Review of Upstream Color (2013) by Cj S — 01 Jun 2013

Wow, uh... really? I found this movie boring. I guess I 'get' it, since I read Carruth's extensive explanation given via Q&A, always the best friend of a well-crafted film - did he give a Q&A after every screening critics attended? it seems like cheating if you get to explain it to the reviewers afterwards. I still feel like something is missing.

The movie kicks off with an extended scene of psychological torture in place of character development. The main character of this section is never seen again. Instead we see the aftermath, in which various things proceed to happen, none of them particularly compelling. Two bland ciphers find each other and sort of halfway reveal their sordid pasts to one another, brought together by mysterious forces. Once we understand what's happened, it's too late. I've stopped caring.

The movie has been sold heavily on its soundtrack and cinematography. Although both are arranged with meticulous care, I found the visual style to be surprisingly drab, and the music intrusive and grating. The music blares over muffled dialogue, leaving the viewer to try and figure out whether or not they should have understood the line. It's a cheap trick to add a sense of mystery. Bring subtitles.

The movie cribs heavily from David Lynch's playbook, with a puzzle-box plot that doesn't quite hang together and heavy use of what seem to be visual and auditory metaphors. It's meant to keep you thinking, but in the absence of a frame story or characterization it left me cold. I was initially relieved to see that it in the year of our lord 2013 this movie was only an hour and a half long, but every minute was aggravating. I'd recommend rewatching Mulholland Drive instead.