Tag: Benjamin Loeb

SICK OF MYSELF (2023)

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Written, Directed & Edited By Kristoffer Borgli
Cinematography: Benjamin Loeb 

Cast: Kristine Kujath Thorp, Elrik Sabther, Fanny Vaager, Sarah Francesca Braenne, Fredrik Sternberg Ditlev-Simonsen, Andrea Braein Hovig, Steinar Klouman Hallert, Ingrid Vollan 

Increasingly overshadowed by her boyfriend’s recent rise to fame as a contemporary artist creating sculptures from stolen furniture, Signe hatches a vicious plan to reclaim her rightfully deserved attention within the milieu of Oslo’s cultural elite.

This seems to be a film that was built more to disrupt shock and be a bit bad taste. And achieve its goal somewhat, but not as strongly, as it seems to aim. As it feels like at the last minute, he decided to smooth some of those sharp edges.

I’ll be honest, I expected more from this film. More of a satire, or just in general more of having something to say.

Now it works and shocks the audience and stays in a black comedy. By presenting us with characters who are thoroughly unlikable. Exposing their constant need for attention, where it almost becomes an addiction, even if it’s just sympathetic. 

Some of the story elements still feel just a bit hard to believe, especially the fact that her boyfriend, who rarely seems to care, would have stuck with her throughout her supposed ordeal. As even if he was just staying with her to see her face, the filmmakers should have illustrated that a little more strongly.

The film doesn’t feel so far-fetched, especially in today’s social media-obsessed climate. Even surprisingly, the main character seems to keep their celebrity or popularity, more local and amongst physical friends no dreams of bigger prospects in aspects, even though there is no clear plan, necessarily as to where this is going to go, or when it will end.

This film had a chance to either be a character study while exploring a kind of sickness that is happening in some people currently or it could have just done the latter, and this is just one case of that addiction. 

Instead, it spreads itself thin and tries to do both, but it’s on the way failing both ends of the story or only skimming the surface. As it ends up, not being as deep or probing, has one might help.

It’s not even bother some that the lead characters are unlikable, but throughout most of the characters in the film are unlikable, even the ones who are supposedly of a good character or a moral center. Most others just appear throughout. 

The film tries to build scenes into either shock or like it’s building to this great punchline that never quite happens. 

The best moments actually are the fantasy scenes that she has where she more or less reveals herself and her thoughts than anything we have seen or even heard about her. One also wishes there were more body horror scenes as the film can be gross, but not as much as some might think.

It’s definitely a found film checkout as there can be some discussions afterward, but it’s not as strong as you believe it will be.

Grade: C+

PIECES OF A WOMAN (2020)

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Directed By: Kornel Mundruczo
Written By: Kata Weber
Cinematography: Benjamin Loeb
Editor: David Jancso

Cast: Vanessa Kirby, Shia Lebouf, Molly Parker, Ellen Burstyn, Iliza Shlesinger, Benny Safdie, Sarah Snook, Jimmie Fails 

When a young mother’s home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning that fractures relationships with loved ones in this deeply personal story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.

This film has a tour de force lead performance by Vanessa Kirby. We see her in all of her glory and despair. The rest of the cast is great.

The opening third of the movie is intense emotionally and amazingly acted. Then in the second act while we see how each member of the couple deals with grief and the effect it has on those around them. In the background the film has a little courtroom drama brewing.

Then in the third act, we deal with only the aftermath but acceptance, especially of secrets revealed and acts that can’t be taken back. All the whole the film never wants to release the tension. As the film stays a docudrama in every sense of the term that it becomes Cassavetes-Esque in trying to expose raw nerves.

The problem is that it feels that way it feels more set up and more like an acting exercise than what it is trying to be. 

So much so that while you are watching it you can’t help but wonder if this is artistic storytelling it is it more trying hard to get awards. As this is a story that needs to be told, it is one that is told to conjure up an emotional story and conflict. 

Just as one character has an affair and it just so happens to be the other’s, family member. We are introduced to how they met, but it just feels more convenient to the film. Rather than natural. For all the naturalness emotionally the film tries to present. The situations feel more set up and false. Especially In What they are trying to present.

Even as another character seems to have an affair, but doesn’t make a show about it. It gives us enough information that we know what is going on and hints at the reasons why. Without spelling it out for us. Whereas the other is sloppy and we witness not the act and conversations afterwards. Though in each case it more matches the style of the characters. 

As the film doesn’t offer much happiness and joy. Let our characters make their mark or presence felt. Usually through despair.

The film’s piece-de-resistance is the 25 minute unbroken shot of Kirby’s character giving birth.

In the end this film is about painful truths and emotional intensity. That by the end does offer a release.

Grade: B