Sentimental Value

Everyone's mad at Dad, huh? I've been thinking about this movie so much in the months after seeing it in August last year, shockingly early compared to most other people in the world. Joachim Trier's latest effort is one of the most pitch perfect films you'll see in a while. Not one blindspot in this for me. Trier is an astonishing director who makes some incredible choices here. Shots linger for just the right amount of time, you get hit with some breathtaking compositions and I really admire how much he gets in the face of the actors and really show their expressions. By far the most compelling aspect of this film for me is the leading quartet of actors in Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning. Every one of them is perfection in this film, and the choice to really focus on their faces allows for a level of acting that is gutwrenchingly real. This is one of those films that inspires me to act as much as it does inspire me to be a filmmaker. God, I miss the stage, I miss getting in front of a camera, I miss acting. Maybe I'll dip my toe back in that pond. Maybe I should leap right in! We'll see. I think Stellan Skarsgård's performance in this may be my favourite of the year as a whole. He's being campaigned in Supporting Actor right now, but honestly if he was in Lead Actor (which he has an argument for honestly) I would still be rooting for him to take it home. He is just such an incredible performer, heartbreakingly convincing in his subtleties and incredibly endearing in his more bombastic moments. Every micro expression of his is so powerful, and something about his face just allows you to question so much about what he's thinking in every scene. I really hope he takes that Oscar.