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philosophysteve
Reviews
Russian Lessons (2010)
this documentary was disturbing for the right reasons
My review after seeing this film at Sundance 2010: This film was truly profound. It represents a kind of investigative journalism I've never before witnessed. It was moving, disturbing, eye- opening, compelling, gripping... the list of descriptive desirables appropriate for this film goes on. It is a long film, but it does a monumental kind of work. It's an anti-propaganda propaganda film that is worth everyone's time. I can't say enough about this documentary - it's very easily the best of the eight sundance films i've seen this year. In terms of its effects on me personally, it is on par with Schindler's List. There are very few movies out there that I can say either (1) changed the way I will watch every movie for the rest of my life, and (2) changed the way that I see the world. Russian Lessons has done both in one go.
Sunshine (2007)
Really an excellent space film.
I have a hard time finding sci-fi space movies that I end up liking. This has been one of those that make the cut.
Acting is really superb from all cast members, the plot was really well done, and perhaps most of all, I found myself having little trouble with my own "suspension of disbelief" - it all came off with realistic characters, plot, and suspense.
This is not film that makes use of the usual space-insanity horror that infiltrates so many movies set in space, but there's just enough complete psychosis to throw a wrench in the smooth-sailing works. I don't want to write anything to give away the plot, but I would highly recommend this piece.
I found myself likening the film to 2001 (gasp!) throughout the picture, but it's decidedly different for countless reasons - what makes it similar is a feeling I had of removal from the human race - the characters are all alone, their decisions will somehow impact the entirety of the human race, but the decisions they make and the point of action takes place in a kind of vacuum... it's eerie but lends an air of supreme significance to everything that happens during the film.
Movie begins "in media res" - right at the initial point of action - so there's no long build up to the point of the story, it all comes across very clearly.
Excellent film.