Double Feature

On my first day back in Bellingham after spending the holidays with my parents, I decided to cram in all of the things that I missed while at the 'rents'. I slept in late, I went out for coffee, I went grocery shopping, and I went to two movies. I always try to see all of the films nominated for multiple awards, and that typically means I have to catch a lot of films at the end of December/beginning of January. Today I saw Up in the Air and Precious, two films based on very interesting novels. Below are very brief thoughts on the films. Though unintentional, both of these reviews center on issues of voice and perspective.

Up in the Air









Adapted from Walter Kirn's novel of the same name, Up in the Air could not have been released at a more perfect time. With the economic crisis, rising unemployment, discussions of executive perks, and a cultural obsession with flying and air security, the novel about a "career transition counselor"/axe man with a goal of reaching 10 million air miles holds an interesting relevance. I do wonder if the timeliness of the film somehow overcompensates for other attributes of the film that are weaker. Though George Clooney is his sexy self in the film, he seems to play the exact same person in all of his films. He is clever, but he seems all too familiar to the viewer. What is so powerful about Kirn's novel is that it gives voice to one of those anonymous men and women that we all see in airports standing in the MVP boarding line or walking into the mysterious airline club rooms. It presents the insights of someone who lives in the place that most of us think of as transitional space. With Clooney playing the lead in the film adaptation, the viewer knows this character, there is little new that the viewer gains. I am also slightly annoyed with the way that the chronology of the novel was rearranged to facilitate the development of a plot arc more consistent with romantic comedies. It is a film that seems really tongue in cheek and lacks a grate deal of teeth.

Precious









I was very nervous when I first read that a film adaptation of Sapphire's novel Push was in the works. My concern was not the very valid concern about how the filmmakers could possibly represent the horrific sexual and physical abuse on screen; the first concern I had was related to one of the novel's central issues--literacy. What is exquisite about Sapphire's novel (and what makes it incredibly difficult to read) is the way that the novel gives voice to illiteracy. Sapphire's choice to write in her protagonist's voice, to include nonstandard spellings, syntax, and misuses of words forces the reader to slow down and to confront both the writing of someone with limited literacy and to also consider to complicated nature of literary and the ways in which it is socially defined. The fact that the reader is able to comprehend the nonstandard text reveals the constructedness of standardization. Because this aspect of literacy has to be seen in textual form and not heard, I wasn't sure how the film would be able to explore it. The answer? It really doesn't. The nonstandard spelling and syntax are relegated to a very strange place--it is explored in the opening credits. I suppose it is nice that the filmmakers tried to touch the issue, but it feels a little off in the paratextual material.

Despite my fears about adapting the film and my slight frustration that the very important literacy issue takes a backseat, I must say that I think it is the best film I have seen this year. It is certainly the best acted film of the year. It's complex and emotionally-intense subject matter is brought into powerful, dizzying, and sickening focus in the dialogue, in the voice-over narration, and in the use of images as mental process. The entire cast was amazing, but certainly the star Gabourey Sidbe as well as Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey must be mentioned. Their affects and their presences on screen surpassed everything else I have seen this year. The film's use of montage, juxtaposition, and superimposition was incredibly smart and thoughtful. These visual techniques allowed the filmmakers to examine the very difficult issues of physical and sexual abuse and incest without feeling like a Lifetime movie.

***

Both films are definitely worth seeing. I would likely suggest waiting until DVD for Up in the Air. Push, in my opinion is worth the $10, but it is a difficult film. Still, it is incredibly executed in my opinion.