Re: The Lighthouse reviews
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2019 5:32 am
This film is an art prank. You won’t see a movie more consumed with evoking reference than The Lighthouse in some time.
For almost two hours, we’re treated to knowingly pretentious metaphor imagery, absurdly over-written dialogue, and a goofily committed Willem DaFoe as the Gorton’s Fisherman. It maybe conceived as a descent into madness but it never ballasts us in anything resembling sanity. Even its most earthbound moments are winking. This film goes nowhere and cannot be taken seriously, but at least it’s up-front about it’s intentions. From the first moment DaFoe explodes at Pattinson about how it’s “bad luck to harass a gull” (or something) it’s clear that Eggers views this film as an exercise in absurd behavior. At a certain point, I could have left the theater at any point but I was always at least somewhat entertained.
For almost two hours, we’re treated to knowingly pretentious metaphor imagery, absurdly over-written dialogue, and a goofily committed Willem DaFoe as the Gorton’s Fisherman. It maybe conceived as a descent into madness but it never ballasts us in anything resembling sanity. Even its most earthbound moments are winking. This film goes nowhere and cannot be taken seriously, but at least it’s up-front about it’s intentions. From the first moment DaFoe explodes at Pattinson about how it’s “bad luck to harass a gull” (or something) it’s clear that Eggers views this film as an exercise in absurd behavior. At a certain point, I could have left the theater at any point but I was always at least somewhat entertained.