Tag: Lindsay Burge

BLACK BEAR (2020)

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Written & Directed By: Laurence Michael Levine

Cinematography: Robert Leitzell

Editor: Matthew L. Weiss

Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Christopher Abbott, Sarah Gadon, Paola Lozaro, Grantham Coleman, Jennifer Kim, Lindsay Burge, Lou Gonzalez, Shannon O’Neill, Alexander Koch

At a remote lake house in the Adirondack Mountains, a couple entertains an out-of-town guest looking for inspiration in her filmmaking. The group quickly falls into a calculated game of desire, manipulation, and jealousy, unaware of how dangerously convoluted their lives will soon become in the filmmaker’s pursuit of a work of art, which blurs the boundaries between autobiography and invention.

This film is experimental in the best kind of way. A fractured meta-narrative that makes us examine the relationships between the characters and what we have seen or have been told.

The first half is more of a slow burn of hidden emotions, ambitions, and attractions. Where Aubrey plaza is more of a seductress and coveted by the male half of the couple. While the female is more jealous of her and her accomplishments.

Where in the second half the flip is switched and we realize the first half was the film the second half characters were making. So while the first half might seem UNFINISHED as they are in the middle of filming the second half gives it an ending while continuing the drama. Even now all the actors are in different roles. Aubrey plaza goes from being the director in the first half to be the star of the film who is having a breakdown as her partner is directing the film but seems to be oblivious to her feelings and needs. While trying to nurture the ingenue in the film. Whereas in the first half the ingenue played by Sarah Gadon was the put upon the pregnant wife of the male. Who was neglected once plaza’s character comes into the picture literally. 

The film lightens up a little in tone in the second half with more humor centered around the crew making the film. As it shows the little problems and culture that goes on such an independent project. 

Which actually perfectly offsets and magnifies Aubrey Plaza in these scenes. As she goes from easy going to emotionally tortured and while they seem more in a comedy. Her raw performance is so dramatic it offsets them and makes their dilemmas all the more shallow. 

The film lets it’s casa averted fixations be known in the second half. Plaza’s performance does remind the audience of Gena Rowlands in A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE the raw emotions as she continuously drinks and becomes more emotionally open but also has more despair.

The second half of the film also allows for more side stories and ongoing jokes with the characters. Whereas the first half is more solitary and focused on the core three actors. The second half while focused allows for more of an ensemble m. 

This film is quite the experience that you might need to watch a few times to get your head around and fully understand the film.

GRADE: B

DUCK BUTTER (2018)

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Directed By: Miguel Arteta Written By: Miguel Arteta & Alia Shawkat Cinematography: Hillary Spera Editor: Christopher Donlon

Cast: Alia Shawkat, Laia Costa, Jay Duplass, Mark Duplass, Kumail Nanjiani, Lindsay Burdge, Mae Whitman, Hong Chau, Kate Berlant, Jenny O’Hara 

Two women, who are dissatisfied with the dishonesty they see in dating and relationships, decide to make a pact to spend 24 hours together hoping to find a new way to create intimacy.

This is a lesbian romance film that seems artsier. Where it seems like the actors get more outbid it than the audience.

While the film does offer a mismatched couple who affect each other in the end. By having one be the more negative over-thinker who is more afraid to try new things. Yet is an actress and the other a free spirit. Who seems to have no grounding. Whereby the end one is affected in a positive way the other in a more morose way. 

The aspect that the film offers is that these two characters hook up and decide on the morning to spend the next 24 hours together. After some initial conflict with the idea. The film explores the following 24 hours where they get to know one another, good and bad. 

It seems like they go through all the painful aspects and rewarding ones in the son of 24 hours. Which makes the film quirky. The characters and their problems always seem to bring it back to reality.

Even if it always has the aspect of a romantic and fantasy. The emotions at times are what ground it.

While Alia Shawkat is always interesting on screen and graduating to bigger roles. Here she is more nebbish, shy, neurotic, and a little depressed than every woman. Who hooks up with this beautiful free spirit played by the gorgeous Laia Costa who seems too good to be true and by the end. We do get to learn about each other a bit more and the dream girl still is unbelievable but at least we get to see her sweat (amongst other things)  and be human. 

Their relationship is believable and takes what most films would spread out over weeks and months and grounds it into the span of 48 hours for the characters. Where you feel that this is the first time they have ever been open not only with anyone else but maybe even themselves.

It’s an intriguing premise and I wish it had been more involving for the audience but while it offers some surprises. Again it is something that we have seen before and know where it is going. As it feels too familiar.

Not to mention interesting characters. You wish more happened or that they were a bit more interesting to keep your attention. This is why ever so often there is a sex scene between the two of them. Which are graphic yet erotic.

Which then seems to force the film into a third act. This reminds me of the movie CHASING AMY. Where a weird self-sabotage logic emerges and while it is understandable feels like a huge mistake out of nowhere. That is a challenge for the characters to one another where they both know will not have a happy ending so to speak 

Grade: C