Death is inevitable, and beautiful...

...but does it have to be so goddamn boring?! What a slog!

The scenes with Death were the best, but the rest just dragged. I get that it was all 'necessary' to ruminate about the existence of God, knowledge and the meaning of life in our capacity. Jöns had some brilliant quips, and Antonius had a lot of depth, but did they have to talk so much?

This is really just a qualm I have with Bergman in general, really. I do have a lot of respect for him as a writer. His existentialism is unique and entirely his own. His style of direction suits the stories he tells, and he's created some truly iconic images and sequences in them. Cool. I just wish he had added a little more action.

Of course, by 'action', I don't mean gunfights and martial arts; I mean having his characters do things rather than talk the whole time. Even Bresson would take a second, hone in on the small gestures (a pickpocket's deft hands or a wrongfully accused man's violent shove) just to break up the monotony. I swear, Bergman doesn't know the first thing about how to entertain an audience that isn't seated comfortably in some majestic theatre, book-ended by a bloated performance of Don Giovanni and a dry reading of something Faust!

I'm not done with you, Bergman! I will sit through a few more of your films, though I've already seen Persona and know what to expect. Call it a matter of taste or a complete obliviousness, but I have not seen a Bergman film I've truly liked.



Going station to station is hunky dory but if the trip's low on heroes it can drive Aladdin Sane.