Review of Upstream Color (2013) by Inka S — 20 May 2013

Upstream Color is a movie solely dedicated to the space in between.

Seriously. That breath you take after a long conversation, that sigh you let out when you think nobody's looking, that downward gaze you make when you have nothing to do, the movie is made up almost completely of that. And it's f-ing brilliant.

Upstream Color is brilliant in it's simplicity. If you're familiar with Shane Carruth, then chances are you are familiar with Primer. Upstream Color is, in a sense, polar opposite of Primer. It's visceral instead of cerebral. Yes it has unconventional narrative style, but everything is laid out although not spoken, and generally things are pretty straightforward if you pay attention.

In another sense, Upstream Color is exactly like Primer. It has the same amount of creativity, excitement, appreciation, and sense of wonder of its medium. It definitely has the same level of invention. Shane Carruth understands movies and sees a way of utilizing it like no one before him. Carruth understands that the best way of appreciating a medium is by keeping to try new things with it.

Upstream Color is, by all means, a masterpiece. It's mesmerizing not just to look at but to experience, and it's really a shame that there'll probably be nothing like this again (at least some time soon). Walking out of this film, you'll feel like every movie you'll ever see will fall short of this film.