| | Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:19 pm | | | | Comments: 0 Views: 157 |
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Cohesion : 7
Composition : 9
Contrast : 3
Dynamics : 5
Humor : 1
Intelligence : 7
Production : 3
Quality : 8
Cohesion : 7
"Primer" is an independent time travel spectacular. On no budget and limited experience this film has to survive on story alone with unknown actors and zero special effects. Production and story flow together extremely well here. There's only a small barrier this film puts up between the audience and the screen; the complicated story line loops around causality and trust in a manor that leaves it bewildering at times.
Composition : 9
"Primer" is an extremely thoughtful screen play that takes into account the mental acrobats caused by limited resources that would dominate filming and production. Unable to depend on post production Shane Carruth (author, director, actor, producer) had no choice but to dive deeply into a world of accidental conspiracies and flush out the psychological impact of living in a world where there are too many unknowns. Most importantly this film is willing to let lines of thought go unexplained but doesn't do it by being sloppy. At the end of this film you will be left asking questions.
Contrast : 3
Most of this film is extremely dark and depends on the light available at the scene of the shoot. This lends to the overall feel of the film, but you won't be looking at Hollywood quality cinematography.
Dynamics : 5
There are two points in "Primer" where the movie almost spontaneously changes pace. It's almost as though gravity suddenly shifts and throws the film in a whole different direction. Both times this happens the story becomes harder to follow. However, visually the film stays the same all the way through, and overall the tone of the film doesn't change that much.
Humor : 1
I didn't laugh once in this movie. I was too busy trying to figure out what was going on.
Intelligence : 7
The Indie film market lets one of these Sudo Intellectual films go every once in a while. "Pi" is similar in some ways with its low budget techno-wizardry meets god is numbers modern spirituality. I think "Primer" succeeds in comparison because its famous premise, time travel, is presented creatively without relying on something as vapid as pop spirituality. "Primer" also manages to remain fun by keeping you interested in what's actually happening. When characters talk techno jargon it feels more like a political scene is taking place; the strengths and weaknesses of kids trying to start a business in a garage are being shown.
Production : 3
Low production quality is closely tied to this film. Had the production been any better it would not have been as good.
Quality : 8
This is an independent science fiction film worth seeing because it presents a world of possibilities where wild speculation is proper. It keeps you there without depending on post production flashiness and leaves you asking what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen even after the film stops. It does this without depending on a Hollywood budget, and in my mind that's a real achievement.
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