Critique: The Claim is a very well made, visually haunting film. Micheal Winterbottom provides stunning direction, and Alwin Kuchler delivers beautiful cinematography. Also, providing an astonishing score, is composer Micheal Nyman (The Piano, Gattaca). These elements give the film wonderful consistency, and display vivid, poetic craftsmanship. The film also provides terrific acting. Wes Bentley is fantastic, acting with a comfortable, genuine feeling. Mila Jovovich, Peter Mullan, Sarah Polley, Nastassja Kinski, as well as the supporting cast portray their characters with feeling and often passion. The film gives them some solid dialogue, although it is far from brilliant. The script and story are fine, but not stunning. Although the story is not great, it makes no huge errors. The screenwriter, Frank Cottrell Boyce made a good move in balancing out Peter Mullan's grim and depressing story with Wes Bentley's hopeful story. Bentley is the character we can root for.
The Claim soars with its score, and artistic aspects. Every move is technically polished, and every stride confident and balanced. The film is ambitious, at least technically, and it is sucessful in the majority its difficult goals. It is also emotionally satisfying, and compelling. Almost all aspects here are done with maturity and fine craftmanship. It is startling, fascinating, stimulating, and suffocating in mood and art.
The Claim is a well filmed, acted, and executed picture. Its cinematography, direction and score are accomplished on a very high level. Even when its stortelling is limited here and there, the terrific artistic and technical portions make up for it - and more. I highly recommend this artful, even graceful motion picture.
review by supernothingman |
