Friday, February 29, 2008

SLIPSTREAM

SLIPSTREAM... JUMP IN, THE WATER'S GREAT!
What did I just watch? Very reminiscent of one of my most beloved existential psychology professor's quest for "images" and trying to define what "being" is (or Being, capital B). Is this a dream, within a dream, or a movie within a movie, or both? Written and directed by Sir Anthony Hopkins, this movie was compelling to watch, almost hypnotic. If you can let go of the idea of a plot or storyline, then you'll enjoy it for the curiosity to see if it turns into something or ends up nowhere. At some point we discover that this man Felix (Hopkins) is a screenwriter working out a particularly stressful project that puts his brain into overdrive. This film also pokes fun at the "players" in the movie business and gets quite amusing when this writer (Hopkins) interacts with his own characters. Speaking of which, the list of stars in this movie is incredible and spans decades of actors. John Tuturro (one of the most talented and underrated actors to date) goes all out overboard and it works. This film is not for everybody, but I couldn't stop watching. It was like David Lynch on acid. The camera angles, film editing and whatever else they did will make you wonder if something was slipped into your drink. Not a movie for the faint of heart (or head) but really neat to see something so different.
PICK WITH CAVEATS: Very entertaining and interesting. Must watch till end of credits!