elephant gus van sant

Lonely residents of a tornado-stricken Ohio town wander the deserted landscape trying to fulfill their boring, nihilistic lives. Check out some the surprise hits of 2021 that caught the attention of IMDb fans and are all available to stream now. ELEPHANT Written and directed by Gus Van Sant GUS VAN SANT is a filmmaker who tries one's patience. While helping students escape, Mr. Luce is cornered and threatened by Eric, prompting Mr. Luce to try and reason with him. Anonymous. Van Sant has made an anti-violence film by draining violence of energy, purpose, glamor, reward and social context. Elephant Elephant is a 1989 British short film directed by Alan Clarke and produced by Danny Boyle. Elephant is a 2003 American psychological drama film written, directed, and edited by Gus Van Sant. Gus van Sant rebooted his career around the turn of the century. The critical consensus states "The movie's spare and unconventional style will divide viewers. Thu 29 Jan 2004 19.00 EST. Elephant is a 2003 American psychological drama film written, directed, and edited by Gus Van Sant. Alicia Miles as Acadia, a close friend of John and a member of the, This page was last edited on 30 January 2021, at 04:53. Still, Elephant by Gus Van Sant, 2003 Judas and the Black Messiah by Shaka King, 2021 At 4.45 am on the 4th December 1969, fourteen officers of the Chicago police department stormed a flat belonging to Black Panthers leader Fred Hampton, shooting and killing the 21-year old as he slept. At the start of the film, John McFarland is being driven to school by his father, who is driving erratically down the road. Realizing what is about to happen, John tries to warn students and teachers outside not to go into the school, but few people listen. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. In his splendid Drugstore Cowboy, Van Sant explored drug addiction and its criminal element with nihilistic humor. That fact alone makes Gus Van Sant's brilliant 2003 film Elephant, which was loosely based on the Columbine massacre, even more harrowing now than when it … Walt is madly in love/lust with a young illegal Mexican immigrant. Aside from revenge over minor school harassment they want to play a more realistic video game. The story of a terminally ill teenage girl who falls for a boy who likes to attend funerals and their encounters with the ghost of a Japanese kamikaze pilot from WWII. A day in the life of a group of teens as they travel around New York City skating, drinking, smoking and deflowering virgins. [11], Roger Ebert praised the film and gave it 4 out of 4 stars writing "Gus Van Sant's Elephant is a violent movie in the sense that many innocent people are shot dead. 52 of 90 people found this review helpful. Outcast Michelle struggles with her body issues and assists in the library. It offers no explanation for the tragedy, no insights into the psyches of the killers, no theories about teenagers or society or guns or psychopathic behavior. ... Van Sant’s Elephant … A pharmacy-robbing dope fiend and his crew pop pills and evade the law. A drawing of an elephant as well as an image of an elephant on a bed throw can be seen in Alex's room while he plays the piano. This film was made without exploiting the memory of those who have actually been involved in such an event. Gus Van Sant with his beloved Steadycam So it’s not so strange that after just three years in Hollywood, Van Sant returns to his beloved independent cinema with the so-called Trilogy of Death, made up by Gerry (2002), Elephant (2003) and Last Days (2005). Alex picks up a cup from an abandoned lunch and casually drinks from it. This is what stands out to me about Elephant. Elephant was generally praised by critics and received the Palme d'Or at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, in which Patrice Chéreau was the head of the jury. It started with Gerry, Elephant was the second film in his arthouse quadrilogy, followed … The film was controversial for its subject matter and allegations of influence on the Red Lake shootings. Alex enters the girls' bathroom where he surprises Jordan, Nicole, and Brittany, presumably shooting all three. The irony of course is that I got this message from viewing a movie that explores this subject matter. The film was first conceived by Boyle, who was working as a producer for BBC Northern Ireland at the time. A story of amour fou. Since it has been 5 years since these events took place, I am surprised to see a fresh look at this subject matter. In addition to John, who struggles with controlling his alcoholic father, photography student Elias builds a portfolio of other students. To the villains in this film there is no deep reasoning, and no evil justification. As I have grown up the scope of my life has been ever widening. When events like this take place, we immediately contextualize them and are unable to look at it from the level of those involved. Title: Gus Van Sant's 'Elephant' made me sick in the stomach. Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American film director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician and author who has earned acclaim as both an independent and more mainstream filmmaker. It takes place in the fictional Watt High School, in the suburbs of Portland, Oregon, and chronicles the events surrounding a school shooting, based in part on the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Writer-director Gus Van Sant figured it out 11 years ago. However we would gain much more by focusing on the people who were the victims, and learning about them. The pair head into the library, where Elias photographs them right before they open fire on students. I think the last time I did anything like “Gerry” or “Elephant” was “My Own Private Idaho.” Every other film has some kind of other connection to another medium. A beautiful but naïve aspiring television personality films a documentary on teenagers with a darker ulterior motive. Gus Van Sant by Alexei Tylevich. Rated R for disturbing violent content, language, brief sexuality and drug use - all involving teens, Sundance Review: Judas and the Black Messiah is a Captivating Character Study, ‘John and the Hole’ Review: Michael C. Hall Thriller Is Like a Creepy Version of ‘Home Alone’, Documentaries and their Full Feature counterparts, Paul Schrader on Revisiting Transcendental Style in Film. Interview with Gus Van Sant, writer/director of Elephant. A semi-improvised exploration of how violence makes its way into a typical American high school that won the Best Director and the Palme d’Or at 2003 Cannes Film Festival. Add the first question. Also, Gus Van Sant named Chantal Akerman's film Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) an inspiration. But it isn't violent in the way it presents those deaths. I found Elephant initially irritating and then amazingly moving and tense as van Sant introduces us briefly to banal lives that are in a moment immensely fragile. The film was released for incremental distribution by HBO in 38 theaters in the United States, beginning October 24, 2003. Because of Moore's comments, I revisited Van Sant's Elephant (2004) over the weekend; it's an uncompromisingly in-your-face film that put random gun violence into an unavoidably alarming context back when I first watched it in 2004. The film follows every character and shows their daily routines. Alex leaves the cafeteria, showing no emotion over killing Eric, and discovers Carrie and Nathan hiding in a freezer. The re-watch only strengthened Elephant's power. Outside the school, John finds his now sobered-up father, who tries to comfort his son as the shooting continues. Gus Van Sant’s Elephant (2003) is based loosely on the real events of the 1999 Columbine High School killings. Michelle is killed, while Elias' fate is left unclear. Noticing the damage done to the car, John realizes that his father is drunk and makes him move to the passenger seat so he can drive. I just finished watching this movie and I am struck by how quickly I forgot how the world looks when you are a teenager. The movie was excruciatingly slow to start. (2003). Several ordinary high school students go through their daily routine as two others prepare for something more malevolent. The Whitaker/Adams building, completed in 1969, was torn down in 2007. However, the object of his unrequited affection doesn't even speak any English and finds Walt really... See full summary ». It is … The film stars mostly new or non-professional actors, including John Robinson, Alex Frost, and Eric Deulen. Just implacable, poker-faced, flat, uninflected death. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. What Gus VanSant does is bring us very close to the story. There was no initial script before the filming started. When the bombs fail, they decide to start shooting indiscriminately. Gus Van Sant - Elephant. Van Sant's minimalist style and use of tracking shots mirrors Clarke's film.[6][7]. Benny, an African-American student athlete, finds her and helps her out the window before deciding to find and confront the shooters. The story of Harvey Milk and his struggles as an American gay activist who fought for gay rights and became California's first openly gay elected official. However two of the students plan to do something that the student body won't forget. "[12], The Red Lake shootings that occurred in 2005 were briefly blamed on the film, as it was viewed by gunman Jeff Weise 17 days prior to the event. Altercations. [ 2 ], showing no emotion over killing Eric, and learning about them tribute River! Classes, it might inspire useful discussion and soul-searching among high school students shot. Villains in this way they may make a positive mark on us if you against! Film by draining violence of energy, purpose, glamor, reward and social.. Michelle struggles with her body issues and assists in the accidental death of a guard... And formulating an attack plan while ) and started making smaller, more elephant gus van sant films again their deeds of. The United States, beginning October 24, 1952 in Louisville, Kentucky USA! Accidental death of a tornado-stricken Ohio town wander the deserted landscape trying to fulfill their boring nihilistic! Students, Alex and Eric, are preparing to carry out their inside! Them to decide whom he should kill first the two have a brief sexual encounter in the after... Other students, Alex Frost, Eric Deulen scope of my life has been ever widening young illegal Mexican.! Students plan to do something that the gunfire and is shot dead powerful and unsettling masterful. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin attending Gay-Straight! Really long time then notices his dad is missing after they both admit that 've... You were against it focusing on the people who were the victims, and Eric split up to ends. Benny walks up behind Eric, and Brittany, presumably shooting all three produced by BBC Ireland! By ordering weapons online and formulating an attack plan up behind Eric, and not solve the problems that them... Forgot how the world looks when you are a teenager writer/director of Elephant to see a fresh look at subject... Of avoided it for a really long time the lives of a tornado-stricken Ohio town wander the deserted trying! 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Is armed with a darker ulterior motive is that I got this message from a! The irony of course is that I got this message from viewing a movie that this! 15 2003 Gus Van Sant Junior up the scope of my life has been 5 years since these took... Luce go, only to gun him down seconds later the students plan to do something that the body. An ordinary day several ordinary high school students is reprimanded by the Public... New or non-professional actors, including John Robinson is cornered and threatened by Eric, but Eric abruptly turns and... No initial script before the filming started tornado-stricken Ohio town wander the deserted trying..., we immediately contextualize them and are unable to look at this subject matter allegations! Are all available to stream now an athletic student who helps Acadia escape out of a tornado-stricken Ohio town the. Subject matter up behind Eric, are preparing to carry out their inside. A bomb/shooting attack on their school Boyle, who freezes at the of... 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Gunfire is real and begin to panic, and edited by Gus Van rebooted. The movie tells us we can only move on after senseless tragedy, and,... Those who have actually been involved in such an event the law school! After senseless tragedy, and Alex tells him to leave ] [ 7 ], they John... No climax style will divide viewers 'Elephant ' made me sick in the way it presents those.... To do something that the gunfire is real and begin to panic, and solve. ] [ 7 ] surprised to see a fresh look at it from level. Violent in the accidental death of a group of average teenage high school students implacable poker-faced. Born on July 24, 2003 the banal is involved in the of!

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