A Prophet

It's time for another indie movie flick review to get you all revved up for something that deserves a bit more than some fringe viewership. When I heard about A Prophet what hooked me was the promise of a unique and exceptional mob movie. I don't think I'm alone in that regard. After all most American's would hold one of the two Godfather movies in high esteem, as has been proven over and over in movie polls. Adding to the pique of interest is the fact that it's a French movie. Over the past year I've watched over 10 French films  (absolutely unplanned, if I made add) and this one is my favorite so far.

So how to describe it? Okay, here's the quick, dirty and overly general breakdown: Take Godfather, include the added emotional heft of Godfather II, take away the operatic aspects, add jail and some rather distracting supernatural aspects, and you've got the general sense of the movie. Somehow that felt disrespectful, but also not entirely untrue...

Our main focus is Malik, a young Arab thrown in jail for reasons that are never expounded. Right from the first scene we learn that he has no friends and no enemies. If we've learned anything from the oft-filmed politics of prison, is that this kid is in a serious bind. The story is about Malik's ascendance into power within the ranks of the mob through cunning and his willingness to commit where others let opportunities pass by. And unlike the first Godfather, which primarly dealt with the Corleone family as a whole, A Prophet specifically hinges on Malik's growth and final corruption.

I've never been in a French prison, or any prison for that matter (albeit, I guess that's technically not true...), but the movie has the gravity of 'realness'. The director has the deft hand in being able to create a sense of life within the confines of endlessly stained concrete.  The prison is not romanticized, it is shown as a hard and cruel place, but also as a place where men continue to live their lives. Not everyone is a badass or a weakling ready to get trampled over. You're not only witnessing prison life, but inhabiting it.

And this points towards the flaw of the film, which you may have picked up on in my second paragraph where I transparently choose to include foreshadowing: the supernatural. There is a character that Malik is haunted by, which I at first took this to be psychological in nature, but as the movie progressed it became clear that he was actually being haunted by a ghost. Malik can also 'see' the future, which is where we get the title from. It's more than a bit difficult for the viewer to accept these two worlds living side by side, the stark realism and the supernatural. I guess it can be taken as magical realism, but to be honest, it never felt like it added anything. It seems like even the corrupt can have their heroes, their holy man. But what of it? It doesn't add to Malik's character, it slightly cheapens his ability to navigate the treacherous waters of prison and the movie never makes enough of a comment on the prison community to give a sense that they need a 'savior', even a dark one. It feels like all that aspect could have done away with and we would have been left with an improved version.

But even with that negative aspect of the film, I cannot help but recommend it. The movie feels honest, it is truly moving (without resorting to tricks), and has some insanely tense scenes. Also, and this is a minor point, but I was also thankful there wasn't the usual requisite prison rape scene. I'm glad a director and a writer were able to get passed that by now. I also found that it is geared more towards men, (and no, that doesn't mean women shouldn't watch it, Fight Club is a movie made for men and I've found just as many women who like it as men) and speaks directly to their situation. You read it here: You should watch A Prophet.

- piecar

The Diving Bell and The Butterfly

     The Diving Bell and The Butterfly is one of those movies that got a lot of buzz during Oscar season a couple of years back. Indie and Foreign. Yeah, it had followers for sure. The premise is of a man that has a stroke and finds himself paralyzed, only able to blink his single eye to communicate. Based on a true story, it follows him on the quest to...um... find what it means to live and be human. Pretty obvious plotline, right?
     I ain't gonna lie, I was feeling a bit trepidatious starting this movie. Clearly, this was not gonna be an easy film to sit through, and often I find that there needs to be a certain mood. But since I rarely find myself in the neighborhood of such a mood, the only way to get watch it is to just barrel through my hesitation and go for it. And it was worth it. Let me harp on presentation. At the very least, the first half of the film is in first-person perspective of the character. You are locked in there with him. It's grueling to be so limited by the camera in a way that is rare in a film and the conceit truly works. Once it leaves from that perspective, it feels like a breath of fresh air, but you still feel how limited the man is in his own body.
      Also, unlike in other movies that take the inspiration for such a viewpoint from video games with horrid results, here it actually fits. Video games are created to simulate stories or act on fictitious events. In movies, this perspective rings false, since we as the audience are not interacting, but remain observers. In The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, it works PERFECTLY then. We are as trapped as this man is. We as the audience can only observe, as can only Bauby (our protagonist). I think it is no coincidence (and fits into the backstory of Bauby) that the women in this movie are all amazingly beautiful. Achingly beautiful, even. We always see gorgeous females on the big screen and watch our hero gallantly win said beauty(s). But not this time, at least not in such a Hollywood manner. She is as close, and yet as untouchable as we are to her. It's tantalizing and rending.
      That's just smart film-making.
      Bauby goes through the story as you would expect, starting with desperation and his eventual rise to grace. But, it's not so crassly done. The only thing that felt a bit hard pressed is that the movement between despair and grace is too quick. Then again, maybe that actually is how it goes, but it somehow rings false. Bauby just declares, "I have decided to stop pitying myself." Is it that simple? Maybe. There was a lot of hurt, but it was a bit tough to see where the turnaround came. But that's fine. Because the movie is about how one finds meaning in life. You have to DECIDE to get meaning. And Buaby does that, even if the film doesn't show how it came about.
      This is hard movie to watch, but one that is just as hard to dismiss. Watch it for an emotional turn. Do it.

- piecar