Tag: Sean Price Williams

THE MOMENT (2026)

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Directed By: Aiden Zamiri 

Written By: Aiden Zamiri and Bertie Brandes

Based on an original idea By: Charli Xcx

Cinematography: Sean Price Williams 

Editor: Neal Farmer and Billy Sneddon

Cast: Charli Xcx, Alexander Skarsgard, Rosanna Arquette, Rachel Sennott, Kate Berlant, Hailey Benton Gates, Jamie Demetriou, Issac Powell, Rish Shah

A rising pop star navigates the complexities of fame and industry pressure while preparing for her arena tour debut.

This film is definitely more for Charli XCX fans then necessarily movie goers just discovering this meta mockumentary. As I believe the film will make more sense or be deeper to those in the know. 

As truthfully, in the past, this could’ve easily just been an extra on her latest album brat in the deluxe edition. Rather then a full theatrical roll-out, but while one would think this is going to be her version of a concert film. It is as it kind of dissects what goes into a tour and performance to a degree.

As interestingly enough, we’re watching this film as she gets ready for a tour and yet we barely and rarely hear any of her actual music or songs throughout the film. We more see what it takes to set up a show, as well as all the little decisions that have to be made and how confusing it can all be.

As one can admit at times I was a bit confused as to what exactly was happening at certain times also, if you are epileptic or have a light sensitivity, watch this film with caution as there are a lot of flashing lights a lot of quick cats a lot of handheld camera work that throws off your concentration at times. 

As the film, kind of show, Charli XCX trying to be herself, trying to put on a show and trying to be representative of her music while you have all the power players behind the scene, wanting to take more and more control and make more of the decisions that she doesn’t necessarily agree with or has to compromise for peace and for better.

So that we see her continuous confusion and dissatisfaction as people try to treat her as a star, but also more as a puppet to get what they want out there more than what she wants.

As the film tries to be dryly, funny throughout it is a documentary and kind of a comp Meta comedy at heart that sends up celebrity and shows some of their more privileged hardships

This isn’t gonna be the film you expected to be in some ways. It is truly eye-opening, but in other ways at times, it can be confusing in a little bit annoying. So through it all you have Goodwill for the singer, hoping it will all come together.

Even if it doesn’t give you quite the ending you’re hoping for that would tie it altogether like at least one live performance. Knowing its own way, it feels like this film is meant to be a finale or a goodbye to a certain era for her. This is the end of the brat era for her that she has lived with for quite a few years and might be ready to slow down as she’s in a different headspace or looking for something different looking to evolve and move on to a new time in her career and expression in her songs

As even this era of her career the BRAT album era and the album just seem to be a no holds a bar affair. It’s own kind of halftime report on the status of her career. where she just wanted to express everything she could and making a mainstream album that was more all about celebration and partying more than anything with still having that emotional pole to show that you’re still a person underneath it all a human being and approve that she could just do it. She could have hit album if she really tried, but now she wants to go back to making more music that she likes and she wants to not necessarily have to keep serving out hits. She can Slow down and not make so much of an impact so that maybe she can enjoy it more and not have so much writing on that and what is next.

I think this film is kind of a snapshot or placeholder for her and her career and a little message for her fans. At heart it’s a vanity project something made and allowed for her success. Also allowing itself to be a self important parody. 

I will say, even though I am a huge fan of hers. This one was a slight disappointment for me as it might be for some, but I imagine most of her fans will probably love it.

Grade: C+

FUNNY PAGES (2022)

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Written & Directed By: Owen Kline 
Cinematography: Sean Price Williams and Hunter Zimny
Editor: Owen Kline And Erin DeWitt 

Cast: Daniel Zolghadri, Matthew Maher, Josh Pais, Maria Dizzia, Miles Emanuel, Stephen Adly Gurgis, Marcus DeBonis, Michael Townsend Wright 

A bitingly funny coming-of-age story of a teenage cartoonist who rejects the comforts of his suburban life in a misguided quest for his soul.

This is a film that seemed to be treading the same ground as ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL and GHOST WORLD. This film is more realistic but has the same kind of downtrodden dark humor.

This film is much more downbeat than those films.

As those films seem more cynical yet a bit more stylized. This seems rawer and victims of circumstances. Though this is just as funny at times. As mostly the joke is on the lead character. Who brings all Of this upon himself 

Only in this film, there are no winners it Is more of a comedic meltdown. Of a young man who believes that he must suffer to be a true artist, From his privileged upbringing. He tries to be rebellious and anything troubled or dirty deep. 

As expected he slowly Gets a wake-up call. That the audience from the beginning knows is coming. We want to root for him in his naive nature. As he wants to experience life. We see his continuing downfall. As he enthusiastically moves forward into a horror story of idealism.

Each character, he comes across seems crazy skewed in some sort of way.

The characters and film are somewhat grotesque at times. As it all seems grimy. The Aesthetic here is usually Close up And to Go for warts and all quality. 

Basically wanting to always want to show us the ugly side of the characters. While also showing that every person is flawed in some way. 

Even as this film is a coming-of-age story that offers few of answers. As the film makes its points but offers very little to make its Mark.

Coincidently it comes off as a graphic novel story of It’s own especially with its own drab presentation and darkly ironic sense of humor.

Grade: C+

HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT (2015)

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Written & Directed By: Joshua Safdie & Ben Safdie 
Inspired By The Book Written By: Arielle Holmes 
Cinematography By: Sean Price Williams 
Editor: Ben Safdie & Ronald Bronstein 

Cast: Arielle Holmes, Caleb Landry Jones, Eleonore Hendricks, Buddy Duress, Ron Braunstein

Harley loves Ilya. He gives her life purpose and sets her passion ablaze. So, when he asks her to prove her love by slitting her wrists, she obliges with only mild hesitation, perhaps because of her other all-consuming love: heroin.

This movie is crazy as it seeks to keep you on your toes and off-center throughout. It is a slice of life that feels like it lacks are tidier and goes out of its way to show the downside of drug abuse. Which yes we have seen many times. Though it has been a while. Then again just as we have seen many other stories a bunch of times. So one more won’t hurt and all that matters is how it is told and the individual’s story. Here we get more of an insider’s guide. Cinema verite style.

The film feels a bit like misery porn as there is no shame throughout this film. We see the rarely good, but plenty of the bad and ugly. I can’t really call the film exploitive as it is stylized a bit but feels like an experimental attempt to tell a story but also a show-off film to show how edgy the filmmakers are by going after the truth. Like a less surrealistic, more realistic drug addiction tail like REQUIEM FOR A DREAM. Though we are thrust right into the tale rather than showing the beginning like how the characters started in the addiction. We also get very little told about anyone’s past.

Think of this film as a modern-day PANIC IN NEEDLE PARK. Without the luster of seeing classic New York locations.

For some, it might be like seeing the day-to-day life of those addicts or characters you see it encounter on the train or New York streets.

Caleb Landry Jones is barely recognizable. Which is how deep he goes into character here. He is also the only recognizable cast member who might be a professional actor. As the character of Ilya this ghost-like a menace. Who is the main character’s ex who at the beginning of the film demands that she commit suicide as an appropriate apology for cheating on him? He seems to haunt the film as he stares in judgment and treats her like crap but seems to give off a sense of caring

Arielle Holmes makes an impressive debut. This film is based on her book a kind of journal/biography of her life on the streets as a drug addict. Written in an Apple Store using the free computers there. It’s interesting to see her now clean having to relive all these moments.

The film almost seems like a documentary. It is more docudrama as there seems to be a voice and reason for this film and why it was made. Not to mention keeps moving forward.

Throughout the film stays realistic as the level of dirt and grime is a supporting character that could easily take over as the lead.

At times it’s hard to believe it is going anywhere. Though stays hard-hitting and feels disturbing half of the time. The film is not an empty endeavor.

The film feels almost like an 80’s film with its washed-out look and man-on-the-street type camera work as well as a soundtrack that feels ambient. Then sometimes it adds to the scenes and comes along naturally.

There is no pretension in any of the performances. Which is a danger sometimes that you encounter in films of this nature. They all feel like characters you have encountered it seen like this.

Seems filmed on the streets with no permits as it seems rate that there are rarely any actual sets or setups or grand camera shots.

Goes into detail on how these junkies who are often homeless survive and hustle for money and drugs. Sometimes shelter

Throughout the film, it is hard to see why she is in love with Ilya so deeply and cares so much about what he thinks. Throughout the film things ha he yet remains the same which the ending clearly illustrates.

The film never comes close to having a message nor having its characters clean up their act though you might hope for it.

GRADE: B

GOLDEN EXITS (2018)

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

Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Adam Horowitz, Analeigh Tipton, Chloe Sevingy, Mary Louise Parker, Lily Rabe, Kate Lyn Sheil

An intersectional narrative of two families in Brooklyn and the unraveling of unspoken unhappiness that occurs when a young foreign girl spending time abroad upsets the balance on both sides.

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