In reply to Blue Straggler:
> If Oppenheimer is "ponderous, dull, and uncinematic" why did you award it three stars? Do you mark these things out of twenty?
You’ve lost me t here. I mark these things out of 5 stars (1 meaning very poor and 5 meaning very good.) 3 isn’t very good, it’s middling. Oppeneimer had its merits (a very interesting character, well portrayed), but the film was in my opinion far too long, and only really picked up in the second half. As I say, I didn’t find it very cinematic, in the way that, say, Barbie, was. [Big subject this - don’t ask me to expand on it now because I’m working all hours polishing my latest book for american agent to see next week … which is why I’m writing this at 2.15 in the morning.] Society of the Snow was for me a straight 5 stars. Quite exceptional, and quite exceptionally moving. Everyone in the cinema was fighting back the tears at the end. There was a lot of snuffling. A few people were actually crying. (It’s a mixture of sorrow about those who have died, and overwhelming joy about those who have survived.)
The film craft is absolutely stunning throughout; the sense of reality total. Plus, as I said before, an exceptional music score. But also a very good sound track when there’s no music … much use of the wind etc. Also a very good script which builds up the characters exceptionally well. Very much about the characters, and the cannibalism is dealt with very sparingly, at a distance, (I nearly said ’tastefully’! ) and not dwelt on more any more than is necessary.
The plane crash itself is an exceptional sequence, shockingly powerful, brilliantly edited.
