Post by Dramatic Look Gopher on Mar 8, 2021 18:49:18 GMT
I posted this in Film General, but I thought I'd bring it over here as well:
Just finished watching the Criterion blu-ray of The Parallax View. Amazing transfer, great picture quality. But of course I would expect nothing less from Criterion.
Imagine a world that has this secret organization specializing in assassination, and will also stop at absolutely nothing in covering up what they believe are loose ends. This includes murdering innocent people they suspect might know something, making the deaths look like accidents. It's a cold-hearted, evil, dehumanizing concept that is frightening and remarkably played out here. Director Alan J. Pakula beautifully captures this sense dread, and the result is dark, moody, and mysterious. The dark anamorphic cinematography by Gordon blends in well with this feeling, and also helps give plenty of space for those scenes shot at great distances; this really sets the tone of paranoia and alienation.
Pakula presents this vision of American society in which average everyday people are unaware of what they perceive to be as normalcy is actually something else entirely. The idea is that underneath the facade of cheery flag-waving patriotism and rooting for idealistic political candidates hoping to bring major change, there lurks unknown dark forces who have the power to keep things status quo.
Not everything is spelled out clearly in The Parallex View, as there is some ambiguity. But the idea is to really make you think and draw your own conclusions on certain elements that are open to interpretation.
Just finished watching the Criterion blu-ray of The Parallax View. Amazing transfer, great picture quality. But of course I would expect nothing less from Criterion.
Imagine a world that has this secret organization specializing in assassination, and will also stop at absolutely nothing in covering up what they believe are loose ends. This includes murdering innocent people they suspect might know something, making the deaths look like accidents. It's a cold-hearted, evil, dehumanizing concept that is frightening and remarkably played out here. Director Alan J. Pakula beautifully captures this sense dread, and the result is dark, moody, and mysterious. The dark anamorphic cinematography by Gordon blends in well with this feeling, and also helps give plenty of space for those scenes shot at great distances; this really sets the tone of paranoia and alienation.
Pakula presents this vision of American society in which average everyday people are unaware of what they perceive to be as normalcy is actually something else entirely. The idea is that underneath the facade of cheery flag-waving patriotism and rooting for idealistic political candidates hoping to bring major change, there lurks unknown dark forces who have the power to keep things status quo.
Not everything is spelled out clearly in The Parallex View, as there is some ambiguity. But the idea is to really make you think and draw your own conclusions on certain elements that are open to interpretation.