Crazy 4 Cult has been a movie geek staple for the last five years. Hosted by LA's Gallery 1988, the art show boasts art from a variety of artists paying tribute to their favourite cult films. The mix is often eclectic and the art is always interesting.
There are moments of pure, unbridled happiness and joy in Blue Valentine. It’s these moments that make the rest of the film so hard to watch. So hard to take. Some of it is relentless, almost emotionally apocalyptic. There is a desperate tone underneath the film from its start that permeates until its conclusion, a shadow that is rarely lifted, that lingers on even after the film ends.
So not really a date flick, then.
It’s inevitable that Richard Ayoade’s debut will be compared to the school of quirky, whimsical American indie comedy helmed by Wes Anderson, Spike Jonze and Co. There are stylistic similarities with Rushmore and the like but it would be wrong to overstate them – Ayoade has produced an assured, tender film which suggests we’ll be seeing less of him in front of the camera from now on.
On this evidence he might be even better suited behind it. The film premiered to strong reviews in Toronto last year and closed Brighton’s Cinecity Film Festival. It goes on general release on 18 March.
