Zen Noir
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Movie Reviews of Zen Noir
Movie Review: Zen and the Art of Cinematography
Summary: 5 Stars
When I hear that a movie is "elliptical" or "poetic" or even "mesmerizing," I usually head for the hills. But "Zen Noir" has redeemed all of these words for me. It's elliptical and poetic and mesmerizing -- and I still loved it.
This quiet masterpiece spins off of director Marc Rosenbush's canny perception that the idioms of hardboiled detective fiction enjoy certain affinities with the assumptions of Zen Buddhism. Even if the viewer doesn't catch all the allusions to either Western police procedurals or Eastern philosophical paradoxes, he continually senses them bubbling beneath the surface.
And what an entrancing surface it is! The lighting is perfect, the camera is always in the right place, and the juxtaposition of lap-dissolves with the astonishing bells-drums-gongs-flute score evokes the riveting montage at the beginning of "Apocalypse Now." There are no flashy CGI effects here, only an intelligent use of basic film grammar. I think especially of the extreme closeup of an orange rind that suddenly becomes -- in an image simultaneously suggesting decay and rejuvenation -- a flurry of leaves.
Decay and rejuvenation, loss and love, death and eros: these are the themes that Mr. Rosenbush addresses astutely throughout. The dance of ideas comes to a climax when Kim Chan sits down with our gumshoe pilgrim, expertly played by Duane Sharp, and, using an orange as the objective correlative of everything, offers him insights into -- I use the phrase without embarrassment -- the meaning of life.
Movie Review: what else to watch
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew a film maker who died very suddenly and I remember thinking: "What does a film maker leave behind?" This thought was the seed that sprouted the movie: Beatific Vision.
I found myself thinking of a secret film that a character would leave behind when he dies. Not one he wished not to be found but one he planned to be found. More than a final will and testament this film was a "Beatific Vision", a view into the future of all characters and a clear mapping of the coincidences that would occur.
As I began to write the screenplay the voice of the Angel started to speak softly and occasionally. Upon many re-writes the Angel voice was vieing for main character status. I tried to reel in the angel but he (Angel Chad) wrestled control away from me.
When another close friend was passing to the other side, she added a strong dose of acceleration to the writing process. There now are so many Angels (most recently my Mother) involved, I feel I am at best the living hands to this project.
When I was a small boy my parents used to call me: Angel Michael when they wanted my behavior to change. I actually grew up thinking I was an angel including my sprouting scapula wings. Today, I do not think I am an angel but I surely believe that I am their vehicle for expression on earth.
Thank-you angels for this "angels on earth" experience!
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Movie Review: THE definitive Zen Movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
As far as I am concerned this is THE definitive Zen movie! It is true to the Noir genre, true to Zen - and also fascinating and hilarious. All at the same time.
I had very low expectations when I saw this movie. I thought, "Oh no, another movie about Buddhism." But within minutes I was laughing out loud and completely enchanted. Both Noir and Zen are easily reduced to cliches - but if you know what you are doing, and Director Marc Rosenbush apparently does, you can use every cliche in the book while breathing life into them. Cliches become cliches only because they are so original, clever and striking the first time people hear them that they get repeated endlessly and finally driven into the ground. But fortunately Buddhists believe in reincarnation (don't we?) - and Rosenbush shows that he is able to brind all your favorite Noir and Zen "routines" back to life.
Movie Review: Zen and facing death
Summary: 5 Stars
It may help people unfamiliar with Zen to know that sometimes a Zen master may assign the student a koan (ko an) to wrestle with. A koan is a story or question that seems nonsensical or paradoxical, but which makes sense if the student is able to shake off his/her normal assumptions about how the universe works and who the student is within that context. For anyone who is interested in this, a couple of good starting points are: Bring Me the Rhinoceros: And Other Zen Koans to Bring You Joy and Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings. I was fortunate enough to buy Bring me the Rhinoceros when it was still in print, but your local library may have a copy.Movie Review: A 5-Star Rave Review
Summary: 5 Stars
After visiting the filmmaker's self-designed, award-winning "Zen Noir" web site, I was convinced this had to be a veddy cool film. So I drove five hours to St. Louis to see it the day it opened there in late October! It was just wacky enough to light me up. Next, I purchased the DVD and showed it to about 33 people, describing it in my invitation as a campy, zany, fun-filled, yet lesson-based film. Despite the low budget and occasional moments when the music level was too high (during non-speaking parts), the original music is fabulous and the message comes through at the end. It has what films I really like have: character development, though only one character needed developing. It's an inspired concept done with hutzpah, integrity and passion. Congratulations to a talented filmmaker. I highly recommend this film!