When it comes to true art, sincerity is what separates genius from charlatan, master from poseur. But how do you define "sincere"? Hard to put a finger on it, but I know it when I see it. Van Gogh was sincere, Pollock was sincere, Monet was sincere. How do I know? Just do.
Which brings us to Shane Carruth.
After having seen "Primer" and now "Upstream Color", I am 100% convinced that this guy is genuine.
You might wonder why that matters so much. Well, it matters because of the nature of the film - which is very, very weird. Now some directors make weird movies because weirdness was the goal in and of itself (see: "Eraserhead".) But then there are weird movies that are strange because it was the way things played out in the mind and heart of the director (see: "The Tree of Life".)
And Terrence Malick is a good reference here - I see Carruth as a new version of the visionary poet.
I don't want to get too much into the storyline. It's like quantum physics: to discuss it is to alter it.
But at a high level the film's story involves mind control, a strange affinity between humans and swine via parasites, and a mysterious individual that may or may not even exist.
Nothing else needs to be said about this film because it needs to be experienced. It's like when someone asks me what "2001: A Space Odyssey" or "The Tree of Life" or even "Fantasia" is about. I want to say, "it's about 2 hours long...go see it!"
So why the glowing praise for this movie? Because Art with a capital "A" is vanishing in our society. For a filmmaker like Shane Carruth to be able to ply his trade and create visual masterpieces that are simultaneously mental puzzles is a glorious thing.
Another thing: only the director himself knows, but I suspect that "Upstream Color" is a highly autobiographical film. Like the best poems of ee cummings and the best works of Salvador Dali, I am convinced that every single frame in this movie means something to Carruth. The simple fact that he has his theme so firmly, deeply fixed in mind, and that he repeats it over and over and over gives the sense of someone reliving some sort of traumatic or at least significant moment from their past.
I get the feeling that making this movie was very cathartic for the director and we are all the beneficiaries. I just hope he has more stories to tell.
Jeffrey Dale Starr is a world traveler, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.
I'm so glad you liked it!!! Now that you've seen it, we'll have to discuss...or even do a video!
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