• Home
  • Meetings
  • Events
  • Blog
  • E-Board
  • Around Boston
  • Join
Northeastern University's Film Enthusiasts Club
.

Elizabeth Johnson-Wilson on Time Out of Mind

10/14/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Oren Moverman’s Time Out of Mind is about George (Richard Gere), a homeless man floating about New York City. We entered his life at either a summit or valley in his life, depending on how you look at it, as he grapples with his homelessness and attempts to free himself from his current sad situation.

This movie is a real master class in storytelling through cinematography. While watching, the first things I really noticed were the shot types and camera positioning. Moverman and cinematographer Bobby Bukowski shot most of the film through hidden cameras, typically shooting from behind doors and through windows; therefore, most shots keep the viewer very distanced from George and the other characters, mimicking the literal distance and invisibility of most of society’s “interaction” with homeless people on a daily basis. This caused for there to be a very noticeable shift when they shot close-ups that brought us closer to George, usually in moments of vulnerability.  Each shot was static, either gradually pushing in or pulling out, giving a resounding sense of the overbearing time in which George is suspended, as he has nowhere to be and nothing to do, and must find ways to spend his days as he is constantly bombarded with his reality.

The sound design was also ridden with expertise. There was a lot of focus on diegetic sound; the static shots of the stillness of George in the city were contrasted with the sonic chaos of the city surroundings. And when the sound (rarely) ever became nondiegetic, it was very noticeable, almost strangely so.

I find George to be very interesting. I can't quite figure him out; it's hard to see his motivation. Which is not necessarily a bad thing- it's good to have deep, interesting protagonists. But he's a particularly murky protagonist. You know how when you watch movies, you know kind of what the character is or what that character does? You usually know the type of person or character you're watching? Well, you can't tell with this protagonist. Gere gives probably his most nuanced, gravitas-laden performance yet. The viewer very gradually receives information about our protagonist: an estranged and fed-up daughter, a dark and mistake-laden past. We’re distanced from him, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's seems hard to connect at all; George is a frustrating character, rarely having much energy, often not being able to find the right words, sometimes making confusing decisions. But somehow, we’re pulled in. Moreover, we connect because we pity him, although as the movie goes on, it can somewhat difficult to keep that pity. But actually, the movie doesn't hit you over the head with pity and sorrow and preaching and doesn't call you to empathize with the character as much as it does make you think about his decisions and the reality of the situation that he's in. It makes for an interesting and unique movie-watching experience. It's easy to see how this choice in characterization highlights homelessness and how it works in our culture: one is distanced from these people in every way. We don't stop to see them. But as for the distance on the character and story level, I can't quite understand. I can't figure this guy out. I'm not sure we’re supposed to.

Time Out of Mind has no gimmicks, no typical, overused cinematic draws. Just subtle artistry and consciousness. On the surface, the movie is about the way that we treat the homeless in our society. About how they’re trapped in this system, and how it's hard for them to get out, even though we all convince ourselves that we want them to. But below that surface, there's a deeper meaning: a meditation on the economics of the second chance and forgiveness and how that works in our lives. It's about how, even though we disappoint so many people again and again, and how we disappoint ourselves countless times, the heart can still love and still forgive, if we allow ourselves to get there. About how you have to come to terms with the lows of your past and finally accept them, before you can do the work to get to the highs of your future.

Rating: A+
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    AJ Martin
    Andy Robinson
    Anime
    Anthony Formicola
    Anu Gulati
    Arjun Agarwal
    Arzu Martinez
    Ben Garbow
    Brandon Isaacson
    Brian Hamilton
    Carter Sigl
    Dan Simeone
    Discussion
    Elizabeth Johnson Wilson
    Eliza Rosenberry
    Emily Fisler
    Erick Sanchez
    Eric Tatar
    Essays
    Festivals
    Gabrielle Ulubay
    Haley Emerson
    Here's Some Movies
    Ian Wolff
    IFF Boston
    IFFBoston 2015
    Interviews
    Isaac Feldberg
    Kunal Asarsa
    Library
    Lists
    Marguerite Darcy
    Marissa Marchese
    Mary Tobin
    Meghan Murphy
    Mike Muse
    Mitch Macro
    Neel Shah
    Netflix Instant Watch
    Parth Parekh
    Patrick Roos
    Profiles
    Reviews
    Short Films
    Television
    This Week In Movies
    Tyler Rosini

    Want to Write for Us?

    Contact NUFEC President Ian Wolff at nufecblog@gmail.com if you're interested in writing for this blog!

    Archives

    April 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.