A shockingly daring
and haunting masterpiece.
Jonathan Glazer is one of
the current masters
of British cinema.
In my continuing odyssey into the excellent films of 2014, I come across one of the most polarizing films of the entire year. Jonathan Glazer's intense and highly Kubrickian science fiction film, Under the Skin. So which end of the divided opinions do I fall on? Well by reading the title you'll discover that I adored it.
The aspect of the film which attracted so much attention upon it's release is of course the star, Scarlet Johanson. Much hype was placed upon her odd departure into arthouse cinema, and around her full-frontal nudity within the film itself (because we are apparently a society of pre-pubescent boys huddled around an old issue of Playboy). Due to the nature of the film, it is fair to say that much of it's impact revolves around her performance and her ability to get across her character's subtle and introspective development. Despite the enormity of the task before her, Johanson does brilliantly, providing one of the more memorable performances in a year filled with excellent performances. The use of her sexuality, the subtle expressions of her eyes and posture and the spot-on sense of otherness within the character is all masterfully handled. It is films such as this and Lost in Translation that convince me that Johanson is an immense talent, despite appearing in crap such as Lucy. The other performances in the film are mostly delivered by amateur actors, and as such feature the typical qualities of well directed amateurs, naturalistic delivery, relatable and identifiable within their environment, and so on. It adds to the realism of the film and it was a stroke of genius to use so much hidden camera footage to capture authentic reactions.
Despite the hype surrounding Johansoon, it is visuals that truly dominate this film. These visuals in particular are some of the most haunting I have ever seen and I am sure they will stand alongside even the films of Kubrick as masterful examples of cerebral-visual storytelling. I am haunted by this film, in fact it most reminds me of Brad Anderson's film The Machinist. A similar cold and clinically precise type of aesthetic, a similar uncomfortable tone, paired with a similarly ambient soundtrack. Under the Sin takes all these elements to a new, possibly never before reached, extreme and does things Brad Anderson could only have dreamed of. In a number of ways, it truly does feel like the kind of film Kubrick would have made if he was just making his mark on the independent scene today. Under the Skin is one of the most visually powerful films I have ever seen, and is a triumph for digital cinematography on the whole.
The plot of Under the Skin is on the surface very simple. An alien begins luring men into a process which strips them of their essence in an attempt to create a number member of 'her' species. She eventually develops a hint of sympathy for one of the victims and attempts to connect with humanity. Eventually 'she' tragically fails to make this connection and the film ends on a somber note. The delivery of the classic and pathotic story is what makes it special however. There is very little dialogue, except for two unrelated exchanges in the film, and so it is all told largely visually. This allows great clarity and purity within it's storytelling, along with the potential for subtlety and ambiguity within it's symbolism and imagery. Overall I feel that the film delivered it's ideas wonderfully, and I eagerly await a second viewing to pick up on some of the smaller details throughout.
In conclusion, watch this film. Decide for yourself whether you love it or hate it, but ensure you start off with the right mindset. This is not sci-fi/horror porn, despite what the internet believes.
By Jack D. Phillips
A Zoom Film Review
The aspect of the film which attracted so much attention upon it's release is of course the star, Scarlet Johanson. Much hype was placed upon her odd departure into arthouse cinema, and around her full-frontal nudity within the film itself (because we are apparently a society of pre-pubescent boys huddled around an old issue of Playboy). Due to the nature of the film, it is fair to say that much of it's impact revolves around her performance and her ability to get across her character's subtle and introspective development. Despite the enormity of the task before her, Johanson does brilliantly, providing one of the more memorable performances in a year filled with excellent performances. The use of her sexuality, the subtle expressions of her eyes and posture and the spot-on sense of otherness within the character is all masterfully handled. It is films such as this and Lost in Translation that convince me that Johanson is an immense talent, despite appearing in crap such as Lucy. The other performances in the film are mostly delivered by amateur actors, and as such feature the typical qualities of well directed amateurs, naturalistic delivery, relatable and identifiable within their environment, and so on. It adds to the realism of the film and it was a stroke of genius to use so much hidden camera footage to capture authentic reactions.
Despite the hype surrounding Johansoon, it is visuals that truly dominate this film. These visuals in particular are some of the most haunting I have ever seen and I am sure they will stand alongside even the films of Kubrick as masterful examples of cerebral-visual storytelling. I am haunted by this film, in fact it most reminds me of Brad Anderson's film The Machinist. A similar cold and clinically precise type of aesthetic, a similar uncomfortable tone, paired with a similarly ambient soundtrack. Under the Sin takes all these elements to a new, possibly never before reached, extreme and does things Brad Anderson could only have dreamed of. In a number of ways, it truly does feel like the kind of film Kubrick would have made if he was just making his mark on the independent scene today. Under the Skin is one of the most visually powerful films I have ever seen, and is a triumph for digital cinematography on the whole.
The plot of Under the Skin is on the surface very simple. An alien begins luring men into a process which strips them of their essence in an attempt to create a number member of 'her' species. She eventually develops a hint of sympathy for one of the victims and attempts to connect with humanity. Eventually 'she' tragically fails to make this connection and the film ends on a somber note. The delivery of the classic and pathotic story is what makes it special however. There is very little dialogue, except for two unrelated exchanges in the film, and so it is all told largely visually. This allows great clarity and purity within it's storytelling, along with the potential for subtlety and ambiguity within it's symbolism and imagery. Overall I feel that the film delivered it's ideas wonderfully, and I eagerly await a second viewing to pick up on some of the smaller details throughout.
In conclusion, watch this film. Decide for yourself whether you love it or hate it, but ensure you start off with the right mindset. This is not sci-fi/horror porn, despite what the internet believes.
By Jack D. Phillips
A Zoom Film Review
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