THNKS FR TH MMRS: October 2009

28.10.09

Posted by Harry

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You know what I hate? This;

well hate is rather a strong word, but the blandness of the generic 'meat and three veg' Australian classic is rather overwhelming.

H.

28.10.09

Posted by Harry

1 shouts

...
I need some critical review.. if you wouldn't mind. :)

‘At the end of Look Both Ways, the film-maker convinces viewers that the characters are capable of looking at their lives in new ways.’ Do you agree?

The film ‘Look Both Ways’ directed by Sarah Watt, although heavily absorbed in themes of death, and to an extent fate, ensues a degree of life affirmation in viewers towards the end of the screenplay, by showing that the characters being portrayed are not only capable of looking at their lives in new ways, but ultimately end up doing so. Most notable in Meryl and Nick, both overcome the sense of impending doom inflicted upon them to realise that although life is fragile, the human spirit deserves worthy backing. Andy also enables viewers to see that the characters are capable of re-evaluating their life-goals, by the slow progression throughout the film from complete self-centredness to eventually displaying a sense of care towards others, as the movie draws to a close. These characters however, only display this capability, when spurred on by either other characters, both purposefully and unintentionally, or when confronted by the idea of life’s purpose.

From the very beginning of the film, viewers are confronted with death, and in particular the way it appears to consume every thought of Meryl’s. With her dad’s death and subsequent funeral the trigger, the audience watches her demise into constant obsession and fear of death and dying, culminating in several morbid illusions depicting and abrupt end to her life at every turn. Made worse by the train accident, and further accentuated by the news coverage of the Arnow Hill tunnel collapse, death and destruction seems to be metaphorically on her doorstep. Although physically too when she meets Nick who is dying of cancer, he becomes the beacon to guide her out of the fate she had accepted; ‘maybe it was meant to be’. The unfolding relationship between the two gives hope in an otherwise dismal state of mind, and ultimately enables her to envisage a new aspect on her life.

Nick’s struggle with his newly found cancer ensures he displays similar irrational thoughts to which Meryl endured. Although on a far more personal level, as he is forced to confront not only surrounding death, but indeed his own demise, he displays the similar dismal emotional outlook on life, only really beginning to change with the affection Meryl provides, despite his illness. Aided by his mother Joan’s words of wisdom regarding his father’s own battle with cancer; ‘death is not the sum of your life’, he begins to realise that ‘everyone has to find a way to face death, and life’ and ultimately accepts him for who and what he has become, and his newly found regard for his life can be seen depicted in the final montage, where he can be seen looking genuinely happy.

Although not truly faced with a fear of death or anything as morbid, Andy’s overly self-centred nature seen towards the beginning of the film, begins to diminish as he learns a few valuable life lessons over that weekend. This attitude turn-around can be interpreted as a new take on his life, and such further demonstrates Sarah Watts’ ability to convince viewers that characters are capable of looking at their lives in new ways. Faced with the drama of his unfolding personal relationships, both with his ex-wife [and children] and his newly pregnant girlfriend, he displays the classic ‘why me’ symptoms, and curtly telling the gospel singers to ‘shut up’. Further exacerbated by the news of Nick’s cancer, he realises that although life might not always be fair to him, people are in worse positions, and that he should accept what fate has given him, and once again in the final montage, he can be seen smiling, looking overjoyed with his new son/daughter.

Sarah Watt’s ‘Look Both Ways’ cleverly intertwines the unfolding events of characters connected through a single occurrence; the train accident. Although Meryl, Nick and Andy all seemed at odds to the world, viewers are quite clearly convinced that characters are capable of gaining a new perspective on their lives, although this usually requires outside input from other character’s opinions and affections. However, the realisation of the want for something more, as in Andy’s case, also shows that sometimes a new perspective can be achieved for just the want of one.

word count; 722

H.

We built this city.

27.10.09

Posted by Harry

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