*** Spoilers ***
I had a conversation with someone yesterday, and they asked me if I can even really get lost in a film anymore, or is my critics head always on and after thinking about it for a while, I replied that I am unable to watch a film like a normal person and that I pick it apart, analysing every hand movement and eye twitch and word spoken, but on a few occasions something will really stop me in my tracks, I'll get totally lost in it and not want it to end - that's when I know its special.
Recently, two films have really struck me in that manner - the first being that golden mid summer hug of a film, Hell or High Water and the second being the absolutely stunning and dreamy, American Honey.
I watched it yesterday afternoon and went to bed thinking about it still, I woke up this morning thinking about it still, but I don't think I can even tell you exactly why I am so obsessed with it - not straight off the top of my head anyway. I think its a massive melting pot of reasons, that I will try and explain now........
American Honey is an american road movie, with a toxic love story running through it.
An 18 year old girl named Star who is living in a broken and dirt poor family, gets a chance to go on the road with a bunch of other teenagers, selling magazine subscriptions door to door, across America - riding in a van together and living out of shitty motels for 20% of their earnings, but their true payment is the absolute freedom that we all craved as teenagers.
This film is a snapshot of the hedonistic lifestyle we all wanted when we were young, the drink, the drugs, the sex, the open road, the camaraderie, no one judging you or telling you what to do and minimal repercussions. This is captured so beautifully here, I think I may be mourning my youth and that's why I'm so in love with it.
I literally have butterflies in my tummy while I'm writing. This is why I love movies so much; when an image on a screen can make your body physically react that's a total wonder to me. The same with music - I feel sorry for people who don't feel things the way I do. As they say - Its a blessing and a curse to feel things so deeply. I disagree, I think its a total blessing.
You can tell when a film is made for love and not money and this is a bright shining example - Andrea Arnold has bared her soul on screen and its worked so completely; its mesmerising.
Andrea Arnold, the writer and director, is a festival darling and academy award winner, who was born and raised 15 minutes away from me - the urge to stalk her and thank her personally for this film is getting really hard to stifle, I must say. I am ashamed of the fact that I didn't know who she was until yesterday but I'm so pleased she was bought to my attention in such glorious fashion.
I feel like I need to make something clear at this point - this film is in no way going to be to everyone's taste, its dark and hard hitting at times in its subject matter, its not all hearts and flowers or hilarious comedy or overblown action its a realistic look at the rebellious youth of america that seems so close to reality it could have been written by the teens who star in it - Andrea Arnold has done a Larry Clark on us but done it a thousand times better and with the touch of class and grace he seriously lacks.
The main cast is made up of an ensemble of relative unknowns and first time performers accompanied by Shia LaBeouf and Elvis' Granddaughter; Riley Keough. With a charming little cameo from Will Patton thrown in there for good measure.
I think the use of unknown actors makes for bold and fearless performances all round - they all did a sterling job especially the films star, Sasha Lane.
This was her first acting credit and she holds that film and indeed holds her own, up against the massive presence that is, Shia LaBeouf.
Say what you will about him but that's no easy feat for a newcomer.
The one thing I truly wanted from this film, was for SL to redeem himself from his god awful antics of late and his shitty performances (and accent) with Lars Von Trier and he completely and totally did. He is magical.
He plays the charismatic head salesman of the group who Star almost immediately falls in love with, their chemistry is beautiful to watch; it's absolutely electric. That probably has a lot to do with their barely simulated sex scenes to be honest. Very close to the mark but tastefully handled - unlike the aforementioned Lars Von Trier and Larry Clark.
Their love story is not a conventional one and he plays it perfectly - even with that stupid braid, he would have had me hook line and sinker, no doubt about it, he was equally charming and psychotic. A magnetic and hypnotic performance. He's one of those naturally talented actors that make me want to curl up and die because I simply cant handle how much talent they possess. I am eternally grateful to this film for making me see that in him again.
We follow these teens during a short period of time and learn various things about them and their lives, there are certain events along the way that will shock or delight you - I love a film that does the complete opposite of what you expect and this has a few examples of just that; where your heart is warmed instead of broken.
It runs at a staggering 162 minutes but I didn't feel a single moment of it, I was completely swept up by it from hopeful start to ambiguous end.
American Honey is sophisticated but not dialogue heavy, beautifully shot but not overindulgent, gritty and charming in equal measure and beautifully acted in a natural way that makes me ache. In short - Andrea Arnold is a visionary and this film will forever hold a piece of my soul.
I had a conversation with someone yesterday, and they asked me if I can even really get lost in a film anymore, or is my critics head always on and after thinking about it for a while, I replied that I am unable to watch a film like a normal person and that I pick it apart, analysing every hand movement and eye twitch and word spoken, but on a few occasions something will really stop me in my tracks, I'll get totally lost in it and not want it to end - that's when I know its special.
Recently, two films have really struck me in that manner - the first being that golden mid summer hug of a film, Hell or High Water and the second being the absolutely stunning and dreamy, American Honey.
I watched it yesterday afternoon and went to bed thinking about it still, I woke up this morning thinking about it still, but I don't think I can even tell you exactly why I am so obsessed with it - not straight off the top of my head anyway. I think its a massive melting pot of reasons, that I will try and explain now........
American Honey is an american road movie, with a toxic love story running through it.
An 18 year old girl named Star who is living in a broken and dirt poor family, gets a chance to go on the road with a bunch of other teenagers, selling magazine subscriptions door to door, across America - riding in a van together and living out of shitty motels for 20% of their earnings, but their true payment is the absolute freedom that we all craved as teenagers.
This film is a snapshot of the hedonistic lifestyle we all wanted when we were young, the drink, the drugs, the sex, the open road, the camaraderie, no one judging you or telling you what to do and minimal repercussions. This is captured so beautifully here, I think I may be mourning my youth and that's why I'm so in love with it.
I literally have butterflies in my tummy while I'm writing. This is why I love movies so much; when an image on a screen can make your body physically react that's a total wonder to me. The same with music - I feel sorry for people who don't feel things the way I do. As they say - Its a blessing and a curse to feel things so deeply. I disagree, I think its a total blessing.
You can tell when a film is made for love and not money and this is a bright shining example - Andrea Arnold has bared her soul on screen and its worked so completely; its mesmerising.
Andrea Arnold, the writer and director, is a festival darling and academy award winner, who was born and raised 15 minutes away from me - the urge to stalk her and thank her personally for this film is getting really hard to stifle, I must say. I am ashamed of the fact that I didn't know who she was until yesterday but I'm so pleased she was bought to my attention in such glorious fashion.
I feel like I need to make something clear at this point - this film is in no way going to be to everyone's taste, its dark and hard hitting at times in its subject matter, its not all hearts and flowers or hilarious comedy or overblown action its a realistic look at the rebellious youth of america that seems so close to reality it could have been written by the teens who star in it - Andrea Arnold has done a Larry Clark on us but done it a thousand times better and with the touch of class and grace he seriously lacks.
The main cast is made up of an ensemble of relative unknowns and first time performers accompanied by Shia LaBeouf and Elvis' Granddaughter; Riley Keough. With a charming little cameo from Will Patton thrown in there for good measure.
I think the use of unknown actors makes for bold and fearless performances all round - they all did a sterling job especially the films star, Sasha Lane.
This was her first acting credit and she holds that film and indeed holds her own, up against the massive presence that is, Shia LaBeouf.
Say what you will about him but that's no easy feat for a newcomer.
The one thing I truly wanted from this film, was for SL to redeem himself from his god awful antics of late and his shitty performances (and accent) with Lars Von Trier and he completely and totally did. He is magical.
He plays the charismatic head salesman of the group who Star almost immediately falls in love with, their chemistry is beautiful to watch; it's absolutely electric. That probably has a lot to do with their barely simulated sex scenes to be honest. Very close to the mark but tastefully handled - unlike the aforementioned Lars Von Trier and Larry Clark.
Their love story is not a conventional one and he plays it perfectly - even with that stupid braid, he would have had me hook line and sinker, no doubt about it, he was equally charming and psychotic. A magnetic and hypnotic performance. He's one of those naturally talented actors that make me want to curl up and die because I simply cant handle how much talent they possess. I am eternally grateful to this film for making me see that in him again.
We follow these teens during a short period of time and learn various things about them and their lives, there are certain events along the way that will shock or delight you - I love a film that does the complete opposite of what you expect and this has a few examples of just that; where your heart is warmed instead of broken.
It runs at a staggering 162 minutes but I didn't feel a single moment of it, I was completely swept up by it from hopeful start to ambiguous end.
American Honey is sophisticated but not dialogue heavy, beautifully shot but not overindulgent, gritty and charming in equal measure and beautifully acted in a natural way that makes me ache. In short - Andrea Arnold is a visionary and this film will forever hold a piece of my soul.