About The Lighthouse
Post 725:
If you want to take in a movie that contains hip fresh dialogue, tons of car chases and sweet colorful CGI, I recommend The Lighthouse.
Okay, I’m being silly. Beg your pardon. The Lighthouse is something that I’d recommend, but it doesn’t have any of that stuff previously described.
First off, any movie with this title should have really good… lighting. It’s all black and white and absolutely nails it on the lighting score. It also nails the score. This looks and sounds unbelievable. The work with shadows and the meticulous way the shots are framed reminds me of frigging Citizen Kane or other technical masterpieces. Almost every frame could be hung up in a photography gallery. High praise, I know, but that was my first impression. Maybe I’ll change my mind. Nah. I’m a truculent old rock.
What about enjoyment and story? Here’s where it gets a little murkier. I was really yanked into it, but I think the average viewer might find it a little weird. The dialogue is so period and location specific, in this case around 1900 somewhere around New England. Each of the main characters go off on these high-flying soliloquies invoking the names of legends and gods and the forces of nature. Sometimes it’s disturbing. Sometimes it’s hilarious. This movie’s frigging crazy town.
Though there’s some really cool imagery and allusions to the ancient, this is ultimately a story about temptation and trying to assume too much power or control. Think Icarus or Prometheus or Adam and Eve and you’re heading down the right lane. This is repeated over and over through the movie: Here’s a thing you want, but leave off. From spiritual desires to base physical lusts, temptation is ubiquitous.
This sounds like a bummer. It’s not, though sometimes it’s a challenge. Half the time I was in awe of the technical aspects, half the time I was trying to figure out what was real, and the other half was spent simply enjoying the characters. That’s too many halves. I don’ t care. Acting? The acting is fantastic. Pattinson and Dafoe are essentially the whole deal, and they give it everything. I sometimes think acting is sort of a soft piece of work, but here you have to say that they earned whatever they got paid. The commitment to their roles made me think of Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood.
I won’t give away much more, though I’ll step out and say this is probably not a movie you put on to unwind after a stressful day of getting your butt kicked at work. I think cinema nerds will really like it, but whoever you are and however you feel about film, The Lighthouse is something you experience and sort of take on.
Do be warned. Madness can be hard to watch, especially when displayed with such craft. And… important to note that it’s not all dour. Believe it or not, there’s also some real moments of levity thrown in. I laughed at points and then felt bad for laughing. Weird? Complicated? Inexplicable? A little bit. Screw it. It’s different and original. I say well done and say it’s something to see. Either this or Cats.
Cheers. And don’t see Cats. See you after.
