Review of Upstream Color (2013) by Michael M — 17 Jul 2013

Upstream Color is unquestionably a painstakingly crafted film. It's quick, stylish, and oddly compelling. And then it ends. That's where the problems begin for me. Unlike other mindbenders (e.g., Mulholland Drive, Fight Club, Jacob's Ladder), Upstream Color gets lost in its intentional haze of free association storytelling until it ultimately doesn't resonate--like a good allegory should.

It's not that Shane Carruth doesn't try his hardest. It's just that in his pursuit of this style, there's too much missing (or outright conflicting) to ever come close to a whole picture. Minor characters seem to float on the periphery without much significance until they just fade away unnoticed. The two main characters lack much personalization; this is partly due to an absence of proper introductions (time spent instead with a peripheral side character who doesn't resurface). But it's also because their manic and guarded behavior leaves us with little to grab onto. The film hinges on the audience placing its trust in these protagonists, but it doesn't offer anything to earn this trust. When they come in late to the story acting bizarre right off the bat, we have nothing to ground us in their corner.

Upstream Color could have been a great film. Its mistakes in execution, though, cripple what potential is there. Hopefully next time Carruth can figure out the journey before he gets to its destination.