Tag: Keith Poulson

THE SWEET EAST (2023)

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Cinematography & Directed By: Sean Price Williams

Written By: Nick Pinkerton 

Editor: Stephen Gurewitz 

Cast: Talia Ryder, Simon Rex, Jacob Elordi, Ayo Edibiri, Jeremy O. Harris, Andy Milonakis, Keith Poulson, Rish Shah, Mazin Akar, Gibby Haynes, Mimi Ryder, Jack Irv, Ella Rubin, Betsey Brown, Earl Cave

A picaresque journey through the cities and woods of the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. undertaken by Lillian, a high school senior from South Carolina. She gets her first glimpse of the wider world on a class trip to Washington, D.C.

The film has an Alice in Wonderland quality. they coming of age tale. where we follow this girl who right after losing her virginity goes on a school field trip to Washington DC gets mad wanders off and kind of gets involved in all these kinds of extreme groups and gets involved with these characters who have such great passion for their beliefs that she seems to put up with as long as she can, and they take care of her, but then soon grows of them and moves on, especially leaving them and ruin when she does

as it seems like all of those, she gets involved with seem to put their ideals dreams, and wishes upon her as some kind of fantasy is going to help them or save them or make them successful and she’s quite the opposite as she is just a schoolgirl trying to survive and trying to have fun

I think this film might’ve been a little stronger been directed and written by a female because as it plays, which might actually work and its favor seems more to go throughout this film as a kind of young female seen through the male gaze so she’s constantly made into a fantasy. it is directed by noted cinematographer Sean Price Williams.

The film doesn’t make her a victim, though it shows that she’s not that innocent and that she kind of enjoys the power that she gets from all these experiences as these types of scenarios and with the female being victimized, it’s kind of refreshing to see a film, where the female is the one who realized that she has the power and takes control, even though she doesn’t know how deep or dangerous the waters she’s stepping into truly 

The film is very experimental as it even has a musical sequence early in the film and seems to be mostly handheld gorilla style though has some beautiful shots the film does keep a sense of humor, but also has a kind of shock value that it produces every now and then just to make sure you’re paying attention 

as in one section of the film, she ends up staying with a white supremacist who is more of an intellectual than an actual member of the KKK who he spoils like she’s a pet, but never touches, though she keeps offering peaks and glances. He never makes a move, though he wants to and generally respects her, which makes her quite fast

she goes from there to African-American filmmakers who keep talking about being revolutionaries and even dress the part in 1970s wardrobe, but then when we actually see that the film they are making it some kind of merchant ivory-type production that is more about Caucasian characters in the pet in the past which proves to be one of the most, but also shocking sequences in the film

those throughout there are no real consequences for her character and the film tries to throw the audience off just as when she ends up secretly staying with what seems to be a Muslim paramilitary group. They are more of a music group dance and very secretive. so this film keeps to survive.

no, by the end, it doesn’t really seem to have all that much to say and still feels like the musings of a middle-aged Caucasian man declaring his thoughts on modern-day subcultures but putting it through a young female point of view, making it seem more open and not so fitting closed off.

In the end, it’s not quite an adventure. I’m sure most audiences will want to make but if they do, they might find something that captures their interest throughout. As the character travels through the eastern seaboard.

That is a great showcase for young actress Talia Ryder. as she constantly plays the main character, but also that character has to play the role that she is given by all these different people she comes across and even using other stories as her own to get more sympathy

in the end, it kind of amounts to a movie that seems like it was a hip hang-out for most of the cast that was made up as it went along to touch on certain subjects and meanings

Grade: C 

HER SMELL (2019)

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hersmell2019_feature

Written & Directed By: Alex Ross Perry
Cinematography: Sean Prince Williams
Editor: Robert Greene 


Cast: Elisabeth Moss, Dan Stevens, Cara Delevigne, Ashley Benson, Agyness Deyn, Gayle Rankin, Virginia Madsen, Dylan Gelula, Hannah Gross, Eric Stoltz, Amber Heard, Keith Poulson, Kentucker Audley, Alexis Krauss 

A self-destructive punk rocker struggles with sobriety while trying to recapture the creative inspiration that led her band to success.

Now with a film such as this one the title will either turn away potential audience members who might end up really digging this movie or attract others intrigued by what the title could mean.

This film takes place over 5 important days in a band’s life and career all after they have made the big time. As an all female independent band. Basically we watch them in the middle, them in the studio which is also their break up. Her meltdown before a concert. Her trying to get better and a kind of reunion of the band.

As we go through each of these days there are little hone video snippets of the good times when they are just beginning. Each day except really Recovery are all claustrophobic as they are usually in the studio it backstage all on top of each other with plenty of close up’s so that even when the camera roams it is on someone or is following someone. So that we are always with a character and can never escape or really back up.

Elisabeth Moss gives another stunning performance in this movie as an addicted rock star acting out all her emotions it seems all at once. She shows all sides of the character and is fearless. As she is not afraid to look and or show the monstrous side of this character. While her performance is overshadowing and great. The rest of the cast is strong and memorable also.

What is so powerful about the film is that this is a story we have heard about with various bands but here we are given unlimited access to all of the emotions and breakdowns as well as some music. It’s a film where the story could have taken over but instead the characters carry the film and all feel true to life. Which is usually one of the strengths of writer/Director Alex Ross Perry’s films. That whole they might be easy to breakdown in a story sense that comes across more as generalization. They are usually powered by the characters and the decisions made by them and often don’t end up with necessary happy endings or even with everything resolved. Though they manage to always be felt and leave some kind of impression on you.

The Recovery scene is certainly a change of pace where it slows down the intensity of the movie and grazes for a bit while still being true to itself and staying strong in it’s rhythm. Though being light in it’s process. It is revelatory and keeps her performance from being too one note. Or just repeating the same ones.

The film is hard to summarize completely though it is an experience that is braining but feels worth it by the end. As nothing is tied up in a neat bow but also doesn’t give off false promises that some films of this nature can offer up. Though by the end you feel like you are at the completion of a journey.

The music in the film fits the times and the types of bands that are featured. So it feels authentic but also nostalgic

Also feels like a film that could only have been made after those times. As it offers a window but also a bit of nostalgia. As people of a certain age can imagine any of the bands they remember who might have suffered the same fate due to an unstable center and/or lead singer who is a legend to the audience but a wreck to all of those around them. As they believe all the hype about themselves and are dealing with issues never really revealed.

The film feels like classic filmmaking that seems renegade but gives it’s all to an experimental style that is technical from but also feels challenging in trying to get the most out of the form and actors. Where it feels like Elisabeth Moss’s character is going through her own REPULSION performance only instead of being alienated and alone. She is surrounded by others and we get to know each of the characters point of view and their dealings with her, but no matter how off the wall she acts. She never becomes a caricature and we slowly get to know her and her circumstances.

This movie is so raw in It’s emotions.

It’s really different and an accomplishment from Alex Ross Perry whose films have been hyperverbal and full of unsavory characters and dispicible injured leads but here there is a sense of loss, pain and hurt and feels dramatic and has a certain depth we might not have seen him use before or explored previously

This is not a film that can easily be tied into a bow but it is definitely effective and something original. Though some might have a tough time sitting through. Think of The Julianne Moore Character from MAGNOLIA and build a film around her as the lead and those who have to deal with her from a sense of dependence, duty and love.

Grade: B