Review of Persona (1966) by Rory P — 20 Oct 2012

Pro's: It contains some truly stunning cinematography. It features one of the most erotic scenes I've seen in a film. It features two fine central performances. Certain elements provoked thought, for me.

Con's: The initial imagery (bar the two sparks coming into contact) are silly, especially with the shocking music. Oh my God! A large spider! a hand getting crucified! A boy with glasses! meh.

Some visual touches, which one presumes are employed for a shock value to convey the unconveyable (like the film burning in the projector) come across as flimsy cosmetic touches.

Dialogue/scenes often have a fluid but laboured quality to it, striving too much for significance. This results in dialogue being occasionally thought provoking, but not believable as words of human beings in the moment. This in turn steeps the film in an arch profundity that offers up some thoughtful ideas/observations but ultimately, even though showing a lot of thought and talent (and occasionally brilliance), negates a more authentic/real observation of the dynamics of the central relationship, which I think is what they wanted.

I suspect, unless members of the audience are trying realy really reallyyy hard, the manifestation of said thought provoking observations don't provide any personal implications for the watcher, ESPECIALLY for those who like to stroke their chin and masturbate at the same time. ahem.