The Dig is a pseudo historical drama about the discovery of the Sutton Hoo hoard. I say pseudo because this is a tale where history is liberally sprinkled with fiction. Personally I don't mind this approach, it makes the film more interesting, more dramatic, and it makes some political points about sexuality, war and fear. The Guardian didn't especially like the insertion of some love interest in the plot but I think it adds something. Specifically, the call-up induced terror, the placing of your life into a much less controlable sphere. And the gay man needing to be married, in that time. The performances by Carey Mulligan and Ralph Fiennes are especially good. If you want to find out more about Sutton Hoo, in the news recently, take a look at the superb NT website https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo Next time I'm that way I'll make a point of visiting.
Worth your time in a quiet, understated kind of a way.
I'm really not sure about Da 5 Bloods. Generally I like Spike Lee's films but this over-long saga is quite a mess. I liked it initially, indeed until about halfway through I was well engaged. The film raises all sorts of interesting questions and facts. Questions of race, greed and what it does, mental health, hate and family relationships. I didn't know that black American soldiers were used to take the highest risks during the Vietnam war, in a piece of military institutional racism. But, (spoiler alert) then the land mine incident occurs and it becomes a hideous shoot-up. (I don't really like too much to "happen" in films, not a fan of the "action" genre). The shoot up stuff, adds nothing, other than violence. Perhaps Lee is making a point about humanity not learning from the mistakes of the past and that male humans are intrinsically violent, I don't know. And then it has a flowery feel-good ending, corny and equally pointless. Maybe I didn't understand it but I won't be revisiting.
Both these films are made by and available on Netflix.
No comments:
Post a Comment