Ari Aster's MIDSOMMAR (2019)

this thread has been jic'd

It’s been jfc’d at least

*jumps off cliff*

Well, I had to ji see it first, but mission accomplished.

*watches phantom thread* now that’s hardly a solid basis for a successful relationship, total plot hole

ftr im not demanding slavish realism from this movie or knocking it for being 'unrealistic' or w/e, i get that its a surreal art horror movie, just specifically quibbling w/the arguments that part of why its good is that its narratively satisfying to watch that guy die.

tbf seeing anyone in a bear costume is innately satisfying.

also can't go wrong with crones chanting, pastoral setting, processional music, rituals, costumes etc -- there are a lot of things to like about this movie that make me not care whether or not he actually deserved to die or was a bad boyfriend. he was a mediocre disappointment of a boyfriend.

at the end i don't think she was getting "revenge on her monster boyfriend" as much as reveling in whatever bizarre trip her life had become since losing her family all at once. at least that's what was on my mind when i saw her smile. her disappointment of a boyfriend getting burnt (inside a bear corpse!) was just the latest development.

should have ended with her turning to the camera and shrugging.

lol, same ending credits song though :)

gotta admit when they cut to him with his face sticking out of the bear mouth my first thought was "wow, perfect fit!"

Anyway, I see he's started working on his next film.

This is an r/relationships post from the SA peanut gallery thread because the original was deleted. You will not regret reading this one although you might scream. 🐀🐀🐀🐀 pic.twitter.com/nIt12atnqI

— Horrendous Jake Kablooie (@JakeMHS) July 10, 2019

http://www.magiclanternpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/wm_cat_masks_window_eep.jpg
"We can't wait!"

Aster's writing is sloppy and pretty horribly paced, and this was way overlong, but I didn't care. So thematically and symbolically rich, and wonderfully executed on every level. And lingeringly unnerving.

I do wonder if his starting point was to take some of the least threatening things imaginable, incredibly pleasant Scandanavian people and sunny fields, and make them sinister.

Her boyfriend was a huge fucking dickhead by the way.

I watched this last night and I'm going to give it 3 bags of popcorn. Maybe throw in a soda for the trippy visuals.

A musical thought: Know what this movie was missing for me? Trad Gras och Stenar/international Harvester/Parson Sound Swedish hippies playing droney jams. Did I miss them far off in a corner somewhere? Don’t these ppl like to zone out?

Zz

The druggy bonhomie that they first experience upon arrival had a definite euro raver vibe, so I expected bangin dance music of some description rather than underground free folk.

yeah i thought so too -- that vibe does not last very long. maybe it is a joke about burning man?
idk

You all will have to wait for Gaspar Noe's Midsommer.

How about Noe

One thing I've been amused by in the published talk around the film is the occasional mention of the 'amazing Scandinavian landscape' or the like. Setting, yes, but the filming was in Hungary -- as I realized as soon as the credits rolled and approximately 8000 Hungarian names appeared at once. (I did like how the credits were laid out, BTW -- also, a quiet point, has anyone said anything about the specific choice of Frankie Valli's "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" instead of the Walker Bros?)

Yes, why that version and why that song?

what does it mean Ned!

GREAT MYSTERIES.

(Choice of song seems obvious lyrically? Busted up relationship, sunshine, etc.)

I figured it was an oldie to lighten the mood

Should have been "Walk of Life."

You know what was extra weird, per Ned's observation? The number of reviews I've read that point out the amazing Scandinavian landscape *and* note that it was actually filmed in Hungary. Witchcraft!!!

It’s another variation on something he did last time (can’t remember offhand which 60s pop song played over hereditary’s credits) xp

Joni Mitchell song?

Iirc, this one ended with a few extra beats of black before the music and credits began.

Oh yeah how could I forget xp

Hereditary ended with "Both Sides Now" but not the Joni version

Nice

Nu metal cover of happy together for the triumvirate, best filmmaker working

Ah yes!! No wonder this seemed so familiar to me!! It was the Judy Collins version! How could I forget??

I felt the same way about the usage of that song — an oldie to lighten the mood. Lol.

Yeah it was literally the same move again, you gotta love it

I will concede that this trick was not good enough to be employed twice consecutively. Coulda tried a little more imo.

Probably couldn't afford the rights to the Partridge Family theme. Weirdly apt (in an obviously ironic way):

"Hello world, hear the song that we're singin'
Come on, get happy
A whole lotta lovin' is what we'll be bringin'
We'll make you happy

We had a dream we'd go travelin' together
And spread a little lovin', then we'll keep movin' on
Somethin' always happens whenever we're together
We get a happy feelin' when we're singin' a song

Travelin' along, there's a song that we're singin'
Come on, get happy
A whole lotta lovin' is what we'll be bringin'
We'll make you happy
We'll make you happy
We'll make you happy"

xp Haha well I was childishly pleased by the similarity but I listened to the Film Comment podcast interview with aster (recommend to all) and it makes me think he probably has a fairly well thought-through reason for picking that song for this

I’m sure there’s a reason but it’s like an overly fussed over playlist or mixtape. It’s a lil embarrassing to use the same trick 2x in a row.

Tbf There are a ton of elements the two movies share. I know the first time around he played it really coy about some sort of horrible personal backstory or something that informed the film, but I don't think he ever spilled the beans.

Man it sucks when artists have traits and preferences

Not really! It’s fine to have traits and preferences even if you’re not an artist :)

I like traits and preferences (even this guy's)! I was just reacting to people commenting on the same sort of use of a sunny song at the end as chaser. There are lots of traits and preferences he repeats so far, some very distinctive.

anyone else find the prologue of this movie incredibly offensive

but i thought the rest of it was much better than hereditary. a very successful cathartic exercise. cried at the group screaming scene

Offensive because of the bipolar - > murder-suicide aspect?

yes

Aster's writing is sloppy and pretty horribly paced, and this was way overlong, but I didn't care. So thematically and symbolically rich, and wonderfully executed on every level. And lingeringly unnerving.

I do wonder if his starting point was to take some of the least threatening things imaginable, incredibly pleasant Scandanavian people and sunny fields, and make them sinister.

― chap, Thursday, July 11, 2019 6:14 AM (fourteen hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

Her boyfriend was a huge fucking dickhead by the way.

― chap, Thursday, July 11, 2019 6:30 AM (fourteen hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

these chap posts are basically what i also got out of the movie

basically inside i am an enormous grieving flower slug searching for a group of women to scream with, so outside of the prologue this movie really got me