Lost River (2015)

This doesn't cover the plot or interpretation thereof, which are amply described by other reviews. It does represent the reaction upon first viewing by this non-expert, ordinary movie lover lacking an extraordinary vocabulary, view catalog, or memory. I was initially drawn to this film because Saoirse Ronan stars. Only later did I discover that Ryan Gosling wrote and directed, which sealed the deal. From the initial scenes, I anticipated a straightforward, marginally interesting, bland, depressing story. I was definitely wrong about the first three. The tone was in fact depressing, but hopeful. It slowly morphed into an ever more surprising, surreal plot reminiscent of David Lynch's efforts, especially "Blue Velvet", and those of Ingmar Bergman (I am not familiar with other directors mentioned in these reviews). Some moments were cringe evoking but were presented in a way that did not cause me to turn away. As usual with largely metaphoric films, I found it to be incomprehensible but fascinating. The acting was spot on. Cinematography and sound were fine and not distracting. It is a superb first effort behind the lens by Gosling. Who'd a thunk it would be anything like this? I look forward to his next work. I'm about to watch "Lost River" again, and probably more times afterward. Give it a try if you like unique, artsy-fartsy cult films.

Billy (Christina Hendricks) is the single mother of Bones (Iain De Caestecker) and Franky struggling in Detroit. Bones is salvaging from the abandoned buildings while avoiding local thug Bully (Matt Smith). Their home is going under with the mortgage. The banker Dave (Ben Mendelsohn) offers her a mystery job. Rat (Saoirse Ronan) is their melancholy neighbor living with her grandma. A crew is tearing down the abandoned homes and Billy is targeted. Billy takes the job which turns out to be a blood-splattering performance theater led by Cat (Eva Mendes). Bones finds a road running under the river.This has a magical fantasy sensibility surrounding this all-too-real crumbling America. It doesn't quite work. This is an indie that needs no name actors. The magical fantasy would play a lot better that way but this feels fake rather than surreal. It wants to be wildly inventive but it has no wonder. It has the potential to be darker but it takes too long to get there. That darkness needs to start sooner. This is slowly paced. It needs more drive in the narrative in the first half. The second half just gets weirder and weirder until I almost laughed at the dancing. I don't need it to make sense. I do need it to make me feel something other than dismissiveness.

I have never watched such an awful movie with no redeeming social value. Blood, guts, kids left alone, witnessing cruel acts. The most disturbing film I have ever seen. I see no hope for humanity when people enjoy this trash. And in addition I have to fill 5 more lines to be reviewed. How can I write about a movie that includes innocent children.

Everyone has acknowledged great cinematography, great acting, lighting, but what the heck was that movie about? I keep hearing about a macabre underworld; well how does that translate into this story line? We're certainly not going to compare "Dave" to "Frank" in Blue Velvet, are we? I watched the entire movie and with about twenty minutes left I realized it was going to end the way it began for me: having no idea what this movie was about. I was quite impressed with the lighting and the use of darkness and fire to add to the scene lighting. It just needed to move past that. Really one of the worst movies of all time I've ever seen because of the story.