Best Films of 2022 [Poll][Dead] - Movies & TV

cestuneblague
Edgy to the Choir

Location: MA/FL

I hear that Ana De Armas isn't actually blonde IRL Neutral

So is Everything Everywhere On the Fucking Screen going to be this decade's Drive or Traffic where every other film feels the need to completely rip off both it's structure and visual style?

Hayden

Location: CDMX

CA Dreamin wrote:

Still curious to hear:

Hayden wrote:

+ a re: on Blonde

Gowi wrote:

It's obscenely disrespectful

^the above seems to be the general consensus—

Is it slightly pretentious? Yes. Pornographic? Slightly. Disrespectful? Sure— I understand the argument (and it remains my biggest gripe). But I've had a difficult time agreeing with the statement it's a bad film. I watched at least a dozen films this year that were genuinely awful (The Gray Man, Stars at Noon, The Bubble—) and I can't pair Blonde with them. There's too much about it that's quality work. Cinematography, costumes, hair, makeup and the score were gorgeous— plus, Ana de Armas is phenomenal, and I've felt bad for her this entire awards season. She's going around clutching a two-sided blade. She was nominated for a lot the last few months, but in what's possibly the most controversial film of the 20s so far. What's she supposed to do? She gave it her all and now there's spears flying at her in every direction with stickily complex political/ideological questions. Can't imagine how awkward it is for her since its release.

In a world of cinematic risk-free cashgrabs, Blonde isn't. It's a provocative, unsubtle film and an uncomfortable viewing, which isn't exactly America's cup of tea, but it's... also the point. This isn't a funfest. It's aggressive, critical, ugly, grim, severe, traumatic, dirty, painful— and I think a streamlined wiki-biopic route would have been a pointless washover. It was never supposed to be a fairytale. Let's be real— when direct family isn't involved, any profit made off of factual tragedy is exploitive and disrespectful. This includes Bohemian Rhapsody, Dahmer, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, The Good Nurse, Judy, House of Gucci, the upcoming Back To Black— which all gained a bit of justly deserved criticism as well, I'm not going to ignore that— but it seems Blonde garnered more outrage with it's extremeness. If the argument is respect, I think a straightforward slog making money from misfortune is just as detestable.

Amid the brutal miserablism pile, I found it a very human, personal and engaging experience. Ana de Armas is devastating. There's an undeniable innocence as she battles her world. It's a portrayal of exploitation itself— it's miserable, lonely, and terrifyingly out of her control— and I think the film captures that.

While I understand why it's getting dragged through the mud, I have to question why we aren't dragging other films through the mud as well. At least Blonde took a risk. It's a spectacle— abrasive, bold, chaotic— it's something. It's made people feel. And I can't even count the amount of films that haven't done that this decade.

Sex in the film is complicated— whether weaponized or shameless— the pornographic NC17 shock-value comparison to Sam Lavinson makes sense. I see it. Yeah— Marilyn get fucked— maybe that wasn't the most subtle/tasteful metaphor— but there's a lot of other nightmares here. I see Lynch. Cronenberg. Lars Von Trier. Pasolini. I think the pornographic smothering insulted people the most— and I understand the argument on how that disrespects Marilyn, it does— but it also... exists. Suffering exists. Sorrow exists. Heartbreak exists.

The bad? The inconsistent screenplay and overlong runtime. I haven't read Joyce Carol Oates' novel, I'm generally not too big on her style and I'm doubting I ever will, but the meandering script dragged it down the most. And the fetus shots were kinda dumb (once is fine, but)— I think they were supposed to represent a constant social pressure in her era, but it's still overplayed. Runtime is ridiculous. No defence there.

Had Dominik shown a bit more restraint, a smidge more empathy, less pretentiousness, shortened some of the more brutal scenes, and refined the arc, it would have landed better. Pablo Larrain's two recent biopics depicting tragic figures (Jackie & Spencer) are masterful, and I would have much preferred for this film to have been directed with his style, but I can't deny Dominik's controversially sour take at least made something different.

As much as I think it's one of the most interesting portrayals in recent memory, it's far from flawless. It does fault from exploiting Monroe's life. That's the ugliest part, and the most valid criticism the film gets across the board. I agree. It's just a shame we're throwing out the rest of the film with it. There's incredible moments in the mix. I remember when Joker caused outrage and I thought it was similarly unwarranted. I'd rather we all collectively yell at the MCU to be honest.

(Not that Cave & Ellis have been hit with major criticism, but I also want to reiterate it's a fantastic score)—

Anyway— feel free to yell—
There's worse films this year.

mickilennial
The Most Trusted Name in News

Gender: Female
Age: 35
Location: Detroit

Quote:

that were genuinely awful (The Gray Man,

I don't know, I found the Gray Man enjoyable in the same way a lot of the kitschy, silly almost self-parody action blockbusters of the 90s (Face/Off, Con Air, etc.). I think it was refreshing to see a movie so distinctly 90s on screen with high profile actors involved in the 2020s. I don't think it is horribly conceived or shot, so I find it less awful and more "competent".

Quote:

What's she supposed to do?

Maybe not--

"Ana De Armas reveals she and the crew of ‘Blonde’ left a letter on Marilyn Monroe’s grave to ask for permission on the first day of production.

She previously said that the ghost of Marilyn Monroe haunted her on set while filming."

--shit like this.

Quote:

Anyway— feel free to yell—
There's worse films this year.

True, but I think there's something about a film that's well-made that stumbles and is criticized then a mediocre by-the-numbers film being poorly shot and ill conceived. Blonde is a better shot, written, and acted film than say Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers or Texas Chainsaw Massacre '22, but those films don't make me as filled with rage and discontent of offense as Blonde. So which should I rate lower?

CA Dreamin

Gender: Male
Location: LA

Ok, I had to look up more info on this. So, de Armas and the Blonde crew visited Monroe's grave and asked for permission, eh? This sounds like a respectable gesture, until you remember dead people can't answer. Oh wait, you mean they can? According to this link, de Aramas said Monroe's ghost was happy to be on set with them, guiding the production, and taking over de Armas's body and mind, as if Monroe wanted this side of her life told. Well, that's quite a story, and sounds kinda ridiculous. I'll simply re-iterate Hayden's praise for de Armas's performance. She was so good and convincing, I sometimes forgot I was watching her and not archival footage of the real Monroe. Good write-up on Hayden's part.

Um, I don't have to watch The Gray Man, do I?

EyeKanFly
Head Bear Master/Galactic Emperor

Age: 33
Location: Gotham

cestuneblague wrote:

So is Everything Everywhere On the Fucking Screen going to be this decade's Drive or Traffic where every other film feels the need to completely rip off both it's structure and visual style?

Ooh that's an interesting question. I had a friend mention to me that they expect EEAAO to usher in toilet humor into big-budget films, and that's maybe not something I'm looking forward to. Don't get me wrong, Daniels own that stuff, but it's definitely situational.

The whole "multiverse"/parallel universes concept seems to be huge right now (or... on a declining trend maybe). If Disney/Marvel with enormous budgets are unable to make anything that gets anywhere close to EEAAO in terms of quality, I could see this concept continuing to decline (maybe via MCU beating the dead horse). Although hopes are high for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2.

EEAAO did something with its visual style that I don't want to call unique, but definitely atypical: it used flashy costumes/outfits in drab environments. I could easily see this being something movies begin to mimic, especially since it seems possible with lower budget filmmaking or filming without access to specific locations.

I should have my chart up soon, It's on LB but I'm still tweaking (and still need to get around to watching The Whale and The Batman). Still thinking about scores and acting too.
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mickilennial
The Most Trusted Name in News

Gender: Female
Age: 35
Location: Detroit

CA Dreamin wrote:

Ok, I had to look up more info on this. So, de Armas and the Blonde crew visited Monroe's grave and asked for permission, eh? This sounds like a respectable gesture, until you remember dead people can't answer. Oh wait, you mean they can? According to this link, de Aramas said Monroe's ghost was happy to be on set with them, guiding the production, and taking over de Armas's body and mind, as if Monroe wanted this side of her life told. Well, that's quite a story, and sounds kinda ridiculous. I'll simply re-iterate Hayden's praise for de Armas's performance. She was so good and convincing, I sometimes forgot I was watching her and not archival footage of the real Monroe. Good write-up on Hayden's part.

Um, I don't have to watch The Gray Man, do I?

Armas is a great actress. I just have issues with, you know, the Hollywood spectacle they made of Marilyn's blessing and the ghost nonsense. I still find Blonde reprehensible as both a piece of art and entertainment no matter how well it is shot and acted.

BozoTyrannus

Gender: Male
Age: 31

Blonde is the cinematic equivalent of Harry and Megan and I refuse to give them any more of my time and attention.
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And take Sean Bean
Put 'em in a blender
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cestuneblague
Edgy to the Choir

Location: MA/FL

I actually did watch Blonde (one of the maybe 5 movies I've watched of this year), and actually it really came across more like The Passion of the Christ in our era of celebrity worship and attempts at cultural revionism. We really didnt' need an attempt at a three-hour vicarious torture-porn experience of her life and then call that I donno "understanding" or activism, it seems strange in bemoaning her (or many actresses) lack of agency but then we always get so-called compassionate media that treat them purely like symbols with no real internal life or complicated emotions. The lynchian comparisons were off to me, considering even a usually successful black-comic troll like Lynch would laugh at the movies attempt at symbolism, and definitely not Croneberg since it had little interest in her psychology beyond her abandonment and daddy issues. DIdn't feel enlightened, just felt numb but not in the way they were clearly hoping. Again, I think I mentioned this in a review I couldn't take the movie seriously after the JFK scene, for a director as usually intelligent like Dominik who i've admired much of his work so far, doing what felt like a brick YouTube skit on a SYMBOLIC scene like that... I checked out mostly after that point.

Edit: though I agree that a lot of the backlash was over-the-top ("it's nothing but an anti-abortion argument!"), it didn't reach Joker level fear-mongering but it did remind me why I've checked out of nearly all modern film discussion, why people get so worked up over mediocre movies.

Last edited by cestuneblague on 03/22/2023 00:52; edited 1 time in total

Hayden

Location: CDMX

CA Dreamin wrote:

Um, I don't have to watch The Gray Man, do I?

Please don't. Unless you want a headache.

Coincidentally, just remembered Ana de Armas has a role in that too.

Hayden

Location: CDMX

Gowi wrote:

"Ana De Armas reveals she and the crew of ‘Blonde’ left a letter on Marilyn Monroe’s grave to ask for permission on the first day of production.

She previously said that the ghost of Marilyn Monroe haunted her on set while filming."

--shit like this.

And yeah, that's just dumb.
(Weird PR, etc etc)

Need to note I respect your opinion on the film— I'm not rebutting or anything— everyone deserves their own take.

Quote:

True, but I think there's something about a film that's well-made that stumbles and is criticized then a mediocre by-the-numbers film being poorly shot and ill conceived. Blonde is a better shot, written, and acted film than say Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers or Texas Chainsaw Massacre '22, but those films don't make me as filled with rage and discontent of offense as Blonde. So which should I rate lower?

Is it bad that I kinda liked Rescue Rangers? Anxious

... I thought it was fun...

The final question's an interesting dilemma, and I don't know if I have as interesting an answer. Depends how much you weigh hate I suppose. Ironically— usually people have quite a close connection with things they hate. You remember things you hate. It's fine that you hate it— I get it— but it still means the film had an unusually strong impact on you. I think it's more interesting to hate something than be bored by it. (Then, of course, there's the catch-22 of hating something because it bores you).

(This isn't some weird reverse psychology— just reiterating my point it was a film that made people feel something, regardless positive/negative). I think there's value in art that can do that to you— and I have a feeling Blonde will stick with people.

Being said, if you hate it— 0's fine Laughing

(maybe a 0.5 ...) Whatever score reflects your opinion. All good.