Yes, a great film! A simple but great film. Isn't that what is most characteristic about Gus Van Sant's work? He develops a plan or a draft for a film that hasn't existed yet but can be described in a few sentences, and then he carries it out without much ado. Thus, no film is like the other.
The lengthy, endless shots of people walking forward have been tried out already in Gerry though, and Van Sant seems to like them. In Elephant, they are a bit too long maybe. But at least this repetition shows that Van Sant is not only after pure innovation.
Now is this film shocking? If you don't find it shocking, this is evidence that you don't find high school shootings shocking any more because there have been too many of them, which is shocking enough.
Of course, there are some similarities to the films of Larry Clark. But hey! The kids in Elephant are much nicer, much less rotten than those in Kids or Ken Park. They don't drink any alcohol and they are not having any orgies. Still, they have problems, much more realistic problems. Another point for Mr. Van Sant.
The lengthy, endless shots of people walking forward have been tried out already in Gerry though, and Van Sant seems to like them. In Elephant, they are a bit too long maybe. But at least this repetition shows that Van Sant is not only after pure innovation.
Now is this film shocking? If you don't find it shocking, this is evidence that you don't find high school shootings shocking any more because there have been too many of them, which is shocking enough.
Of course, there are some similarities to the films of Larry Clark. But hey! The kids in Elephant are much nicer, much less rotten than those in Kids or Ken Park. They don't drink any alcohol and they are not having any orgies. Still, they have problems, much more realistic problems. Another point for Mr. Van Sant.