This is the best film I have ever seen.
I don't even know where to begin. This movie blew me away. Other mind-blowing aesthetic experiences that are on par with watching this film: Brothers Karamazov, Milestones, or Kind of Blue.
There are some films you love because the characters, themes or the story just resonate with you in a personal way. That's NOT what I mean when I say this film blew me away. The film blew me away because of its wild ambition and utter success in fulfilling that ambition. It's the best art film I've seen. (Well, it is a tie between 2001: A Space Odyssey.) Like 2001 this film is beautifully shot; it speaks to the viewer through the camera--versus the action or the story. If you like "photographic" films, this is definitely a must. That's one of the reasons I call it an art film.
The other reason is that the film is not about characters or a story. This film is about one major theme (at least one) and films like that are usually pretentious. Not this one. Art films also can be difficult to watch because of the slow pace or abstraction of the film. Imo, this Antonioni does a great job of pulling you in and making you want to see what's going to happen next. So while the film doesn't have a strong narrative per se, there is a story line that Antonioni is able to direct in a way that creates suspense and anticipation.
I've only seen this film once, and I'm reluctant to talk about it because I know there are so many more treasures in this film, and a part of me wants to discorver them for myself before I engage in a conversation about this film.
Posted by Reid at April 15, 2004 11:22 PM