Charlotte Sometimes (2003)
Michael Idemoto, Eugenia Yuan, Jacqueline Kim. Written and directed by Eric Byler.
Michael is a mechanic who spends his mornings having breakfast with his aunt, his days fixing cars in a family-owned garage none of his relatives wanted, and his evenings reading. His late nights are often spent trying not to hear the lovemaking sounds of his tenant Lori, his best friend who, after her noisy lovemaking, prefers to watch television with Michael, often spending the night with her head on his shoulder, while her lover sleeps in her bed next door.
Michael has clearly been friend-zoned.
In a neighborhood bar one night, Michael meets Darcy, an intellectual free spirit whose only promise to Michael is that she won’t stick around. There is a mutual interest that begins physically but seems to extend to thoughtful conversation over late-night bottles of wine. Michael considers what a relationship with Darcy would be like, but is he holding back because Darcy is a wanderer, or is he holding back because he longs for Lori?
There is a loner aspect of Michael’s character that really appeals to me, not to mention the unrequited love for a best friend who may not be good for him. There’s a little bit of meanness or bitterness in Michael’s interactions with women, something I think I understand but definitely don’t like. It can be tough being everybody’s favorite nice guy, but those gentle waves of anger that seem to ripple once or twice beneath Michael’s surface make me wonder if he’s truly nice.
This is actually one of the film’s themes, and it’s difficult to tell how genuine anyone is being. While I really do like and sympathize with the characters, this little bit of uncertainty makes it feel as if the film is keeping us at a distance, despite some of the intimate things we know about them.
Still, it’s an intriguing movie, with direction I mostly admire. Characters are physically framed in ways that make us reconsider our thoughts about the characters, and there are some lovely colors and lighting that add to this aesthetic. Definitely worth checking out.
8/10 (IMDb rating)
81/100 (Criticker rating)
Charlotte Sometimes (2003)
Michael Idemoto, Eugenia Yuan, Jacqueline Kim. Written and directed by Eric Byler.
Michael is a mechanic who spends his mornings having breakfast with his aunt, his days fixing cars in a family-owned garage none of his relatives wanted, and his evenings reading. His late nights are often spent trying not to hear the lovemaking sounds of his tenant Lori, his best friend who, after her noisy lovemaking, prefers to watch television with Michael, often spending the night with her head on his shoulder, while her lover sleeps in her bed next door.
Michael has clearly been friend-zoned.
In a neighborhood bar one night, Michael meets Darcy, an intellectual free spirit whose only promise to Michael is that she won’t stick around. There is a mutual interest that begins physically but seems to extend to thoughtful conversation over late-night bottles of wine. Michael considers what a relationship with Darcy would be like, but is he holding back because Darcy is a wanderer, or is he holding back because he longs for Lori?
There is a loner aspect of Michael’s character that really appeals to me, not to mention the unrequited love for a best friend who may not be good for him. There’s a little bit of meanness or bitterness in Michael’s interactions with women, something I think I understand but definitely don’t like. It can be tough being everybody’s favorite nice guy, but those gentle waves of anger that seem to ripple once or twice beneath Michael’s surface make me wonder if he’s truly nice.
This is actually one of the film’s themes, and it’s difficult to tell how genuine anyone is being. While I really do like and sympathize with the characters, this little bit of uncertainty makes it feel as if the film is keeping us at a distance, despite some of the intimate things we know about them.
Still, it’s an intriguing movie, with direction I mostly admire. Characters are physically framed in ways that make us reconsider our thoughts about the characters, and there are some lovely colors and lighting that add to this aesthetic. Definitely worth checking out.
8/10 (IMDb rating)
81/100 (Criticker rating)
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire