This is a very strange and mysterious film, and I say the less you know about it going in, the better.
A Ghost Story
Directed by David Lowery – 2017
Reviewed by Mark Tapio Kines
But I will divulge this much:
A Ghost Story concerns a young couple (Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara) who hear a bump in the night while asleep in their quiet little house. Something… happens, and we are soon introduced to a ghost character. The movie’s conceit is that this ghost looks just like the old fashioned Charlie Brown Halloween costume: a big white sheet and two black holes for eyes. It’s neither quirky nor funny. In fact it is ethereal and profoundly sad.
This is
a truly
polarizing
film
Truth is, even if you think you know where the movie is going after its first half hour, you will be wrong, so hold tight: A Ghost Story has quite a lot on its mind. Lowery’s penchant for very, very long takes – often holding his camera static on a scene for a full minute or two before anything happens – will turn some viewers off. Others it will hypnotize. This is a truly polarizing film. You’ll either fall in love with it, or you’ll find it incomprehensible and boring.
Me, I liked it – though it’s probably not fair to review it just hours after I’ve seen it. This is a film that I need to digest a little, and maybe even see again, before I know how I truly feel about it. I will say that it’s filled with magical moments and deep insights.
Say what you will about the cast and director: composer Daniel Hart is the MVP. His fantastic score elevates the proceedings so much. Even if you don’t dig the film, you can’t deny the power of his work.
> Playing at ArcLight Pasadena.
Mark Tapio Kines is a film director, writer, producer and owner of Cassava Films. You can reach Mark here.
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