Waves

I'm not really sure what to think of this movie. I really wanted to love it. On the one hand, it has some great acting and cinematography in it. It looks great, and it is pretty well told from start to finish.

On the other hand, I would say that this movie is way too long and unfocused. It basically consists of two different movies. The first one is more or less like watching a car crash in slow motion. It is a pretty nerve-racking and hard watch, knowing that something bad will eventually happen to one of the characters. It is very well acted, but also extremely depressing and goes on for a bit too long.

Then something happens, and the second phase of the movie begins. The tone of the movie shifts entirely and it moves focus to another character. The pacing becomes even slower, to the point that nothing really happens at all. There are some side plots that doesn't lead anywhere. I guess the main character in this latter half of the movie goes through some emotional journey? Which probably makes sense in the context of the movie, but for me it was frankly a bit boring. Again, all the actors are great, but I'm not really connecting with the movie on a story level at all.

Another weird thing to point out, I felt like there were way to many songs being played in the movie. At some parts of the movie it feels like it basically becomes a playlist, shuffling cool tracks non-stop. Some scenes have characters singing along to the songs being played, digging or dancing, sometimes disrupting the story completely. Towards the end this becomes unbearably cheesy and weird. I'm not sure if the director, editors or other people who worked on the movie just wanted an excuse to play some trendy music?

To summarize, I think this movie was okay. It looks good, the acting is great and it has some powerful scenes in it, but other than that...

This treasure of a film explores the emotions, circumstance and consequence after a moment of chaos, that moment when in an instant the world begins to crumble and the lives and directions of so many are instantly and irredeemably altered. An original story, beautifully shot, elegantly performed and imaginatively directed. Left me asking the question: are any of us as bad as our worst fifteen minutes?

There's some exquisite lighting effects in "Waves," from a crackling fire to police light bars and rainbows, which is complimented by occasionally kinetic montage and hand-held camera movement. Quite a few shots tracking behind figures' heads in this one. And all of the bobbing of the frame coalesces with the rhythm of the soundtrack. The narrative is something of a rigmarole, though. Following the oscillations of a suburban African-American family in crisis, from teenage son wrestler abusing painkillers for his injured shoulder while fighting with his girlfriend over pregnancy, to the daughter dating one of her brother's teammates, I guess, while the father and mother struggle with their relationship and business. The melodramatic climax actually occurs in the middle of the picture, and it's intense. Even the aspect ratio closes in from the usual rectangle to more of a square tending to frame the characters' faces.

Yet, tracking the immature emotional waves of teenagers for over two hours, in what is essentially two pictures in one with two separate protagonists, is exhausting. Nary any intellectual engagement is to be had. The score is all over the place and generally prominent. Maybe you'll like the music and maybe you won't, or perhaps you'll be like me and like some it and not the rest. The problem, however, is that the picture relies too heavily upon it. Teens, their music and feelings. Lots of scenes merely of figures riding around in cars. Drama frequently trying to be wrought from texting and social media. When the tortuous theatrics are, at last, wrapped up, it comes as a relief.

Upon finally completing this ordeal, I was literally depressed. I have so much to say about Waves, but can't seem to find the words. So, I'll just say it was spectacularly acted, written, and directed. Shults was clearly inspired by the style of Malick, whom he's worked with on a number of occasions, but unlike Malick, he knows how to make his art entertaining. The only reason I gave this film a chance was that it had Lucas Hedges in it and he's yet to be in a bad picture, so I figured what the heck. Boy am I glad I gave it a shot, great film, better than I could've hoped for...highly recommended.

There's lots good here - the production value, the cast, the music. We meet a young man who seems at the top of his game, leading a life most teenagers would aspire to. Then there is an "incident" which changed everything. I like how we just jumped right into his life and frankly were happy to ride along with him on his journey. It made for comfortable, easy, entertaining watching - I have to say I was really enjoying it.

And then everything changes. I understand fully the director is trying to show how the "incident" changes everything, not just for the 2 people directly involved in the incident, but everyone around them too (hence "Waves"). My problem with it is that we effectively have 2 completely different films, each an hour long - different style, different genres, practically a different cast. It was just too much of a change for me - I came to watch an edgy, atmospheric high-school drama/adventure and I got that for the first hour. But then I had to watch an hour of a slow, depressing romantic drama which I found frankly boring. And I think the opposite would apply - if you came for the moody romantic drama, I think you'd have been disappointed by the first half. So for me, despite an excellent first half, it was overall a disappointing experience.