Review of Upstream Color (2013) by Corey F — 27 May 2013

I have no use for a movie that is purposefully obscure, has too-long scenes that are meant to be, but are to no great degree, pregnant with import, filled with music that is supposed to be haunting but is uninspired and actually becomes annoying.

I got the premise fairly early on but it remained so undefined that I soon realized it is meant to be so, and this simple and unoriginal premise, instead of doing what the makers were likely hoping-to enthrall or compel, just irritated.

It could have been done better, but the creators made it all "artistic" and nebulous and... it's just flat out boring. It seems nothing more than a vehicle for the admittedly first rate camera work and the beautiful face of Seimetz.

But drawn out scenes with almost nothing behind them, however well shot, become boring quickly, and a beautiful face alone cannot a great movie make. To me it's clear they knew the story was so thin that they had to stretch it out, so they showed the pretty face ad nauseam, and thought that leaving things vague and having overlong scenes with ultra serious expressions and acting would make the movie compelling.

Sorry. This movie is a prime example of indie "art" that is mostly style and very little substance. It takes itself way too seriously, and ends with an old-as-the-hills advertising tactic-overt emotionalism of the puppies and babies sort.