Glen Hirshberg's Blog - Posts Tagged "a-o-scott"
Night Moves (the new movie, not the old song)
T.R.U.E., week of 6/24, Post #3:
In his review of the new indie-thriller Night Moves, A.O. Scott enthuses about how director Kelly Reichardt’s movies avoid falling into any established genre. That is often NEW YORK TIMES critic-code (although A.O. often knows better) for movie-that-doesn’t-actually-bother-telling-its-story. That, unfortunately, is the case here.
Three characters we don't understand, care about, or believe plot to blow up a dam. They’re commune dwellers, supposedly passionate about ecological concerns, though Reichardt takes great pains to make sure no one actually acts passionate about anything. Scott also praises the way “there is never a lot of talking in a Kelly Reichardt movie.” And it’s true, Reichardt has clearly seized on the idea that good drama is often driven by characters who won't or can't say what they’re thinking.
But in this movie, anyway, I’m less than convinced that she has any idea what her characters ARE thinking. And I certainly don’t.
In his review of the new indie-thriller Night Moves, A.O. Scott enthuses about how director Kelly Reichardt’s movies avoid falling into any established genre. That is often NEW YORK TIMES critic-code (although A.O. often knows better) for movie-that-doesn’t-actually-bother-telling-its-story. That, unfortunately, is the case here.
Three characters we don't understand, care about, or believe plot to blow up a dam. They’re commune dwellers, supposedly passionate about ecological concerns, though Reichardt takes great pains to make sure no one actually acts passionate about anything. Scott also praises the way “there is never a lot of talking in a Kelly Reichardt movie.” And it’s true, Reichardt has clearly seized on the idea that good drama is often driven by characters who won't or can't say what they’re thinking.
But in this movie, anyway, I’m less than convinced that she has any idea what her characters ARE thinking. And I certainly don’t.
