The Zone of Interest (2023)
★★★★½
This review may contain spoilers.
this is a very dense film, there is a lot going on here, defiantly will need to watch this one against o get a fuller and better picture of just what is going on. from the wide long shots to the dream black and white sequences to the cut to colors to the substiles in the sound design it is all excellent.
the sound design is phenomenal probably one of the best parts of the film, at one point in the mix I could hear things happening in the distant background to the far right, then things happening in a closer background in the left then the characters talking and then in front of me there were cars and stuff passing by, that is absolutely stunning and truly great sound design / sound mixing so props to that team. one final note I really like how the film utilizes silences, the way in which it chooses to use them is very well done and kind of breaking the typical.
the blocking in each scene, one impressive thing about the film is the blocking of each scene which must have taken great coordination, there is a lot going on visually in the film in the background, in the foreground, they are very bust frames, people walking across frame, people standing in backgrounds doing an action that one might not catch on the first viewing, the blocking in the film is really truly impressive. the cinematography is pretty stunning, the way that we get these long and wide shots that allow us to take in the scenery, to feel caught off guard by these characters is kind of jaw dropping. there are many shots that are just really greatly framed, there are shots that call back to each other in a nice way or expand on the previous shot in a particularly well deserved way.
the score was very pleasant, it's not super at the forefront but it was absolutely spectacular, should have been nominated for best original score.
the acting, the subtle switch in tones and pitches that Christian Friedel is doing here are great, maybe that's me reading too much into it but there feels like a real switch in tones based on who he is talking to and how he must present himself, while there is very little emotion on display. while Sandra Hüller is doing a bit of the opposite here showing a range of emotions that feels like she isn't able to control, it's kind of really good acting, I like how methodical and precise all the actors are in everything that they do, there is a level of precision to everything the characters do that is clearly intentional and obsessive that tells a lot about these characters.
absolutely haunting experience, so much more to see on a second watch and I can't wait.
notes below
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- I like the simplistic opening credits and the title card looks really good.
- I like how opening track bounces back and forth, the ominous tone that is displays is pretty good, the whispering in the background adds to elevate that ominous and mysterious feeling.
- I also love how long we sat in black here, to really take time and feel this music as it builds.
- I like the sound design on these opening shot, the mix is very nice.
- I like how these shots are blocked, they feel very busy and a bit empty at the same time. and framed, very wide, open lots of space to let the characters breath, a lot of care was taken, the stairs shot in particular was pretty amazing.
- I like the color grading on the film, all the shots including the ones outside have this desaturation to it, and so do the wardrobes, all the uniforms / dresses and stuff have a desaturation to them.
- I like the editing so far, the pace of it is very slow but I haven't really felt the pace of it yet.
- several times I have noted how uneasy I feel.
- I like how seamlessly the scenes blend into each other, very good screen direction in the edit.
- I really like the sound design in these shots where he is turning off the lights, that low rumble.
- I liked that tracking shot on the canoe as it moved forward.
- I really am liking how long we are lingering on shots, allowing us to breath, take in the scenery in these. very long and wide shots,
- I really like how busy the audio is, like hearing a far distant baby cry while hearing a car driving by in the front of you with the man speaking in the middle is just very impressive, like the fact that there i always something going on the background and in the foreground around our character talking is very nice.
- the actress that is playing the grandmother is really good.
- in these outside scenes there is a very slight and very subtle echo that comes from being in an area that is well kept and tidy that is very nice.
- fade to red -- THAT BUZZING OVER THE RED!! OH MY GOD, HOW IT CUT OFF MID BUZZ WOW that was freaking great.
- I really like this conversation, a real stand out to see Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller stand out, the way they conversate is kind of like music, the dialogue is really solid.
- I know this is serious but what big pants he is wearing, I mean massive pants bulky pants too.
- I like that the film doesn't treat us like we are dumb, there is a lot going on in the subtext for the film infect most of the film can be understood from that.
- oo I really liked that smoke from the train very visually interesting.
- damn the way this piano playing scene is presented is very fantastic -- but I really like how long it took for the words yet to come to fade out that was great.
- this birds eye shot from above is really great the subtle blur on it is very nice as well.
- I really liked these locations, the white and black hallway was visually stunning, I like how he was physically going lower and going further into darkness at the end.
- this haunting flash forward.. wow.. jaw dropping.
- the ending track sounds almost like screams.
