Review of Barracuda (2017) by Kman5473 — 12 Jan 2017

Everything worked in this film for what the director was going after, and the result is not only the best film of the year, but also one of the best films ever. It's an instant classic, and I want to add this to my collection ASAP.

If you'll notice, the major complaint that this film gets is just over the ending. And, specifically, that it's not how the audience wants it to end. Hear me out: those people are stupid and don't know how to watch a film.

The core point of this film, and this builds gradually and gracefully throughout, is that sacrifices must be made in order to accomplish your dream(s). This film captures exactly what LA is - a wasteland populated by transplant dreamers too full of regret to not be bitter, to not be made jaded and cynical from a city that will chew you up and spit you out faster than you can scream for help.

And its people; self-centered, and ambitious--constantly treading water just to keep their head above water in the hopes that they'll be alive long enough to find their own island of success. If anything, trying to find and maintain true love does, in fact, become the antagonist--just as it is in this film.

At the end of the day, the inevitable choice must be made over the questions: why did you move here? What do you really want? To boot, performances by all were incredible. The soundtrack is perhaps the best in a decade.

Though it is serious, and a harsh slap of reality to the face of any dreamer out there willing to pack it all up and move out to La La Land to go after their calling, it delivers 100%.