Fish Tank (2009)

Since it's a slow period for new releases (between Oscar season & summer blockbusters), I thought I'd share my thoughts on a movie from a few years ago, that is new to me. Fish Tank, written and directed by Andrea Arnold, was released in 2009 in the UK and in limited theaters in the US in early 2010. The film follows 15 year old Mia and her life with her mom and younger sister on an Essex estate following her expulsion from school. Her mother seems to view Mia as a lost cause, but as the film unfolds, we see that Mia's tough exterior is masking a deep well of emotional pain and trauma. She's a young girl searching desperately for someone to care about her. She appears to find that person in her mother's new boyfriend Connor, masterfully played by Michael Fassbender (before he was on the world's radar), but even he eventually betrays her trust (in 2 shocking ways, one I saw coming and another more surprising). If this movie didn't have a hopeful ending, it might be one of the most depressing pieces of cinema ever made, but thankfully it does.
The striking realism of this film makes it difficult to watch at times, but it's also part of why I think this film is so important. It's a fictional snapshot that reveals so many harsh truths. It's a study in gray areas. It's beautiful, but it hurts. I wish there were more films like this one being made.
Here's the link to the IMDb page, in case you're interested: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1232776/

In Honor of a Legend

No review today, just a link to the best article I've read in honor of Roger Ebert, movie criticism, & movies in general.
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2013/04/04/roger-ebert-redefined-movie-criticism/

Roger Ebert (06/18/1942-04/04/2013)