Shane wrote, directed, produced, edited, made music for and starred in this one. Something tells me he should have had someone else there too to give him a second opinion.
This shows what is actually possible with movies these days. The compositions, cinematography, music and overall ambience of Upstream Color leave one speechless for 96 minutes, and if you allow it, you get sucked up by a plot you presumably won't understand, yet are keen to decipher.
It's unbelievable Shane Carruth basically created this all by himself - directing, writing, producing, editing, composing the soundtrack (!) AND being the main actor; I can't think of any recent example for such craftmanship. No wonder it took him nearly a decade after the comparably complex and fascinating Primer to return.
Who knows what's coming up next from him - I'm frightened and eager at the same time.
After watching both Primer and Upstream Color, I could probably follow him like he was the Messiah of the filmindustry.
I don't know if I understood what was going on, but that doesn't matter. This movie is so beautiful, confusing, terrifying, touching, and probably a lot more I can't put to words. What Shane Carruth manage to do with such a low budget is beyond belief.
Maybe it is just me, that Carruth, through what he does speaks to me, but this movie is the best movie I have ever seen. A perfect 10/10.
As mentioned, I'm not sure if I understand anything at all. But I honestly don't think this was made for people to understand. I think this was made to be pleasing to the eye, ears, heart and soul (we're getting deep here), and to let people make up their own minds about this. And that is magical.
Quite liked it. Some parts were fairly lame (the swimming pool book scene), but other than that very nice. I liked the cinematography, nice colors and macro shots. None of it made much sense, but I'm not sure that was the point of the film. It seems to be one of those "experience" films, where experiencing it is more important than understanding it.
While I enjoy films that you perhaps have to watch twice to fully comprehend, I think this went a bit too far. After reading a breakdown and explanation of the film I refuse to believe that anyone could understand the plot without properly pulling it apart and studying it; just watching it several times and thinking about it isn't really enough. But maybe that's not really a bad thing.
At the same time I still enjoyed watching it, despite not totally understanding what was going on.
Interesting low budget movie, definitely a new way to look at a camera. Really weird though and difficult to follow but for sure more approachable than Primer. Recommended
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Comments 1 - 15 of 30
idjutt
Shane wrote, directed, produced, edited, made music for and starred in this one. Something tells me he should have had someone else there too to give him a second opinion.Torgo
This shows what is actually possible with movies these days. The compositions, cinematography, music and overall ambience of Upstream Color leave one speechless for 96 minutes, and if you allow it, you get sucked up by a plot you presumably won't understand, yet are keen to decipher.It's unbelievable Shane Carruth basically created this all by himself - directing, writing, producing, editing, composing the soundtrack (!) AND being the main actor; I can't think of any recent example for such craftmanship. No wonder it took him nearly a decade after the comparably complex and fascinating Primer to return.
Who knows what's coming up next from him - I'm frightened and eager at the same time.
Rigters
WTF did i just watch?I don't know why but I love this type of movies. It's so hard to understand them but in the end you feel so amazed about it.
Zolex
After watching both Primer and Upstream Color, I could probably follow him like he was the Messiah of the filmindustry.I don't know if I understood what was going on, but that doesn't matter. This movie is so beautiful, confusing, terrifying, touching, and probably a lot more I can't put to words. What Shane Carruth manage to do with such a low budget is beyond belief.
Maybe it is just me, that Carruth, through what he does speaks to me, but this movie is the best movie I have ever seen. A perfect 10/10.
As mentioned, I'm not sure if I understand anything at all. But I honestly don't think this was made for people to understand. I think this was made to be pleasing to the eye, ears, heart and soul (we're getting deep here), and to let people make up their own minds about this. And that is magical.
invisiblecities
that pig was freaking adorableneonlampaa
I didn't understand it at all and even when I accepted that I never would I still couldn't really enjoy it. Loved Primer though.Sable
I didn't get it or like it.Nibbler
A beautifully poignant, enigmatic experience. Probably impossible to decipher fully, and probably not meant to be, either.jbbeebe
Quite liked it. Some parts were fairly lame (the swimming pool book scene), but other than that very nice. I liked the cinematography, nice colors and macro shots. None of it made much sense, but I'm not sure that was the point of the film. It seems to be one of those "experience" films, where experiencing it is more important than understanding it.Tish418
While I enjoy films that you perhaps have to watch twice to fully comprehend, I think this went a bit too far. After reading a breakdown and explanation of the film I refuse to believe that anyone could understand the plot without properly pulling it apart and studying it; just watching it several times and thinking about it isn't really enough. But maybe that's not really a bad thing.At the same time I still enjoyed watching it, despite not totally understanding what was going on.
zkrat
Didn't like it ... maybe it was the 30+ cuts per minute.chryzsh
Comparing it to it's predecessor Primer which explores some pretty interesting ideas, this is an incoherent mess.Cuadie
At first, it was intriguing. Halfway through the flick, things just got weird. Really weird.I did love the music and camerawork, but the script itself didn't go anywhere I could follow.
lucafilm
Interesting low budget movie, definitely a new way to look at a camera. Really weird though and difficult to follow but for sure more approachable than Primer. RecommendedCthulhu1
Well, I've seen it... and I can't un-see it.I really need to avoid any future Shane Carruth nonsense.
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