DVD Review - Old Joy
I liked Kelly Reichardt's Old Joy quite a lot. It is a very short film (76 minutes) but that doesn't matter. It is a very meditative and contemplative experience. And it is also beautiful to look at.
Mark (Daniel London) is a married working man who is soon going to become a father. Out of the blue he gets a phone call from his old pal Kurt (Will Oldham). Kurt would like to Mark to join him on a camping weekend in the mountains of Oregon. Mark's wife Tanya (Tanya Smith) begrudgingly consents to the trip.
Kurt is a free spirit who doesn't work and travels around from place to place. He is staying in a house but that is only temporary. We know that Mark and Kurt were friends way back when (they are now in their 30s). There is a question as to whether they were more than friends (some of the posters on the imdb board seem to think so). That question crossed my mind but I am not sure. It really doesn't matter. Also of note - when Mark is driving by himself he listens to Air America. Most of the conversations that we hear revolve around the gutlessness of the Democratic party. I appreciated hearing words of wisdom from America's top populist Jim Hightower.
Not a lot "happens" in Old Joy and that is the point. Maybe we just need for less things to "happen." The film also shows a longing for things as they used to be (I could relate to that).
We need more quiet time. I forgot to mention that Mark takes his lovely dog Lucy on the trip.
Besides seeing this beautiful creature we are treated to some fantastic nature scenery.
I highly recommend this film to those of you who, for a change of pace, want to feel totally relaxed while watching a film. This is what low budget indie cinema should be.
Mark (Daniel London) is a married working man who is soon going to become a father. Out of the blue he gets a phone call from his old pal Kurt (Will Oldham). Kurt would like to Mark to join him on a camping weekend in the mountains of Oregon. Mark's wife Tanya (Tanya Smith) begrudgingly consents to the trip.
Kurt is a free spirit who doesn't work and travels around from place to place. He is staying in a house but that is only temporary. We know that Mark and Kurt were friends way back when (they are now in their 30s). There is a question as to whether they were more than friends (some of the posters on the imdb board seem to think so). That question crossed my mind but I am not sure. It really doesn't matter. Also of note - when Mark is driving by himself he listens to Air America. Most of the conversations that we hear revolve around the gutlessness of the Democratic party. I appreciated hearing words of wisdom from America's top populist Jim Hightower.
Not a lot "happens" in Old Joy and that is the point. Maybe we just need for less things to "happen." The film also shows a longing for things as they used to be (I could relate to that).
We need more quiet time. I forgot to mention that Mark takes his lovely dog Lucy on the trip.
Besides seeing this beautiful creature we are treated to some fantastic nature scenery.
I highly recommend this film to those of you who, for a change of pace, want to feel totally relaxed while watching a film. This is what low budget indie cinema should be.
posted by Film Fanatic | 6:48 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home