Bubble (USA, director Steven Soderbergh): Not quite sure how to write about this one. Bubble feels like a bit of an exercise for Soderbergh. First of all, it was shot in HD (high-definition) digital video, and this makes the visuals incredibly crisp. Secondly, it was filmed on location in a small Ohio town with a completely amateur cast. The script felt mostly improvised or situational, and actual dialogue is quite sparse.
This is a small and quiet film in which large themes play out over 90 minutes. The pace is very deliberate, and the atmosphere incredibly claustrophobic. The overriding theme for me seemed to be isolation and it was almost physically painful watching some of the characters go about their daily routines or listening to them try to connect with each other. These are people who seem completely inarticulate and unable to express their feelings. There is a sort of love triangle, and a murder, but that’s about all I can say.
Though the mannered acting and slow pace threw me off at first, once I got used to it, I appreciated the film a lot more. This is one of Soderbergh’s more experimental films, and he admitted after the screening that it would be “polarizing” for audiences. While the film is not entirely successful, I’m glad a director of his stature is still taking risks.
(7/10)
Great feature on Apple’s web site about Steven Soderbergh’s new movie Full Frontal, which was filmed and edited on consumer level equipment. Soderbergh continues to be a fascinating director and the film should be an interesting departure for him after his more commercial work lately. It’s nice, too, to see inside the machinery of filmmaking a bit.
In other film news, Roman Coppola’s debut CQ looks like a trip. Boy, those Coppolas!! It also features the inimitable Jason Schwartzman, hopefully atoning for Slackers. The trailer is available here.
Oscars were good last night. Glad to see that Traffic won most of its nominations, although it should have taken Best Picture, too, in my opinion. Steven Soderbergh is the best director working today. I got to see him in person at the Toronto International Film Festival in 1996, after a screening of his film Schizopolis, a film he credits with opening him up creatively. Check it out if you can, it’s a bit of a funhouse mirror. I thought Steve Martin was great, too, making lots of cutting remarks about Hollywood. He also moved things along well. It was nice to have the show end before midnight (Eastern Standard Time) for a change.
Well, I’m back. I took a longer than expected break and caught up on some movies. Over the weekend, Brooke and I rented Erin Brockovich and Any Given Sunday. I loved the former, liked the latter. I definitely think Steven Soderbergh is one of the most talented directors working today, and brings his talent in equal measure to commercial and non-commercial projects. I predict an Oscar for Steven this year, since nominations for Erin Brockovich and Traffic seem likely. Has it ever happened that one person has been nominated for an Oscar twice in the same year in the same category? I think that’s incredible. As far as Any Given Sunday goes, I enjoyed it about as much as I have any other Oliver Stone film. I like pieces but always find his “epic” style annoying. I also saw Mission:Impossible 2 on my Dad’s new DVD player. Great player, mediocre movie.
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