Old Joy

I really enjoy Kelly Reichardt's slow and minimalist style. I found Old Joy to be quite meditative and I found myself reflecting on my own life, relating it to the characters. Kurt and Mark get out of the city and take a trip out of the forest and mountains, which resonates with me as I have taken a break from city life and have gone back to my hometown for a few weeks. Sure I've gone from somewhere very urban to somewhere less or even sub-urban, which is not at all like the picturesque Cascade mountain range or the Bagby Hot Springs. Nonetheless, I've gone from one place to another and like Kurt and Mark, I find myself reflecting on the future in this place. Kurt and Mark, played very convincingly and naturally by Will Oldham and Daniel London, are two old friends who juxtapose each other. Mark is about the start a family, while Kurt is living life seemingly like he always has, free and slightly aimless. I see people in my own life becoming like Mark, which isn't a bad thing. I might be a Mark one day, but right now I feel like a Kurt and that works for me. It's bittersweet that friends drift like Kurt and Mark do, but that's real and true. I love that when Mark is driving on his own, the radio is on and it's discussions of a future election. It shows he is constantly contemplating his future in a responsible and somewhat expected way. The minimal style and small budget inspire me to write something like this and maybe pick up a camera and shoot it myself. It goes to show how you don't need a lot to make a good point. I'm also inspired to just go camping. I can't not mention Yo La Tengo's score, which matches the film perfectly and comes in at the right moments. Also shoutout to Lucy the dog, she's a good dog.