Futureless Things

I was really hooked on Futureless Things. In my opinion, there was never a dull moment in all its dullness, and I’m not sure why. I feel like it was because it put a twist on the experience of convenience store workers which, as people on the other side, we don’t really think much about. I feel like the purpose of its title is to emphasize the general notion towards these types of workers. That they won’t being getting anywhere in life and that in the eyes of the customers and upper management, they are just objects with function.

I like how it dives deep into the density of what the experience is like working at a convenience store. It focuses on the human aspect and how even within its walls, relationships are built, people are hurt, people can be ethical or unethical and there is an effect on society outside. And a society or a community of sorts is also formed inside when employees get to work with someone.

I feel like it’s trying to show how these workers are not seen as human anymore with the interactions customers have with them. It shows when for example the mom and her child refuses to mind the employee trying to be hospitable to them or when the agent tags the owner’s dead body with a “seized property” note. They stomach so much shit which to us, individually, is just an ordinary everyday purchase at you local convenience store.

I liked how the film was made. The film explored different points of view which I feel was very relevant in making it a successful film. What was surprising to me was that there was only one setting. I think that this was the first film I had ever watched with that nature. I really felt as if I was confined in their with them, and it’s nice to think that so much can happen in such a small setting.

A lot of things were confusing to me though. Like the recurring clock scene and the second run of the two guys conversing about military training and waiting for 21 months but that time there was a robbery. What was the purpose of that? I’m sure there was a meaning behind it, but I can’t seem to form my own understanding. I also didn’t get the whole girl with the box scene. She was really creepy and all of a sudden the guy just got trapped in the box and the girl carried him out of the store. I don’t know if these had anything to do with the whole purpose of the film, or if it has a purpose at all, but I feel like its inclusion made it all the more interesting!

I feel like the film was trying to send a message and to make viewers realize something. All in all, it was a great film! I also really ship all those couples even if the scenes lasted only a few minutes, and that philo guy really made me cringe.

#151517 #FuturelessThings

Trainspotting

Trainspotting was a very wild take on the idea of “choosing life.” I was surprised to see so much of Ewan McGregor in class, especially in the roles he played in these films. Soooo far away from the more widely known Obiwan and Christopher Robin characters. It was really weird for me, which at this point did not surprise me so much because of all the films we’ve had prior to this one haha, but it was especially because it tackled drug-use. I’ve always been against the whole idea of using drugs illegally or outside of prescription for health reasons and it kinda turns you into this whole new person. That kinda made me uneasy but there were a lot of interesting elements in the film. I was able to check out some reviews as well which helped deepen my appreciation for it!

I really liked how in the group, they all had there own thing or like they had their very own personal brand. Like for me, Mark was the most lost amongst all the characters. We get to see his point of view on things and this kinda emphasizes that. For example, when they found out that the baby died, he was speechless and he didn’t know how to feel about the whole situation but he had know he was definitely feeling some form of sympathy. Their other group member was also the crazy one for example. A lot of time was actually spent on moments when he’d go berserk just like when someone accidentally spilled beer on his coat at some bar.

I found that the whole idea of community was very evident throughout the film, and how it affects one’s habits. Ideally they were moving toward rehabilitation and quitting heroin, but when one relapses, they all do. I can somehow relate to that with smoking because I used to be a chainsmoker, and my intentions to quit are sometimes short-lived because my friends would start doing it again and would start inviting me to join them. It proved to be very difficult.

I watched and read a couple of reviews on it and one person mentioned the incorporation if one of the Beatles albums, sgt. Pepper’s Loneley Heart’s Club Band. He talked about how some scenes were matched to some of the art that the Beatles had and were also aligned to some of their songs. Personally, I like the song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. It was trippy as hell and it I guess it does fit the theme of the movie.

I also heard that the writer, John Hodge, actually wrote the script based on his real-life experiences. Some scenes which I found very odd were actually based on something real. Like when the group stole the television set from the home for the aged which was very random. Apparently, there were real accounts of the happening. All in all, the film was very interesting. Although I didn’t appreciate the subject matter that much, it’s nice seeing Ewan McGregor playing such uncommon roles.

#151517 #Trainspotting

Repo Man

Repo man was a really weird film, and to be honest, I did not get the point of it at all. Unlike the other films we’ve watched, it does have a clear story line though. Like it doesn’t jump to different scenes that don’t really speak to each other, but nevertheless, it was still pretty hard to understand. Like I get that the main character was not happy with his life, and he finally found some form of purpose, though he seems like the type of guy who’s too proud to admit it, in being a Repo Man.

One thing I noticed about the film is that the main character was a little too comfortable entering the car in the end. At the end of the film, the Chevy Malibu had risen into space due to its contents. The crazy guy invites Otto over to come with him, and he decides calmly just drop everything to leave. I feel like it says a lot about how his character is as a person. He seems to not care for a lot of things very much, and to not care about anyone else but himself.

I think this all lines up with what kind of characters or people Otto is with. For example, Bud is like his mentor of sorts in the realm of repo men, and throughout the whole film he would teach him all these different things and pretty much takes him under his wing. I kinda feel for him especially since Otto’s relationships aren’t exactly the best, like his parents were represented as those who don’t really care much about their son’s whereabouts or just about their son in general. It was shown in the scene when Otto comes home to his parents sth their eye glued to the TV. I guess I expected his relationship with Bud to grow and for it to be a father and son type of relationship, but at the end of it all, Otto just lets all that go, and neither of them really feel any heavy emotional burden.

Same goes for Otto’s medyo girlfriend. Although it was quite obvious that she didn’t have much feeling for him in the start, this grew throughout the film. Otto on the other hand, seemed to treat her as merely an object, and he really had his sights set on the chevy.

My favorite part I guess would be when teo of Otto’s friends kinda had a serious moment in the car when the guy was talking about possible having kids one day or being in a relationship. That was probably the most genuine scene I found in the film. It was so random, but personally it’s hard to forget.

All in all, it seemed as if it was hard to get connected to any of the characters in any deep level. As we talked about in our class discussions, they were all pretty terrible people which made the whole film weird for me, BUT it was still pretty good!

#151517 #RepoMan

Velvet Goldmine

I really liked the concept behind Velvet Goldmine. Not a lot of films tackle the subject matter, and I think it was even a bigger risk back then in 1998 given the more prevalent close-mindedness of people back then (I’m not sure though haha).

Although it was a fictional work, it did a good job representing or talking about the complications with the LGBTQ community. It also derived some of its elements from other real-life entities such as David Bowie just based off of the music and the costume designs. They were very Bowie-esque. I also read somewhere that the disclaimer from the film matches the one from one of Bowie’s album.

I personally enjoy film biographies. It always interests me how a certain person got to where he or she is now. I know that some parts of it are over-dramaticized but I feel like the essence remains in spite of that. The film had the same feel, and although it was fictional, it served as a representation of other musicians or other real people because the problems that were encountered there are not uncommon in the real world.

I really appreciated that we watched a film about music. Music is a big passion of mine, and I believe that it’s the perfect way to express oneself. I really enjoyed the scenes when they would actually be singing. I really liked the scene when Ewan McGregor’s character was singing on stage with the jar (?) of glitter and the disapproving crowd. I have great respect for those performers who can just keep doing what they feel they do best in spite of the on-the-spot criticism and judgment that they get. To me it’s a way also to stand up for one’s beliefs. I have yet to be able to be more confident myself but it’s stuff like those that really help build myself up!

The Endless

The Endless was a very interesting film. I’m personally not a big fan of horror films. I scare easily, and more often than not, I tend to avoid any plans with friends or family which involve any movies about ghosts or possession and stuff like that. When I heard that we were going to watch a horror film for class, I wanted to get the hell out of CSR and risk spending a non-existent cut. I was ready with my bag of popcorn which would be serving as a snack and a blindfold for that class. I was glad to find out that it wasn’t the typical horror film that I’m usually faced with. The film made me more curious than afraid because it was giving out a kind of eerie vibe that I had not encountered before.

I really enjoyed the film. It had me at the edge of my seat even though it kept a very steady pace and long silences. I was really interested to know more about the so-called UFO cult that the film started off with. The characters and the concept of a cult or even a religious group really intrigued me.

First of all, I really felt for Aaron Smith, one of the main characters. Throughout the whole film I felt like he was very lost and very confused. It was obvious that he was in a constant search of something better, and that given the life they were living, he felt as if he had a better life when he was with the cult. In spite of not knowing or remembering much about it except for the emotional aspect, he still pushed for it. Although the connection isn’t very strong, I sort of associated it with soon entering into the world of uncertainty after leaving school. And that looking back at what felt nice and comfortable won’t always be the right thing to push for. And I felt sorry for him too because it seemed as if at one point he learned that his entire life had been a lie or had been hidden from him. Although him taking charge in the end sort of made up for all that.

I’m also confused about how it all started. I’m really eager to know how it all started like how the loop started because they were able to leave in the past even if supposedly once you’ve experienced the ascension, you’d be stuck in the loop forever. So did the so-called “god” appear to one of them, maybe the leader? And like a cult leader would or a preacher would, he sold the idea of the ascension to the people who stayed, and the two brothers were just able to dodge that? I hope they make a film that sheds more light on the origin of everything.

All in all, I really enjoyed the film. The story was hard to follow, but I guess that’s what made it really nice because it made me wanna figure it all out on my own. Definitely a film I’d watch over and over again.

Sorry To Bother You

Sorry to Bother You, in spite of its weird nature, was able to successfully send the message that it wanted to. There were clear themes throughout the film such as the workplace, capitalism as well as racism, and it was able to stress the gravity of this in our lives today through very comical means.

The Workplace

This emphasizes both the existing hierarchy as well as the decentisization or commodotization of employees. Status seemed to be everything. Kaya nga they went on strike. People down below were mistreated and poorly compensated for their work, but on the power caller floor, the environment is so much better. And the gap between the two was quite significant. Workers in the lower floor were also commoditized as shown in Cassius’ interview. He lied to his interviewers face and got caught in his lie and yet was given the job. Since Cassius didn’t have credibility, he could be taken advantage of or used more by the organization. The decensitizing happens in the power callers floor as their paychecks can push their employees to keep working in spite of who they’re serving and it being immoral. You also have racism in the workplace as was mentioned earlier as well an irrelevant perception of millenial and gen z employees.

Capitalism

The film is set in a Capitalist-driven world as money becomes what is sought after by every character in the film. For a huge segment of the film, Cassius’ morals and values are compromised by big bucks and his understanding of what it meant to be “interesting” especially for Detroit. The paid armed forces were also serving the interests of the elite. When the employees were on strike the power calls entering the building would always be surrounded by a bunch of guards who would get physical with the strikers to ensure the safety of the higher-ups. Finally, the government and other institutions allowed the transforming of the employees of [ ] into those eauisapiens. They’re supposed to be fighting for the rights of the people, and although it wasn’t directly shown in the film, it’s safe to assume that money is enough for them to turn the blind eye. Then there’s the whole idea with the horse like why a horse right? It seems so random. Well it could be because of the cultural connotations and the association if horse with labor. How horses are seen as strong kaya we have phrases like “strong as a horse.”

Racism

There are a lot of scenes that portray popular stereotypes with regards to black people. One perfect example of this is the white voice. The white voice was cassius ticket to becoming a Power caller or to move up in the industry, and once he got the job, it became a necessity. The white voice or pretty much being white, given the nature of their job, became a pre-requisite to actually getting somewhere or progressing with the company. It touches on how they’re mistakenly seen as not only unqualified but as unlucky and not worth taking seriously as was seen through Cassius’ first fee calls trying to sell. So this is another scene that portrays the same theme. On one end, Cassius was out on the hot seat and the rich white boi pretty much said “hey he’s black so he must be good at rap.” But we went a little deeper and looked at the music that he was creating on the spot. One if the beautiful things about music that is can become an avenue to express so many things and to tell all kinda of stories. And the scene could be viewed as talking about how black people and rap never talk about anything substantial. Given that some raps may contain a lot of explicit content sometimes it’s overgneralized and associated to all music made by black artists. They feel as if the stuff they spit is pretty much just n***a shit.

My Own Private Idaho

The movie My Own Private Idaho proved to be very interesting because in spite of its very weird nature, I believe that the story it was trying to tell was very evident, unlike most of the films we’ve discussed in class. My appreciation of it was mostly due to the development of the different characters, as well as the environment that the characters were exposed to. Most of the scenes in the film took place in the streets, and I personally enjoyed the representation it provided of what life was like under their context. It was interesting to see how some things that we make sure to stay away from can be something acceptable under the influence of desperation.

Mike

Mike was one of the two main characters of the film. He suffered from narcoleptic episodes which meant that his could not regulate his sleep cycle properly, and there would be a chance that he falls asleep out of nowhere. I noticed that it was mostly whenever he would feel threatened or pressured, just like when he was about to have sex with that older woman. Throughout the film, we can see how these fits can be traced back to what happened to his mother. He then searches for her with the help of his friend Scott, and we can see how his love for Scott grows.

Throughout the film, I found him to be quite aloof or lost. It was like he did not know what he wanted in life, and that his decisions were based on other people. This is understandable because he no longer lives with the presence of his parents. Maybe this was the reason why he would often cling to Scott, and why he ended up loving him. I believe that the film was a story of his development and growth as person, and it was a portrayal of his journey for clarity.

Scott

Scott, on the other hand, was a different kind of character altogether. He chose to run away from a life with his parents, and he chose to live alone with a group of delinquents. He chose to be there for his best friend Mike, but we can see how his love for another girl tears them apart. It started out with Scott making it a point to ensure Mike’s safety whenever he would fall into his narcoleptic fits, but eventually he lets go of all of that. What’s interesting about him is how he changes so often, and how he loses his sense of family. The act of leaving your family, whether it be through blood or comradery, is no easy task for anyone, although Scott was able to do this twice for what he considered to be love. For example, in the bar scene, Mike along with Bob enter to greet their old friend, but Scott turns the other cheek. He denies ever knowing them. This says a lot about what a person truly cares about, as well as with regards to the concept of love being different for every individual.

Shin Godzilla

I have had my fair share of Godzilla films in the past, but this definitely stands out. I believe that the main elements of a Godzilla film are still there such as the city setting, the panic of the defense and security. Through my research I found out that the film is actually a representation of the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and for this specific film, it was for a nuclear disaster and an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. More often than not, I found it to be quite a serious film which is only fitting given that it speaks of disasters experienced by the Japanese people in the past. It surprised me since I saw comical elements incorporated in the film.

For starters, I’m not used to seeing Godzilla as a big baby with big round eyes. I feel like it killed the vibe that I was expecting from it, although I understand that it was not a major part in the film. For me, this kind of took away the suspense and the excitement from what I’d expect from a Godzilla film. Aside from this, they also added several comical scenes such as the reactions made by the defense team which were quite exaggerated. I could somehow relate this to some of the events that transpired in Sorry to Bother You. In that film, they had what they called equisapiens, which were basically horse-people being made to become more efficient in the workplace. It was weird and it caught me off guard. Much like these events, the scenes in Godzilla were very unpredictable which sort of killed it for me. I’m not a big Godzilla fan, but my expectations of it have surely developed throughout the years and due to every remake or installment.

All in all, it was the awkward visuals and the comical scenes that kind of ruined it for me. Although I commend the people who allowed the film to exist because it may be called unique.

Schizopolis

Schizopolis was most definitely the oddest amongst all the films that we had taken up in class. I remember thinking to myself at the time how it’s unlike any film I have seen before. In spite of my desperate attempts to try to follow the chronological order of the film in order to somehow pinpoint something that makes sense, I was not able to do so, and this was actually what made it quite interesting. I was stuck thinking about whether or not the film was actually trying to say something, but I was also telling myself that maybe it was doing this to make me think that there was something there where there really isn’t. In the film we here the main character introducing the film. He tells the viewers, “In the event that you find certain sequences or ideas confusing, please bear in mind that this is your fault, not ours. You will need to see the picture again and again until you understand everything.”

It’s sort of teasing the viewers that there is a message they’re trying to pass on, and it leads to the viewer getting so consumed by it. I definitely know that I was one of these people. The unnoticeable storylines and the scenes which have o contribution to the story at all are what add to this film’s weird nature. Although, some scenes, like the conversation between the main character and the wife, are very straightforward. I recall the discussion between the two, and they were merely narrating what they were going to do rather than actually communicating with each other. This obviously pertains to the degraded status of their relationship, which we then see later on in the film when the perspective is change to that of the man she’s been cheating on her husband with, Fletcher’s Doppelganger. So there was a story line, and the different perspectives were telling the same story, but I remain bewildered by the randomness of it all. One scene that really struck me was when he was making faces in the mirror inside the bathroom. I began to question whether or not that was really impossible because it seemed like it wasn’t. I started thinking that maybe it’s a portrayal of what we don’t see in people, what’s on the inside of people along and what people do when no one is watching. Maybe that’s why some scenes can be quite disturbing.

All in all, I found it to be a good movie mostly because it was very unique. It was unlike any other movie I had seen before, and its random nature as well as its efforts to entice the viewers with talks of deeper meaning and misunderstanding only makes me want to see it more. I continue to question whether or not the film is actually trying to say something, and I am still very much curious about the whereabouts of that guy who seemingly does porn, and what his place in everything is.