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debbierufus
Reviews
Allen v. Farrow (2021)
Worryingly constructed
This is a review of the first episode only. Maybe things will change after further episodes.
So far there are some worryingly constructed aspects to this documentary, which are of great concern in terms of credibility and method.
One issue is the seemingly face-value approach to the interview content, especially concerning Dylan and Ronan Farrow. I can't speak to Dylan's memories yet but Ronan's interview poses a problem too, as he recollects Woody's predatory behaviour with absolute conviction, as if it were yesterday, yet he was five years old at the time. Maybe he had an exceptional memory from an early age, but even then, these are distant events, easily coloured by subsequent history. On this subject its worth watching 'Capturing the Friedmans'. An excellent and relevant documentary.
Another issue is the suggestive slow-motion footage of Woody and Dylan in intimate home movie footage underscored by unsettling music. Recontextualised you could easily create a portrait of a great father instead. This is rather irresponsible of the film-makers.
One of the few facts that is stated in the first episode is that Dylan was taken to a therapist before the alleged abuse where she revealed that she had 'a secret'. This secret is not itself revealed, so even in its suggestive context, its meaningless. Perhaps this is setup to be addressed in a later episode, but if not, that is highly speculative film making indeed.
Lastly, so far we are not given any countering opinion or content, there are only a few snippets of Allen's narrated autobiography, and these are not used to counter Mia, Dylan and Ronan's recollections. Only a written statement of denial from Woody is included at the very end.
There are some lovely shots of New York and Mia's house, but the overall glossiness doesn't paper over the apparent partiality to the film makers' approach, and only serves to highlight the lack of factual content. Let's see where this goes...
Tenet (2020)
All the excitement of a Rubik's cube with as much depth
The appreciation of Nolan's films is fast turning into a Pavlovian cult, with his fans convinced that even a film as monumentally bad as Tenet is a masterpiece.
It is not that the plot is complex. There is logic to the time loop plotting. The problem is that plot mechanics do not on their own make for great storytelling. Other more conventional things like character development, wit, scene structure, humour and coherent action have value.
I liked Dunkirk. That is where his penchant for cross-cutting (and apparent fear of linear sustained scene building) came into its own. But Tenet takes all his worse tendencies and indulges them to create a profoundly empty experience.