First, I just have to state how highly amusing I find it that SO many people tear this movie apart for 1. "trying too hard to be artsy and cool for hipsters without actually having any real purpose or plot" (just as they did with her first film) and 2. "Too depressing...just horrible". If it depressed you, especially THAT intensely, that shows that the film was HIGHLY EFFECTIVE - that does not mean it is a bad film and deserves 1 star out of 10! If it made you feel sad, that means the film has accomplished something! The film is simply not for you!
As far as finding the movie to be trying too hard, well that's more left up for interpretation - but for me I find Miranda July's scenarios and dialogue to be very genuine and straight from the heart, a lot of it makes me laugh and a lot of it I can relate with. Just because Miranda is not afraid to ignore all the rules and take her films wherever she feels like taking them does not mean that she is trying too hard does it?
A lot of people come out of this movie feeling sad and confused. But, I can honestly say there was not a single scene in the movie I felt confused about. There was a lot of extremely creative imagery and conceptual stuff, but it was all relative to the PLOT (YES, THERE WAS A PLOT - LIFE CATCHING UP ON US AND BITING US IN THE BUTT WHEN WE'RE LEAST EXPECTING IT? that's a pretty simple summary that works just fine). I related emotionally to a few scenes specifically, especially the one with Hamish Linklater outside by the ocean - I thought it was a perfect metaphorical representation of an emotional phase I cannot discuss otherwise it would be a spoiler!
So basically, the film has a lot to offer, but it's quiet and abstract. If you're not open to art and scenarios that are left up to you to interpret, then don't watch the movie - but aside from that, the film really has a lot to offer and a lot to relate about.
Good stuff, Miranda. I am a fan. Keep doing what you're doing, please.
As far as finding the movie to be trying too hard, well that's more left up for interpretation - but for me I find Miranda July's scenarios and dialogue to be very genuine and straight from the heart, a lot of it makes me laugh and a lot of it I can relate with. Just because Miranda is not afraid to ignore all the rules and take her films wherever she feels like taking them does not mean that she is trying too hard does it?
A lot of people come out of this movie feeling sad and confused. But, I can honestly say there was not a single scene in the movie I felt confused about. There was a lot of extremely creative imagery and conceptual stuff, but it was all relative to the PLOT (YES, THERE WAS A PLOT - LIFE CATCHING UP ON US AND BITING US IN THE BUTT WHEN WE'RE LEAST EXPECTING IT? that's a pretty simple summary that works just fine). I related emotionally to a few scenes specifically, especially the one with Hamish Linklater outside by the ocean - I thought it was a perfect metaphorical representation of an emotional phase I cannot discuss otherwise it would be a spoiler!
So basically, the film has a lot to offer, but it's quiet and abstract. If you're not open to art and scenarios that are left up to you to interpret, then don't watch the movie - but aside from that, the film really has a lot to offer and a lot to relate about.
Good stuff, Miranda. I am a fan. Keep doing what you're doing, please.