Pushing Talent Out of Film

This Guardian article (see link) pretty much sums up the situation.  The bland offerings of major studios prove it.  Attendance at movie theaters is at the lowest in 20 years although revenue is only down a few points.  Talent is migrating to scripted series where more freedom and creativity is allowed.  However, if you saw the season premiere of "Girls" you may wonder what happened to this once edgy gritty comedy drama.  The current production values (hair, makeup, costumes, cinematography, lighting) make it look so generic and pretty.  The writing is even generic.  So success leads to money which leads to more hands in the pot which leads to different expectations and demands.  People change.  Some shows evolve into generic prettiness and acceptability. Some keep the edge that made them successful to begin with. Breaking Bad. Seinfeld (weird example I know). It takes courage and wisdom to stay true to early success and not slide into mediocrity.  These are the true artists whether you make a $ 20 million film or a $1,000 out of pocket indie.

Ida

I saw the Polish film "Ida" on Netflix.  Thank goodness I used a Christmas present from my son, a Chromecast, to feed it to our enormous flatscreen TV.  This film has refreshing and challenging cinematography that you have never seen before.  It has a 'punch in the gut' story that is hard to wash away.  The theme of "What the hell is the meaning of life?" makes this a memorable cinematic experience because it makes you question your own existence.  Sound like fun?  It is. Images carry the entire story and they run right into your heart and soul. Highly recommend but don't watch it on a tablet or a phone -- don't, I'm not kidding.

The recommended companion film to "Ida" is "Nebraska".  One is set in 1962 Poland.  One is set in contemporary Nebraska.  Both black and white.  Both have signature cinematography.  Both question the meaning of life but in entirely different ways, cultures, and time periods.  Much can be learned by creating a double feature with these two brilliant films.  Comparative analysis does wonders for the intellect.