' Piece by Piece' Film Thought

  

Language: English

2024

Running time: 1hr 33min

From IMDb:

A vibrant journey through the life of Pharrell Williams, told through the lens of LEGO animation.

Piece by Piece (2024) - IMDb

Quote:

Pharrell:  "To me, the most common threads in a different world is a feeling.  And trust me, people just want to feel good."

Thoughts:

I was very surprised by this.  So much so that I KNEW this was a documentary executed in LEGO but when I saw all the artist that emerged having all been around each other in Virginia Beach, it's like I thought it and then the interviews were confirming there's something in the water.  I'd had no idea that these artist knew each other before getting big and man, there was something special in having a tribe of like-minded musicians to vibe with, that Pharrell pointed out toward the end of the documentary want to see you win...

Aside from my needing to google upon seeing the stars in the beginning, there was this insta-connection for me with this story and felt like well spent time on a Sunday.  The music, the memories, the lessons endured along the path and the vulnerability / reckoning Pharrell had when trying to make it as well as the power with 'Happy' and what he came to realize with that song.  This film was well worth the watch and had that added power of creative energy by being done in Lego, it made it just that much richer.

Studio Ghibli for mine ^_^

Some other notable interviews with PW worth checking out:

 The Tonight Show 60 Minutes Interview

"Trap" Film Thoughts

 

Language: English

2024

Running time: 1hr 45min

From IMDb:

A father and his teen daughter attend a pop concert only to realize they've entered the center of a dark and sinister event.

Trap (2024) - IMDb

Quote:

Cooper:  "I think you're looking for me."

Thoughts:

I was telling a friend of mine that this reminded me of Mark Wahlberg in 'Fear'.  Josh Harnett' is creepy as the close-up camera shots help to invoke it.  

The trailer is exactly as it is, you are watching and wondering if Cooper will get out of the trap set for him, if so, what will it look like.  There was also this vibe/feel that made me think about the world of M, Night Shyamalan's interconnected films- Unbreakable/Split/Glass and how this could fit as part of them.  There is a slight twist at the end, I feel, when it comes to the trap, a sort of double entendre.

It's a Shyamalan film and if you're a fan of him it's worth the watch for the eventual epic film he'll make one day with easter eggs galore showcasing his cinematography and storytelling.  

"Saturday Night" Film Thoughts

 

Language: English

2024

Running time: 1hr 49min

From IMDb:

At 11:30pm on October 11th, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television forever. Find out what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live (1975).

Saturday Night (2024) - IMDb

Quote:

Lorne Michaels:  "Did anyone ask Edison what a lightbulb was before he harnessed electricity?"

Thoughts:

I loved this.

I very much want to watch it again. I want to watch the old SNL shows.  

Then I want to watch it again alongside someone who has a love for comedy and love for SNL.

I love, love. loved this.

Recently, I watched a Dave Chappelle stand up and wrote something along the lines of A good comedian sees the line and delivers an objective humorous take while a great comedian obliterates it.  

It being the 'line'.  I feel this movie encapsulates a bit of why I enjoy SNL... from Michael O'Donoghue hot take on Jesus to quoting Hitler to Tebet on the elevator ride with Lorne, Morris's song about whitey, George Carlin hosting that first episode, and that frantic seat of your pants/high stakes energy.  It is live.  It is breathing.  It is present.  It is in the moment and the film does a good job with the stream of flow to make you feel part of it.  SNL will celebrate 50 years later this year.  

I had had thoughts about what it might be like to be part of the SNL writer's room.  Dreamt about it.  Have made sketches for some of the cast (I still have this one in mind involving Keenan Thomas and Chris Redd, though Redd is no longer a cast member) and an extended skit/novella of it.  Watching this movie gave me that feel of being part of that chaotic energy and thought 'yeah I'm cool on that' but then afterwards was like 'well... ...'

WTW ^_^

Squid Game Season 2

 

Wow...

I started to make a post about this back in January but held back.  Even though it's not been a month, I should have just went ahead and finished my reaction, even though it was likely an insta one with initial thoughts.

That said, there is something interesting in that mental that I felt was captured.  The negotiation, the compromise and ultimate decisions we'll make, chances we'll take toward something we deem valuable.

From the first episode's 'choice' offered to the homeless population in the park to the vote option within the game.  The 'just one more' compromise in the hopes of increasing the amount of money that will line the 'survivor's' pocket and those that die.  To the 'going in with the best of intentions' of the MC (Gi-Hun, I believe) to the weighting of lives as in the sacrifices of one (or several) for the hope to save more in the long run.  The latter of which being an age-old conundrum.  Many might not see it as that asking when you think of the greater good / the idea of saving more lives in the long run but those of us that understand the black and white, as well as the grey, know it presents a slippery slope pending on the lens.  

Having binged this second season short of MLK day I say again the power is with the people.  But when you have the people distracted, setting their gazes on one another then it presents an obstacle of that rise.  You have hopeful individuals, ones that want to do right, but there are flaws, things present in the design to keep you in a place.  And I felt season 2 of Squid Game captured that.  

Season 3 is due out later this year, June, last I checked.