tasospoursanidis Reviews

Poor Things (2023)

Existence precedes essence

[19 April 2024]

Freud believed that civilization brings discontent to its inhabitants. The individual who appears to be ''normal'' has to go through several pathological distortions and repressions to fit a symbolic order that relies its gravitas on a purely abstract concept of ''civilized'' society. As a result, this repressed stream of energy now turning against its object takes the form of psychic authority known as Super Ego which binds the individual to ''behave'' into this abstract and symbolic notion of what a normal person is. The super ego instead of bringing alignment to its object bombards it with societal rules that the object shall obay and run towards, or feel shame and guilt. Now this ''civilized society'' bound by its authoritarian rules, considers sexuality, one of the prime pillars for its creation, perserve and something that ought be shameful and be hidden. Only used as a necessity through its practical use of increasing the number of the spieces.

It's no wonder that many people will find this film vulgar and disgusting considering what i've mentioned above, sexuality, the human body, and the natural instict towards desire have been through the years ridiculed, condemned and again and again considered as danger, censored. Little did they know that instead of making people ignore it they fuelled their fantasy and curiosity even more, creating the space for pathological fantasies and neurosis.

Bella goes through a series of psychic transformations starting with the tendency towards ID. Instant gratification, sexual desire, aggression. Then through this trial and error come the pathological cuts and unavoidable disillusionment. From this trauma she rises to a more self aware state that and there comes the existentialism philosophy which believes that no disposition of meaning exists, we choose our pain and evolve. Unlike other individuals who live under the shadow of this symbolic authority, she lives in the moment. Without guilt or shame, this crucial difference makes her open to any and all experiences which a person goes through and shapes him-herself without Ego shielding her to a bubble of a disconnection with herself.

It's natural for the human experience to be egocentric, most people want to have a concrete idea about who they are what ideology they believe and so on, but thinking we know everything, we leave no space to live outside our perception of safety and evolve. The metaphorical childish brain inside an adult body hints to the idea that we should all try and live again, without being too self conscious of making a mistake, of being critisized. Of the super ego judging us harshly and slapping us. Every emotion and aspect of life needs to be lived to grow.

The big other doesn't exist, it's all a simulation to make you feel content. But in the end, only you can know what you desire. Can you handle pain, give it meaning and evolve? Or is it better to back off into a ''predetermined existence''

A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)

One of the most ''ahead of their time'' movies ever

[29 October 2023]

A movie so far ahead of its time it's crazy. So rich thematically with the clashes of culture of an America long gone to a new opportunistic one. The mental descent of a person filled with the wounds of the past, and the oppression of women in their role in families. Desire being in the center of everything, how people can cling to it and blindly ignore other complications. Vivien Leigh's astounding performance overshadows even the presence of Marlon Brando with all her emotional depth over tenderness, fear, love, delusion and longing. Overall a very complex timeless masterpiece and performance.

The Many Saints of Newark (2021)

Just too cheap

[2 October 2021]

It's so sad that David Chase who made such an unconventional show compromise into the "conditions" of today's era just to make an "acceptable" movie? The Sopranos was unapologetic and raw in its depiction of opinions between character and the psychological, existential, social whatever issues it explores.

Beforehand, hearing there will be a movie really had me contemplating that it's unnecessary. The series worked so exceptional because in its core it isn't fully about the mob, but life itself. Family, growing up, the world changing, all sorts of existential questions. Separating them would mean that it's drifting away from the very essence of it. Not saying that the mob part is weak. But it's the very combination of these two that made it stand out so exceptional as a show with so much depth and not just another plot driven show.

If you take other series that are about the one thing, Peaky Blinders for example. They take the one thing and just keep using plots to make it go forward because it's so one sided theres no real exploration to make more things going on. A movie bout The Sopranos was doomed either way no matter good it would be, because the format can't allow it. If it focused solely on Tony and his perception of things it could be better but still... Dickie is an indifferent character of his own, and the universe to have such a long movie about him and not in retrospect with Tony as the main character.

Political correctness and the forced entry of gays, black repressed characters or any minority is one the things that kinda makes me despise watching new movies. Just what is the point of shoving to our faces out of context? Fan service quotes being thrown here and there was so cringy. Silvios hair in the series isn't supposed to be a wig, we know Van Zandt had surgery or something so it's supposed to be "real", making a mockery out of it again very cringy. Both his actor and Paulie's were like SNL sketches, and even SNL did it better.

I hope this isn't the start of a new movie series. Cause by definition it's pointless. The series worked on an abstract level with the right amount of info given everytime. There's no need for more exposition and cheap tricks like this movie. David Chase, im very disappointed in you.

SubUrbia (1996)

WHAT A MOVIE

[22 October 2018]

SubUrbia is a criminally underrated and unpopular movie that deserves so much more than it got. Going through some Linklater movies, and having previously seen the brilliant and also underrated Tape, and A Scanner Darkly, i stumbled upon this one. The description got me instantly interested in it. Considering the fact that right now im kinda going through the same situation.

SubUrbia is the most realistic portrayal of existential crisis at the age of 20's, where our lives are about to be blown away by responsibilities and having to face the hard and inexorable reality, we don't know what we want and what's the purpose of living, what we want to do with our lives while time is passing and never coming back. Moments of peace and consolation happen only when the ''kids'' hang around together, trying to get out of their misery, while still having theirselves falling in the same trap of the same conversations, again about questioning their existence.

The characters, we could all relate to AT LEAST one of them, their personality and thoughts. Jeff, the calm guy who acts like he knows more than his friends or is smarter than them, while he doesn't seem to know the answers about himself, stambling between denial and reality. Buff, the guy who DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN about anything, enjoys every moment with his buddies, and just goes on with the flow, being happy and relaxed, maybe living in denial too but in the end, while he's kinda ''crazy'' he seems the one not having a problem at all with the situation. Sooze, the girl who thinks she's alternative talking about different sort of stuff, without any substance, and finally Tim, who's playing tough guy trying to hide the fact that he's the weakest of them all, being pissed off all the time. The characters are built up so well by Linklater, that when the successful guy Pony, who got out of this town and made a name and career of himself, the reactions are what's expected of everyone. Jeff is totally jealous and he's showcasing it several times, admitting it only when he was drunk, but once again finding a poor excuse to make himself think he's better. Bee-bee, a side character who hangs out with them seems not able to cope with reality, having just got out of rehabilition, she ultimately couldn't handle reality anymore, driving to suicide, wasn't made clear if she died. Tim was a coward trying to do something to either end his life, or end up to someplace else, probably Prison.

In the end only Buff, with his own sense of optimism and being cool with everything that comes his way, and Sooze, having Pony being infatuated with her seem to make it out of the town, starting something new.

The movie is not for everyone, it's a slow movie, building up characters and atmosphere. Few will understand it and relate to it, those who didn't get through existential crisis at this age, will never like it or get it. You need to be concentrated on every piece of dialogue cause it's important since it reflects their actions, and it's the basis of the movie. The fact that it took place at night, made it even better.

Just an amazing movie, that flows nostalgia all over your body and mind, and leaves you thinking about your life.

eXistenZ (1999)

eXistenZ. What's the point of existing

[28 May 2018]

EXistenZ is the classic 1999 pre millennium era movie. Right after seeing the description and pictures about it I felt so nostalgic, I sort of knew it was going to be at least great.

This was my introduction to David Cronenberg, a rather eccentric, weird but also unique writer and director. The movie doesn't have a steady course, it can go from slow to fast at any minute. And you will be confused through the whole duration of it. The sense of a dark, hypnotic and ritualistic atmosphere in things is great. The main factor that made me love it is Isolation and the sense of a small world.

Cronenberg's unique looking pods imply that it's more than a game due to the fact that they're made out of flesh and are also living organisms.

eXistenZ is an idea, an imperceptible feeling, a dream. An idea of leaving the boring, pointless and trivial world and entering in a world which you can be the master. Characteristically as in real life there are characters which exist just because they exist, they are part of a system, having a specific course into the game and being just pawns of your direction. There is a moment in the movie where Jude Law's character is wondering what's the point of the game if there are no missions, which indicates that he's far from understanding it. But as the "game" progresses he enjoys the thrill more and more. And that's what it is about. The thrill that you are free to do anything you want besides the dangers of reality. You can get lost in it pretty easily though. A very important moment in the movie is when Jennifer's character kills Ian Holm's character saying he was just a game character and Jude Law's character is wondering if it's reality or game. This indicated that you can lose the sense of reality vs game fairly easy, but you don't care about it because you want to feel the game at its full purpose. As we saw, Jennifer's character was highly euphoric everytime she was in the game, and rather bored in reality. It's the idea of living in your own tiny world and the game progresses depending on your character and personality.

The movie has a huge sense of metaphoric feelings and messages about life, how we see life, how we want our life to be, how our choices define our characters, how we're searching for meaning in our lives and how we can be lost between a virtual and the real world. One could argue that the virtual world is fake, but what if real life is so pointless that feels fake and the virtual world feels even more real than reality is? I'll leave you wondering with that question..

A really crazy trip and an all time favorite movie that is really underrated.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992)

What i was looking about Twin Peaks in first place

[6 May 2018]

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me is a prequel, but you can't really watch it and enjoy it unless you've seen the show and have a background about it and the characters. When i got my interests up for Twin Peaks, from the few things i saw in order not to get spoiled, i saw the dark nightmarish Lynch elements that i love. Stepping into the show i didn't get what i was looking for in big quantity. There were mostly those comedic, dark-comedic and awkward moments that undoubtedly made the show successful to the TV and mainstream audience but lacked more Lynch in it. I loved the TV show equally, but as i said before i missed a lot of what dragged me to watch the show in the first place.

Then came this movie, unfortunately and expectedly, having said above that people loved Twin Peaks for its more funny, comedic and awkward side the reactions for this film were expected and it saddens me that this movie is massively underrated. What i was missing came all like a punch in my face into this 2 hour and a half movie. A close view and a trip into Laura's paranoid, sad and terrifying last week before her death, through her descend into depravity. All the dark elements that were there in the show and could explode any moment, exploded like an atomic bomb into this movie. Sheryl Lee was incredible into having various personalities, charming, sexy, innocent, but also depraved and psychotic. There are so many scenes i could mention and talk about all day. Bob staring at Laura from the corner, the bed scene with the painting opening a door to the black lodge and so on. My favorite sequence and here is that once again Lynch shined with his vision and directing. The underground bar scene with the red lighting or as it is called ''The Pink Room'' is what fascinated me the most, it was a totally trippy sequence of losing one's self. The music, the lighting, the tight space and the voices being barely audible made this a crazy sequence. And of course, the scene where she accepts her fate being really sad.

So to end this, im really annoyed and disappointed but at the same moment i understand the reactions for this film. Unfortunately many of the fans were watching this show too surfacely caring more about the comedic side of it, even the romance between the characters rather than the details that made it interesting. So thus, this movie is really underappreciated by the mass. I suggest to those people to open their minds and eyes and enjoy this trip of powerful and countless feelings through Lynch's vision.

I consider this a true horror movie that is terrifying and scary just by its atmosphere and great acting, not unnecessary things. For people that like this movie, you should watch Missing Pieces too. Some very interesting scenes in it.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

Inner insanity unfolded

[9 April 2018]

This was the first movie that introduced me to David Lynch, while i didn't watch any trailer or search for further info about it, the description alone intrigued me instantly. At this point i gotta say that i also didn't have any idea about Lynch's unique style so i was going totally blind into this birth of fire. While you could say someone could start off with something more straightforward as in fact Blue Velvet, i came to realize that watching this movie without knowledge about anything gave me the best experience. From the first seconds the movie started you could feel that sense of mystery and dreamy vibe in it, or something doesn't seem to be what it appears to be, those little moments of awkward silence was one of my favorite elements. What Lynch managed to achieve in this movie was to express, explore and emerge some of the deepest inner feelings we all people have, i'd say that a lot of times i saw myself and some of the feelings i had in this film. Interpretations can be many, but the ultimate meaning is there for me. The movie defines vanity, lack of self awareness, conceit, and how inexorably the bubble of impressions you have about yourself can explode and drive you off to insanity. Everything crashes and you hate the people you love, you feel so jealous about them that you can't stand the idea someone else has them so you want them dead, but at the same moment you're killing what you love. You find the slightlest and silliest excuses to justify your failure and lack of acknowledging that you're not the talent you think you are or that everyone adores you. So considering all that, you're falling into a dark trip of paranoia where your subconscious world can unravel terryfing thoughts and images, ultimately when Diane's dream world crushes and comes back to reality understanding that she's a monster and a spoiled bad person, she kills herself. That's what Mulholland Drive is for me, the expression of very deep feelings and thoughts.

My favourite scene is absolutely the dinner table scene where Camilla and Adam announce their wedding, brilliant acting by Naomi Watts, one of the best i ever saw in expressing emotion. Characteristically, it was also very intense for her cause when the scene finishes she goes off and hugs Laura Harring. That was the vital scene for me, where all kinds of emotions emerged. Last but not least, the making scene between Naomi Watts and Laura Harring was one of the sexiest and most emotional things i saw and also a big contrast. Passion and expression of love from Betty, discovery and cold reactions from Rita.

Sorry if i wrote too many, words about this movie can never end. This is Mulholland Drive, it's an absolute masterpiece. It's not for the mass, it's not for superficial and shallow people, but only for those who can feel it in their soul and live it subconsciously and consciously.

All time favorite, i salute Mr David Lynch.