just a very disturbingly grotesque skeletal form which at any topless scene will make you feel very unsettled and slightly sick. For this film Christen actually lost more than 60 pounds (27kg), and it really does show.

The narrative bases on a man called Trevor Reznik who suffers from insomnia, the slightly unrealistic idea is that he hasn’t slept in a year and is still able to work, talk and have a lot sex with a prostitute. And even though most of the other characters in the film think he’s on drugs, no one seems to think to call a Doctor. Although this film does have a massive plot whole in the basis of its storyline, you have to ignore it because as the film goes on the narrative starts to patch it up (slightly). As it gives the reason for why he can’t sleep.

The further the film goes on the more paranoid and deluded Reznik becomes, this changes the mood of the film dramatically.

Unlike other films which have a dream prospect to them; this film actually does it surprisingly well as you aren’t really ever sure of if Trevor is dreaming or not. Although it is slightly daunting as you worry about the whole film being one big disappointing dream/nightmare, ruining so many other good films and programmes previously. Spoiler alert; it isn’t. And the ending for me was really good ; it gave reason to most of the plot wholes, answered questions that had confused me but mostly the ending unusually surprised me and after watching will probably surprise you too.

I would say this film is suspense driven, depressingly horrific and conclusively magnificent. Although I wasn’t too sure about the director choice over the camera sometimes and Christine Bales acting was not quite up to scratch in my opinion; it is still a very good watch (but do expect some gore as well as spinal chords and rib cages becoming pressed out against pale skin).