- Sensibility: The outrageous, gritty nature of the story tends towards a chaotic and intentionally confusing energy that makes some moments unreasonable, but in a good way.
- Cinematography: Incredibly haunting, unforgettable visuals throughout. The lighting and color-grading capture the downward spiral of the different characters and the grimy nature of their lives excellently. The editing and sound design brilliantly reflect the paranoia Sara Goldfarb. Makeup and hairstyling
give Marion and Harry unforgettable looks and demonstrate the horrors and depravity they are experiencing. The editing and shot-making describing the activity and effects of the drug-taking are probably some of the best
ever made.
- Energy: High-octane, non-stop action and energy throughout. Only let-down is an ending with a bit of a confused, unfocused, and clunky energy.
- Narrative: Dark story with excellent insight into addiction of all kinds. It thoroughly explores the internal and external challenges addicts face. The metaphorical/non-literal imagery throughout
the film gives it an added punch that strengthen the characters and the emotional content. The mother's storyline is particularly strong and impactful. Only critique is that the ending feels a bit unfinished.
- T-Points: The film received five bonus points: one for a split shot talking about the most beautiful woman, a mother's speech about what she's got and the son's reaction after leaving a mother's house,
one for the fish-eye shot of Sara Goldfarb in the doctor's office and her face shrinking in the hopsital at the end, one for the TV delusion sequence, and one for the hair and makeup work across all the characters.
Unforgettable combination of narrative and imagery. Gritty, dark, and haunting in just the right way.
Number of Watches: 2
