Review of Elephant (1993) by Michael A — 18 Aug 2009

Gus van sant, with ELEPHANT and LAST DAYS, took two very public events and reinterpreted them as fiction in a unique and thoughtful manner. while ELEPHANT was almost certainly more accessible, and far less ponderous, LAST DAYS rewards the viewer that is willing to hang in there and feel the film's nearly oppressive weight.

both pictures share many stylistic elements that accurately convey the confusing isolation of an alienated teenager (ELEPHANT) and the crippling depression of a tortured genius (LAST DAYS). slow, deliberate takes reminiscient of holding one's breath, jumbled timelines in which we visit and revisit different points in the narrative from multiple (sometimes singular) points of view, a creeping, churning pace that forces the audience to consider what's happening (or not happening) onscreen.

van sant succeeds not only in telling his characters' stories, but in inflicting their states of mind on his viewers. I submit this review not having seen the film recently - I watched LAST DAYS today and was reminded many times of ELEPHANT, and sort of ended up reviewing them as a pair.

that said, I was wholly impressed when I viewed ELEPHANT several months ago. i'd recommend it to anyone.