One of the best movies I've seen in years.
Let my preface this by saying that I tend to hate "artsy" films, and I get very annoyed by people overanalzing the *beep* out of movies, finding hidden "themes", symbolism, metaphors...all the power to you, but I think it's mostly irritating.
But I have also grown sick to death of movies lately. They seem to follow the same formulas, and I find myself completely uninterested in the characters, plots, or any of the events that transpire. I can't suspend my disbelief and I stop caring about any of it.
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Under the Skin was different. From the moment the film started, I was completely captivated. The beginning of movie, with it's obvious Kubrick-inspired style, was effective - easily one of the most enthralling and unsettling openings I've ever seen. From that moment on, I was hooked.
What captured my attention throughout the movie was the hauntingly eerie soundtrack, the beautiful cinematography, and this quality of utter realness. Scarlett Johanson was basically undercover, many scenes were shot with hidden cameras, the interactions she had with the many of the people in this movie were real.
The scenes where she led the men into the black void were completely memorizing. Her seductive allure and beauty in the absence of any physical surroundings, the creepy soundtrack, the total lack of explanation about what is going on - these scenes were simultaneously eerie and erotic. The scene where the two men are seen reaching out to each other in the black void was deeply disturbing as well, and it added just added more allure and mystery. These scenes are still lingering in my mind, they're unlike anything else I've ever witnessed in a movie. I didn't think a movie was capable of making me feel so many emotions like that.
Many times throughout this movie, I wondered if I would be foolish enough to fall for her spell like the other men were. Part of me thinks I would. I found her character very enticing. Of course, Scarlett Johansson was drop dead gorgeous as always, but her acting was very convincing - it rarely occurred to me that I was watching an A-list Hollywood celebrity.
I think the story was coherent enough, though many things were unanswered. Admittedly I do wish more of the plot was revealed in some way, mainly what the aliens were hoping to accomplish, and why they were harvesting men. Leaving this up to interpretation seems foolish because there is no ambiguity in the first place...there is not a single part of this movie that indicates what the aliens were trying to do.
But by in large, this movie was incredible and it captured my attention moreso than any other movie I've seen in years. I never once got bored, distracted, or impatient. I was glued to my chair from the beginning until nearly the end of the credits. I experienced more emotions from this movie than I would have ever expected. Horror, bewilderment, awe, compassion, infatuation, sadness, allure, and some I don't even have words for. This is the sort of movie that I expect to stick with me for years.