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Chronicle (2012)
Chronicle is worth watching, despite the unsatisfactory ending.
Chronicle is another allegory for the power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely genre. Three teenage boys, Andrew Matt and Steve, are suddenly empowered with telekinesis and begin to grow stronger as well as change personally with every use. The underlying theme is what would one do if one is so possessed. Each boy develops reasons and rules for using their new found power. There is one sub-theme, however, that bears mentioning. Andrew is bullied, both by his peers and his father. He is Matt's cousin, and at one point asks Matt the question: "Do you like me?" Matt is unable to satisfactorily verify that he does like Andrew. Later on we find out that Matt does like, even loves his cousin, but Andrew never finds out. It leaves you with the thought that had Matt expressed his feelings more succinctly for his bullied cousin, the climax may have unfolded differently. The sight of Andrew reaching out for love and recognition made my heart melt, and illustrated to me that we all should watch for the signs of bullyism, and do what we can to express love and validation to bullied kids before it is too late. The climax is somewhat spectacular yet disturbing: a special effects extravaganza on the one hand (even though it is filmed through hand held cameras) no pun intended, and a sad commentary on the other. The three young actors are up to the challenges of their roles, and even look somewhat natural during the flying scenes, which is a testament to the trainers who taught the boys how to use the rigging. The ending is less than satisfying, unless there is going to be a sequel. Without a sequel, the ending is somewhat cold, figuratively and literally.
A Siren in the Dark (2009)
Watch it once for the sex, twice if you want to figure out the plot.
I must admit I didn't lose interest in watching this film. However, I did lose interest in the plot. If soft porn is a genre then this film is the poster child. There was plenty of male full frontal, and staged sex, but no erections or insertions, thus keeping it out of the realm of complete porn. The story had something to do with a semi-psychic detective finding missing men who may or may not have been seduced by the devil, or at least a demon with a ravenous appetite. Most stories are boy meets girl(boy), boy loses girl(boy), boy gets girl(boy) back. This story is boy meets boy, boy screws boy, boy gets screwed back. Then boy is just screwed. Somehow this becomes a police mystery which in itself is a mystery. I somehow found myself wishing I could be one of the actors in this flick. It has to be fun spending most of the work day naked, pretending to have sex with hot guys. So if you want to see some hot guys having simulated hot sex then this is the film for you. Just don't worry about following the plot. If you want to follow the plot, watch it again. You still might not figure it out, but watching the sex scenes again are their own reward.
Strapped (2010)
"Strapped" is worth the visit: beautifully constructed and emotionally touching.
The only flaw in the movie "Strapped" is its title, which elicits a gay porno more than the sweet emotional narrative it actually is. Yes, the story of a man allegorically making his way through life and finding himself in the end has been done before, but the framework of this story is beautifully constructed, and beautifully polished. It's unfortunate that this film is "strapped" with the classification of gay genre, and many straights will see it only as a disgusting homo erotic porn flick, when in actuality it is one of the better, if not the best, journey of life allegories I have ever seen. Unlike most straight guys, I am not bothered by gay sex. This allows me to transfer the emotions of the film into my own heterosexual domain, and allows me to see that love is love, and in a perfect world it wouldn't matter who you loved, nor would anyone mind who you loved. This movie touched me, and where some see ambiguity (an oft repeated criticism of the film), I see a precious vagueness which is the crux of human existence. "Strapped" is worth the visit, just like the apartment building, and life in general, is worth the visit. If the goal of the producers was for the audience to experience love, the mission was accomplished.