Review of Miral.
Oct. 14th, 2011 02:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ladydraceSo, I watched Miral.
I knew even before watching it that it wasn't my kind of movie. I don't usually enjoy the heavy political plots and my watching experience was predictably coloured by this. However, I was captivated all the way through and despite my usual dislike of the genre I was in fact deeply moved.
Bad stuff:
-Brutal imagery. I know shit was bad, but did they have to have someone actually throw up? And maybe I'm just being over sensitive but the rape scene was just a liiiittle too descriptive, thanks.
-I think certain things from the book just didn't translate too well to film. Many of the things clearly meant to shape Miral as a person ended up seeming random and disconnected.
Good stuff:
-The music. Both the local music and the odd foreign tune were all good choices. Fitted the action on the screen beautifully.
-The actors. My god, I've rarely seen so many top performances in one film. I can't think of a single person who did a half-assed job.
-The pace was good. Despite the seemingly random events, it all kept moving smoothly at a pace that allowed even complete ignorants like me to keep up with things.
-And of course Sid. More squeeing about him below.
SID! I MEAN... DAMN! If there's anyone left in the world who can't see what a great actor he is, I dare them to watch this film. Go on. I'll wait.
He damn near made me cry at every turn. From his immediate and yet totally believable love for his sister's cellmate to his visible hurt at his daughter's actions later in life I think we see every emotion there is. The tenderness and the frustration, the love and the anger, the hurt and trust... my god, it's all there.
And lets not get into the almost erotic ritual washing scene. Ahem. Moving on.
Basically, if you can bear some ugly truths painted out maybe a little harsher than neccessary, I would recommend this movie to anyone. Although, it might make you cry. But trust me, it's worth it.
I knew even before watching it that it wasn't my kind of movie. I don't usually enjoy the heavy political plots and my watching experience was predictably coloured by this. However, I was captivated all the way through and despite my usual dislike of the genre I was in fact deeply moved.
Bad stuff:
-Brutal imagery. I know shit was bad, but did they have to have someone actually throw up? And maybe I'm just being over sensitive but the rape scene was just a liiiittle too descriptive, thanks.
-I think certain things from the book just didn't translate too well to film. Many of the things clearly meant to shape Miral as a person ended up seeming random and disconnected.
Good stuff:
-The music. Both the local music and the odd foreign tune were all good choices. Fitted the action on the screen beautifully.
-The actors. My god, I've rarely seen so many top performances in one film. I can't think of a single person who did a half-assed job.
-The pace was good. Despite the seemingly random events, it all kept moving smoothly at a pace that allowed even complete ignorants like me to keep up with things.
-And of course Sid. More squeeing about him below.
SID! I MEAN... DAMN! If there's anyone left in the world who can't see what a great actor he is, I dare them to watch this film. Go on. I'll wait.
He damn near made me cry at every turn. From his immediate and yet totally believable love for his sister's cellmate to his visible hurt at his daughter's actions later in life I think we see every emotion there is. The tenderness and the frustration, the love and the anger, the hurt and trust... my god, it's all there.
Basically, if you can bear some ugly truths painted out maybe a little harsher than neccessary, I would recommend this movie to anyone. Although, it might make you cry. But trust me, it's worth it.
